Helen Murray
| Helen Murray | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
3 September 1990 New Zealand | ||
| Height | 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| National team |
 New Zealand | ||
| Playing career | 2013–present | ||
| Scientific career | |||
| Thesis | |||
Helen C. Murray (born 3 September 1990) is a New Zealand neuroscientist and ice hockey forward. As captain of the New Zealand women's national ice hockey team, Murray has played a key leadership role on and off the ice.[1] She made her debut with the senior national team at the 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship Division II, quickly establishing herself as a core member of the squad. Her dedication, skill, and leadership qualities led to her appointment as team captain in 2016.[2][3]
Alongside her athletic achievements, Murray has built an impressive academic career in neuroscience, with a specialized focus on Alzheimer's disease. She divides her research time between the world-renowned National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States and the Centre for Brain Research at the University of Auckland, where she conducts advanced studies into the mechanisms of neurodegeneration.[4][5] In 2017, she completed her doctoral studies with a thesis titled Plasticity in the Human Alzheimer’s Disease Brain, which explored the brain’s capacity to adapt and reorganize in the face of neurodegenerative changes. Her work contributes to the global effort to understand better and eventually treat Alzheimer’s disease, bridging clinical research and academic insight.[6]
Murray's ability to balance two highly demanding careers, both at the international level of sport and in cutting-edge biomedical research. Her leadership, both in the laboratory and on the rink, has made her a role model in two very different fields. She continues to advocate for women in science and sport, using her platform to inspire the next generation of researchers and athletes alike.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ simon.collins@nzherald.co.nz, Simon Collins Education reporter, NZ Herald (24 September 2017). "The ice-skating captain who is a brain scientist". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Driven New Zealand women's team comes to train in 'hockey heaven'". Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Montroy, Liz (8 September 2017). "Advancing Female Ice Hockey in New Zealand". Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ "Dr Helen Murray: The best of both worlds – The University of Auckland". www.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
- ^ Murray, Helen C.; Swanson, Molly E. V.; Dieriks, B. Victor; Turner, Clinton; Faull, Richard L. M.; Curtis, Maurice A. (21 February 2018). "Neurochemical Characterization of PSA-NCAM+ Cells in the Human Brain and Phenotypic Quantification in Alzheimer's Disease Entorhinal Cortex". Neuroscience. 372: 289–303. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.12.019. ISSN 0306-4522. PMID 29429526. S2CID 24680197.
- ^ Murray, Helen (2017). Plasticity in the Human Alzheimer’s Disease Brain (Doctoral thesis). ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland. hdl:2292/35012.
- ^ "Former New Zealand Captain Dr. Helen Murray Continues to Lead With CTE Research". Retrieved 17 June 2025.
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com
