Pulse 55: March / April 2016

PVC's welcome

Kia ora koutou kātoa,

Welcome to the second edition of Pulse for 2016.

This edition brings you news of a number of recent staff successes in funding applications, and staff and student successes at awards ceremonies.

Congratulations to Professor Tim Wilkinson, who was recently awarded ANZAHPE's highest honour for his work in health education. And congratulations to three of our staff who received 2016 Teaching Excellence Awards: Dr Judith Bateup, Professor Diana Sarfati, and Professor Darryl Tong.

I encourage those of you who can, to attend Professors Sarfati and Tong's Inaugural Professorial Lectures next month.

I would also like to congratulate David Gerrard, who has just been awarded the title Emeritus Professor after a notable career in medical education and research. I thank David for his significant contributions to the Medical School and the international sporting community, and wish him and Barbara all the best for their retirement.

Professor Peter Crampton
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Division of Health Sciences, pvc.healthsciences@otago.ac.nz

General news

Health Professional Educators Awards

Professor Tim Wilkinson.

The Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) recently awarded Professor Tim Wilkinson (UOC) its highest honour, for his leadership role and outstanding work in both curriculum development and research on medical training. The award recognised Professor Wilkinson's "incredible work" as a health education leader.

Professor Wilkinson is programme director for medical student training (the MB ChB degree) across the Otago Medical School campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington. He has worked for more than 20 years as a geriatrician and teacher to medical students studying gerontology.

Other University of Otago staff and students also featured at the ANZAHPE conference. Associate Professor Suzanne Pitama (UOC) spoke about the award-winning Hauora Māori curriculum developed by the Māori/Indigenous Health Institute (MIHI). Current trainee intern, Anna Hogg, won a prize for her research on experiences of Otago medical students as they transition from third to fourth year.

Teaching Excellence Awards

Outstanding lecturers from the Division of Health Sciences have been honoured at the 2016 University of Otago Teaching Excellence Awards ceremony, held on 29 February in council chambers.

Of the four 2016 Teaching Excellence Awards, three were awarded to staff from Health Sciences: Dr Judith Bateup, a Senior Teaching Fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Professor Diana Sarfati (Public Health, UOW); and Professor Darryl Tong (Oral Diagnostics and Surgical Sciences, Dentistry).

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Vernon Squire presented the award certificates to the recipients, who each receive NZ$7,500 to support their learning and teaching.

University of Otago Teaching Excellence Awards recipients named (media release)
Lecturers' teaching excellence rewarded (Otago Bulletin Board)

L to R: Associate Professor Clinton Golding (HEDC), Dr Judith Bateup, Professor Darryl Tong.

Lottery Health Grants 2015–2016

Congratulations to the following researchers, who have been awarded Lottery Grants to support studies focusing on improving New Zealanders' health:

Research projects

• Dr Angela Campbell (Medicine, UOW)
  Sleep apnoea in older adults: Presentation and treatment experiences
  NZ$24,763
  
• Professor Dirk De Ridder (Surgical Sciences, DSM)
  Brain imaging in anorexia nervosa
  NZ$23,643
• Associate Professor George Dias (Anatomy, OSMS)
  Developing wool-derived proteins as bone graft substitutes
  NZ$60,000
• Dr Martin Fronius (Physiology, OSMS)
  The endothelial glycocalyx of arteries – a major player for blood pressure regulation and a new target for the treatment of cardiovascular disease
  NZ$100,000
• Dr Sarah Gordon (Psychological Medicine, UOW)
  Tāku Reo, Tāku Mauri Ora: My Voice, My Life – A self-e-management recovery resource
  NZ$57,000
• Dr Stephanie Hughes (Biochemistry, OSMS)
  Developing a better model of Alzheimer's disease
  NZ$26,000
• Dr Matloob Husain (Microbiology and Immunology, OSMS)
  Mechanism of the exacerbation of influenza virus pathogenesis in metabolic and cardiovascular disorders
  NZ$45,000
• Dr Jacqueline Keenan (Surgery, UOC)
  Screening for early-stage bowel cancer with M2-PK
  NZ$40,916
• Dr Liz Ledgerwood (Biochemistry, OSMS)
  Characterising NZ families with inherited thrombocytopenia to enhance diagnosis and treatment
  NZ$88,800
• Associate Professor Fiona McDonald (Physiology, OSMS)
  How is epithelial ion transport maintained? Implications for hypertension
  NZ$60,000
• Dr Cushla McKinney (Biochemistry, OSMS)
  Elucidation of the role of iron homeostasis in gout susceptibility
  NZ$51,000
• Associate Professor Alexander McLellan (Microbiology and Immunology, OSMS)
  Development of small molecule inhibitors to enhance anti-cancer immune responses
  NZ$41,840
• Ms Marie Russell (Public Health, UOW)
  Healthy public policy: Where to for gun control?
  NZ$68,800
• Associate Professor Louise Signal (Public Health, UOW)
  Kids'Cam GAME study: Gambling access and marketing exposure
  NZ$58,804
• Professor Tim Stokes (General Practice and Rural Health, DSM)
  Assessing the fairness of decision making in the NZ health sector
  NZ$51,950
• Professor John Sullivan (Physiotherapy)
  How does purchasing a mobility scooter impact upon an individual's physical activity, health and mobility in the community?
  NZ$52,543
• Dr Luke Wilson (Medicine, DSM)
  High-intensity interval training in type 2 diabetes. Does it improve brain blood flow, cognitive function and reduce the risk of cerebrovascular disease?
  NZ$50,000

