An alphabetical listing of our research groups by the name of the department or group. Listings include affiliated researchers.
Ageing Well National Science Challenge
The Ageing Well National Science Challenge is hosted by the University of Otago.
The Challenge is a collaboration between the Universities of Otago, Auckland, Canterbury, Massey, Waikato, Victoria and Auckland University of Technology together with the Centre for Research Evaluation and Social Assessment, and AgResearch.
Ageing Well's vision is to add life to years for all older New Zealanders. This will be achieved by harnessing science to sustain health and wellbeing into the later years of life.
Email administrator.ageingwell@otago.ac.nz
Web ageingwellchallenge.co.nz
Bioethics Centre
Bioethics is the study of ethical issues arising within health care and the life sciences.
Web otago.ac.nz/bioethics
Researcher
Dr Emma Tumilty
Relationship between evidence-based decision-making, research practices and health inequity
Email emma.tumilty@otago.ac.nz
Centre for Health Systems and Technology
The Centre for Health Systems and Technology (CHeST) has a particular focus on the applied end of health system and technology research, supporting the translation of research into practice.
CHeST has five core themes:
- Health care delivery
- Health system architecture, management, and performance
- Health quality, safety, and community engagement
- Health workforce
- Health technology
Email chest@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/healthsystems
Centre for International Health
The Centre for International Health facilitates and promotes research to contribute to the understanding and improvement of health in under-resourced countries, and focuses on postgraduate training and strategic mentorship of leaders.
Web otago.ac.nz/internationalhealth
Researchers
Professor John Crump
Infectious diseases in low-resource settings
Email john.crump@otago.ac.nz
Professor Philip Hill
International Health
Email philip.hill@otago.ac.nz
Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies
The Centre's research focus is on improving clinical outcomes for people with long-term, acute and complex conditions. Within this overarching focus our research involves interventions for the management of long-term conditions such as diabetes and bipolar disorders, women's health needs and for people with intellectual disability.
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/nursing
Researchers
Jo Borren
Competence assessment, interprofessional education, work-integrated learning
Email jo.borren@otago.ac.nz
Shirley Harris
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and how people manage their oxygen therapy, self-management and long-term conditions
Email shirley.harris@otago.ac.nz
Dr David Healee
Older adults and transcultural nursing
Email david.healee@otago.ac.nz
Dr Virginia Jones
Chronic respiratory illnesses
Email virginia.jones@otago.ac.nz
Raewyn Lesa
Nursing education
Email raewyn.lesa@otago.ac.nz
Virginia Maskill
Rural nursing workforce, long-term condition management
Email virginia.maskill@otago.ac.nz
Cate McCall
Infections, sepsis, pain
Email cate.mccall@otago.ac.nz
Dr Chris Moir
Child health, nursing education, quality improvement
Email chris.moir@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Philippa Seaton
Nursing / health workforce, technology enhanced teaching and learning, health service delivery (including e-health), clinical simulation
Email philippa.seaton@otago.ac.nz
Dr Kelly Tikao
Māori health
Email kelly.tikao@otago.ac.nz
Dr Henrietta Trip
Health and ageing in intellectual disability
Email henrietta.trip@otago.ac.nz
Dr Mandy Wilkinson
Lifelong condition self-management
Email mandy.wilkinson@otago.ac.nz
Dr Lynere Wilson
Workforce development with a focus on relational skills, wellbeing and cultural safety
Email lynere.wilson@otago.ac.nz
Collaboration of Ageing Research Excellence (CARE)
CARE conducts research in gerontology—the study of ageing in all its aspects. Gerontology is becoming increasingly important in developed countries, including New Zealand, because of our ageing populations.
Our network's areas of research strength:
- Physical health
- Brain health
- Social and policy development
Email care@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/care
Department of General Practice, Christchurch
The Christchurch General Practice Research Group focuses on clinical research, where the results can be directly translated into clinical practice. The two central research themes are rational use of medicines and innovative models of primary care.
