Lay summary
I am a fourth year Māori medical student intending to complete an honours research year with the Centre for Brain Research in 2023. Malignant brain tumours such as Glioblastoma have concerningly high relative mortality rates in Māori and Pacific Island (PI) populations, and are difficult to treat due to the complex differing intra-tumoural microenvironments (TMEs). In this research project I intend to develop skillsets to obtain biological information from histopathological stains of glioblastomic tumours from Māori and PI populations, which will then be incorporated into machine-based learning algorithms currently in development by my supervisor (Dr Park) and his collaborators. These have the potential not only to digitally define pathologically relevant TMEs, but also any unique to Māori and PI populations, subsequently enabling tailoring of prognostic approaches and treatment. This research may also assist development of a digital diagnostic model for brain tumours incorporating otherwise underrepresented Māori- and PI- specific data.