Samantha Murray

Samantha Murray is a Lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Sciences at Lincoln University, New Zealand. She specializes in neuroscience with a focus on sheep models of human neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Batten disease (Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis). Her research utilizes unique flocks of sheep that naturally develop Batten disease to study disease progression and test potential gene therapies.

Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of Auckland and a BSc (hons) from the University of Otago. Her research methodology encompasses genotyping, clinical assessments, neuroimaging, vision tests, maze testing, and post-mortem tissue analysis. Murray's work has progressed to the point of initiating an Investigational New Drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration, marking a significant milestone in translating sheep model research to human clinical trials.

Murray's research interests span neurodegenerative diseases, ocular disease, genetic diseases, lysosomal storage diseases, human and animal genetics, gene therapy, animal behavior, epigenetics, and bioethics. Her publication record demonstrates a strong focus on Batten disease research using sheep models, with particular emphasis on gene therapy approaches for CLN5 and CLN6 forms of the disease. Her work shows a progression from basic disease characterization to therapeutic development and clinical translation.

• Cure Kids New Zealand Project Grant
• Canterbury Medical Research Foundation project grant

Murray provides postgraduate supervision, having guided research on spinal cord pathology in ovine CLN5 and CLN6 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. She also teaches Protein Biochemistry (BICH633). Beyond her university role, she serves as Director of Equitas Care Ltd and Scientific Advisor to Huntington's Disease Youth Organisation of New Zealand. She is an active member of the Health Research Society of Canterbury executive committee, demonstrating her commitment to both research and community service in the medical field.