Researchers from Mātai Medical Research Institute in Gisborne are helping develop a new MRI scan method, which they say can detect subtle brain lesions in multiple sclerosis patients not seen on current state-of-the-art scans.
A new MRI method developed by the team at the Mātai Medical Research Institute detects subtle brain lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients that are not seen on current state-of-the-art scans. The new method provides ten times more contrast than conventional methods and shows promise for earlier detection and more precise monitoring of MS.
In the summer of 2024/25, Mātai was able to offer local summer internships to 16 students.
From cutting-edge medical imaging to bioengineering, leadership, innovative research, and mātauranga Māori, our Mātai Summer Internship Programme gave 16 outstanding interns the chance to tackle real-world health challenges.
Thanks to the generous support of community funders, 19 school leavers in 2024 received Mātai scholarships.
Mātai has continued to grow its annual scholarship awards for local students heading to university.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand, and there are significant disparities in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. A contribution of $50,000 and a further $50,000 pledge from the Perpetual Guardian Foundation’s Medical Research Fund, underpinned by two legacies, is supporting an advanced approach to prostate cancer diagnosis with holistic benefits for New Zealand. The pathway has so far enabled more accurate scans of around 100 men in Gisborne-Tairāwhiti and is part of a joint funding effort that is helping to pave the way to potentially save thousands of lives.
New Zealand scientists at the forefront of global brain science breakthroughs with five papers involving Mātai and New Zealand teams published in UK Royal Society Journal.
The brain doesn’t just think — it moves, subtly pulsing with every heartbeat. Now, scientists from New Zealand and across the globe are exploring how these tiny movements and fluid shifts may hold the key to understanding brain health, ageing, and disease.
Two years ago, Cyclone Gabrielle devastated our communities, leaving many whānau and organisations struggling to rebuild. In response, the Mātai Tairāwhiti Relief Fund (MTRF) was launched to provide vital financial and material support.
Thanks to your generosity, the fund raised $535,567 – with a special shout out to the Auckland RUM Club raffle, which contributed an incredible $283,000. Every dollar donated went directly to those in need, offering both immediate relief and long-term recovery support.
Today, we reflect on the strength of our community and the ongoing journey of resilience. Read the full 2nd anniversary update below.
Researchers from Stanford and Mātaī have developed 3D Quantitative Amplified MRI (3D q-aMRI), a quick scan that quantifies tiny brain movements that are invisible on standard cardiac-gated structural MRI scans. This builds on the amplified MRI technique that magnifies subtle brain movements caused by blood flow to the brain as the heart beats. This could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of brain disorders.
Nearly half of the world’s population experience a mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)/concussion at some point in their lives. Recent findings using a new Ultra-High Contrast (UHC) MRI technique, divided subtracted inversion recovery (dSIR), are a major leap forward in the ability to detect and understand the underlying changes to the brain after traumatic injury.