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/generalpractice
Researchers
Professor Dee Mangin
Rational prescribing, and the influences of science, policy and commerce on the nature of care
Email dee.mangin@otago.ac.nz
Professor Les Toop
Rational prescribing, and the influences of science, policy and commerce on the nature of care
Email les.toop@otago.ac.nz
Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Dunedin
We are working to improve health outcomes for all through research, teaching and service.
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-gprh
Researchers
Dr Carol Atmore
Health systems design, integrated care, rural health, and primary care
Email carol.atmore@otago.ac.nz
Dr Kati Blattner
Rural and remote health, distance education, qualitative research, rural workforce, health workforce in Pacific Island countries
Email katharina.blattner@otago.ac.nz
Dr Fiona Doolan-Noble
Rural healthcare, health systems, and technology
Email fiona.doolan-noble@otago.ac.nz
Dr Gagan Gurung
Health services research, patient engagement, health governance
Email gagan.gurung@otago.ac.nz
Dr Sharon Leitch
Patient safety in primary care, safe medicine use
Email sharon.leitch@otago.ac.nz
Professor Garry Nixon
Rural health and access to services, workforce development
Email garry.nixon@otago.ac.nz
Dr Erin Penno
Email erin.penno@otago.ac.nz
Dr Lauralie Richard
Primary health care and health services research
Email lauralie.richard@otago.ac.nz
Georgina Richardson
Rural health, disability, intergroup social categories, bioethics
Email georgina.richardson@otago.ac.nz
Dr Jim Ross
Primary healthcare, education, social science, and their intersections
Email jim.ross@otago.ac.nz
Professor Tim Stokes
Health care delivery and implementation research
Email tim.stokes@otago.ac.nz
Professor Murray Tilyard
General Practice research focusing on research translation and patient safety, especially in medicines use
Email murray.tilyard@otago.ac.nz
Dr Martyn Williamson
Rural health services and medical education
Email martyn.williamson@otago.ac.nz
Department of Māori Indigenous Health Innovation, Christchurch
The Māori Indigenous Health Innovation (MIHI) undertakes research, teaching and community service in response to supporting Māori health advancement.
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/mihi
Researcher
Dr Kelly Tikao
Māori health
Department of Māori Indigenous Health Innovation, and Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies, ChristchurchEmail kelly.tikao@otago.ac.nz
Department of Medicine, Dunedin
The Department of Medicine is a major academic department within the Otago Medical School's Dunedin Campus. In addition to teaching undergraduate medical students, we offer world-class postgraduate education and research opportunities to medical professionals, and PhD and masters' students.
Web https://www.otago.ac.nz/dsm-medicine
Researchers
Dr Jack Dummer
Airway diseases and asthma
Email jack.dummer@otago.ac.nz
Ms Lis Latta
Palliative care education and graduates' self efficacy in caring for people who are dying
Email lis.latta@otago.ac.nz
Department of Medicine, Wellington
The Department is active and productive in many areas of medical research including disease mechanisms, new treatments and clinical trials of treatment. Our academic clinicians regularly present their findings at local, national and international meetings and publish in peer reviewed and international publications.
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/medicine
Researchers
Associate Professor Anna Ranta
Health service delivery research, health economics, neuroepidemiology and workforce
Email anna.ranta@otago.ac.nz
Dr William Levack
Patient experiences of rehabilitation, goal setting processes, and interventions to increase patient engagement in rehabilitation activities
Email william.levack@otago.ac.nz
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Christchurch
Our staff's special interests include obstetrics, gynaecological oncology, cell regulation, and colposcopy.
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/obgyn
Researcher
Associate Professor Peter Sykes
Gynaecological oncology
Email peter.sykes@otago.ac.nz
Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, Christchurch
The Department undertakes internationally-renowned research in pathology and biomedical science. This underpins our award winning teaching of postgraduate research students and undergraduate medical students at the University of Otago, Christchurch campus.
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/pathology
Researcher
Dr Patrice Rosengrave
Reproduction and genetics
Email patrice.rosengrave@otago.ac.nz
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine
We work to understand why some people are healthy and some are not, how to prevent illness and injury, how people's health can be improved through working with communities, how political systems and health organisations affect health, and other issues relating to the health of populations.
