Mātai Board Member, Distinguished Professor Sir Richard Faull received an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Otago. Congratulations to Professor Graham Le Gros on an extraordinary 30-year tenure leading the Malaghan Institute. To Professor Kjesten Wiig, congratulations on your appointment as Director! Mātai co-hosted a gathering with Tōnui Collab, Tairāwhiti Māori Business Network, and Te Hapori Matihiko. Mātai also recently hosted an evening for General Practitioners and Senior Medical Officers.
Mātai MRI technologist Taylor Emsden recently visited Campion College for an Inspiring the Future event, introducing Year 10 students to the world of radiography.
A huge shoutout to our partners at Turanga Health, whose recently released report reflects their incredible mahi in delivering an inspirational COVID-19 vaccination programme across Te Tairāwhiti.
Thank you to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Shazeaa Salim for hosting Leigh Potter. Also to the Perron Institute and The Kids Institute for their warm hospitality of Leigh, Wendy Mohi, and Gina Waters.
A newly published study with researchers from Auckland Bioengineering Institute and Mātai showcases a new way to quickly personalise computer simulations of blood circulation in the brain using advanced imaging and blood flow data.
We're incredibly proud of Holly Flyger for publishing her first paper in the prestigious Neural Regeneration Research journal — all thanks to her summer internship at Mātai!
Mātai had a special visit from Lorraine Mentz MNZM, Chief Executive of the Hugh Green Foundation, Dr Katharine Holdsworth from Microsoft, Dr Mark Griffin from Insight Business Management Analytics, ACC representatives Rēnata Blair and Emma Bensen Brown. Check out the documentary ADHD: Not Just Hyper starring our very own Dr Gil Newburn, Paul Condron, and ADHD project lead Prof Justin Fernandez.
Meri Kirihimete to our extended whānau! What an incredible year 2024 has been — from exciting building openings and published papers to hosting special guest visitors, documentaries, events, outreach programmes, and ground-breaking research discoveries. Thank you for being part of our journey. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a well-deserved break over Christmas and New Year. Mā te wā! Top image: 2024/25 Mātai Interns getting in the festive spirit. |
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Sir Richard Faull - A Trailblazer in Brain Research |
Distinguished Professor Sir Richard Faull (Ngāti Rāhiri and Te Āti Awa), Founder of the Centre for Brain Research in New Zealand, and a Mātai Board of Trustee member, received an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Otago – a truly well-deserved recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to neuroscience. Sir Richard's passion for understanding the human brain has revolutionised the field, from Huntington's disease to brain repair. He has championed collaborative research that transcends borders, inspiring generations of students and researchers.
His career milestones include:
• Establishing the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank
• Leading pivotal research on stem cells in the adult brain
• Founding the Centre for Brain Research – Te Huinga Hinengaro
Sir Richard describes this honour as an "extraordinary recognition" and reflects on his journey from a young Otago medical student to a global leader in neuroscience. We at Mātai are proud to have Sir Richard's expertise and vision guiding us on the Board of Trustees! |
Malaghan Institute - New Director |
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Image: left Prof Kjesten Wiig, right Prof Graham LeGros |
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Huge congratulations to Professor Graham Le Gros on an extraordinary 30-year tenure leading the Malaghan Institute! Your visionary leadership in medical research has been an inspiration, and thank you for your awesome guidance of Mātai over the years.
To Professor Kjesten Wiig, congratulations on your appointment as Director! We are excited to see your leadership drive Malaghan into its next chapter. Malaghan Institute has been a phenomenal mentor for Mātai, and we're grateful for the collaboration and support over the years. |
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Last week, Tōnui Collab and Mātai co-hosted a gathering with Tairāwhiti Māori Business Network and Te Hapori Matihiko. This gathering an opportunity for Māori in Tech and supporters of Māori in Tech to reflect, connect, and celebrate the mahi done in 2024. There was a strong interest to continue these meet-ups quarterly in the New Year, so watch this space! |
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Bridging Research & Practice |
Mātai recently hosted an evening for General Practitioners and Senior Medical Officers, featuring updates from Leigh Potter, Dr Daniel Cornfeld, and Dr Samantha Holdsworth and on Mātai progress to date, current research projects, the clinical referral pathway, and the campus vision. The event also celebrated the journeys of former interns Haylea Rodgers and Sophie Couper, who shared how their experiences at Mātai helped shape their careers, leading them to roles at Gisborne Hospital. Additionally, the current Mātai cohort of 15 interns had the opportunity to introduce themselves to the audience. A special thanks to Dr Sarah Callaghan for her incredible mahi, and the Sub-Faculty of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) for generously funding the evening.
