Early detection of prostate cancer could soon be simplified, thanks to a University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka project.
Dr Jim Smith
Dr Jim Smith (Te Ātiawa), of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, has received Health Research Council of New Zealand funding to create a targeted DNA methylation-based blood test for the disease.
“Such a test would provide early and accurate prostate cancer detection, leading to improved survival, fewer unnecessary procedures, and decreased costs of care for prostate cancer patients,” he says.
The project is one of five from Otago to receive an award or fellowship in the latest HRC funding round.
For his, Dr Smith will perform the first comprehensive epigenetic analysis of blood samples from New Zealand men undergoing prostate biopsy, using the data to develop the blood test.
“Epigenetic markers, particularly DNA methylation, are important drivers of prostate cancer, and have shown promise as potential biomarkers for cancer detection via a simple blood test,” he says.
He feels “incredibly privileged” to receive the award and grateful to be involved in research which has such potential to improve outcomes for patients.
“Aotearoa New Zealand has some of the highest prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates worldwide and much poorer outcomes in Māori communities. For many patients the decisions around screening, investigations, and treatment can be challenging.
“Whilst our pathways for prostate cancer detection are slowly improving, the tools currently available for detecting prostate cancer are either cost-ineffective, lack accuracy, or are not equitably provided to all patients at risk.
“I hope this work will provide meaningful, equitable clinical benefit for people at risk of prostate cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand,” he says.
Dr Smith acknowledges his supervisory team of Associate Professor Aniruddha Chatterjee, Dr Euan Rodger, Associate Professor Sharon Pattison, Dr Stephen Mark, and Mr Gregory Gimenez, along with the wider group of outstanding researchers and collaborators who made it possible to design such an exciting project.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Distinguished Professor Greg Cook is pleased to see such a variety of projects and researchers receiving funding.
“Each of these researchers is tackling issues many New Zealanders face every day and their projects have the ability to change lives. This funding not only accelerates discovery – it fosters collaboration, nurtures emerging research leaders, and reinforces our role as a catalyst for positive change.
“From advancing health outcomes to enhancing social wellbeing, these initiatives demonstrate the University’s ongoing mission: to turn research excellence into real-world benefits for all.”
Clinical Research Training Fellowship
Dr Jim Smith (Te Ātiawa), Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine
Developing a targeted plasma DNA methylation panel for prostate cancer detection, 36 months, $260,000
Aotearoa New Zealand has one of the highest prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates worldwide and much poorer outcomes in Māori communities. Current approaches for prostate cancer detection lack accuracy, leading to either late recognition of prostate cancer, or needless over-investigation or over-treatment. New, cost-effective methods of prostate cancer detection are urgently needed to improve clinical outcomes for New Zealand men. Epigenetic markers, particularly DNA methylation, are important drivers of prostate cancer, and have shown promise as potential biomarkers for cancer detection via a simple blood test. I will perform the first comprehensive epigenetic analysis of blood samples from New Zealand men undergoing prostate biopsy. We will use this data to develop and validate a targeted DNA methylation-based blood test for early and accurate prostate cancer detection, thereby leading to improved survival, fewer unnecessary procedures, and decreased costs of care for New Zealand patients.
Dr Tim Salmond, Department of Medicine, Wellington
The role of continuous glucose monitoring in diabetes self-management education, 36 months, $260,000
Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are growing health challenges in Aotearoa New Zealand, disproportionately affecting Māori and Pasifika, and account for a significant proportion of the healthcare budget. Lifestyle change programmes can lead to lasting improvements in these conditions, but they are often resource intensive. This study will explore whether 3-months of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) combined with a structured Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) programme can promote lasting improvements in blood sugar levels through direct feedback and learning in people with early type 2 diabetes or prediabetes more than DSME alone, in a region with a large Māori population and high diabetes rates. We will also compare changes in activity levels and diet, sleep, stress, productivity, fat stores, fitness and blood markers of health between the two groups. Finally, we will assess the cost-effectiveness of this intervention to provide justification for applying this approach nationally if it provides significant improvements.
Girdlers' Fellowship
Dr Michelle Walker, Division of Humanities
Experiences of mothers and their families during postnatal psychiatric illness, 36 months, $260,000
Suicide is a leading cause of death for new mothers in the months after childbirth worldwide. New Zealand and United Kingdom families reel from these deaths and the impacts that flow from poor mental health. Understanding women’s experiences of seeking and receiving support for postpartum psychiatric illness is far from complete. I propose a research programme that contributes to the improvement of health systems in New Zealand and the UK by exploring research and methodologies which understand women’s experiences of maternal mental health. Such research has the potential to support health and economic improvements by understanding how to improve equitable access to quality healthcare.
