Wednesday 7 March 2018 10:18am
Dr Rebecca Grainger, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington.
Dr Rebecca Grainger from the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington has been appointed Chair of the Research for Life's Research Advisory Committee.
Research for Life is a New Zealand medical research foundation, established in 1960, that funds innovative, quality research in the Wellington region undertaken by researchers in early stages of their careers.
Dr Grainger, an academic rheumatologist and senior lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington, and consultant rheumatologist at the Hutt District Health Board, has been a member of the Research for Life's Research Advisory Committee since 2012. Her main research areas include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, outcome measures and the use of technology in solving problems in rheumatic disease.
Dr Grainger completed a Bachelor of Medical Science in immunology awarded with distinction in 1995. Following this, Dr Grainger undertook a PhD at the University of Otago in 2010, examining inflammatory pathways in gout.
“I was fortunate to receive funding from Research for Life when I was a PhD student so I know that obtaining grants is a big part of training as a researcher, and what a huge support the funding was early in my career,” says Dr Grainger.
Last year, Research for Life made 12 research grants and nine travel grants, for projects such as research into the basic understanding of cancer, kidney disease and conditions of particular concern in the Wellington region, such as asthma with grant recipients coming from the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research; Victoria University of Wellington; University of Otago, Wellington; Wellington Regional Hospital; Massey University; and the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR).
“It's an honour to serve the Wellington research community as Chair of the Research Advisory Committee, supporting the outstanding research happening here and the careers of up and coming researchers,” says Dr Grainger.
The Research Advisory Committee for the Foundation assesses the research funded to ensure it has scientific merit and good methods, and that there is a high probability of it leading to improved patient outcomes and greater wellbeing for our community.
In addition to her involvement with Research For Life, Dr Grainger has served on the governing body of Arthritis New Zealand from 2014-2018, is on the Adult Medicine Division Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and the national executive of the New Zealand Rheumatology Association.
Dr Grainger succeeds former chair Professor Brett Delahunt, also at the University of Otago, Wellington. The committee's other members are Dr David Ackerley, Dr Peter Bethwaite, Professor Anne La Flamme, Associate Professor Peter Larsen, Professor John H Miller and Dr Robert Weinkove.
“We are delighted that another of our exceptional clinical academic staff members has been appointed to be Chair of the Research Advisory Committee. This is an important role and Dr Grainger is a great fit with her skills, experience and passion for research and teaching,” says Professor Sunny Collings, Dean and Head of the Wellington campus of the University of Otago.
For further information contact:
Dr Rebecca Grainger
Department of Medicine
University of Otago, Wellington
Telephone:
Mob: 021 753 383
Email: rebecca.grainger@otago.ac.nz
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