Self-isolating for coronavirus is impossible for tens of thousands of New Zealanders – unless we help them fast
Friday, 27 March 2020 10:15am
In less than 48 hours, all people in New Zealand will have to self-isolate, unless they are essential service workers. This is our best chance to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Lecturer and students volunteer time to make sanitiser
Wednesday, 25 March 2020 8:45am
All the hand sanitiser needed by the University of Otago’s Dunedin campus over the coming weeks has been produced in-house and in record time by a School of Pharmacy senior lecturer and his students.
Otago experts warn pandemic risks accentuating rural-urban health inequities
Wednesday, 25 March 2020 3:37pm
The current pandemic risks further accentuating the rural – urban health inequities that exist in New Zealand, University of Otago rural health specialists warn.
Work continues during Covid-19 lockdown!
Wednesday, 25 March 2020 11:03am
Lectures will continue online after a one-week break, as Otago Department of Biochemistry staff work from home during the Level 4 Covid-19 alert.
Why New Zealand needs to continue decisive action to contain coronavirus
Friday, 20 March 2020 11:39am
With some of the toughest border restrictions and a newly-announced NZ$500 million boost to health services, New Zealand is among a small number of countries with a strategy to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can food or drink taxes protect our health?
Thursday, 19 March 2020 3:34pm
EDOR researchers have contributed to a review of food or beverage interventions involving taxes or subsidies, both in New Zealand and overseas.
Rapid Case Contact Management – COVID-19’s Achilles heel?
Thursday, 19 March 2020 11:15am
Most infectious diseases have an Achilles heel, the secret is to find it. The question is, if we don’t have a drug or a vaccine for COVID-19, is there something else we can do to beat it?
Covid-19 contingency planning
Wednesday, 18 March 2020 12:06pm
The Department of Biochemistry is busy planning for teaching to continue during any disruption of the university due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
New Zealand’s COVID-19 public health response must be aggressive
Friday, 13 March 2020 4:17pm
China, Taiwan and other Asian countries have shown that a massive public health response to COVID-19 works. Now is the time for New Zealand to do the same.
Evidence clearly favours taxing sugary drinks – new study
Friday, 13 March 2020 3:42pm
New Zealand should follow the UK and more than 30 other countries in introducing a tax on sugary drinks to tackle obesity and reduce deaths from chronic diseases, leading researchers say.
More academic achievement awards for Otago Biochemistry students
Friday, 13 March 2020 12:50pm
Congratulations to the Otago Biochemistry students who received scholarships from outside the Department in recognition of their academic achievements as undergraduates last year.
High fibre benefits those with diabetes or prediabetes
Thursday, 12 March 2020 12:12pm
EDOR researchers have found that found high-fibre diets are a key aspect of diabetes management.
Christchurch staff play key role in public meeting on COVID-19
Thursday, 12 March 2020 7:42pm
University of Otago, Christchurch staff played a key role in one of the country’s first meetings to inform the public about COVID-19 and the response to it.
Misinformation on vaccines readily available online, study finds
Wednesday, 11 March 2020 11:44am
Parents researching childhood vaccinations online are likely to encounter significant levels of negative information, researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.
New Zealand must learn lessons from China’s success in managing Covid-19
Monday, 9 March 2020 10:42am
While the world has been focused on Covid-19’s spread to new countries many might not have noticed that the outbreak in China is slowly being brought under control.
Biochemistry’s Associate Professor Stephanie Hughes takes over as Director of the Brain Health Research Centre.
Monday, 9 March 2020 1:14pm
Associate Professor Steph Hughes undertook her first task as the new Director of the Brain Health Research Centre last week: chairing the Centre's launch of 2020’s Brain Awareness Week.
Australian honours for Otago Professor
Thursday, 5 March 2020 11:01pm
An Otago Professor’s “distinguished service to medicine, medical education, child and adolescent health and professional bodies” was cited in the latest Australian Honours list, announced at the end of January.
COVID-19 has now reached New Zealand. How prepared is it to deal with a pandemic?
Wednesday, 4 March 2020 12:29pm
New Zealand joined 48 other countries affected by the novel coronavirus last week when health authorities confirmed the first COVID-19 case.
It's World Obesity Day - and sleep is on the menu!
Wednesday, 4 March 2020 12:00pm
World Obesity Day 2020 is today, Wednesday 4 March. The EDOR DREAM team is looking at a novel intervention approach for childhood obesity.
Australian honours for Otago Professor
Tuesday, 3 March 2020 11:30am
An Otago Professor’s “distinguished service to medicine, medical education, child and adolescent health and professional bodies” was cited in the latest Australian Honours list, announced at the end of January.
Watch presentations from the Evidence to Everyday research symposium
Friday, 28 February 2020 11:49am
View recordings of the Evidence to Everyday research symposium presentations, held in Wellington on 20 September, 2019.