Health Delivery Career Development Award
Dr Sarah Pirikahu, Department of Public Health, Wellington
COVID-19 antivirals: who is missing out?, 24 months, $149,887
SARS-CoV-2 still poses a real threat to public health, with hospitalisations in New Zealand due to COVID-19 outnumbering all other infectious diseases. While vaccination has been successful in reducing severe illness, antivirals have also played a crucial role, particularly in protecting high risk individuals (e.g. aged over 65 years or unvaccinated). However, only 22 per cent of individuals aged over 65 that died, and 39 per cent that were hospitalised, received antiviral treatment between January 2022 and March 2023. The primary aim of this project is to understand who missed out on antiviral treatment when eligible and how their distribution could be made more equitable to ultimately reduce hospitalisations, deaths and long-term illness caused by COVID-19 in New Zealand. This will be the first investigation into whether the distribution of antiviral treatments in New Zealand was equitable and will inform current service delivery and clinical practice while also providing important data to guide population-wide rollout of treatment in future pandemics.
Māori Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship
Cara Meredith, Māori/Indigenous Health Innovation, Christchurch
Māori perinatal mental health, 48 months, $560,521
In Aotearoa, avoidable health inequities for Māori persist because of deeply entrenched health and social systems that are designed to privilege the New Zealand European population. Perinatal mental health outcomes and maternal suicide rates demonstrate that Māori birthing parents have the worst outcomes relative to other ethnic groups. This project will examine the rates of screening, diagnosis, treatment options offered, and referral to specialist services to ascertain where any differences occur for Māori, highlighting where the health system contributes to known inequitable outcomes. Educational resources for health professionals working with whānau Māori in the perinatal period will be developed and evaluated. Finally, a cost-benefit analysis of a kaupapa Māori perinatal mental health service will be completed. This project aims to support the development of solutions that can improve perinatal mental health outcomes for Māori. This research will inform best practice guidelines for those working with Māori experiencing perinatal mental distress.
Māori Health Research Development Grant
Tui Warmenhoven, Department of Public Health, Dunedin
Restoring intergenerational knowledge of kai, 7 months, $7,000
Decades of degradation through land use changes, soil erosion, and climate change, have disrupted access to healthy kai, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases and adverse mental health outcomes for Māori. Restoring intergenerational knowledge of growing kai and caring for kapata kai (traditional food-gathering places) is important for the long-term wellbeing of whānau and our communities. The purpose of this grant is to design, organise and facilitate a thought-space wānanga in Te Tairāwhiti with kai growers and practitioners who have place-based experience and insights on intergenerational kai growing and gathering, taiao restoration, and rongoā. One-on-one hui with local kai experts and other nationally recognised kai theorists will also be an important data gathering strategy on this kaupapa. The findings will be used to develop an HRC programme grant to enable improved food security practices, stronger cultural wellbeing, healthier environments, and long-term health gains for whānau and whenua in Te Tairāwhiti.
Māori Health Research Summer Studentship
Charlotte Webb
Evaluating Online Vaccine Resources for Informed Decision-Making by Hapū Māmā, 3 months, $7,500
This summer studentship is part of a wider HRC-funded kaupapa Māori study that supports hapū māmā to make informed decisions about vaccination during pregnancy. This studentship, in particular, will evaluate a set of online resources previously developed to support māmā in their decision making, explaining what vaccination involves, how it works and addressing common questions. The aim is to understand whether these resources are meeting the needs of hapū māmā and how they might be improved. The evaluation will involve interviews and focus groups with hapū māmā to explore how effective these resources have been in supporting their decisions, and to identify any gaps that could be used to further improve the online learning resources.
Te Arikirangi Paekau
Creating resources to support health science staff in te reo Māori assessments, 2 months, $7,500
Many students confident in te reo Māori enter the ‘Health Sciences First Year’ (HSFY) programme as a pathway into health professions. However, despite policy allowing students to submit assessments in te reo Māori, there have been no exam submissions in Māori for any of the seven HSFY papers, indicating a disconnect between policy and application. Using recordings of marking hui from a larger project, this summer studentship will investigate staff perspectives towards te reo submissions. With these findings and my personal experience, as both a student and a te reo Māori marker, I will produce resources to support the HSFY staff with assessments in te reo. The ultimate goal is to make te reo submissions more accessible to students entering the health professions, thereby empowering them to use te reo in their practice and supporting culturally safe environments for Māori whānau seeking healthcare.