Contact Details
- Phone
- +64 22 306 1494
- thomas.pirker@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
University Links
- Position
- MBChB/PhD Student
- Department
- Department of Medicine (Christchurch)
- Iwi affiliations
- Kai Tahu
- Research summary
- Medical and PhD Student investigating the role of protein suPAR in heart attacks
- Memberships
- Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand
Research
Thomas Pirker is a medical and PhD student at the University of Otago, Christchurch, enrolled in the intercalated MBChB/PhD programme. He is conducting his doctoral research at the Christchurch Heart Institute, where he has developed a strong interest in cardiovascular health.
As part of his PhD, Thomas has taken two years away from his medical training to investigate the role of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in myocardial function. His research utilises a range of experimental models, including ex vivo and in vivo models of myocardial ischaemia, as well as understanding pathways involved in suPAR singalling.
Publications
Pirker, T., & Al-Busaidi, I. S. (2026). Strengthening pandemic preparedness: A thematic analysis of frontline healthcare workers' perspectives during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Aotearoa New Zealand: A reflexive thematic analysis. Health Science Reports, 9(3), e72170. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.72170 Journal - Research Article
Pirker, T., Keys, T., Pham, T., Montecillo, J., Byers, M., Adamson, P., Richards, A. M., & Pemberton, C. (2024). The cardioprotective potential of soluble urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) in myocardial ischemia. European Heart Journal, 45(Suppl. 1), ehae666.3657. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehae666.3657 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Pirker, T., & Al-Busaidi, I. S. (2024). Awareness and preparedness of healthcare workers for the initial wave of COVID-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1604), 42-52. Retrieved from https://nzmj.org.nz/ Journal - Research Article
Pirker, T., Adamson, P., Pemberton, C., Pham, T., & Chew-Harris, J. (2024). Novel preservation of cardiac mitochondrial integrity by suPAR following anoxia-reoxygenation injury. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 33(Suppl. 2), (pp. S69-S70). doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2024.04.244 Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Montecillo, J., Pirker, T., Pemberton, C., & Chew-Harris, J. (2024). suPAR in cardiovascular disease. In G. S. Makowski (Ed.), Advances in clinical chemistry (Vol. 121). (pp. 89-131). London, UK: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/bs.acc.2024.04.005 Chapter in Book - Research