Our Meeting on Tuesday was hosted at the University of Auckland Medical School and more particularly at the Centre for Brain Research.Our hosts were Sir Richard Faull, and Dr Malvindar Singh-Baines who were themselves supported by graduate students Christine Arasaratnam, Adelie Tan and Micah Austria.
Sir Richard opened proceedings by giving us a run down of the activities the Centre for Brain Research undertakes.
He noted that the Centre is made up of 74 different research groups across the University undertaking diverse aspects of Brain Research.
Sir Richard noted that the centre has approximately 700 brains in its brain bank. A unique collection which enabled a collaborative approach to research within the centre rather than the silo approach that seems to be adopted in other research centres in other parts of the world.
One of the important features of the brain libarary is the buy in from families of those whose brains who have been donated for research. Those families feel that they are doing their bit for research into the various brain diseases the centre focus's on.
After Sir Richard gave his introduction Malvindar gave us more detail on the centres activities and then she and her colleagues took us on a tour of the centre itself which was fascinating for those who have not been there before. The most important point Malvindar made was that those who work in the centre acknowledge that they are priveleged to be working their and consequently treat the brains in their care with the utmost respect.
Those present enjoyed the both the fellowship the evening provided and also the most interesting tour and presentations by Sir Richard and Malvindar.