MRI Assessment of Brain Development in At Risk Newborn Babies

Newborn babies are vulnerable to brain injury, such as that caused by preterm birth, inadequate nutrition, and low blood glucose levels. Understanding how growth and maturation of the newborn brain are affected by these factors would help design better ways to feed and care for babies at risk.

This project will involve obtaining and analysing brain MRI data from preterm newborns and from older children.

The objective is to determine the relationship between early nutrition and glucose levels in preterm and at-risk babies, and later brain development as assessed by MRI.

Funding notes:

This project is available to students able to attract funding stipends, e.g. via university or international scholarships. If you have a GPA of 8.0 or more and you completed your most recent qualifying programme at a New Zealand university, you’ll be supported throughout your PhD study by a University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship, which gives you a NZ$27,300 tax-free stipend (plus tuition fees) every year for three years. If your GPA is less than 8.0, there may still be scholarships available - you can discuss this with your potential supervisor or the academic director.

There are no international fees for PhD students: as long as you live in New Zealand during your period of enrolment you will pay the same as New Zealanders.