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December 2012

Feature Article: Tony Kettle in Otago's He Kitenga Impacts

CFRR Co-ordinator, Prof Tony Kettle has been featured in He Kitenga Impacts, a publication of recent research highlights at the University of Otago.

Conference Speakers: Free Radical and Metal Biology Conference

Free Radical and Metal Biology conference posterPrinciple Investigators Tony Kettle, Mark Hampton and Christine Winterbourn were all invited speakers at the Free Radical and Metal Biology Conference at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research from 28 November-1 December.

Two of our PhD students, Nick Magon and Rebecca Poynton also attended after winning travel awards to get there and present their work.

November 2012

CFRR re-occupies laboratories in the UOC building

UOC building viewed from Hagley ParkAfter 21 months, the Centre for Free Radical Research is one of the first groups to move back the UOC campus building following repairs and strengthening work after the February 2011 earthquakes.

Professor Tony Kettle says he has been incredibly impressed with the fortitude staff had shown over the past year or so.

“Everyone has worked well and without complaint in cramped conditions, with a fractured support system, and often without good access to necessary experimental equipment.

“We are keen to get back to our laboratories and to renew our associations with other University of Otago, Christchurch, research staff and clinical colleagues at the hospital. Their collegiality has sorely been missed.''

October 2012

CMRF Research grant for cancer research

Caroline KuiperCaroline Kuiper is a recipient of the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation 2012 Research Grant, co-funded Bone Marrow Cancer Research Trust for cancer research.

Professor elected as a Royal Society of New Zealand Fellow

Tony KettleProf Tony Kettle is one of eleven elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2012.

The honour is given to researchers with exceptional distinction in research or in the advancement of science, technology or the humanities. There are now 382 Royal Society of New Zealand Fellows.

Prof Kettle is internationally recognised for his research on myeloperoxidase, an enzyme in neutrophils that produces free radicals and hypochlorous acid to kill micro-organisms.

September 2012

Conference Posters: SFRR International Meeting

logo - Society for Free Radical Research InternationalProf Christine Winterbourn, Dr Rufus Turner, Dr Paul Pace and Dr Alex Peskin traveled to Imperial College London, UK to present posters at the 2012 Society for Free Radical Research International Meeting from 6-9 September 2012.

Dr Paul Pace received a Young Investigator/Early Career Award for his poster presentation.

The posters presented:

  • Hydrogen peroxide dependent interaction of peroxiredoxin 2 with ERp46
    P.E.Pace*, A.V.Peskin, M.B. Hampton, C.C. Winterbourn,
  • Kinetics of hyperoxidation of human peroxiredoxin 2
    A.V.Peskin*, N. Dickerhof, R.A. Poynton, P. Pace, M.B. Hampton, C.C. Winterbourn
  • Complex roles of reactive oxygen species in the formation and anti-microbial action of neutrophil NETs
    H. Parker, A.M. Albrett, A.J. Kettle, C.C. Winterbourn*
  • Allantoin as a biomarker of severity of heart disease and its relationship with myeloperoxidase
    R. Turner*, T. Mocatta, D. McClean, C. Marshall, A.J. Kettle

Registration open for the Oxygen Theme Meeting, 11-12 October 2012, Dunedin Campus

logo - Oxygen Theme MeetingThe Otago Oxygen Theme meeting will be held in Dunedin on the 11-12 October 2012.

August 2012

PhD Student to graduate with MBChB degree

Andrew DasPhD student Andrew Das is graduating this coming December with a MBChB degree. He has spent the last eight years at the University of Otago, six of which were towards the MBChB degree and the other two years were towards a PhD with the CFRR, which he is now returning to the lab to complete.

The Life Technologies NZSBMB Award Lecture 2012

Margreet Vissers Green Award Queenstown 2012Associate Professor Margreet Vissers presented The Life Technologies NZSBMB Award lecture at the 3rd Annual Queenstown Research Week during the last week of August.

July 2012

Conference Poster: Gordon Research Conference - Thiol-based redox regulation & signalling

Gordon Research ConferencesIn late July Professor Christine Winterbourn travelled to Bates College, Maine, USA to present two posters, Kinetics of hyperoxidation of human peroxiredoxin 2 and Radical-mediated glutathionylation of oxidized tyrosine residues, at the Gordon Research Conference.

North and South Article: All at C – Can high doses of vitamin C really cure Cancer?

Margreet Vissers in the labAssociate Professor Margreet Vissers was interviewed about her recent Vitamin C research by Margo White for the cover story of the July issue of North & South.

The study was one of the first to show evidence of a connection between vitamin C and tumour growth.

The Royal Society of New Zealand Rutherford Lecture by Christine Winterbourn

Christine Winterbourn in the labDuring July Professor Christine Winterbourn presented the 2012 Rutherford Lecture, Life with oxygen: a battle against free radicals, around New Zealand.

Professor Winterbourn's work on free radicals began when it was becoming apparent that they are produced as part of normal metabolism, with radicals generated from oxygen in red blood cells as it is transported around the body.

In this presentation Professor Winterbourn discussed the development of knowledge since that time on the sources and consequences of free radical production, and on health problems that can arise when antioxidant defence is inadequate.

Conference Speaker: Gordon Research Conference - Chemistry & biology of tetrapyrroles

Gordon Research ConferencesProfessor Tony Kettle was an invited speaker presenting a talk entitled The oxidative chemistry of myeloperoxidase in infection and inflammation, at the Gordon Research Conference held at Salve Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

June 2012

Centre for Free Radical Research awarded $4.2m grant from the Health Research Council

CFRR team leadersNew funding from the Health Research Council has continued support for the Centre for Free Radical Research with a grant of $4.2 million over the next three years.

Research projects are aimed at understanding how free radicals fight infection, transmit chemical signals that control essential cell functions, and how they influence the development of chronic illnesses.

Professor Christine Winterbourn awarded CNZM Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Christine WinterbournProfessor Christine Winterbourn has been awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for her services to Science.

Conference Poster: The Neutrophil in Immunity - International Symposium

Neutrophil in Immunity Conference posterIn Quebec, Canada PhD student Usha Pujary presented a poster, The effect of extended hypoxia on neutrophil survival and function at The Neutrophil in Immunity International Symposium.

Research Assistant Heather Parker also presented a poster, Complex roles of reactive oxygen species in the formation and antimicrobial action of neutrophil NETs.

February 2012

Associate Professor Mark Hampton awarded Gold Medal for Research

Mark Hampton with teaching medalAssociate Professor Mark Hampton was awarded the University of Otago Gold Medal for Research at the UOC 2012 Academic Inaugaration on 17 February. He is the youngest recipient of the award.

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