Although advanced neuroscience research is undertaken in New Zealand, lack of proper equipment keeps the country behind others, says a prominent scientist based in Auckland.
According to neuroscientist Dr Sumudumalee Ranasinghe (better known as Sumudu), research performed in New Zealand is of high quality, comparable with the US and other leading countries in the field.
“Our publications are well received in the international scientific community.
‘However, lack of readily available advanced high-tech equipment is holding us back, because they are expensive.
“Funding opportunities are limited and are very competitive,” she said.
The drive to understand mechanisms of brain cell death in newborns and investigate ways to enhance natural recovery mechanisms of brain function encouraged the 28-year-old to pursue research at the Liggin Institute of the University of Auckland.
Her interest in neuroscience research grew as she attended the lectures of Professor Richard Faull at the University.
She developed a passion to learn more about the brain and the central nervous system, which has now grown to help treat brain injuries in babies.
Brain injury in babies may be caused by inadequate blood flow to the brain in the early developmental stages.
This occurs in 2-3 cases per 1000 full-term infants and nearly 60% of pre-term infants in the developing world.
Newborns that survive this injury often develop disabling neurodegenerative diseases like cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and motor, vision and hearing impairments.
According to the Cerebral Palsy Society of New Zealand, about 7000 people in New Zealand have some degree of cerebral palsy (one third are under 21 years of age).
Sumudu said cerebral palsy was one of the worst brain injuries in surviving babies.
“Interestingly, while the survival rates of newborns with brain injury have increased in the last 20 years, it has not been matched by advances in treatment for neurodegenerative abnormalities,” she said.
The workday of a neuroscientist varies from conducting experiments and analysing results to reading books, articles and speeches on science.
“The progress of the project determines the hours of work. Sometimes a day could begin at 2 am. Experiments are unpredictable and hence it is impossible to plan. Research can be time-consuming and frustrating, which is why one needs passion and determination in pursuing it as a profession,” Sumudu said.
Janani Mohanakrishnan has a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Auckland and is employed at the World Food Program in San Francisco, US.
Photo : Dr Sumudumalee (Sumudu) Ranasinghe
