Neurological Diagnostics: Dineo Mpe’s Journey from South Africa to New Zealand
Innovations in Neurological Diagnostics:
A Journey from South Africa to New Zealand
Originally from South Africa, Dineo Mpe and her family moved to New Zealand, where she completed high school in Whangarei. She then graduated from medical school in Auckland and now works as a research fellow for the Eye Institute, the Vision Research Foundation, and the Mātai Medical Research Institute.
Dineo is involved in innovative research projects, including developing new treatments for pterygium and creating extended depth of focus lenses for glaucoma patients. Her research aims to advance ophthalmic care and improve patient outcomes.
In April, Dineo visited Gisborne to meet the Mātai team and observe their work. This visit reinforced her interest in contributing to their groundbreaking projects.
One of her most exciting projects is the “Hole in the Head” initiative, which addresses the challenge of raised intracranial pressure (ICP). This serious condition can lead to brain injury, blindness, coma, stroke, or death. Current methods to measure ICP are invasive and risky. The project aims to develop a non-invasive technique using advanced MRI to measure brain motion and create a computational model of brain pressure. This could revolutionize neurological diagnostics by providing a safer, non-invasive way to monitor ICP.
This project has the potential to significantly improve early diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions, leading to better patient outcomes and advancing our understanding of brain health.
Through her work, Dineo is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of medical science, especially in neurological diagnostics. The “Hole in the Head” project exemplifies the future of non-invasive brain pressure measurement and its potential to transform patient care.
