ABOUT THE SPEAKER AND TOPIC

Bronwen Connor is a Professor in Pharmacology and head of the Neural Reprogramming and Repair Lab at the University of Auckland Centre for Brain Research. Bronwen is a graduate of the University of Auckland, graduating with a BSc in Pharmacology and Physiology in 1994 and a PhD in Neuropharmacology in 1997. Bronwen was awarded the first Philip Wrightson Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Neurological Foundation to studying the potential use of gene therapy for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease at Northwestern University in Chicago. She returned to the University of Auckland in 2000 to run her own research group.

Bronwen’s research has focused on the development of new treatments for neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis, and for the treatment of anxiety and depression.

In 2012 Bronwen developed a unique technology allowing the “reprogramming” of human skin cells directly to brain stem cells. Bronwen will present her latest research using direct cell reprogramming to investigate the cause of Huntington’s disease and identify new drug targets as well as the potential to use this technology for brain cell replacement therapy. 

ABOUT THE EVENT

This event will be held in the Taiwhanga Kauhau Auditorium at the National Library of New Zealand

The doors for registration and seating will open at 6.00 pm. There will be a mix and mingle period after the event with the speaker where refreshments and food will be served.

There are some accessible parking spaces up Molesworth Street, between the Library building and Rugby House, but these spaces can't be booked.