Research Studies at UOC

Canterbury Chronic Diseases Study

A chronic disease is a disease that is long-lasting or recurrent. Examples of chronic diseases include inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, gout, asthma, autoimmune hepatitis, ankylosing spondylitis.

Christchurch Family Heart Study

First-degree relatives of patients who develop coronary heart disease at a young age have twice the heart disease risk because of shared lifestyle risk factors and genetic predisposition.

Hauora Manawa: Heart Health - The Community Heart Study

There is a major disparity between Maori and non-Maori in cardiovascular mortality, and currently the available data on cardiovascular disease in Maori has mostly been obtained from mortality (death rates) or hospital statistics.

New Zealand Familial Breast Cancer Study

The NZFBCS has the key goal of better understanding DNA sequence changes in genes that alter the risk of developing breast cancer through cutting-edge research with cancer experts from around the world.

New Zealand Retinoblastoma Gene Testing Service

Gene testing is a powerful tool to assist clinicians in deciding the best approach for managing children and family members who may be predisposed to retinoblastoma.

Smoking Cessation and Rheumatoid Arthritis

A rheumatoid arthritis (RA) specific smoking cessation programme has been developed based on research undertaken by Pip Aimer from the Department of Medicine.

This programme is currently being piloted in patients with RA with the help of Arthritis NZ.

Understanding Families with Mental Disorder Study

Many mental and neuropsychological developmental disorders tend to run in families. Having an affected member also often impacts on the family.

We plan to get a better understanding of families with mental and neuropsychological developmental disorders by focusing on heritable traits, personality, and cognitive and psychosocial functioning.

VIDARIS

VIDARIS is a double blind randomised placebo controlled trial investigating the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the incidence and/or severity of acute respiratory infections-colds and flu in adults.

Vitamin C Status Study

We invite you to take part in a study investigating the uptake of vitamin C from kiwifruit compared with a vitamin C supplement.

You are invited to take part in the study if you are a non-smoking male aged 18 – 30 years, with a low fruit and vegetable diet, and are not taking any regular medications or vitamin C containing supplements.

We require male students aged 18-35 years who currently reside in Christchurch to participate in a study investigating blood plasma vitamin C levels.