Our research focuses on understanding disease mechanisms, improving patient outcomes, and applying new technologies to surgical care. Below is a snapshot of our current research themes and major projects.
1. Colorectal Cancer (CRC)
Colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in New Zealand. Our research aims to understand its molecular pathogenesis, improve early detection, especially in young-onset colorectal cancer, optimise treatment pathways including organ preservation, and identify biomarkers and microbiome interactions that may predict outcomes or response to therapy.
1a. General CRC research activities
- Biomarkers of radiotherapy response and resistance
- Tumour microbiome and treatment response including Immunotherapy response and immune-microbiome interactions
- Circulating biomarkers for prognosis and treatment response
- Patient-derived organoid models
- Digital spatial profiling (DSP) of tumour-immune interactions
- Dietary fibre interventions to mitigate radiotherapy toxicity
- Predictors of neoadjuvant therapy response in rectal cancer (PreNAT)
- Canine CRC detection
- Pelvic exenteration outcomes
- TaTME oncological and functional outcomes
Primary contacts:
- Professor Frank Frizelle
- Professor Tim Eglinton
- Dr Rachel Purcell
- Dr Adèle Hegoburu
1b. Early-onset colorectal cancer and early disease detection
The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is increasing globally, with Aotearoa New Zealand having among the highest rates. Our research aims to identify environmental, microbial and molecular drivers of disease, with a focus on prevention, early detection and risk stratification. We also investigate the molecular and microbial mechanisms underpinning colorectal polyps and early neoplastic transformation.
Major research activities include:
- Exposome-microbiome interactions in EOCRC
- Epigenome-microbiome interactions and DNA methylation
- Molecular characterisation of adenomas and sessile serrated lesions
- Microbiome in polyp formation and progression
- Circulating biomarkers for early detection
- Longitudinal molecular and clinical datasets
Primary contacts:
1c. Microbiome, immune response and translational models
Our research integrates microbiome science, immunology, spatial profiling and translational models to better understand host-microbe interactions in colorectal disease and treatment response.
Major research activities include:
- Spatial profiling of immune activation within the tumour microenvironment
- Mechanistic studies of microbial influences on immune pathways
- Patient-derived organoid and live tissue models
- Multi-omics integration across microbiome, transcriptomic and epigenetic datasets
- Translational microbiome studies across colorectal diseases
Primary contacts:
2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
The pathogenesis, progression and surgical management of IBD continue to pose challenges. Our research focuses on genetic and microbiome factors, dysplasia risk, surgical outcomes, and quality-of-life impacts.
Major research activities include:
- Dysplasia in IBD: Long-term studies of incidence and molecular diagnosis
- Quality of life and disability: Validating disability indices and understanding patient priorities
- Appendicectomy and IBD: Assessing whether appendicectomy affects IBD risk and gut microbiome
Primary contacts:
3. Diverticular Disease
Despite its prevalence, the natural history of diverticulitis, risk of recurrence and the role of the gut microbiome remain poorly understood. Our research explores predictors of complications, recurrence and potential microbiome interventions.
Major research activities include:
- Longitudinal diverticulitis cohort: Identifying factors predicting recurrence and outcomes
- Microbiome studies: Investigating bacterial influences on diverticulitis risk
- Pharmacoepidemiology and medication effect
- Outpatient management of acute diverticulitis
Primary contacts:
4. Artificial Intelligence in Surgery
AI and computer vision have transformative potential in surgery, from intraoperative decision support to prognostic modelling. Our work focuses on applying AI to image analysis, risk prediction and surgical training. We have national trans-disciplinary collaborations with industry, software engineering, pathology and image analysis specialists.
Major research activities include:
- Computer vision for laparoscopic surgery: Automating recognition and reporting of operative events
- AI prediction of lymph node metastases in CRC: Integrating pathology images with clinicopathological data
- Multimodal AI-enabled prediction of response to neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer (PreNAT)
- AI pancreas project: Predictive modelling for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and prognosis
Primary contact:
5. Equity, Māori Health and Health Systems Research
Equity and culturally responsive research are central to our programme. We work alongside Māori researchers, clinicians and communities to guide research design and implementation.
Major research activities include:
- Māori perspectives on tissue-based research and organoids
- Incorporation of the Meihana Model into research frameworks
- Equity-focused translational research design
- Health services and outcomes research, including diagnostic pathways and access to care
Primary contacts:
- Ms Nikki Ross
- Dr Andrea Cross
6. Perioperative Care and Quality of Life
Optimal perioperative care including surgical technique, nutrition and supportive care are critical to improving surgical outcomes, recovery and quality of life. Our research focuses on translating evidence-based interventions into routine clinical practice.
Major research activities include:
- Frailty and recovery: Exploring frailty assessment tools and metabolic predictors of recovery
- OPERAS: Multicentre audit of opioid prescribing post-surgery
- CABE trial: Multicentre RCT on bacterial eradication at anastomosis
- STITCH-UP RCT: Evaluating wound closure techniques in emergency laparotomy
- Perioperative nutrition care pathways
- Bioenergetic dysfunction and fatigue in inflammatory disease and cancer
- Frailty and recovery after surgery
- Quality-of-life and survivorship outcomes
Primary contacts:
Collaborations and research platforms
Our research programme is supported by strong national and international collaborations and access to advanced technologies and clinical cohorts, including:
- Digital spatial profiling (DSP) and spatial multi-omics
- Microbiome sequencing and culture-based platforms
- Liquid biopsy and circulating biomarker technologies
- Artificial intelligence and digital pathology platforms
- Translational organoid and live tissue models
- Prospective clinical cohorts and biobanking infrastructure
- Clinical trials and longitudinal datasets
Contact
For more information on our research or opportunities to collaborate, please contact the Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch:
Academic Administrator
Email surgery.uoc@otago.ac.nz