Tuesday, 14 January 2020
A University of Otago researcher has made an innovative discovery which paves the way for advances in treating cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure.
Friday, 20 December 2019
A remarkable 5000-year-old skeleton suggests human dwarfism was both accepted and respected in life and death in ancient China, research by a University of Otago bio-archaeologist shows.
Thursday, 19 December 2019
On Wednesday afternoon, Otago biochemists assembled at the Alhambra Union Rugby Football Club to celebrate the many successes of 2019, drown the memories of failed experiments, and to thank the many people who work so hard to support the Otago Department of Biochemistry and its students.
Thursday, 19 December 2019
Staff from the department's Clinical Anatomy Research Group today lay flowers in memory of those who have donated their body to the Department for medical science teaching and research.
Monday, 16 December 2019
Three Physiology staff were amongst the winners at the School of Biomedical Sciences annual awards this week.
Friday, 13 December 2019
Crowds of graduands and their families descended on the Otago Department of Biochemistry this week to celebrate the completion of degrees in Biochemistry, Genetics, Biomedical Sciences and Applied Sciences.
Thursday, 12 December 2019
On Tuesday afternoon, the School of Biomedical Sciences held its annual Awards & End of Year Celebration at the Hunter Centre.
Wednesday, 11 December 2019
University of Otago researchers have discovered how viruses that specifically kill bacteria can outwit bacteria by hiding from their defences, findings which are important for the development of new antimicrobials based on viruses and provide a significant advance in biological knowledge.
Monday, 9 December 2019
Kids from five Dunedin primary schools were plunged into the world of molecules that keep us alive when scientists from Otago's Department of Biochemistry visited in the past few weeks.
Friday, 29 November 2019
As the Dunedin heat built up last Friday, many scientists were found to be sheltering from the unusual weather conditions in the cool comfort of the Fullwood Room, in the Dunedin Town Hall. The Otago Microbiology & Immunology and Biochemistry Research Celebration is held every two years, and encourages researchers from the two departments to meet en masse, prising themselves out of their labs to share their research stories and find out what is happening in the building next door.
Monday, 25 November 2019
An Otago scientist has been digging up human remains in the backyards of Uzbek villagers to discover how people lived in the Middle Ages.
Thursday, 14 November 2019
The University of Otago’s newest award-winning early-career researcher Dr Anna Gosling says a Māori proverb – “ka mura, ka muri” (we walk backwards into the future) – is a focus for her work.
Tuesday, 12 November 2019
One of Otago’s leading scientists has been flying under the radar while soaring to success on the world stage – until now.
Friday, 8 November 2019
Otago Biochemists are celebrating the results of the 2019 Marsden Fund applications this week, with five imaginative and exciting projects led by researchers in the Department of Biochemistry chosen for funding support.
Monday, 4 November 2019
From Otago farm boy to cutting-edge genetic scientist, Dr Tim Hore’s story is one of constant progress.
Thursday, 31 October 2019
A University of Otago researcher is hoping to discover how long-forgotten colonial settlers and miners lived, after being awarded an important research fellowship.
Wednesday, 30 October 2019
Any university is, by design, a domain of high achievers, of those with a thirst and a quest for pushing the boundaries of what can be understood, what can be learned and what can be taught.
Thursday, 24 October 2019
A staff member who has been at Otago for 33 years is the recipient of this year’s Award for Exceptional Performance by a member of Professional Staff.
Thursday, 24 October 2019
The mental health and wellbeing of those around her is important to Rachel Kinnaird. Her dedication and commitment to provide a healthy work environment for her team and raise awareness of positive wellbeing within the Department of Anatomy has seen her awarded the University of Otago Excellence Award in Health and Safety (Individual) for 2019.
Monday, 21 October 2019
Children in Central Otago learned about the wonders of the human brain earlier this month, thanks to an initiative by Brain Research New Zealand, and volunteers from the Universities of Otago and Auckland.
Wednesday, 16 October 2019
A group of staff in Otago’s Department of Anatomy are this week sporting a sense of achievement, and also sore calf muscles, after taking part in Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand’s Stadium Climb Challenge at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday.
Monday, 30 September 2019
Otago Biochemistry research into a seaweed protein and ice formation have inspired the creation of two beautiful artworks: a knitted cowl and a piece of contemporary embroidery, part of a recent exhibition of art inspired by science held at the Otago Museum.
Wednesday, 25 September 2019
A quintessential Kiwi landscape usually includes green pastures dotted with livestock munching on healthy, vibrant grass.
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Yesterday, the newly-minted University of Otago Postdoctoral Association hosted a very successful careers symposium for early career scientists. The keynote address was given by Professor Juliet Gerrard, the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor.
Thursday, 19 September 2019
The Department of Anatomy held its annual Thanksgiving Service in Dunedin recently. Family and friends of our donors, along with staff and students attended the service to honour and remember those generous people who have donated their body to medical science teaching and research.
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Otago Biochemistry is celebrating this week after finding out that Associate Professor Richard Macknight and Dr Lynette Brownfield have successfully won funding from the Endeavour Fund for their project to improve New Zealand’s most important source of food for cows and sheep: ryegrass.
