Continued decline in number of people diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand
Thursday 13 May 2021
The number of people diagnosed with HIV in New Zealand declined in 2020 to the lowest annual number since the early 2000s.
New Zealand housing lacking basic amenities, new report finds
Thursday 13 May 2021
Five per cent of New Zealand houses lack at least one of six basic amenities including drinkable tap water, electricity, a toilet, and a kitchen sink, a new report from the He Kāinga Oranga Housing and Health Research Programme at the University of Otago, Wellington has found.
Otago study awarded best article in leading US journal
Wednesday 12 May 2021
A University of Otago study comparing exercise and heat therapy was the hottest article of the year in a leading United States journal.
Inequities facing tāngata whaikaha during COVID-19 raised
Wednesday 12 May 2021
A new University of Otago, Wellington article has shone a light on the risks and difficulties faced by tāngata whaikaha, the disabled Māori community, during COVID-19.
Aspiring GP wants to help his community
Friday 7 May 2021
After starting University not knowing what he wanted to do, Adam Faatoese is leaving as a doctor.
First for Pacific Islands-based doctor
Friday 7 May 2021
Dr Vakaola Mafi has overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve a notable first.
EDOR Chair Sir Eion Edgar made Distinguished Fellow by NZ Institute of Directors
Wednesday 5 May 2021
Sir Eion, EDOR chair and benefactor, has been recognised by the New Zealand Institute of Directors.
Introductory cultural safety programme positively received
Wednesday 5 May 2021
A student-led project to improve the cultural safety of Otago medical students and staff has been well attended and positively received.
Investigating epilepsy in Māori
Wednesday 5 May 2021
Understanding the reasons behind the higher burden of epilepsy experienced by Māori children is the focus of a Health Research Council (HRC) funded research project at the University of Otago, Wellington, led by PhD student and paediatric registrar Dr Ngaire Keenan.
On the front line: the impact of suicide on health professionals and first responders
Tuesday 4 May 2021
More research is urgently needed into the impact that attending suicide events is having on paramedics and other first responders, a researcher at the University of Otago, Wellington, says.
New Chair of Rural Health to be established
Tuesday 4 May 2021
The University of Otago is establishing a Chair of Rural Health as part of its commitment to improving health outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Video of Professor Tim Woodfield's Inaugural Professorial Lecture
Tuesday 4 May 2021
The video of Professor Tim Woodfield's Inaugural Professorial Lecture is now available.
Pūtea Tautoko steps up for Otago’s students
Tuesday 4 May 2021
International PhD students Grace Duke and Jessica Valisa say the support they received from Otago’s Pūtea Tautoko fund has made it possible for them to finish their degrees.
Trainee intern working for health equality
Monday 3 May 2021
Sophie Papali’i, a trainee intern from Porirua, has a rich heritage which enables her to bring a range of cultural perspectives to the board.
Physical punishment happening less, but still common - study
Friday 30 April 2021
There is a clear downward trend in the number of parents using physical violence as a punishment in New Zealand, but its use is still relatively common, a new University of Otago study reveals.
Health sector not ready to provide best practice abortion care
Friday 30 April 2021
Aotearoa achieved a major milestone in sexual and reproductive health and rights with the decriminalisation of abortion, but a University of Otago academic argues abortion care is still not being provided within the full extent of the law.
Calling for nominations for the 20Twenties Young Alumni Awards
Wednesday 28 April 2021
Do you know a young graduate who is making a positive impact in their community, in their field of work, or in a wider arena, through their leadership, innovation, determination or research?
Summer research
Tuesday 27 April 2021
Forty-five students from across the University have taken part in research projects on the Wellington campus over summer, tacking a wide range of projects, from researching green transport solutions to working with the Ministry of Health contributing to research on the COVID-19 response.
He Kete Kōrero – Autumn 2021
Tuesday 27 April 2021
Welcome to the Autumn 2021 edition of He Kete Kōrero with the latest news from the Wellington campus.
EDOR welcomes health system reforms
Thursday 22 April 2021
The Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre welcomes the NZ Health system reforms announced on the 21 April, 2021.
Updated Code of Conduct for medical students
Wednesday 21 April 2021
The updated Code of Conduct for Otago and Auckland medical students is now active and all students need to be aware of it.
