Sakiusa Baleivanualala working in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
Saki Baleivanualala didn’t just come to the University of Otago to study, he came to learn, grow and give back.
In doing so, the Fijian national has contributed to the University and Dunedin communities, to his home country, the wider Pacific, and the global scientific community.
Saki graduates on May 10 with a Doctorate in Philosophy in Microbiology.
He arrived at Otago with a clear vision, shaped by his first-hand experience of how dangerous superbugs were becoming in Fiji’s hospitals. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria are no longer stopped by common treatments and are causing serious, sometimes untreatable, infections.
He says bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a silent time bomb.
“It is a growing global problem and limited treatment options are already costing lives in the Pacific.”
Saki’s academic journey began with a degree from the Fiji School of Medicine (now Fiji National University), followed by a Master’s in Infectious Diseases in Western Australia.
His studies made him more aware of the growing gaps in knowledge, diagnostics and access to effective treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections.
“That’s when I realised research was the most powerful way I could contribute to improving health in Fiji and the Pacific.”
Saki approached Professor James Ussher, a leading clinical microbiologist and infectious diseases researcher at Otago, with a goal to specialise in microbiology with a particular focus on pathogen genomics and antibiotic resistance.
Together, they developed a research project to investigate how antibiotic-resistant pathogens were spreading in Fijian hospitals. What began as a national study quickly grew into a regional collaboration involving academic and health partners from Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia.
"Never underestimate the importance of your roots. They can ground your purpose and lift your vision."
By studying DNA and patterns of transmission, he helped identify where and how superbug infections were spreading in hospitals.
This was the first study to provide detailed molecular data on high-risk bacteria collected from hospitals across the Pacific, he says.
“Understanding the extent and nature of this problem fills a crucial gap, helps healthcare professionals, and protects vulnerable communities. This is essential for effective treatment, prevention strategies, and for the development new tools to fight these infections with limited resources.”
His work is now helping Fiji improve how they detect, track, and control these infections, and the study became the catalyst for setting up a permanent system to monitor antibiotic resistance in the Pacific.
Saki is now working with partners to set up one of Fiji’s first pathogen genomic sequencing facility. For the first time, local scientists will be able to test and analyse samples in the country, instead of sending them overseas, as Saki did in his own study.
He says this progress was possible through the support of the University of Otago, Fiji National University, the Fiji Ministry of Health, and funding from the Maurice Wilkins Centre and Te Niwha.
“Studying bacterial DNA has been the key to really understanding these bugs. It gives us the information we need to plan proper treatment and stop the spread.”
Saki's work has gained international recognition, with publications in esteemed journals highlighting the transnational spread of resistant bacteria and emphasising the need for coordinated antibiotic resistance surveillance in Pacific.
The research is contributing to global knowledge and will also be driving policy and capacity building in resource-limited settings.
When he began his Doctorate study, Saki had limited experience with DNA research, so he dedicated much of his time learning the tools, techniques, and processes needed to understand and apply genomic science.
But his time in Dunedin was not just about science - Saki says he also embraced the opportunity to expand his knowledge of culture and language.
“Otago was the right place for me. The teaching, the supportive environment, and the great networks helped me grow. I never felt lonely. Everything was like home, except for the weather of course.
"Studying, working part-time, participating in church activities and socialising pushed me to grow and equipped me with many skills to take back to Fiji.”
Reflecting on this journey, Saki acknowledges his family and everyone who has supported him.
“I stood on the shoulders of so many who believed in me. This achievement is not mine alone. It belongs to all of us including the very people I am researching for. I also give thanks to God for his guidance, strength and grace throughout this journey.
“Never underestimate the importance of your roots. They can ground your purpose and lift your vision.”
Saki is now continuing his research in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and supporting the training of young researchers. He regularly visits Fiji to support the genomic sequencing facility he is helping to establish.
Kōrero by Claire Grant, Communications Advisor, School of Biomedical Sciences