Research equipment

• Dr Mihnea Bostina (Microbiology and Immunology, OSMS)
  Direct electron detector for cryo-electron microscope
  NZ$120,000
• Associate Professor Jeremy Krebs (Medicine, UOW)
  Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner
  NZ$125,820
• Associate Professor Ping Liu (Anatomy, OSMS)
  PeriCam PSI system
  NZ$107,709
• Associate Professor Brian Monk (Oral Sciences, Dentistry)
  AKTA pure 25 M1 with fraction collector F9-C
  NZ$109,133
• Dr Sigurd Wilbanks (Biochemistry, OSMS)
  Chromatographic purification system for fluorescent and other proteins
  NZ$81,608

Lottery Health Postdoctoral Fellowship

• Dr Philippa McDowall (Paediatrics, UOW)
  Promoting healthy sleep for children living in deprivation
  NZ$98,805

Lottery Health PhD Scholarship

• Dr Tristram Ingham (Medicine, UOW)
  Risk factors for hospitalisation with acute respiratory infections among Māori and Pacific children
  NZ$105,000

Latest Lottery grants fund wide range of Otago health research (media release)

Bachelor of Medical Science with Honours Awards

Congratulations to the following BMedSc(Hons) students, who received awards at a ceremony held in the Hunter Centre on 5 April:

Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust Research Award in Medical Sciences (NZ$8,000)

• Ellie Jarvis (UOW)
  Boosting immune responses against cancer using innate-like T cells
  Supervisors: Dr Robert Weinkove (Malaghan Institute of Medical Research); Professor John Carter (Pathology, UOW)
• Rose Melchers (OSMS)
  Measurement of interhemispheric inhibition using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in rats and humans following stroke
  Supervisors: Associate Professor John Reynolds (Anatomy, OSMS); Professor Dirk De Ridder (Surgical Sciences, DSM); Dr Jon Shemmell (Physical Education)
• William Muller (DSM)
  Vision screening in New Zealand: An audit of Southern and Tairāwhiti District Health Boards
  Supervisors: Dr Logan Mitchell (Medicine, DSM); Dr Graham Wilson (Tairāwhiti DHB)

Tassell Scholarship (NZ$8,000)

• Luke Bridgman (DSM)
  Cancer epigenetics, specifically the modification of DNA methylation in the induction of neoplasia
  Supervisors: Professor Ian Morison (Pathology, DSM); Dr Robert Weeks (Pathology, DSM)

Otago Medical School Scholarship (NZ$5,000)

• Rebecca Duncan (DSM / Bioethics Centre)
  Long acting reversible contraceptives offered routinely to youth
  Supervisors: Dr Helen Paterson (Women's and Children's Health, DSM); Associate Professor Lynley Anderson (Bioethics Centre); Dr Neil Pickering (Bioethics Centre)
• Hilla Fukofuka (DSM)
  Pacific youth views on health and wellbeing
  Supervisors: Dr Rose Richards (Associate Dean (Pacific), DSM); Dr Mele Taumoepeau (Psychology)
• Andrew Sampson (DSM)
  Historical and contemporary views of being a Māori doctor
  Supervisors: Associate Professor Jo Baxter (Associate Dean (Māori), DSM); Dr Anna Tiatia Fa'atoese Latu (Kōhatu – Centre for Hauora Māori, DSM)