Launch of new public health research programme led by Professor Michael Baker
Tuesday 20 April 2021
Kōkiri Marae is hosting an all-day hui on Tuesday to launch the SYMBIOTIC Programme, a five-year research programme that focuses on finding ways of reducing the burden of infectious diseases, long-term conditions, and poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Researchers welcome Smokefree 2025 Action Plan
Thursday 15 April 2021
Researchers from the University of Otago’s ASPIRE 2025 Research Centre, which carries out research to support the Smokefree 2025 goal, have welcomed and endorsed the action plan for achieving a Smokefree Aotearoa by 2025 released by Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall today.
Professor Michael Baker wins Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize
Wednesday 14 April 2021
Professor Michael Baker MNZM, from the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington has won the 2020 Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize.
Getting from A to B – tell us what’s key
Friday 9 April 2021
The University's Travel Survey is open for submissions from 13 April.
EDOR directors instrumental in Type 2 Diabetes report
Thursday 8 April 2021
EDOR Directors Rachael Taylor and Jim Mann attended the parliamentary launch of the Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes report on 15 March 2021.
Silver linings in lockdown
Wednesday 7 April 2021
Two thirds of New Zealanders believed there were ‘silver linings’ to the country’s Alert Level 4 COVID-19 lockdown imposed in March last year, a University of Otago survey has found.
Better podiatry services would avoid 600 diabetes-related amputations per year
Thursday 1 April 2021
The Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes report found that around 600 amputations could be avoided in New Zealand each year if better foot screening and podiatry services were made available for everyone with type 2 diabetes.
Christchurch ceremony celebrates values and success from 2020
Thursday 1 April 2021
A long-serving head of department was celebrated along with researchers, educators, staff and students who showed excellence and a commitment to the values of the Christchurch campus during its annual Academic Welcome ceremony.
Forum strengthens NZ-China non communicable diseases research collaborations
Wednesday 31 March 2021
An impressive range of joint research projects between Chinese and New Zealand cancer, brain and modernisation of traditional medicine scientists may receive further support from the New Zealand-China Non-Communicable Diseases Research Collaboration Centre (NCD CRCC).
Otago research seeks to answer youth bedtime dilemma: To stream or not to stream?
Tuesday 30 March 2021
Does streaming before dreaming make for a worse night’s sleep? That’s the question University of Otago researchers are hoping to answer when they monitor young people’s screen-use at bedtime to see if it impacts sleep quality.
Members of the Department recognised at the 2021 UOC Academic Welcome
Monday 29 March 2021
The Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science collected two UOC Research Gold Medals, six UOC Value Awards and four Christchurch Medical Student Association (CMSA) Awards at the UOC Academic Welcome ceremony last week.
University of Otago sets up new health training course on West Coast
Monday 29 March 2021
Te Tai o Poutini is to benefit from an interprofessional learning programme set up by the University of Otago and funded by the Ministry of Health which will bring about 50 senior students in a variety of health professions each year to the Coast.
Does bedtime screen-use affect children’s sleep?
Friday 26 March 2021
Does streaming before dreaming make for a worse night’s sleep?
Dunedin COVID-19 QR code scanning rates “worrying”
Friday 26 March 2021
An Otago academic says it’s time to ask tough questions after an audit revealed “concerningly low” numbers of people scanning COVID-19 QR code posters.
Action needed on Type 2 Diabetes
Thursday 25 March 2021
Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research advisory board member, Dr Ofa Dewes, is calling for communities to work together to implement the findings of the Economic and Social Cost of Type 2 Diabetes report, launched at Parliament on 15 March 2021.
Honest answers, clear communication valued by pregnant patients
Tuesday 23 March 2021
Clear, honest communication and a good rapport with doctors are key factors in the high levels of satisfaction reported by patients with high risk pregnancies following consultation with specialist obstetricians, researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, have found.
Research group fostering early to mid-career research
Tuesday 23 March 2021
A group of early to mid-career researchers within the Division of Health Sciences is helping to support their peers to achieve research excellence.
University’s ‘household name’ is Wellingtonian of the Year
Monday 22 March 2021
Public Health Professor Michael Baker has been selected as Wellingtonian of the Year for 2020 at The Dominion Post newspaper’s annual ‘Welly Awards’.
Teenage depression rates more than double in four decades – study
Thursday 18 March 2021
The prevalence of teenage depression in New Zealand has more than doubled since the 1980s, a new University of Otago-led study reveals.