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Mātai MRI technologist Taylor Emsden recently visited Campion College for an Inspiring the Future event, introducing Year 10 students to the world of radiography. Taylor shared insights into life as a radiographer, sparking curiosity among the students. Their enthusiasm led to a follow-up visit to the Mātai campus, where they toured the facilities and witnessed the MRI scanner in action. It was a fantastic opportunity to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals.
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Turanga Health - An inspirational COVID-19 vaccination programme |
Turanga Health COVID-19 Vaccination data from 1 May 2021 to 31 October 2022 |
A huge shoutout to our partners at Turanga Health, whose recently released report reflects their incredible mahi in delivering an inspirational COVID-19 vaccination programme across Te Tairāwhiti. The numbers speak for themselves (2021-2022): For every $1 invested, they created $4.73 in social value—a conservative estimate of their far-reaching impact! 🙌
🔹 20,081 vaccine doses delivered.
🔹 23% of Māori vaccinated in the region.
🔹 Outcomes beyond measure: preserving whakapapa, enhancing mana, and saving lives. This work shows the power of whanaungatanga (relationships) and a kaupapa-driven approach to healthcare. Turanga Health, you inspire us all! |
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Thank you to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Shazeaa Salim (Project Manager, NIB Toi Ora) for hosting Leigh Potter. We had a valuable discussion about the work we're doing at Mātai, explored ways to support whānau, and how the opportunity to provide support through the Ōrākei NIB health insurance initiative. |
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| Mātai recently hosted Tūranga Health and ACC representatives Rēnata Blair (Deputy Chief Executive Māori) and Emma Bensen Brown, for a discussion about the ongoing research at Mātai. It was a pleasure to connect with them and share insights on our work. |
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Semi-automated pipeline for generating personalised cerebrovascular models |
A newly published study with researchers from Auckland Bioengineering Institute and Mātai showcases a new way to quickly personalise computer simulations of blood circulation in the brain using advanced imaging and blood flow data.
This is important as it makes it easier and faster to study how blood flows in the brain, which in the future may help doctors better understand and treat conditions related to strokes or aneurysms.
This method was tested on 10 cases and proved to be highly accurate, bringing us closer to improved care for patients.
Image: The processing pipeline described in the paper, with an example model generated using patient-specific MRI data. |
The processing pipeline described in the paper, with an example model generated using patient-specific MRI data. |
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Mātai Intern publishes her first paper in prestigious journal |
We're incredibly proud of Holly Flyger, a 19-year-old former Gisborne Girls' High School student, and Mātai scholarship recipient, for publishing her first paper in the prestigious Neural Regeneration Research journal — all thanks to her summer internship at Mātai!
During her 2023/2024 internship, Holly worked under the guidance of Dr Hamid Abbasi, Associate Professor Samantha Holdsworth, Professor Laura Bennet, and Professor Alistair Gunn. Her research paper reviews how MRI can help predict long-term outcomes for infants with perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia. This incredible achievement highlights the power of creating opportunities for young researchers through the Mātai summer internship programme. We can't wait to see what Holly achieves next! 💫 |
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This week, Mātai had a special visit from Lorraine Mentz MNZM, Chief Executive of the Hugh Green Foundation. Lorraine connected with the team and explored strategic opportunities to advance innovative medical research that creates meaningful outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Lorraine chatted with our passionate interns, listening to their project presentations and offering helpful insights on their career pathways.