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-psm
Researchers
Stuart Barson
Quality improvement,implementation IT
Email stuart.barson@otago.ac.nz
Dr Kimberly Cousins
Alcohol-related harm
Email kim.cousins@otago.ac.nz
Dr Adam Fusheini
Public policy and health system research
Email adam.fusheini@otago.ac.nz
Andrew Gray
Biostatistics
Email andrew.gray@otago.ac.nz
Dr Helen Harcombe
Musculoskeletal disorders,occupational epidemiology, injury prevention
Email helen.harcombe@otago.ac.nz
Dr Simon Horsburgh
Social pharmacy; epidemiology, medicines utilisation, equity in healthcare access, health information data systems, epidemiological research methods
Email simon.horsburgh@otago.ac.nz
Dr Susan Jack
Anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies; child under-nutrition; effectiveness of maternal and child health interventions
Email susan.jack@otago.ac.nz
Dr Eeva-Katri Kumpala
Investigating intentional self-poisoning presentations to New Zealand public hospital emergency departments
Email eeva-katri.kumpula@otago.ac.nz
Ms Bible Lee
Asian health, HIV / AIDS, public health, health disparities, minority health
Email bible.lee@otago.ac.nz
Dr Rebbecca Lilley
Injury prevention, occupational health and safety
Email rebbecca.lilley@otago.ac.nz
Dr Kate Morgaine
Public Health, health services research and health promotion and education
Email kate.morgaine@otago.ac.nz
Dr Sherly Parackal
Alcohol consumption by women of childbearing age, pregnancy and breastfeeding, Asian health research
Email sherly.parackal@otago.ac.nz
Research Associate Professor Ari Samaranayaka
Biostatistics
Email ari.samaranayaka@otago.ac.nz
Dr Jude Sligo
Health services especially with children, young people and family
Email judith.sligo@otago.ac.nz
Dr Trudy Sullivan
Health economics and multi-criteria decision analysis
Email trudy.sullivan@otago.ac.nz
Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, Wellington
We are committed to research that makes a real difference to people's health and their wellbeing, assists health professionals in practice and builds research capacity in our sector. We have expertise in undertaking research within a kura kaupapa framework, particularly in women's health.
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/primaryhealthcaregeneralpractice
Researchers
Dr Ben Darlow
Management of common musculoskeletal conditions in primary care and interprofessional education
Email ben.darlow@otago.ac.nz
Professor Tony Dowell
Mental health care, health services research and communication in health care consultation settings
Email tony.dowell@otago.ac.nz
Dr Ben Gray
Use of interpreters in medical consultations and cultural competence
Email ben.gray@otago.ac.nz
Dr Jonathan Kennedy
Interface between primary health care and public health, and is involved in research projects based in the Department
Email jonathan.kennedy@otago.ac.nz
Dr Eileen McKinlay
Implementing interprofessional education, interprofessional collaboration in health care delivery, palliative medicine education, long-term condition management, patient's experience of multimorbidity care and clinicians' experience of how to provide collaborative care in multlmorbidity, models of integrated youth health care
Email eileen.mckinlay@otago.ac.nz
Sonya Morgan
Interprofessional collaboration, communication and teamwork in primary health care settings
Email sonya.morgan@otago.ac.nz
Dr Caroline Morris
Prescribing and use of medicines in primary care, minor ailment management (professional and patient perspectives), quality in primary care
Email caroline.morris@otago.ac.nz
Professor Sue Pullon
Interprofessional education, collaborative practice and effective teamwork in primary care setting
Email sue.pullon@otago.ac.nz
Dr Maria Stubbe
Communication in health settings (especially the detailed study of patient-provider interactions using conversation analysis, and research into patient experiences of health and illness), along with projects on health service delivery
Email maria.stubbe@otago.ac.nz
Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch
The Department of Psychological Medicine in Christchurch has two major streams of research: Clinical Research and the Christchurch Health and Development Study.