Otago researchers part of world-first trial to prevent tuberculosis in people with diabetes
Thursday, 27 February 2020 5:03pm
Otago researchers are playing a leadership role in an Euro €4.8 million international project to conduct the world’s first trial attempting to prevent tuberculosis in people with diabetes.
New Associate Dean, Student Affairs for Christchurch
Wednesday, 26 February 2020 10:47pm
Helping medical students get the most out of their “intensive and challenging” final years of undergraduate study is a key focus for the Christchurch campus’ new Associate Dean, Student Affairs.
Otago researchers shed light on ‘arms race’ between bacteria and viruses
Tuesday, 25 February 2020 10:41am
University of Otago researchers have contributed to an international study which helps improve the understanding of bacteria and viruses.
Methamphetamine use and its impact on violence laid bare in world-first study
Monday, 24 February 2020 3:25pm
Almost a third of middle-aged New Zealanders have tried methamphetamine at least once, according to a new University of Otago, Christchurch study looking at the link between using the drug and violence in the general population.
New entry categories for ‘refugee’ and ‘socioeconomic equity’ for Otago health programmes
Monday, 24 February 2020 4:42pm
New entry categories have been introduced at the University of Otago this year to ensure more students from refugee backgrounds and lower decile secondary schools will train as doctors, dental professionals, pharmacists, radiation therapists, medical laboratory scientists and physiotherapists.
Demise of dental amalgam outlined in Otago study
Wednesday, 19 February 2020 2:44pm
Fillings in your teeth? If both local and global trends are anything to go by, soon they won’t have anything to do with mercury.
Pioneering academic’s papers get UNESCO status
Wednesday, 19 February 2020 4:14pm
The papers of pioneering medical researcher and Otago alumna Dr Muriel Bell have been accepted into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Dr Bell graduated MB ChB (1922) and MD (1926) from Otago and was awarded an HonDSc from the university in 1968.
EDOR researcher using Heart Foundation fellowship to improve health through diet
Wednesday, 19 February 2020 2:24pm
Dr Andrew Reynolds, an EDOR research fellow, has been granted a three-year fellowship from the NZ Heart Foundation.
Pain@Otago Webinar: Persistent pain in refugees and marginalised populations
Wednesday, 19 February 2020 11:02am
Speaker: Alicia J. Emerson, PT, DPT, MS, OCS, FAAOMPT
Persistent pain is an invisible, and often stigmatized, disease disproportionately affecting invisible populations. Marginalized patient populations, without a voice in sociopolitical policies, are at an increased risk for experiencing persistent musculoskeletal pain and receiving non-optimal management. Alicia’s research explores how the geopolitical, historical, and societal spectrum impacts marginalized populations’ experiences with persistent musculoskeletal pain management.
High rates of suicide continue among older NZ men, Otago research reveals
Tuesday, 18 February 2020 10:45am
There continues to be a high rate of suicide among older New Zealand men and an Otago psychogeriatrician says more needs to be done to understand why and to help prevent this occurring.
It’s International Women’s Day soon and we’re celebrating!
Tuesday, 18 February 2020 12:52pm
It’s International Women’s Day soon and we’re celebrating!
Young Otago dentistry lecturers net international awards
Friday, 14 February 2020 8:26am
Two young University of Otago dentistry lecturers have won prestigious international emerging leaders awards.
Register for the 2020 NZSSD annual scientific conference
Thursday, 13 February 2020 10:48am
The New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting will be held in Wellington 6-8 May.
University of Otago, Christchurch researchers lead study to help those most affected by mosque attacks
Wednesday, 12 February 2020 10:09am
A new Health Research Council-funded study is about to get underway to help understand the psychological and physical effects of the March 15 Mosque attacks in Christchurch last year and to link those directly affected with additional support, if needed.
Otago researcher sets wheels in motion on #rOAdtrip for osteoarthritis change
Tuesday, 11 February 2020 12:23pm
An Otago researcher is setting the wheels in motion to seek out much-needed change in the way osteoarthritis, which affects increasing numbers of people, is treated in New Zealand.
Biochemistry student wins University of Otago’s top undergraduate prize
Friday, 7 February 2020 12:23pm
Jennifer Palmer, Otago Biochemistry’s top 300-level student in 2019, has also been awarded the prestigious Prince of Wales Prize.
A new professor and two new associate professors at Otago Biochemistry
Thursday, 6 February 2020 12:06pm
As of February 1st, three lecturers at Otago Biochemistry have new titles; Richard Macknight is now a professor, and Peter Mace and Paul Gardner are now associate professors.
Associate Professor Kirsten Coppell speaks at the BEATS symposium 2020
Wednesday, 5 February 2020 10:59am
Associate Professor Kirsten Coppell spoke about the dietary patterns of teenagers and obesity-promoting food environments at the BEATS symposium 2020.
The changing of the guard: a new Head for Otago Biochemistry
Wednesday, 5 February 2020 10:26am
Another chapter in the history of the Department of Biochemistry has passed, with its leadership handed over at a special dinner last Friday at Plato Restaurant.
