We are committed to delivering findings for a better understanding of the brain and developing treatments to fight neurodegeneration and increase wellness.
12/08/2025
We’re proud to share that our founder, Sir Richard Faull, has been named the inaugural Patron of Gisborne’s Mātai Medical Research Institute.
The newly named Mātai Arataki Room honours his leadership and guiding principle: “What’s the right thing to do?”
Sir Richard’s discovery that the adult human brain can grow new cells continues to inspire our work and shape the future of brain research.
Mātai Medical Research has named a world-renowned neuroscientist as its patron.
29/07/2025
A stunning 30-minute documentary about Distinguished Professor Sir Richard Faull and his journey in brain research aired on TVNZ over the weekend. It was part of the Pathfinders series, which profiles Aotearoa’s living legends — Māori leaders who were raised during the challenging years when te reo Māori was shunned.
The episode beautifully captures Sir Richard’s lifelong dedication to the power of research to change lives. There's a few other familiar CBR faces too!
Watch the full episode here:
Sir Richard Faull is a world-renowned neuroscientist whose re-search on the human brain has been profoundly influenced by his Māori and Pāheka heritage.
17/07/2025
Ngā mihi nui to Te Ao Māori News for sharing this important kaupapa led by Dr Makarena Dudley and Sir Richard Faull to support Māori whānau living with dementia.
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Too many rural whānau are caring for loved ones with mate wareware in silence. The Centre for Brain Research at Waipapa Taumata Rau is working to change that, with a simple mission: to reach and support the whānau who have been overlooked.
Dementia mate wareware affects Māori more than any other group in Aotearoa.
As part of our vital kaupapa, we visit marae to bring information, support, and connection to whānau navigating mate wareware.
We were deeply moved and uplifted by our recent visit to Te Ao Hou Marae in Whanganui, where whānau shared their experiences and reminded us why this mahi matters.
Too many rural whānau are caring for loved ones with mate wareware in silence. A kaupapa led by the Centre for Brain Research is bringing answers to their doorsteps.
25/06/2025
Congratulations Nakisha Wood from Carmel College, who was crowned the winner of the North Island NZ Brain Bee Challenge, hosted yesterday at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Brain Research! 🏆
She topped a field of 161 Year 11 students from 30 schools in a fiercely contested neuroscience quiz. A huge shoutout also to Hannah Tegg and Shvein Hewage, both from Westlake Girls' High School, who placed second and third. 👏A big thanks to our sponsors the Neurological Foundation of NZ; The CatWalk Trust & Freemasons New Zealand.
These brainy teens could be tomorrow’s neuroscientists. We can't wait to see what they do next.
22/06/2025
New research is offering hope for earlier diagnoses of Parkinson’s - and it’s happening right here in Aotearoa.
Brain scientists have made a breakthrough that could help diagnose Parkinson's disease and Multiple System Atrophy much earlier.
14/06/2025
🧠 A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by the Centre for Brain Research stand at at Mystery Creek! We loved meeting so many curious minds and hope you left having learned something new about your amazing brain.
Come & talk to Dr Joan Leung & Danelle Clayton from Centre for Brain Research with your brain questions. 🧠
12/06/2025
Got brain questions? We’ve got answers, come & meet Dr Helen Murray on our stand today at BrainSpace, Fieldays. 🧠
11/06/2025
Got a burning question about the brain? Join us at BrainSpace, Fieldays!
Today, you can chat with Professor Maurice Curtis, Meikyla Mason, Khushi Sehajpal & Danelle Clayton from the University of Auckland's Centre for Brain Research; Samantha Cook from the University of Otago's Brain Health Research Centre, & emerging neuroscientist Alex Matthews, along with our team from the Neurological Foundation - Emmanuel, Kelly & Emma.
You can't miss us - just look for the big brain in the Health Hub 🧠
02/06/2025
A huge congratulations to Catriona Williams, founder of the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust, who has received a King’s Birthday Honour for her extraordinary contribution to spinal cord injury research. Since her life-changing spinal injury in 2002, Catriona has campaigned tirelessly to raise funds and awareness for spinal cord injury research through CatWalk. We’re honoured to have received CatWalk’s support for our spinal cord research programme, which is making exciting advances toward new treatments for spinal injuries.
Almost 190 Kiwis have been recognised, including a former All Black.
13/05/2025
It was our honour to host rangatahi and kaiako from Broadwood Area School for a guided tour and a glimpse into the world of brain research. We hope the visit was memorable — and perhaps even future-changing — for these students. Ngā mihi nui to Dr Thomas Park for organising such an inspiring experience.
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It's estimated that one in five New Zealanders will suffer from brain disease in their lifetimes. Disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and deafness affect hundreds of thousands of Kiwis every year. Neurological diseases are among the top five most common causes of death and long-term disability. The cost to families and society, both financially and socially, is enormous.
That's where the combined strengths of our scientific, clinical and community pillars will provide a platform for success. Our combined, complementary expertise and knowledge will be a powerful force to address the challenges of neurological disease.
We comprise over four hundred researchers at the University of Auckland, the leading neurologists, neurosurgeons and physicians from the Auckland regional District Health Boards and community non-governmental organisations.
The University of Auckland is one of the top-ranked universities in the world, and is internationally recognised for its neuroscience research. The Neurology and Neurosurgical Departments in Auckland are amongst the largest in Australasia. Doctors from Auckland District Health Board, working in partnership with other expert clinicians from Auckland and Northland DHBs, provide care for over a third of New Zealand’s population. Local and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) offer a rich network of support groups, rendering invaluable assistance to people and their whānau living with neurological disease.
Understanding the brain is the last frontier of medical research and one of the most challenging areas in medicine. By unlocking the secrets of the brain we learn more about ourselves, who we are and our future. Our discoveries have the potential to change the lives of people living with neurological disease.