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/psychmed
Researcher
Dr Ben Beaglehole
Outcome of various changes at the acute inpatient service as well as the outcome of patients after they leave the acute inpatient service
Email ben.beaglehole@otago.ac.nz
Department of Public Health, Wellington
The research groups within the Department of Public Health at our Wellington campus carry out a range of research on critical public health issues. These include cancer and screening, healthy eating, health services research and prioritisation, housing, sustainability and the environment, inequalities, infectious diseases, Māori health and tobacco.
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/publichealth
Researchers
Jason Gurney
Inequities in health outcomes between Māori and non-Māori New Zealanders
Email jason.gurney@otago.ac.nz
Ruruhira Rameka
Health and access issues for rural Māori women and their whanau
Email ruruhira.rameka@otago.ac.nz
Johanna Reidy
Governance at the systems interface between primary care and public health
Email johanna.reidy@otago.ac.nz
Moira Smith
Policy development which creates supportive environments, particularly in nutrition, children's health and oral health, and older people's oral health
Email moira.smith@otago.ac.nz
Jeannine Stairmind
Māori health, cancer and health promotion and prevention
Email jeannine.stairmand@otago.ac.nz
Wei Zhang
Health services for Chinese immigrants and the barriers they find
Email wei.zhang@otago.ac.nz
Department of Surgical Sciences
Excelling in clinical teaching and training, linking science with clinical research, and developing our discipline nationally and internationally.
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-surgery
Researchers
Professor J Haxby Abbott
Musculoskeletal clinical epidemiology, management of osteoarthritis
Department of Surgical Sciences, DunedinEmail haxby.abbott@otago.ac.nz
Dr John Woodfield
Measuring and preventing complications, improving fitness before surgery, colorectal surgery, medical care in resource-poor settings
Email john.woodfield@otago.ac.nz
Department of Women's and Children's Health
Providing outstanding health care to women, youth, children, their families and whānau. We are committed to teaching and research excellence that fosters personal development and advances knowledge.
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-wchealth
Researchers
Dr Rick Audas
Big data
Email rick.audas@otago.ac.nz
Dr David Barker
General and neonatal paediatrics
Email david.barker@southerndhb.govt.nz
Ms Pauline Dawson
Maternal health equity, GIS in health, clinical audit, collaborative practice
Email pauline.dawson@otago.ac.nz
Dr Celia Devenish
Maternity care and outcomes
Email celia.devenish@otago.ac.nz
Dr Gabrielle McDonald
Mortality in children and young people
Email gabrielle.mcdonald@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Mike Stitely
Medication use in pregnancy, prevention of surgical site infections in obstetrics
Email michael.stitely@otago.ac.nz
Professor Barry Taylor
Sudden unexpected death in infancy, sleep disorders, prevention of obesity, diabetes
Email barry.taylor@otago.ac.nz
Faculty of Dentistry: Sir John Walsh Research Institute
The Sir John Walsh Research Institute (SJWRI) is the research arm of the Faculty of Dentistry. Oral health is essential for wellbeing. We lead the advancement of oral health research, and practice in New Zealand by combining the strengths of biological, clinical, and public health expertise.
Web otago.ac.nz/sjwri
Researchers
Mrs Dorothy Boyd
Paediatric dentistry
Email dorothy.boyd@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Jonathan Broadbent
Dental public health
Email jonathan.broadbent@otago.ac.nz
Professor John Broughton
Māori oral health
Email john.broughton@otago.ac.nz
Ms Suzanne Hanlin
PBRNs(Practice Based Research Networks), learning outcomes in prosthodontics, patient care, health informatics
Email suzanne.hanlin@otago.ac.nz
Mrs Alison Meldrum
Student learning, dental workforce and childhood caries
Email alison.meldrum@otago.ac.nz
Susan Moffat
Dental workforce, dental public health, and dental education
Email susan.moffat@otago.ac.nz
Professor Murray Thomson
Dental epidemiology, dental public health, and health services research
Email murray.thomson@otago.ac.nz
Kōhatu | Centre for Hauora Māori
Kōhatu provides the focus for hauora Māori (Māori health) within Te Kura Hauora o Ōtākou / Otago Medical School, and involves teaching, research, Māori strategic development (including workforce and professional development), community networking, and student relationships and support.
