KEY POINTS:
A PhD student whose work could lead to a cure for Huntington's disease has emerged as the country's top young scientist.
Jessie Jacobsen was named the 2007 MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year last night in Auckland for creating human DNA containing the gene that causes the fatal brain disorder, and replicating it in sheep.
The 25-year-old's work could potentially accelerate treatment for Huntington's, a disease for which there is at present no cure.
People with the HD gene frequently show no symptoms until they are in their 30s or 40s, making it difficult for scientists to study the progression of the disease.
By creating a DNA model of the disease in sheep, Ms Jacobsen has created the world's first large transgenic animal model for a neurodegenerative disorder. Researchers have to date largely been confined to rat and mouse models.
"They're brilliant in terms of initial screening but because they live for a relatively short period of time, you don't ever get that really big window pre-symptomatically from which you can trial drugs," said Ms Jacobsen, who is completing a doctorate in neurogenetics and neuroanatomy at Auckland University.
"Because sheep live for 10 to 15 years, we're hoping to have at least a two-year gap before they develop symptoms so we can try to figure out a way to halt the disease before it starts.
"The other thing which make sheep really attractive is that their brain structure is actually remarkably similar to humans.
"The regions which go in Huntington's disease early in the human disease are very clearly defined in the sheep brain, so there's a lot more to eating grass than we think."
The project to create a large animal model had been developing for three years when Ms Jacobsen joined the research team in 2003.
It took her a year to crack the secret of creating a transgene (a piece of human DNA containing the Huntington's gene) that could be injected into a ewe's eggs.
As part of a wider project, the scientists are in regular contact with people with the condition.
"They talk about their decision as to whether they should have kids or not. That's been huge in terms of it really helping you focus on why you're really doing the research.
"It kind of inspires you when you feel like you just can't keep going sometimes if something seems impossible."
Two of six lambs which have tested positive for the gene will be used to be build up a flock. They will be bred in Adelaide and kept in containment. Most medical advances in the past century have been made using animals.
One of Ms Jacobsen's supervisors, Dr Russell Snell, said creating the transgene was a huge challenge and there was scepticism from the international scientific community.
"It took sheer persistence as well as intelligence and problem-solving skills on Jessie's part." Drug trials on the sheep could begin within three years, said Dr Snell.
Ms Jacobsen's award includes a cash prize of $10,000 and a trip to the British Association of Science Festival in September.
