Mātai Building Opening Schedule

Join us in the morning for a pōwhiri to celebrate the opening of the inaugural Mātai building. In the afternoon, hear presentations about our latest projects, and explore the building. Don't miss our art exhibition by local artists and tamariki!  It's a day to connect and celebrate, as we invite everyone to drop by at any time throughout the day.

From left to right: Emeritus Professor Graeme Bydder, Dr Samantha Holdsworth, Paul Condron, Dr Daniel Cornfeld.

A new textbook guide has been published by Emeritus Professor Graeme Bydder and Professor Jiang Du. The book, for physicists and radiologists, has chapter contributions by Paul Condron and Dr Daniel Cornfeld of the Mātai team. This book represents a labour of love, and is an exciting new contribution to understanding MRI contrast and improving many of our research projects.

Comparison of traditional T2-FLAIR images (upper row) and Mātai's new technique narrow mD dSIR images (lower row). No abnormality is seen on the T2-FLAIR image, but there are extensive areas of a high signal (possible damage) in the white matter of the brain on the dSIR images.

Led by Emeritus Professor Graeme Bydder, the paper suggests that DPHL could be far more common than previously thought, potentially going undiagnosed with conventional clinical and MRI criteria. The disorder is caused by oxygen deprivation to the brain, such as near-drowning, asphyxia, cardiac arrest, carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution, and drug overdoses. Symptoms can occur days, weeks or months after the incident.

This revelation comes at a time when drug overdoses and the opioid crisis have reached epidemic proportions, suggesting that with the right imaging MR imaging sequence such as dSIR, brain damage in the form of Grinker's will be increasingly recognised.

Identifying such brain damage in patients is crucial for understanding their disease and treating it appropriately. This study underscores the importance of using advanced imaging techniques to determine the nature of patients' neurological and psychiatric conditions.

For anyone interested in the evolving landscape of neurological disorders and the role of advanced imaging in uncovering a larger spectrum of brain injuries, this paper is a must-read.

Maryam Tayebi explains the new modelling technique (video above).

The study, first authored by Dr Maryam Tayebi (Hugh & Moira Green Research Fellow at Mātai), under the leadership of Dr Vickie Shim at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) and Principal Investigator at Mātai, presents a novel method for the analysis of brain white matter tracts.

A significant advantage of this method is its sensitivity to individual variations, enhancing the potential for early detection of brain changes. Researchers could, in the future, visualise the entire white matter tract's microstructure, identifying patterns of degeneration or injury that might be missed with conventional methods. This holds promise for refining diagnostic and predictive models for brain injuries in athletes through early detection or tailored treatment strategies.

The implications of this research could extend to various fields, including neurology, sports medicine, and cognitive science, offering a new lens through which to examine the brain's intricate architecture and its resilience to physical trauma.

Person Specific 3D model of the 3-D of the corticospinal tract (left).

This and related TBI studies are made possible thanks to the support of Hugh Green
Foundation, Catalyst: Strategic Fund MBIE, New Zealand Health Research Council
Explorer, Kānoa – Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit, Royal Society
Catalyst, Te Tītoki Mataora Research Acceleration Programme, Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, New Zealand Rugby Foundation, Vision Research Foundation, Trust
Tairāwhiti, Fred Lewis Enterprise Foundation, University of Auckland, an anonymous
donor, Mangatawa Beale Williams Memorial Trust, and JN & HB Williams Foundation.

The paper Intracranial aneurysm wall displacement depicted by amplified Flow predicts growth published with our collaborators Professor Kambiz Nael (UCLA), Dr Aymeric Pionteck, and Associate Professor Mehmet Kurt (University of Washington) introduces a novel method that amplifies brain aneurysm wall displacement to predict aneurysm growth. Called aFlow, the method builds on the amplified MRI (aMRI) technique that is being developed by Mātai and collaborators.

Image of a brain aneurysm (right). Using the aFlow method, displacement is enhanced and depicted in various colours. This enhancement of aneurysm wall motion holds potential for the differentiation between stable and expanding aneurysms

Gone but far from forgotten, the mahi of Meth Free Tairāwhiti's late coordinator is continuing through collaborators and friends…

Click here to see an overview of the mahi that is continuing and growing through Mātai

Mātai Trustee, Sir Richard Faull, shares the story of how growing up in Taranaki shaped his future as a leading neuroscientist

Click here to access the article

"What makes this internship unique is its strong focus on community engagement, and providing the students with opportunities to reconnect back home to their whenua and whānau..."

Click here to view more about our internship programme

Our thanks go out to Dr Bill Weiderman and Dr Saralyn MacKenzie who welcomed us back to the Gisborne Hospital Grand Rounds (centred around education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clinical discussion) – where Dr Hari Kumar, Dr Josh McGeown, and Leigh Potter spoke about Mātai research projects and potential synergies with the Hospital.

The Mātai 3-Tesla MRI transitioning from its current location at Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti to its new premises on the Mātai campus site. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti for accommodating us – we eagerly anticipate ongoing collaborations with the exceptional clinicians and healthcare professionals we've encountered along our journey.

Emeritus Professor Graeme Bydder with Kaumātua Joe Harawira (QSM) at his CNZM investiture ceremony in Christchurch on 19 March. Well-deserved recognition for one of the 'Godfathers' of MRI. Much of the technology behind the 100 million or more clinical scans done globally every year has been influenced by Graeme's work, which impacts the health of many across the world. 

We were privileged to have Graeme visit us again at Mātai. He shared with the team presentations and insights on 'Ultra-high contrast MRI' and had a packed schedule discussing novel applications of his and the team's MRI methods with Mātai researchers.

"Hello, I'm Dineo. Originally from South Africa, my family relocated to New Zealand, where I completed high school in Whangarei. My journey led me to Auckland, where I completed medical school. Presently, I am working as a research fellow for the Auckland Eye Institute and Mātai.

In early April of this year, I visited Gisborne for the first time. There, I had the pleasure of meeting the remarkable team at Mātai and witnessed the astounding work being undertaken.

Now, I am thrilled to be a part of the team and I am involved in the "Hole in the Head" project, where we hope to develop a non invasive technique to measure brain pressure. It's an exciting endeavour that holds the potential to revolutionise neurological diagnostics."