Web otago.ac.nz/oms/about/deans-office/student-support/hauora-maori
Researchers
Professor Joanne Baxter
Māori mental health, māori medical workforce development, hazardous drinking among tertiary students and health inequalities
Email joanne.baxter@otago.ac.nz
Professor Peter Crampton
Social indicators and social epidemiology, health care policy, and health care organisation and funding
Email peter.crampton@otago.ac.nz
Medical Education Unit, Dunedin
The Education Unit oversees and assists staff in the design, development, maintenance, and evaluation of the Otago Medical School MB ChB curriculum on the Dunedin campus. The unit also hosts the Module Convenor for Clinical Pharmacology.
Web otago.ac.nz/oms/about/deans-office/teaching-support/otago056285.html
Researcher
Associate Professor David Reith
Medicines regulation and promotion of quality use medicines
Email david.reith@otago.ac.nz
New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre
The New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre consists of synergistic monitoring programs that contribute to and support the safety of medicines and related products in New Zealand through voluntary reporting of adverse events.
Web nzphvc.otago.ac.nz
Researchers
Professor Rhiannon Braund
Safe and effective use of medicines; clinical pharmacy practice
Email rhiannon.braund@otago.ac.nz
Dr Desiree Kunac
Paediatric pharmacy, paediatric drug safety, adverse drug events, medication error, pharmacovigilance
Email desiree.kunac@otago.ac.nz
Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit
The Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit is committed to improving Māori health outcomes and health inequities. We contribute to a wide range of Māori health research projects and initiatives within the Division of Health Sciences, the University of Otago and our communities to ensure important and beneficial outcomes for Māori are attained.
Web otago.ac.nz/maori-health-research
Researchers
Professor Sue Crengle
Māori health, inequalities research
Email sue.crengle@otago.ac.nz
Professor Sarah Derrett
Health services researcher focused on health systems and person-reported health and disability outcomes
Email sarah.derrett@otago.ac.nz
Professor Emma Wyeth
Māori health, injury and disability, genetic research
Email emma.wyeth@otago.ac.nz
Otago Business School
Otago Business School researchers are contributing real value to the wider community, business, government, and the not-for-profit sector.
Web otago.ac.nz/business
Researchers
Professor Ralph Adler
Performance management, strategic management accounting, organisational effectiveness, and business education
Email ralph.adler@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Nathan Berg
Behavioral economics
Email nathan.berg@otago.ac.nz
Professor Robin Gauld
Health policy and management, health services, health systems and e-Government
Email robin.gauld@otago.ac.nz
Dr Richard Greatbanks
Operations management, quality process improvement, performance measurement
Email richard.greatbanks@otago.ac.nz
Professor Paul Hansen
Priority-setting and resource allocation
Email paul.hansen@otago.ac.nz
Dr Konan Seny Kan
Configural approach in management and accounting, corporate governance mechanisms and practices
Email konan.senykan@otago.ac.nz
Professor Stephen MacDonell
Information systems development, software analytics and visualisation, project planning, estimation and management, and behavioural software engineering
Email stephen.macdonell@otago.ac.nz
Professor Holger Regenbrecht
Human-computer Interaction, applied computer science and information technology, (collaborative) augmented reality, 3D teleconferencing, psychological aspects of mixed reality, three-dimensional user interfaces (3DU) and computer-aided therapy and rehabilitation
Email holger.regenbrecht@otago.ac.nz
Otago Global Health Institute (OGHI)
We aim to improve global health and save lives, by identifying and evaluating solutions to important health problems in low-resource settings.
We work to address the world's most pressing health problems through research collaborations with low- and middle-income countries, and with disadvantaged groups in New Zealand.
We draw upon New Zealand's unique connections with Asia and the Pacific. Our extensive international partnerships and cross-disciplinary collaborations enable us to carry out innovative and rigorous research to advance global health.
Email globalhealth@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/global-health
Pacific Health Research at Otago
Learn about what's going on in Pacific health research, how we can support researchers, and where to start if you're excited about research.