L F Hall Scholarship (NZ$5,000)

• Alex Barron (Bioethics Centre)
  Dementia and Identity: investigating the neurophysiology of valuing
  Supervisors: Dr Simon Walker (Bioethics Centre); Professor Grant Gillett (Bioethics Centre)

A F J Mickle Scholarship (NZ$600)

• Rose Melchers (OSMS)
  Measurement of interhemispheric inhibition using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in rats and humans following stroke
  Supervisors: Associate Professor John Reynolds (Anatomy, OSMS); Professor Dirk De Ridder (Surgical Sciences, DSM); Dr Jon Shemmell (Physical Education)

Research scholarships awarded (ODT)

Award recipients L to R: Alex Barron, Rose Melchers, William Muller, Luke Bridgman, Andrew Sampson.

In memoriam: Professor Olaf Simpson

Professor Olaf Simpson passed away on 24 March. His funeral was held in Wellington on 31 March.

Professor Simpson was a hugely respected cardiologist and cardiovascular researcher with both clinical and experimental scientific publications. His pioneering work with Sir Horace Smirk, and people at Otago including Janet Ledingham, provided much of the crucial evidence used to form the current therapeutic treatments in hypertension. His supervision of researchers at the Wellcome Institute fostered some of the foremost international cardiologists such as Peter Bolli.

Associate Professor Ivan Sammut (Pharmacology and Toxicology), who contributed these words, also notes Professor Simpson had a kind and very welcoming personality, and he was very proud to have known him.

Departmental news

Otago School of Medical Sciences (OSMS)

Department of Anatomy

Exciting research undertaken by Dr Patrice Rosengrave and Professor Neil Gemmell using the chinook salmon has shown that 'cryptic female choice' contributes to reproductive success by boosting the success rate of fertilisation and enhancing the survival rate of embryos. This research was recently published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.

First evidence found that 'cryptic female choice' is adaptive (media release)

An iOS app created by Dr Ali Mirjalili and illustrated by Department of Anatomy Graphic Artist Mr Robbie McPhee was recently launched on the App Store. Anatomy For GSSE is a collection of questions and short notes to assist junior doctors and surgical trainees successfully sit their Generic Surgical Sciences Examination (GSSE) exams. A hard copy version will be published in May by the People's Medical Publishing House, the largest Chinese medical publishing company under the Chinese Ministry of Health.

Department of Biochemistry

Dr Wayne Patrick and Dr Monica Gerth were in a New Zealand Herald feature recently—along with Professor Allan Herbison (Physiology) and Professor Lisa Matisoo-Smith (Anatomy)—which celebrated "10 top pieces of Kiwi science and innovation".

Kiwi scientists take their knowledge to the world (NZ Herald)

Dr Chris Brown was interviewed on Our Changing World with Dr David Orlovich (Botany) and Dr Teena Summerfield (Botany), talking about fungi.

Truffle-like fungi: what their genes can tell us (RNZ)

Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Professor Frank Griffin.

The University has officially launched 13 research themes that investigate areas of strategic importance to regions, New Zealand and the world. Included in this list is Agriculture at Otago, led by Professor Frank Griffin. The aim of the Agriculture at Otago theme is to develop functional collaborative interactions between University of Otago researchers and the primary production sectors. Outcomes from this research will ensure that New Zealand retains its premier position as a producer of high value chemical free food products in a sustainable environment.

University launches reconfigured Research Themes (media release)

Professor Greg Cook featured in the New Zealand documentary Peak Antibiotics, which aired on Prime TV this week. It takes a look at the cause, effects and potential solutions to the looming state of 'peak antibiotics', where common harmful microbes will eventually become fully resistant to available antibiotic treatments. With a local angle, the show features several New Zealanders who have been significantly affected by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, with interviews from national experts including Professor Cook. The documentary is available to view on demand:

Peak Antibiotics (Prime TV)

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Dr John Ashton was interviewed on This Way Up, talking about the use of SSRI antidepressants:

SSRI antidepressants (RNZ)

Dr Ashton was also called to a media briefing on 19 April to speak to a collection of New Zealand's journalists about medicinal cannabis:

SMC Media Briefing - Medical cannabis (Science Media Centre)

This was followed by a local TV interview on the subject, plus a radio interview with Jesse Mulligan on RNZ:

Otago researchers analyse medical cannabis (Dunedin Television)
The straight dope on medical cannabis (RNZ)

Dr Sarah Baird delivered a lecture in Geraldine to the University of the Third Age (U3A) on 9 March, entitled Cancer treatments: How do they work? The lecture was well received, with around 120 in attendance.

