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Peter SykesAssociate Professor

MB ChB(Brist) DipObst(Otago) FRANZCOG DGO

Email peter.sykes@otago.ac.nz

Peter graduated from Bristol University and moved to New Zealand in 1986. He subsequently trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Christchurch and Dunedin, before completing subspecialist training in Gynaecological Oncology in Melbourne. In 1997, Peter returned to Christchurch as New Zealand’s first gynaecological oncologist to complete accredited subspecialty training in the field.

He joined the University Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1998. In 2002, he was appointed Head of Department, a position he held until 2008. Since then, he has continued in a joint clinical and academic role as a gynaecological oncologist.

Peter’s early years in the specialty were influenced by the high incidence of cervical carcinoma and the National Women’s Hospital enquiry. His subsequent career has been marked by a focus on improving services for people with gynaecological cancer and promoting equitable access to cervical cancer prevention. He is a strong advocate for the vital role of academic medicine in educating medical practitioners and the general public, and in improving outcomes for patients and their families.

From 1997, Peter took part in developing a model of tertiary services for gynaecological cancer in the South Island. This model later informed the development of a national model of care. He considers it a privilege to have worked alongside colleagues across many disciplines to provide gynaecological cancer services to the people of the South Island ever since. His group has also worked diligently to foster excellent relationships and cohesion among service providers in both New Zealand and Australia.

Peter has held substantive roles in the New Zealand Gynaecological Cancer Group (NZGCG), the Australian Society of Gynaecological Oncologists (ASGO), and the Australia and New Zealand Gynaecological Oncology Group (ANZGOG). For over two decades, he has actively contributed to capacity building in the treatment of gynaecological cancers in the Pacific Islands and has notably mentored two International Gynaecological Cancer Society gynaecological oncology trainees from Fiji.

As a researcher, Peter has championed research in gynaecological oncology and has been involved in a wide range of clinical and basic science projects. He has maintained a strong interest in the prevention of cervical cancer and has served as principal investigator on several studies, including those on HPV typing in cervical cancer, the performance of liquid-based cytology and HPV testing, the conservative management of CIN2, the impact of HPV vaccination, and an implementation study of HPV testing incorporating the universal offer of self-testing.

He has also held a number of advisory roles for the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) and has authored two reports reviewing cervical cancer cases. As an educator, Peter remains actively involved in teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students. He has supervised numerous students at master’s and doctoral levels.

Publications

Koh, S. P., Stephenson, C., Chaplin, J., Ruske, D., Macann, A., Denison, H., Sykes, P., Ji, E., … Tan, S. T. (2026). Economic burden of human papillomavirus-related cancers in New Zealand. BMJ Public Health, 4(2), e003800. doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2025-003800 Journal - Research Article

Tino, A. B., Sykes, P. H., Dachs, G. U., & Chitcholtan, K. (2026). Targeting phosphoinositide 3-kinase to reduce the progression of ovarian cancer cells in a 3D collagen model. Biomolecules, 16, 377. doi: 10.3390/biom16030377 Journal - Research Article

Lawton, B., Gibson, M., Slater, T., Parag, V., Stevenson, K., Adcock, A., … Hibma, M., Sykes, P., … MacDonald, E. J. (2026). Primary cervical screening using a universal offer of human papillomavirus self-testing versus usual care in Aotearoa New Zealand: A cluster-randomised, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/S3050-5038(25)00201-8 Journal - Research Article

Sparkes, N. K., Adcock, A., Slater, T., MacDonald, E. J., Storey, F., Stanton, J.-A., … Hibma, M., Sykes, P., … Lawton, B. (2026). 'Point-of-care-testing is definitely the way to go': Primary healthcare professionals in rural Aotearoa New Zealand talk about point-of-care testing for cervical cancer prevention. Journal of Primary Health Care. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1071/hc25164 Journal - Research Article

Slater, T., Stevenson, K., Adcock, A., Clueard, M.-A., Aperahama, K., Thompson, C., … Hibma, M., Sykes, P., … Lawton, B. (2025). Opportunities to flip the narrative from burden to action for young women joining the National Cervical Screening Programme in Aotearoa New Zealand: A Kaupapa Māori qualitative exploration of experiences and knowledge of cervical screening for 18-30 year olds. Journal of Primary Health Care. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1071/hc25151 Journal - Research Article

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