Web otago.ac.nz/pacific-health-research
Researcher
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu
Immunology, Rheumatic fever, immunogenetics, cancer and pharmacology
Email dianne.sika-paotonu@otago.ac.nz
School of Pharmacy
The School of Pharmacy has a very active research programme with disciplines ranging from science to humanities with each having a strong contextual link to health sciences.
Web otago.ac.nz/pharmacy
Researchers
Yasmin Abdul Aziz
The economic value of unfunded pharmacy services and how they affect patient outcomes
Email yasmin.abdulaziz@postgrad.otago.ac.nz
Sumera Akhtar
Role of women as caregivers in older people's and infant's medication adherence and self care
Email (to come)
Dr Susan Heydon
Social pharmacy, medicines and society in developed and developing countries. Provision and use of health services in developed and developing countries and interaction between different medical systems.
Email susan.heydon@otago.ac.nz
Shirley Keown
Prescription medicines use among Maori in Gisborne: equity and access
Email shirley.keown@otago.ac.nz
Professor Carlo Marra
Pharmacy practice research and formulary decision-making
Email pharmacy.dean@otago.ac.nz
Dr Henry Ndukwe
Pharmacoepidemiology and health outcomes research, health and economic evaluation using administrative datasets
Email henry.ndukwe@otago.ac.nz
Leanne Te Karu
Complex chronic care
Email ltekaru@mpa.maori.nz
Dr Alesha Smith
Clinical pharmacy, quality use of medicines, pharmacoepidemiology
Email alesha.smith@otago.ac.nz
Dr Amber Young
Patients' requirements for style and content of written medicine information
Email amber.young@otago.ac.nz
School of Physiotherapy: Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research (CHARR)
Along with our high quality postgraduate and research programmes, research at the School of Physiotherapy is managed through our dedicated Centre for Health, Activity, and Rehabilitation Research. Evidence-based research informs all our work at the School of Physiotherapy at Otago.
Web otago.ac.nz/physio/research
Researchers
Professor Dave Baxter
Rehabilitation, low back pain, complementary and alternative medicine, physical activity and health, men's health, laser therapy
Email david.baxter@otago.ac.nz
Dr Cathy Chapple
Osteoarthritis, physiotherapy management of musculoskeletal conditions, clinical education
Email cathy.chapple@otago.ac.nz
Professor Leigh Hale
Community falls prevention programmes for older adults, fall prevention in adults with intellectual disability, self-management and stroke, exercise and physical activity in people with long term conditions
Email physio.dean@otago.ac.nz
Dr Daniel Ribeiro
Low back disorders, shoulder biomechanics, biofeedback and rehabilitation
Email daniel.ribeiro@otago.ac.nz
Professor Debra Waters
Body composition and physical function during ageing
Email debra.waters@otago.ac.nz
Dr Mandy Wilkinson
Lifelong condition self-management
Email mandy.wilkinson@otago.ac.nz
Te Whatu Ora – Southern
Te Whatu Ora – Southern is responsible for planning, funding and providing all publicly funded health care services for the Southern district.
Web www.southernhealth.nz
Researcher
Miranda Buhler
Health and rehabilitation, and the role of orthotic devices
Email miranda.buhler@southerndhb.gov.nz
Va'a o Tautai – Centre for Pacific Health
We are researchers and teachers dedicated to Pacific health. We are a diverse team working in New Zealand and the Pacific region in areas important to Pacific communities.
Web otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/pacific/vaa-o-tautai.html
Researchers
Professor Pauline Norris
Social pharmacy, access to and use of medicines
Email pauline.norris@otago.ac.nz
Faumuina Associate Professor Faafetai Sopoaga
Health workforce capacity building, transitioning students to higher education and pacific health curriculum
Email tai.sopoaga@otago.ac.nz
Professor Rosalina Richards
Pacific health, sleep and wellbeing
Email rose.richards@otago.ac.nz
Dr Vanda Symon
Communication, dementia in Pacific peoples, medicines
Email vanda.symon@otago.ac.nz