The visit included time in the Hugh Green Foundation Raranga Space, which symbolises the weaving together of diverse systems and methodologies to translate research into clinical services.
Mātai and the Hugh Green Foundation's partnership is built on teamwork, innovative ideas, and a shared goal of making a difference. |
Picture (left): Lorraine with Dr Maryam Tayebi (Mātai Hugh & Moira Green Research Fellow), Dr Samantha Holdsworth (Mātai CE/Research Director & A/Prof UoA), and Lisa Bates MNZM (Mātai Philanthropy Director) outside the Hugh Green Foundation Raranga Space.
Picture (right): Lorraine listening to interns' project presentations and offering insights on their career pathways. |
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Dr Katharine Holdsworth, Gisborne born and bred, and Partner Group Program Manager at Microsoft, visited Mātai yesterday to share invaluable advice with the team and summer research interns. She encouraged embracing uncertainty, learning to learn, and being adaptable by 'morphing' and even inventing your own job. |
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Katharine also highlighted the importance of storytelling in the interns' work and how tech — especially AI — is everywhere, setting you up for the future if you engage with it. She inspired the interns to "find their voice" and build confidence in presenting. Katharine shared her mantra: "Find something you're interested in and be amazing at it." Her final piece of advice? "Come with problems, but bring with it a solution." Her visit left a lasting impression and practical takeaways for all.
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Mātai hosted Dr Mark Griffin, mathematician and computer engineer, who shared his expertise in statistics and data visualisation with 15 of Mātai Institute's talented interns.
Dr Griffin's connection to Mātai's Research Director, Dr Samantha Holdsworth, goes back to her PhD days at the University of Queensland, where he helped her with the mathematics for her research. Now, as a Mātai Senior Industry Fellow, Mark is inspiring the next generation of researchers. 🙌
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Picture (left): Dr Mark Griffin and Dr Samantha Holdsworth outside Mātai
Picture (middle): Dr Mark Griffin in the MRI Whakaata wing at Mātai
Picture (right): Dr Mark Griffin with the 2024/2025 Mātai Intern cohort, after Mark's session |
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Last week, Leigh Potter (COO, Mātai), Wendy Mohi (Mātai Research Associate), and Gina Waters (CBR/psychology doctoral candidate, University of Auckland & Mātai Researcher) showcased their research at the Australasian Neuroscience Society (ANS) conference in Perth, Australia. Leigh shared insights into the journey of Mātai and participated in an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) panel. Gina presented on the ADHD study, while Wendy and Leigh engaged with the Aboriginal, Māori, and Torres Strait Islander peoples at The Kids Institute. A heartfelt thank you to the Perron Institute and The Kids Institute for their warm hospitality!
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Check out the documentary ADHD: Not Just Hyper for real stories and expert insights that break down misconceptions and highlights the importance of early diagnosis and understanding, while following Guy Williams through a diagnosis journey.
Starring our very own Dr Gil Newburn (Mātai Senior Clinical Fellow, Neuropsychiatrist), Paul Condron (Mātai MR Charge Technician), and ADHD project lead Professor Justin Fernandez (Auckland Bioengineering Institute). 💙 |
We would like to acknowledge, with appreciation, our supporters who made the establishment of Mātai possible, including Kānoa - RDU, Hugh Green Foundation, Trust Tairāwhiti, the Mangatawa Beale Williams Memorial Trust, the JN and HB Williams Foundation, the University of Auckland, GE Healthcare, Peter and Bronwen Holdsworth Family, Pultron Composites Limited, the Lotteries Significant Projects Fund, Fred Lewis Enterprise Foundation, Anonymous Donor, the QUEST Trust, Turanga Health, Friends of Mātai, local iwi, and many others.
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Copyright © 2023 Mātai Medical Research Institute Inc. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Physical Address: Mātai Medical Research Institute 466 Childers Road Gisborne, 4010 New Zealand Mailing Address: Mātai Medical Research Institute PO Box 359 Gisborne, 4040 New Zealand |
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