Dr Greg Giles received an OSMS Strategic Fund award for formation of the Nitric Oxide in Human Health research cluster. This initiative is being developed in conjunction with Dr Jeff Erickson (Physiology, OSMS). The award was for NZ$49,500.

Dr Joanne Harrison and Associate Professor Ivan Sammut, in collaboration with Professor David Larsen (Department of Chemistry) and Francesca Rollason (Otago Innovation Limited), were interviewed by the Return on Science Biotech and Life Sciences Committee—and were successful in securing NZ$108,280 of Otago Innovation's Devolved Pre-seed Fund to assess the efficacy of their organic CO donor compounds in improving the viability of tissue samples during storage.

Dr John Ashton received funding from OSMS to attend the International Cannabinoid Research Society Conference that will be held in Bukowina, Poland, in June. John will be chairing the Symposium on Cannabinoids and Pain session of the conference.

Department of Physiology

The Department of Physiology and the Heart Foundation organised a fantastic event at Wall Street Mall on 25 February, as part of the Heart Foundation's Annual Appeal. Businesses around Dunedin and departments in the University were encouraged to register teams of up to four. The aim was for teams to clock up as many kilometres as possible in 10 minutes on an exercise bike. Five bikes were set up at a time, and we ended up having 40 teams register—a fantastic turnout. We were also very lucky to have members from the 2016 Highlanders team for the first half of the event, which created a fantastic atmosphere. Many thanks for their support throughout the event. We raised just over $2,800 for the Heart Foundation, which is a wonderful effort!

The Otago Advanced School Sciences Academy (OUASSA) programme brings students from low decile and rural schools, who are entering their final year of high school, into the University for a week in January and a week in July. For the first time, Anatomy and Physiology have combined to run a Control of Movement project for a group of 12 students. After the January session we had fantastic feedback from the students, particularly with regard to the practical / hands-on aspects. They will return in July to learn how anatomy and physiology relates to movement, observe heart ultrasound, and carry out a movement-related research project.

Otago Advanced School Sciences Academy (OUASSA)

Congratulations also to Jonathan Braun (supervisors Associate Professor Grant Butt, Dr Jacqui Keenan, and Associate Professor Michael Schultz), who has completed the examination aspects of his PhD.

Pacific Islands Research and Student Support Unit (PIRSSU)

Sobering health statistics were given to staff from the Department of Preventative and Social Medicine at Leituala Dr Ben Matalavea and Dr Malama Tafuna'i's presentation last Tuesday on Braving the Tsunami washing over the Pacific, kicking off the first of three seminars given to staff and students about the health conditions and health workforce in Samoa.

A graduate of Otago, Leituala is now the Clinical Director of Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital in Samoa and the private physician for the Samoa Head of State. He has worked both in New Zealand and Samoa and provides leadership for workforce and capacity building in Samoa. Also an Otago alum, Dr Malama Tafuna'i is at the forefront of the new medical school developments in Samoa and is leading the coordination of teaching for students, while having a special interest in providing local and regional solutions for Pacific health issues.

Not only did their visit build on Samoa's collaborative networks with the University of Otago, but was a chance to welcome Dr Tafuna'i as PIRSSU's newest part-time staff member, as Clinical Senior Lecturer (Pacific Health). One of her designated role is the provision of oversight for all Health Sciences staff and students who visit Samoa.

Otago's commitment to supporting New Zealand's Pacific Island neighbours has not only been demonstrated through the activities being implemented through the Pacific Strategic Framework, but also through the goodwill of the many Otago staff and medical practitioners who have volunteered to share their expertise and teaching in the region. Those interested can contact PIRSSU for further information.

Pacific Islands Research and Student Support Unit (PIRSSU)

L to R: Professor Peter Crampton, Leituala Dr Ben Matalavea, Dr Malama Tafuna'i, Faumuina Associate Professor Faafetai Sopoaga.

The Office of the Associate Dean (Pacific) is delighted to be coordinating the donation of a large shipment of medical and hospital supplies to the new Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Samoa and the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital. Items such as medical equipment, scrubs, sheets, blankets, and hospital gowns will provide much needed supplies for the new medical school, particularly for teaching clinics.

