Wednesday 20 July 2011 2:46pm
Health research at the University of Otago has received a major boost, gaining $27.5M in the Health Research Council's (HRC) latest annual funding round.
Funding will be spread across a wide range of research in areas as diverse as tumour suppression, bipolar disorder and the management of gout.
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) Professor Helen Nicholson has welcomed the new funding and says it is further recognition of the quality, breadth and depth of research being carried out at Otago.
"Otago is producing world-class health research in a variety of areas. All of it has the potential to bring significant health benefits, not only in New Zealand, but further afield."
The new funding covers 22 research proposals across the University's campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington and includes new funding for three major ongoing programmes, 16 projects, and three feasibility studies.
One of the new programmes involves the long-running and highly successful Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS) which has been closely tracking a group of 1265 people born in the city in 1977.
The CHDS has received a further $3.19M in funding over the next five years to extend its research to when they reach the age of 35. This will allow them to look at areas as diverse as the consequences of mental disorders for life course outcomes to the consequences of the Canterbury earthquake.
“This is a significant ongoing study,” says Professor Nicholson. “It is now in its fourth decade and continues to produce research that attracts international attention.”
Two existing Otago programmes have also gained three-year extensions.
Associate Professor Tony Merriman's programme Application of genetics to the pathogenesis of common chronic conditions has received a further $4.765M to continue research into identifying risk genes for in conditions such as abdominal aortic aneurism, gout and inflammatory bowel disease.
Meanwhile, Professor Mark Richards’s Christchurch-based programme Neurohumoral and genetic prediction and protection in heart disease has attracted more than $3.430M to continue its research which includes the Coronary Disease Cohort Study of more than 2000 patients who have experienced acute coronary syndromes.
The 16 projects receiving funding include research into treatment for Alzheimer's disease, polycystic ovarian syndrome, housing conditions and bronchiolitis, and colon cancer screening.
Other projects include early detection of urological cancers, prevention of weight regain in people with obesity, and the association of mental disorders with subsequent physical condition onsets.
Feasibility Study grants worth almost $150,000 each have been made to research into dental caries management in children, falls prevention for adults with intellectual disability, and patient safety in general practice.
For more information, contact
Professor Helen Nicholson
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise)
Tel 64 3 479 8835
Email dvc.research@otago.ac.nz
Related media releases
- Christchurch researchers get HRC funding (PDF, 160KB)
- New Health Research Funding for University of Otago, Wellington (PDF, 104KB)
Otago's new HRC contracts (Please note that only the principal investigator is listed)
HRC Programmes: New
Professor David Fergusson
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch
Tel (03) 372 0406 x85442
The Christchurch Health and Development Study - Birth to 35 Years
60 months, $3,914,157
HRC Programme Extensions
Associate Professor Tony Merriman
Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 5798
Application of genetics to the pathogenesis of common chronic conditions
36 months, $4,765,885
Professor Mark Richards
Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch
Tel 64 3 364 1117
Neurohumoral and genetic prediction and protection in heart disease
36 months, $3,430,492
HRC Projects
Dr Tristram Ingham
Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington
Tel 64 4 385 5541 x6842
Whiti Te Ra: The contribution of housing conditions to bronchiolitis disparities
36 months, $1,157,725
Dr Istvan Abraham
Department of Physiology, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 7323
ANGELS as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease
36 months, $782,886
Dr Rebecca Campbell
Department of Physiology, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 7343
Understanding the neuroendocrine abnormalities of polycystic ovarian syndrome
36 months, $650,735
Associate Professor Brian Cox
Department of Preventive & Social Medicine, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 7213
Comparative effectiveness research: one-off sigmoidoscopy or iFOBT screening
20 months, $666,038
Associate Professor Marie Crowe
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch
Tel 64 3 372 0400
A randomised clinical effectiveness trial of a bipolar disorder clinic
36 months, $1,189,961
Associate Professor Patrick Manning
Department of Medicine, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 474 0999
Does Cabergoline prevent weight regain in people with obesity?
48 months, $1,192,020
Dr Anna Ranta
Dean’s Office, University of Otago, Wellington
Tel 64 4 350 9159 x7635
Efficacy and Safety of TIA Electronic Support Tool (FASTEST) Trial
24 months, $624,846
Associate Professor Parry Guilford
Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 7673
Synthetic lethal targeting of the tumour suppression gene CDH1 in common cancers
36 months, $1,080,001
Associate Professor Parry Guilford
Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 7673
Single cell RNA profiling for the early detection of urological cancers
36 months, $820,303
Associate Professor Kate Scott
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 474 7989
The association of mental disorders with subsequent physical condition onsets
36 months, $643,944
Professor Roger Mulder
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch
Tel 64 3 372 0400
Health Anxiety CBT vs TAU for patients with non-cardiac chest pain
36 months, $726,684
Dr Louise Signal
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington
Tel 64 4 385 5541 x6477
C3 - Cancer care journeys and clinical decision making
36 months, $1,198,742
Professor Allan Herbison
Department of Physiology, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 7312
Understanding kisspeptin neurons
36 months, $1,002, 385
Associate Professor Lisa Stamp
Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch
Tel 64 3 364 0953
Safety and efficacy of high dose allopurinol in the management of gout: a randomised interventional study
36 months, $1,199,225
Associate Professor Margreet Vissers
Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch
Tel 64 3 364 1524
Ascorbate-mediated regulation of HIF-1 controlled tumour growth and angiogenesis
36 months, $812,985
Dr Kristin Wickens
Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington
Tel 64 3 385 6780
A maternal probiotic intervention for infant allergic disease prevention
36 months, $1,181,991
HRC Feasibility Study Grants
Dr Lyndie Foster Page
Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 5853
A novel approach to caries management in New Zealand children
36 months, $146,826
Associate Professor Leigh Hale
School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 5425
Prevention of falls for adults with intellectual disability (PROFAID)
36 months, $143,026
Associate Professor Susan Dovey
Department of General Practice, University of Otago
Tel 64 3 479 4135
Patient safety in New Zealand general practices: Records review study
36 months, $149,276
