The hunt to find the one in a billion molecule

13 August 2026

Auckland Bioengineering Institute, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The Challenge, Future of health and wellbeing

Inside the quest for the next breakthrough drug to treat diseases of the brain.

Molecule hunt: (from left) Dr Rebecca Johnson, Dr Daniel Conole and Associate Professor Jack Flanaghan. Image: Neurological Foundation
Molecule hunt: (from left) Dr Rebecca Johnson, Dr Daniel Conole and Associate Professor Jack Flanaghan. Image: Neurological Foundation

SPECIAL FEATURE: Researchers from the Centre for Brain Research, the Auckland Bioengineering Institute and the Department of Cancer Sciences are combing through one billion molecules to find the next treatment for brain disease.

Media contact: Gilbert Wong, gilbert.wong@auckland.ac.nz