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
A group of New Zealand’s leading plant scientists are calling for a law change, allowing them to use modern plant breeding technologies, which could be highly beneficial to New Zealand and the world.
Tuesday, 17 September 2019
Earlier this month Otago’s Professor Neil Gemmell travelled to Scotland to reveal the findings of his environmental DNA study of Loch Ness. Anticipating an avalanche of global media attention, Senior Communications Adviser Mark Hathaway accompanied him. He writes about the experience for the Otago Bulletin Board.
Tuesday, 17 September 2019
Queenstown Research Week this year was bustling with Otago Biochemistry researchers, who contributed as invited speakers, poster presenters, general delegates, and organisers. The biological science extravaganza is a cluster of meetings co-ordinated into one week, held each September. Attendees come to learn about the latest research carried out around New Zealand, do a little science networking, and enjoy the bonus of some of New Zealand’s most spectacular scenery.
Friday, 6 September 2019
An Otago scientist has cast major doubt on the existence of a monster in Scotland’s Loch Ness, suggesting instead that it might be a giant eel.
Thursday, 5 September 2019
A University of Otago scientist is concerned there could be a considerable number of Kiwis unaware they have ALK positive lung cancer as Pharmac is looking to fund Alecensa, a drug to treat this particular cancer.
Thursday, 5 September 2019
University of Otago geneticist, Professor Neil Gemmell can today announce the results of investigations into the environmental DNA present in the British Isles largest and second deepest body of fresh water, Loch Ness.
Wednesday, 4 September 2019
They may not have been seen for the past 50 and 110 years, but an international study into their extinction has provided answers to how the world lost New Zealand’s South Island kōkako and huia.
Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Is there a solution to bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics? One answer may be found by studying the world’s largest and most brutal army, new University of Otago microbiology research shows.
Thursday, 15 August 2019
A breakthrough in monkey malaria research by two University of Otago scientists could help scientists diagnose and treat a relapsing form of human malaria.
Tuesday, 13 August 2019
In an interview with Jack Tame on TVNZ's Q + A programme last night, Professor Peter Dearden clearly explained why it is time for New Zealand to re-think genetic technologies.
Friday, 9 August 2019
We are all familiar with the common myth that fish have poor memory, but it turns that their DNA has the capacity to hold much more memory than that of humans.
Tuesday, 30 July 2019
When Dr Judith Bateup recognised New Zealand school leavers had an alarming lack of microbiology knowledge she decided to do something about it.
Wednesday, 24 July 2019
A new line of research is proposed at Otago to discover whether there are physiological reasons for higher instances of cardiovascular disease in Pasifika peoples.
Tuesday, 16 July 2019
Congratulations to Dr Bahn who has been awarded a $60K grant for his project "Identification of oxypurinol transporters to decipher drug-drug interactions in gout treatment”
Thursday, 11 July 2019
A University of Otago-led study is heralding advances in our understanding of one of the most startling transformations in the natural world – the complete reversal of sex that occurs in about 500 species of fish.
Tuesday, 2 July 2019
University of Otago scientists are part of an international research collaboration which has made an important discovery in the quest to lower global agricultural methane emissions.
Friday, 28 June 2019
Cycling at the end of July may not be everybody's cup of tea but when you are raising money for the Heart Foundation and doing it indoors, anyone can join in – and you don't even have to wear lycra!
Thursday, 27 June 2019
Three projects lead by principal investigators based in Otago Biochemistry have been awarded funding of about $1.2 million each, which will push forward exciting research at the molecular level that will one day underpin improved treatments for a diverse range of diseases.
Wednesday, 26 June 2019
With successful operations in the small Otago towns of Milton and Lawrence complete, the University of Otago’s Otago Historic Cemeteries Bioarchaeology Project is now looking to partner with the historic Drybread Cemetery, deep in the heart of Central Otago.
Thursday, 6 June 2019
Emma Muir graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in May, wearing a beautiful dress that she painstakingly hand-embroidered herself.
Tuesday, 4 June 2019
Researchers from the Department of Biochemistry had a great time sharing their research with the rest of the Otago School of Biomedical Sciences last week at the annual BMS Postgraduate Symposium held at the Otago Museum.
Tuesday, 21 May 2019
The University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with one of China’s oldest universities last week, formalising a working relationship between researchers at the two institutions.
Tuesday, 14 May 2019
Congratulations to everyone who graduated with a degree from the Otago Biochemistry Department on Saturday.
Tuesday, 7 May 2019
An Otago bioarchaeologist was among a group of international archaeologists who made an exciting discovery of a “ritual bundle” in Bolivia and using chemical analysis helped unravel clues about the use of psychoactive plants for ritual purposes in the South American country a thousand years ago.
Friday, 3 May 2019
Following the Government’s move to increase access to medicinal cannabis, two University of Otago scientists are cautioning that in any future changes cannabis products should be held to the same standards as other medicines.
Thursday, 8 February 2018
Biochemistry and Plant Biotechnology student Bridget Thomas has won the prestigious Prince of Wales Prize, University of Otago’s premier undergraduate award, awarded to the most outstanding student completing an undergraduate or honours degree.
