Page 40 - NZBRI_Annual Report 2017_FA
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38 New Zealand Brain Research Institute
thesis work in Melbourne on cerebral haemorrhage (bleeding
in the brain). He will be furthering his Stroke research under the
auspices of the NZBRI.
Dr Campbell Le Heron joined us in April this year after
completing his PhD thesis research at the University of Oxford (UK)
on apathy in neurological disorders. Campbell is passionate about
research and his expertise and interests are in cognitive disorders
such as dementia, and movement disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s and
Huntington’s). We are pleased to host Teddy and Campbell and
grateful to the CDHB Neurology Department for facilitating their
research interests at NZBRI.
We have continued to host the CDHB Neurology Department
outpatient clinics at our clinical facility at 40 Stewart Street
on almost a daily basis. These clinics provide opportunities for
patients to participate in the NZBRI clinical research activities
and for teaching medical students from the University of Otago,
Christchurch medical school. Dr Debbie Mason has specialized
multiple sclerosis (MS) clinics and leads research and trials of
new therapies in MS, Dr Rod Duncan offers specialised epilepsy
expertise, whilst Drs Fink and Reimers have subspecialty interest
in stroke and nerve and muscle disorders.
Beyond these special areas, the Neurology clinics see people
with the full gamut of common neurological problems including
headache, dizziness, gait disorders etc. The NZBRI clinical
facility also hosts three specialised neurological nurses Helen
Skene (Parkinson’s), Jane Eagle and Jessica Deacon (MS) and
Movement Disorders research coordinator Dr Laura Paermentier;
they are critical in supporting the NZBRI clinical research and
pharmaceutical studies and overseeing advanced treatments
for Parkinson’s and MS.
I continue to conduct two specialised Parkinson’s and Movement
Disorders clinics, as well as a botulinum toxin treatment clinic