Tuesday 16 April 2013 3:25pm
University of Otago researchers have gained $1.86m in new funding from the Lottery Grants Board to pursue research aimed at improving the health status of New Zealanders.
Researchers from across the University’s three main campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington have received 34 research and/or equipment grants and three PhD scholarships. A full list appears below.
Nationally, around $4.14m comprising 75 grants was distributed in the Lottery Health Research 2012/13 funding round.
The Otago grants involve a variety of health-related topics ranging from basic biomedical investigations into melanoma genetics to improving school playgrounds to enhance children’s physical activity and health.
Other grants focus on topics that include studying how noroviruses manipulate programmed cell death processes, Christchurch frontline workers’ occupational health, sugars and health risk, and developing diagnostic biomarkers for ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
About Lottery Health Research:
Lottery Health Research distributes grants to support:
- Research into the cause, prevention and treatment of disorders affecting the health of New Zealanders
- Research which will lead to advances in health and biomedical science for the ultimate benefit of all New Zealanders
- The development, maintenance and retention of a highly skilled workforce of health and bio-medical researchers in New Zealand.
For more information, contact:
Simon Ancell
Communications Adviser
University of Otago
Tel 03 479 5016
Email simon.ancell@otago.ac.nz
University of Otago Lottery Health grant recipients:
Dr Gillian Abel (Public Health & General Practice, University of Otago, Christchurch)
The 'lived experience' of HIV: ageing, place and social isolation
$51,400
Professor Wickliffe Abraham (Psychology)
Testing memory in mouse models of neurological disease
$37,600
Dr Andrew Bahn (Physiology)
Identification of the kynurenine transporter in human astrocytes and its regulation via urate
$11,700
Dr Biju Balakrishnan (School of Pharmacy)
Enhancing antimicrobial drug delivery in inflamed tissues
$46,800
Professor Antony Braithwaite (Pathology)
p53 isoforms and melanoma
$66,600
Dr Andrew Clarkson (Anatomy)
Establishing a large animal model of stroke in sheep
$90,000
Dr Dawn Coates (Oral Sciences)
Adipose-derived multipotent progenitor cells on titanium surfaces
$37,300
Professor Andrew Day (Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch)
Chronic gastrointestinal consequences of acute Campylobacter infection
$79,700
Professor Anthony Dowell (Primary Health Care & General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington)
The morbidity patterns of childhood illness in general practice
$51,200
Professor Bernadette Drummond (Oral Sciences)
Oral pH monitoring in children with dental erosion
$17,000
Associate Professor Warwick Duncan (Oral Sciences)
Does anodisation of titanium-zirconium alloy improve anchorage to bone for implanted prosthetic devices?
$23,800
Dr Kirsty Fairbairn (Human Nutrition)
The experiences and perceptions of registered dieticians delivering dietetic services in NZ primary health care
$3,188
Professor Mauro Farella (Oral Sciences)
Wireless monitoring of oral pH and Bruxism
$49,500
Dr Elspeth Gold (Anatomy)
CARESTREAM animal imaging system - Project: Optical imaging of labelled tissues, cells or organs within a living rodent
$26,500
Dr Claire Heppenstall (Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch)
Telephone follow-up to reduce adverse outcomes in frail elders
$45,000
Dr Regis Lamberts (Physiology)
Autonomic dysfunction and surgical cardiovascular complications in diabetes
$67,500
Dr Rajesh Katare (Physiology)
Targeting the autophagy factor beclin-1 to halt diabetic cardiomyopathy
$27,600
Dr Lynnette Jones (School of Physical Education)
Circuit resistance training and vascular health in breast cancer survivors
$24,700
Dr Jennifer Jordan (Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch)
Changing narratives and post-traumatic stress disorder after the Christchurch earthquakes
$39,400
Dr Kirsten Lovelock (Preventive & Social Medicine)
Occupational health of front line workers in Christchurch
$45,000
Dr Tracy Melzer (Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch)
4 year serial MRI and cognition in Parkinson's disease
$48,600
Ms Inga O'Brien (Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington)
Self-management support in cancer care
$26,800
Ms Meredith Peddie (Human Nutrition)
Interrupting prolonged sitting with regular activity: Acute postprandial metabolic effects
$52,700
Associate Professor Russell Poulter (Biochemistry)
The biosynthesis of cyclic analogues of the HIV regulator Tat
$71,600
Dr Timothy Prickett (Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch)
Plasma NTproCNP: a putative marker of vascular risk
$90,000
Dr Euan Rodger (Pathology)
A New Zealand family holds the key to myelodysplastic syndrome
$54,000
Dr Daryl Schwenke (Physiology)
DMT Confocal Wire Myograph System - Project: Obesity protects against pulmonary hypertension – understanding the “Obesity Paradox”
$35,235
Professor John Sullivan (School of Physiotherapy)
Mobility Scooters keeping older New Zealanders on the move
$49,500
Professor Warren Tate (Biochemistry)
Development of diagnostic biomarkers for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
$41,200
Dr Sebastien Taurin (Pharmacology & Toxicology)
Oestrogen receptor independent inhibition of tumour growth by raloxifene
$50,000
Dr Lisa Te Morenga (Human Nutrition)
Sugars and Health Risk
$90,000
Professor Vernon Ward (Microbiology & Immunology)
Norovirus manipulation of apoptosis
$40,000
Dr Timothy Woodfield (Orthopaedic Surgery & Musculoskeletal Medicine)
3D BioPlotter shared equipment for biomedical research
$90,000
Dr Yiwen Zheng (Pharmacology & Toxicology)
Role of GABAB receptors in tinnitus development and treatment
$25,600
PhD Scholarships:
Miss Victoria Farmer (Medicine)
Improving school playgrounds to enhance physical activity and health in children: the Play Study
$85,000
Mr Angus Mackay (Biochemistry)
Developing a diagnostic blood test for ME/CFS
$85,000
Miss Lindsay Robertson (Preventive & Social Medicine)
Regulation of tobacco retailing
$85,000
A list of Otago experts available for media comment is available elsewhere on this website.
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