Louise Parr-Brownlie

Louise Parr-Brownlie
MNZM
Parr-Brownlie in 2025
Born
Auckland
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Otago
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Otago, MBIE
Main interestsneurodegenerative disease

Louise Claire Parr-Brownlie MNZM is a New Zealand neuroscientist, and is a full professor at the University of Otago, specialising in neurodegenerative diseases and treatment of Parkinson's disease. She was director of the National Science Challenge Ageing Well, Kia eke kairangi ki te taikaumātuatanga from 2020 to 2023. In 2025 she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to neuroscience.

Background and education

Parr-Brownlie is Maori, and affiliates to the Ngāti Maniapoto and Te Arawa iwi.[1] She was born in Auckland, and attended Long Bay College.[2] She attended the University of Otago, completing a Bachelor of Physical Education,[2] then a Master of Science degree in 1999,[3] followed by a PhD in 2003.[4]

Academic career

After her PhD, Parr-Brownlie carried out post-doctoral research at the National Institutes of Health in the US,[5] and in 2010 joined the faculty of the University of Otago, rising to associate professor in February 2020 and full professor in 2023.[6][7]

Parr-Brownlie's research seeks to understand the causes of Parkinson's disease, in order to develop treatments. She has studied how changes in individual brain cells and groups of cells can affect movement in the body,[8] and has explored optogenetics, the use of light, to trigger changes in brain cells to try to improve movements in Parkinsonian rats.[2][9][10]

Parr-Brownlie joined the Ageing Well National Science Challenge as deputy director in 2018, and then became director in 2020.[11] She was Chair of the organisation Rauika Māngai, which was a collective of leaders of the National Science Challenges and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, Aotearoa New Zealand’s Centre of Māori Research Excellence.[11] Parr-Brownlie left the directorship of Ageing Well in 2023 when she was appointed departmental science Advisor to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.[12][13][14] She was also a member of the Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence.[13]

Parr-Brownlie is on the board of the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies and was a member of the Health Research Council's Biomedical Research Committee from 2021 to 2023.[1][15][16] She served as the deputy chairwoman of the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand science advisory committee.[13]

She is the secretary of the International Basal Ganglia Society Council.[15][5]

Honours and awards

In the 2014 Women of Influence Awards, Parr-Brownlie was a finalist in the Innovation and Science category.[17] In the 2025 New Year Honours, Parr-Brownlie was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to neuroscience.[1]

In 2025, the Rotary Club of Gore presented Parr-Brownlie with a $10,000 donation towards her research.[18]

Selected works

References

  1. ^ a b c "Investiture Ceremony 3 May 2025 PM | The Governor-General of New Zealand". gg.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Neuroscientist Louise Parr-Brownlie" (PDF). New Zealand Association of Science Educators. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  3. ^ Parr-Brownlie, Louise Claire (May 1999). The effect of movement parameters on reaction time and movement time in a rat model of the movement precuing technique (Master of Science thesis). University of Otago. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  4. ^ Parr-Brownlie, Louise (2003). Neurophysiological and behavioural changes in rat models of Parkinson's disease (PhD). University of Otago. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b "IBAGS Council". International Basal Ganglia Society (IBAGS). Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Promotions celebrate Otago academics' contributions". Otago Daily Times Online News. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  7. ^ Richardson, Rebecca (13 February 2023). "Promotion for Ageing Well Director". Ageing Well National Science Challenge. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  8. ^ "University research gets a $600,000 boost". Otago Daily Times Online News. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Grants a delight to researchers". Otago Daily Times Online News. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Why this $50m Otago Uni building was opened with little fanfare". Otago Daily Times Online News. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  11. ^ a b Richardson, Rebecca (7 August 2023). "Challenge says haere rā to Director". Ageing Well National Science Challenge. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  12. ^ Otago, University of (18 August 2023). "Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie appointed Departmental Science Advisor to MBIE". www.otago.ac.nz. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  13. ^ a b c Lewis, John (23 August 2023). "Otago academic gets new role". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  14. ^ "MBIE welcomes 2 new departmental science advisors". Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie | Te Whai Ao — Dodd-Walls Centre". www.doddwalls.ac.nz. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Biomedical Research Committee". Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  17. ^ Kenny, Katie (30 September 2014). "Leading Maori neuroscientist wants to right the gender balance". Waikato Times. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  18. ^ "$10k to fight Parkinson's". Otago Daily Times Online News. 11 June 2025. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
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