The Wire with Alex

This week, one of the biggest COVID-19 brain imaging studies was released from researchers in the UK. In the study, researchers looked at the results of 785 people before and after Covid-19 infection. The scans showed that those infected with Covid-19 display changes in areas of the brain that affect memory and smell, and that the virus may result in increased cognitive decline. To understand the study and its findings a little further, Frances caught up with Professor Maurice Curtis from the University of Auckland where he is the head of department in Anatomy and Medical Imaging. They talked about the results of the study and its implications for life going forward.

On the Tuesday Wire, Christina spoke to AUT Professor Marcus Jones for Dear Science. Today, they discussed Russia’s exclusion from the global scientific community, new variants of Covid-19, and when the pandemic might finally be over.

She also spoke to Professor Robert MacCulloch from the Univeristy of Auckland about Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nation speech at the weekend, and the economic breakdown of the National party’s proposed tax cuts.

Trishil spoke to Dr Alys Clarke from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute about her research into a virtual placenta. The application of the placenta will allow for clinical trials to occur during pregnancy.

Trishil also spoke to Professor Jennifer Kruger into her research into the femfit technology. The tech is designed to assist women with urinary incontience with exercising their pelvic floor muscles.

And finally, Christina spoke to Dr Gwyn Easterbrook-Smith from Massey University the representation of sex workers in the media, and the stigma attached to the sex industry nearly twenty years after sex work was decriminalised in Aotearoa.

Research into conditions such as Fetal Growth Restriction has been limited in scope as pregnant women are unable to be tested on. Through development in virtual organ research, the virtual placenta was devised to simulate clinical research to take place and assess the risks of conditions like FGR on pregnant women and the likely survival of the child.

Trishil Dahya spoke to Doctor Alys Clark about her research and how it led to the development of the virtual placenta. The conversation also touched on the future application of virtual organ research and virtual clinical trials.

In his State of the Nation speech on Sunday, leader of the National Party Christopher Luxon outlined national’s economic agenda for if they get elected in 2023. This includes lowering taxes and repealing many of the taxes Labour has introduced since taking power in 2017. Christina spoke with Professor Robert MacCulloch, a professor of economics at the University of Auckland, about the proposed tax plan and what it means for the economy.