Five University of Otago, Christchurch research teams have been awarded Project Grants this year from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) to advance scientific knowledge in the fields of polycystic kidney disease, depression, heart disease, gynecological and rectal cancers.
Three of the five successful UOC Grant recipients come from within the Department of Medicine (Professor Suetonia Palmer, Dr Rachel Purcell and Professor Christopher Charles); with one from the Department of Psychological Medicine (Dr Ben Beaglehole) and one from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Dr Carrie Ruth).
The five Project Grants were among 24 awarded to University of Otago researchers (each running over three years) along with four Programme Grants (worth $5 million each over 5 years) – a significant $52 million funding boost aimed at benefitting the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.
UOC Dean Professor Suzanne Pitama says it's a wonderful achievement.
“I'd like to congratulate Dr Innes, Dr Purcell, Professor Palmer, Dr Beaglehole, and Professor Charles on being awarded these HRC Grants. Their success highlights the wonderful mahi being undertaken at UOC across a range of research themes.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, Professor Richard Blaikie is thrilled with the funding received.
“This is the largest amount of Health Research Council funding Otago has been awarded in any year, let alone in a single funding round, which is great news to be able to share with our University community, and the wider public, at this time.
“The funding is recognition of the world-leading researchers Otago has, and the needs of the communities they serve.
“We are grateful the Health Research Council has again been able to support their work, which we know will have an enduring impact on the lives of so many.”
UOC Project Grants
Professor Suetonia Palmer, University of Otago, Christchurch
IMPEDE-PKD: Metformin to protect kidney function in polycystic kidney disease
$1,440,000
IMPEDE-PKD is a clinical trial evaluating whether metformin prevents kidney failure in people with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD is a genetic condition causing large kidney cysts. Affected people often require dialysis or a kidney transplant and can experience pain and disfigurement. There is no targeted treatment to prevent cyst growth for patients in Aotearoa/New Zealand. The IMPEDE-PKD trial will involve 100 patients in New Zealand with PKD and decreased kidney function. Patients will receive either metformin or a matching placebo for two years. We will evaluate whether metformin slows kidney failure after two years of treatment. Whanau Māori will be partnered with a navigator Māori to provide culturally specific support while participating in IMPEDE-PKD.
Dr Ben Beaglehole, University of Otago, Christchurch
Ketamine versus Ketamine plus Behavioural Activation Therapy for Depression
$1,194,435
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the most common psychiatric disorder. Usual treatments for MDD have limitations including side effects and inadequate response rates. Consequently, Treatment-Resistant MDD (TR-MDD) causes significant individual suffering and high societal burdens. Ketamine offers new opportunities as a highly effective short-term treatment for TR-MDD but relapse rates are high following treatment with Ketamine ending. Treatment guidelines recommend complementing medication treatment of MDD with therapy to improve response and delay relapse. However, the vast majority of Ketamine studies evaluate Ketamine treatment alone. It is not known if the addition of therapy to Ketamine treatment prolongs the clinical response and delays relapse for TR-MDD. We therefore propose a pilot study comparing Ketamine with Ketamine plus Behavioural Activation Therapy (BAT) to evaluate whether BAT (an evidence-based therapy for MDD) prolongs the clinical response and delays relapse following a course of Ketamine treatment.
Dr Carrie Ruth Innes, University of Otago, Christchurch
Where are the inequities in the journey from health to gynae cancer in Aotearoa?
$1,187,766
Compared with non-Māori, Māori and Pasifikawāhine have a higher incidence and mortality from gynaecological cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand. Of particular concern, the incidence of endometrial cancer in young women in Aotearoa is increasing faster than anywhere else in the world and the greatest burden of this lies in Māori and Pasifikawāhine. Inequities can occur at any stage along the pathway from health to gynaecological cancer and also between different ethnicities and geographical regions. This research study will identify the cultural, geographical, and timeline inequities in the journey from health to gynaecological cancer across all of Aotearoa. Through investigation of health data and interviews with wāhine newly-diagnosed with gynaecological cancer, we will document the ethnicity, timetable, and geographical location, of presentations to health care services, clinical investigations, stage and disease burden at diagnosis, and consider barriers to accessing health care or investigations.
Dr Rachel Purcell, University of Otago, Christchurch
Targeting the tumour microenvironment to improve outcomes in rectal cancer
$1,200,000
The incidence of rectal cancer is increasing in New Zealand, particularly in younger people (< 50 years). Radiotherapy is often used to treat rectal cancer but patients have varying response, and currently, there are no predictive biomarkers of response available. Our recent work has identified an immune signature in rectal tumours that is predictive of response to radiotherapy, and, based on this, we will validate a biomarker test in an international cohort to predict response to radiotherapy and better direct treatment for rectal cancer patients. In addition, we found that the immune signature is linked to a specific tumour microbiome. We will use state-of the art techniques to determine the tumour immune-cell microenvironment that co-operates with radiotherapy and explore the potential of microbiome-based interventions to improve response to radiotherapy. This work will lead to the development of novel tests and microbiome-based treatments for rectal cancer, and ultimately improve outcomes for cancer.
Professor Christopher Charles, University of Otago, Christchurch
PDE9: inhibition in experimental MI and plasma levels in human heart disease
$1,194,867
Heart disease remains a leading cause of death and disability in New Zealand. Myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, is a key cause of progressive heart disease. A heart attack results in permanent damage to the heart, that can progress to heart failure and eventually death. New and more effective treatments are needed. The present application aims to assess the effectiveness of a new treatment strategy (inhibition of the enzyme PDE9) administered at the time of heart attack. We will assess its ability to improve the long-term changes in heart structure and function that occur following a heart attack. This may prevent or slow the progression to heart failure. We will also measure levels of the PDE9 enzyme in blood from patients with heart disease to determine whether this gives important information on severity of disease or best treatment options.