CHIRI Director Prof. John Mamo, Prof. Manny Noakes and Prof. Lindy Fitzgerald.

Another successful Symposium of Western Australian Neuroscience (SWAN) may be behind us but it’s fresh in the minds of many at the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) who are celebrating their involvement in the two-day event.

A total of around 190 people participated at various stages throughout the program, which featured an impressive line-up of international, national and local speakers, covering areas of neuroscience including dementia, neurotrauma, demyelinating disorders, sensory neuroscience, neuroscience of addiction, neuromuscular conditions, stroke and movement.

CHIRI sponsored the event, including a public lecture by internationally-recognised key opinion leader and trusted advisor in nutrition and health, Professor Manny Noakes, was well-attended and, as the topic promised, provided much food for thought.

Manny, who is currently an Adjunct Research Professor with the University of South Australia and a member of the Nutrition Society of Australia, brought together neuroscience and nutrition to explore connections between the mind and diet.

CHIRI researcher, Associate Professor Ryu Takechi, presented at the symposium, providing a cerebrovascular perspective of diabetes-associated cognitive decline.

Dr Virginie Lam receiving her certificate.

CHIRI’s Research Fellow Dr Virginie Lam and PhD student May Majimbi (both from the School of Public Health) skillfully co-chaired a session on Neuroscience of Addiction and Psychosis before Virginie achieved a swansong at the event – taking home the Best Poster Award in Early Career Researcher category. Virginie’s poster presented her research on ‘Paradoxical effects of dietary saturated fatty acids on cerebrovascular integrity, neuroinflammation and cognitive performance in murine model of accelerated ageing’.

Neurosciences (brain health) is one of the four key pillars in CHIRI’s focus on preventing chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis, which are more likely to occur with ageing.

Delegates received a dedicated flyer outlining some of CHIRI’s neuroscience-focused lines of research enquiry: Download the flyer

Congratulations to the organising team, including Prof. Lindy Fitzgerald (CHIRI/Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Sciences), on another great symposium. This year’s SWAN reached a record-degree of engagement for the symposium in recent years, which is testament to its growing reach and impact.