A staff delegation from the University of Otago led by Professor Peter Crampton and Faumuina Associate Professor Tai Sopoaga, Associate Dean (Pacific), will present these items during their upcoming visit to Samoa in May. The visit is aligned with the University's commitment to the Pacific region and international progress.

Supplies have kindly been donated by the Southern DHB and Alsco.

PIRSSU staff with medical and hospital supplies for Samoa, L to R: Brad Watson, Sahra Covello, Faumuina Associate Professor Tai Sopoaga, Barbara Weastell, Malia Lameta.

School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy says goodbye to staff member Jane McAuslan. Jane joined the School in 2011 to manage the finance and administration. Jane helped implement the annual White Coat Ceremony in 2012 with School Dean, Professor Stephen Duffull. Jane will spend her time now in Central Otago with her family and will continue to be an active volunteer in the community.

Meanwhile, Dispensing Laboratory Technician Lisa-Jane Reid has celebrated 25 years at the School. Lisa qualified as a Pharmacy Technician while working in a Pharmacy, combining those skills with her Dispensing Laboratory Technician position. Lisa's contribution to the School has been invaluable, as has her practical and down-to-earth attitude.

School of Pharmacy staff meet with the External Advisory Group (EAG) recently, strengthening their relationship as they continue to review the Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) programme. The review offers an opportunity to develop a new curriculum to facilitate the delivery of excellence in pharmacy education for students at Otago. The School will be providing the EAG with information on their proposed entrustable professional activities, as they work through the School's learning outcomes.

L to R: External Advisory Group Chair, Dennis Robinson, with School of Pharmacy Professional Practice Fellows Aynsley Peterson and John Fraser.

School of Physiotherapy

Associate Professor Gill Johnson.

Associate Professor Gill Johnson was farewelled by the School of Physiotherapy staff at a function at the Staff Club on 8 April.

Associate Professor Johnson spent most of her physiotherapy career as a member of the academic staff of the School of Physiotherapy, bringing with her a background in women's health, antenatal care, and clinical anatomy. As one of the original staff members (having joined in 1987), it is fitting that Gill was able to participate in the celebrations this year, to mark 20 years since the re-establishment of the School within the University.

Her background in clinical anatomy and demonstrating in the Anatomy Dissection Room led to her research interest in the function of the human spine and its relevance to physiotherapy practice. Her particular interest was the cervical spine, and her PhD studies centred round the ligamentum nuchae and its relationships.

Associate Professor Johnson's teaching covered many aspects of the curriculum, and over the years she brought strength to the curriculum through her resolve to continue to have the health sciences taught by the experts in their fields, and for the physiotherapy specific papers to be well grounded in the principles of biomechanics, functional anatomy, and pathophysiology. She taught across many parts of the curriculum in the undergraduate programme and made a large contribution to the post graduate suite of papers offered. She established the original PHTY 501 Biomedical Science in Physiotherapy paper, and was an early leader in the concept of collaborative practice through her role with dental colleagues.

Retirement of Associate Professor Gill Johnson (School of Physiotherapy)

University of Otago, Wellington (UOW)

Wellington Interprofessional Teaching Initiative (WITI)

WITI has developed an innovative IPE programme. This year, 64 Wellington-based students from four separate disciplines—dietetics, medicine, physiotherapy, and radiation therapy—were placed into three preplanned mixed discipline groups, and learned theory about interprofessional collaboration and long-term conditions, before being assigned projects.

Each student had also been allocated into a smaller group of three students each from different disciplines. They were given details of a pre-selected patient with a long-term condition living in the Wellington community. Their task was to plan joint visits to their patient in their home, and to interview them about their perceptions and experiences of their conditions and health care.

The students presented what they had learnt about their patient and interprofessional collaboration, and assessed on the quality of their joint presentations and their group participation.

This is not the first time WITI has organised interprofessional education at UOW. A similar IPE programme was run each year from 2011–2014 for groups of 40 students. And in 2014, WITI ran the programme twice. This work has resulted in several publications, and national and international conference presentations.

Interprofessional Education (UOW)

Students at the 2016 WITI IPE programme.

Department of Pathology

Staff from UOW's Department of Pathology recently worked with a group of 13- and 14-year-old students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna for a day of science, exploring how bacteria grow in your mouth. The day was held primarily in te reo Māori.

