Thursday, 9 July 2020
Otago researchers studying the COVID-19 virus (SARS-2) have discovered potential target points on its genome, which may contribute to future treatments for the virus.
Wednesday, 8 July 2020
The 1st of July 2020 marked a significant milestone in the career of Warren Tate as he took up his new position in the Department, as Emeritus Professor.
Monday, 6 July 2020
Thanks to the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand, two new research projects investigating neurodegenerative diseases will go ahead this year in the Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal disease laboratory at Otago Biochemistry.
Wednesday, 1 July 2020
The University of Otago announced the appointment of Professor Helen Nicholson as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, today. Professor Nicholson will take up the new role in January 2021.
Wednesday, 1 July 2020
Otago Biochemists Professor Catherine Day and Dr Adam Middleton have secured $1.2 million for a new research project looking into the details of how we defend ourselves against invading viruses.
Tuesday, 23 June 2020
New University of Otago research provides insight into how males influence their mates’ health, growth and fertility.
Monday, 22 June 2020
As older New Zealanders have borne the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic, an Otago researcher warns there needs to be an emphasis on addressing older people’s future needs and to help reduce ageing inequities.
Tuesday, 16 June 2020
New University of Otago research sheds light on guinea pig domestication and how and why the small, furry animals became distributed around the world.
Monday, 8 June 2020
Some sufferers of Covid-19 are reporting symptoms related to the brain and nervous system, such as dizziness, headache, seizures, and risk of stroke; this phenomenon has motivated a trio of scientists here at Otago to investigate further.
Thursday, 4 June 2020
From a 10-child family in Whanganui to the fabled corridors of New York’s Ivy League Columbia University – it’s been a remarkable journey for Tom Devine.
Thursday, 28 May 2020
A collaboration between Otago and ESR has received a substantial government grant to lead an international team of scientists to sequence the genomes of all of New Zealand’s positive COVID-19 cases and track how the virus spread across New Zealand.
Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Congratulations to Otago Biochemistry Research Fellow Dr Megan Leask, who has been awarded an HRC Emerging Research First Grant to investigate genes associated with chronic kidney disease and gout in Māori and Pacific people.
Tuesday, 26 May 2020
A method to help improve testing for COVID-19, first promoted by a University of Otago researcher, is being used worldwide as countries struggle to manage high demand for testing.
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
Otago Biochemistry MSc student Tyler McCourt has been awarded the 2020 Joan Mary Anderson Award in Plant science.
Thursday, 23 April 2020
Detecting the presence of COVID-19 in sewage could become an important tool to monitor the virus and help uncover pockets of infection.
Tuesday, 7 April 2020
A high-security Physical Containment Laboratory (PC3) at the University of Otago’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, is undertaking research to isolate and grow SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, with samples taken from infected individuals.
Monday, 6 April 2020
Despite the lockdown and the scramble to get the Department’s teaching online, Otago Biochemistry research teams are continuing their science…
Wednesday, 25 March 2020
Lectures will continue online after a one-week break, as Otago Department of Biochemistry staff work from home during the Level 4 Covid-19 alert.
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
The Department of Biochemistry is busy planning for teaching to continue during any disruption of the university due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Friday, 13 March 2020
Congratulations to the Otago Biochemistry students who received scholarships from outside the Department in recognition of their academic achievements as undergraduates last year.
Monday, 9 March 2020
Associate Professor Steph Hughes undertook her first task as the new Director of the Brain Health Research Centre last week: chairing the Centre's launch of 2020’s Brain Awareness Week.
Friday, 6 March 2020
Brain Awareness Week starts this weekend. Otago’s very own Brain Health Research Centre brings research together from across departments, and during Brain Awareness Week there are many opportunities to get involved and learn more.
Friday, 7 February 2020
Jennifer Palmer, Otago Biochemistry’s top 300-level student in 2019, has also been awarded the prestigious Prince of Wales Prize.
Thursday, 6 February 2020
As of February 1st, three lecturers at Otago Biochemistry have new titles; Richard Macknight is now a professor, and Peter Mace and Paul Gardner are now associate professors.
Wednesday, 5 February 2020
Another chapter in the history of the Department of Biochemistry has passed, with its leadership handed over at a special dinner last Friday at Plato Restaurant.
Tuesday, 28 January 2020
The Otago Department of Biochemistry is proud to announce the winners of the 2019 student academic awards: Jennifer Palmer (300-level Edson Prize), Helena Cooper (400-level Edson Prize), Sarah Robinson and Jasper Struwig (joint winners, Petersen Prize), Shannon White (Mervyn Smith Prize).
Tuesday, 28 January 2020
High school students from across New Zealand got to explore their own personal biochemistry last week, when they visited the Department and sampled life at Otago University.
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.
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.
