What we do Learn how images of our brains are helping scientists to better understand what changes happen in our brains and how this is connected to neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease.
Dr Tracy Melzer is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch, and the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) Research Manager at the New Zealand Brain Research Institute (NZBRI). He works within the Parkinson’s disease research group that has recruited one of the world’s largest single-centre cohorts of well-characterised Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with MRI data. This cohort is unique and is the result of years of effort from many members of the NZBRI and a large group of volunteers, both with and without Parkinson’s disease.
The fascinating physics making MRI possible originally sparked his interest in the imaging technique. From this initial attraction to the physics evolved an even greater passion – using imaging techniques to study health and disease. During his talk, which you can watch below, Dr Melzer discusses his exciting research including the role he has in the longitudinal Parkinson’s disease study and what the future holds for this study and for neuroimaging. He also discusses some of the other research he has had a role in at the NZBRI collaborating with other scientists and clinicians.
Watch Dr Tracy Melzer's talk
If you'd like to learn more about Parkinson's research we have more articles available on our website:
Parkinson’s disease research from the New Zealand Brain Research Institute
The Christchurch Longitudinal Parkinson’s Study
Stay active and Counter Parkinson’s Disease with non-contact Boxing
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