The wānanga is part of the ongoing partnership between the Kura and UOW. Students gain NZQA credits, while UOW staff gain an appreciation of how science can be taught with te reo.

Dr Sara Filoche led the science teaching and experiments on extracting DNA from saliva using shampoo, and using disclosing tablets to see plaque on the students' teeth. Dr Filoche taught in English, while Ruruhira Rameka translated into te reo Māori. The students translated the experiments beforehand.

The success of the day hinged on the huge amount of support from those involved, including Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna science teacher Kanapu Rangitauira, support from UOW Dean and Head of Campus Professor Sunny Collings, and numerous UOW staff—with a special mention of thanks to Ruruhira Rameka, Emily Bowden, Robyn Lutzenberger, and Jane Anderson.

University and Kura experiment with science in te reo Māori (media release)

Centre for Translational Physiology

A pilot project to help connect children's innate curiosity with real life science is underway at UOW. The 'science club', with students from Maoribank and Pinehaven Schools in Upper Hutt, is exploring how our bodies work—especially the heart and lungs, emphasising the relationship between exercise and health.

Classroom learning was supported with a visit to the Centre for Translational Physiology to show science in action, looking at topics of exercise and health, hygiene and our environment; as well as the effects of sugar-based drinks on oral health.

Science in action and with practical applications will help the 7–11-year-olds relate real life problems to science, become 'science ambassadors' and take the knowledge and the excitement back to school.

He Kainga Oranga / Housing and Health Research Programme

Nearly half of all New Zealanders live in rental accommodation, which is on average older than owner-occupied dwellings, built to older less-stringent building codes, and less well maintained. The Children's Commission has called for a rental Warrant of Fitness (WoF) to help improve children's health and education.

UOW has been funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand to study the effects of introducing a rental housing WoF. The He Kainga Oranga / Housing and Health Research Programme based at UOW is working with Wellington and Dunedin City Councils on the rental WoF this year, requiring basic standards for things like ventilation, heating, safety, and hygiene in a rental property.

He Kainga Oranga will measure how a WoF affects the rental market and tenant health in Wellington and Dunedin, compared with control cities Lower Hutt and Invercargill.

Other news

Otago Daily Times Community Science Awards

We all know someone that is passionate about science through their study, work or as volunteers—and this is a great opportunity to acknowledge them. The Awards are about those who are involved in science in our community, and that includes everyone from our tradesmen that use physics and chemistry in their daily jobs through to those involved in community projects and our businesses, researchers, and science communicators.

Nominations are open for the next two months, and anyone can be nominated. The categories are:

• Otago Museum Science Communicator / Teacher Award
• ADInstruments Postgraduate Student Award
• Vodafone Business Award
• Otago Polytechnic Sustainability Award
• Mitre 10 Mega Student Award
• Otago Science into Action non-profit or community project
• University of Otago Lifetime Achievement Award

Community Science Awards (ODT)

Internationalisation and Rural Health Plans

The Division of Health Sciences Internationalisation Plan and the Division of Health Sciences Rural Health Plan will soon be available via a new Key divisional documents webpage:

Key divisional documents (Division of Health Sciences)

Consulting biostatisticians

Within Health Sciences in Dunedin, there are five academic biostatisticians who are employed by the Division to provide biostatistical collaboration and advice to staff and research students in 2016, at no cost.

The biostatisticians are available for one-on-one consultations. (If you are a research student seeking assistance, please ensure that your supervisor is informed of this and willing to accompany you to any consultation.)

The consulting biostatisticians are:

• Dr Claire Cameron
• Mr Andrew Gray
• Dr Ella Iosua
• Dr Ari Samaranayaka
• Associate Professor Sheila Wiliams

Email biostatistics_dn@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-psm/research/biostatistical-group.html

Changes to online staff profiles

The Health Sciences Staff Expertise Database by default now only displays authored books or book chapters, edited books, and journal articles. You can log into MyResearch to choose your 'Top 25' publications for display.

Please use the Profile Update Form to make other changes to your profile.

Health Sciences Research Strategic Plan Survey

The Division of Health Sciences is undergoing a strategic planning exercise. To inform the strategic planning process for the research part of this process please can you complete this short survey. It should take five minutes.

The survey is open to academic and general staff until the end of April. Responses will remain anonymous. Your time and input to this process are much appreciated.

Health Sciences Research Strategic Plan Survey (Qualtrics)