Diabetes studies examine lower cost glucose monitoring
Thursday 18 March 2021
Seeing a continuous display of their glucose levels has been shown to be beneficial for Type 1 diabetes patients – but the technology is expensive.
Otago farewells Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne
Thursday 18 March 2021
For outgoing Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne leaving Otago after spending half of her life here is bittersweet.
Cost of Type 2 Diabetes report launched at Parliament
Monday 15 March 2021
The Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre (EDOR), Healthier Lives - He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge, and Diabetes New Zealand have released a hard-hitting report into the cost of type 2 diabetes in Aotearoa New Zealand.
EDOR researchers collaborate with the Riddet Institute
Monday 15 March 2021
EDOR researchers collaborate with many other research organisations. Here we profile the work being done in collaboration with the Riddet Institute, as part of the Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) funding.
Pump up the volume on quality school PE, researchers urge
Friday 12 March 2021
Increasing the amount of time schools devote to physical education each week could dramatically reduce the number of children who are doing only minimal levels of exercise, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington and Sport New Zealand have found.
We must have a better plan for the next pandemic, say Otago researchers
Wednesday 10 March 2021
Aotearoa New Zealand’s next pandemic plan needs a completely different approach to our previous plan that was focussed on influenza, say researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington in a new article that identifies key lessons from the COVID-19 response for managing future major outbreaks and pandemics.
Outgoing Otago Vice-Chancellor receives Honorary Doctorate
Tuesday 9 March 2021
Professor Harlene Hayne, the out-going Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago, will be recognised for her contribution to the institution with the conferring of an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Strong upswing in domestic enrolments at Otago University
Tuesday 9 March 2021
The University of Otago is currently on track to record solid overall enrolment growth in 2021, with a surge in domestic enrolments more than offsetting the decline in international enrolments.
Christchurch doctors develop fat-firming plastic surgery technique
Monday 8 March 2021
The University of Otago’s Dr Khoon Lim and Mr Jeremy Simcock speak on TV’s NewsHub about their innovative fat grafting research, promising another option for reconstructive plastic surgery. Their research proposal recently won a Translational Research Grant and $50,000 funding from the University.
Diabetes study furthers work on ‘artificial pancreas’
Thursday 4 March 2021
Taking another step towards an “artificial pancreas” to improve the health of people with Type 1 diabetes is the focus of a new University of Otago study.
Research into effective interventions for gender dysphoric teens urgently needed
Monday 1 March 2021
For some people, their innate sense of self doesn’t fit with their biological sex. Any distress this causes is particularly heightened during puberty, but medication used to help is controversial.
Vitamin C infusions retained by cancerous tumours, new study shows
Monday 1 March 2021
Cancerous colon tumours removed from patients given high dose vitamin C infusions before surgery retained the vitamin – a key piece of information in the search for evidence of the vitamin’s possible role in cancer treatment.
Congratuations to our inaugural Summer Studentship poster showcase winners
Friday 26 February 2021
Congratulations to the winners of our inaugural poster showcase last Friday. The event was a great success with 31 students presenting their posters to our judging panel.
From hippie to GP academic: Ben Gray on activism, general practice and mojo
Thursday 25 February 2021
Ben Gray retired from general practice late last year, after 35 years.
World of Difference gains Australasian award
Thursday 25 February 2021
The World of Difference service user education and research group is the recipient of a Lived Experience Leadership Award.
Private health patients costing public system $11.5m a year
Wednesday 24 February 2021
Taxpayers are footing an annual bill of up to $11.5 million – the cost of 760 hip replacements - for patients who need public hospital care after private inpatient treatment, a new University of Otago study reveals.
Technology accelerates advances in brain research
Thursday 18 February 2021
The development of new brain stimulation devices, new stimulation designs and artificial intelligence is accelerating advances in the field of brain stimulation research. University of Otago Professor Dirk de Ridder says he has never been so excited about the potential to develop new treatments for debilitating conditions.
Junk food marketing to kids: action urgently needed
Thursday 18 February 2021
Research by EDOR member Professor Louise Signal is again in the spotlight, with junk food marketing to children still going unchecked.
Women supporting women in making change to energy poverty
Thursday 18 February 2021
When Dr Kim O’Sullivan returned to her high school to speak with students as part of her post-doctoral research; it was the beginning of a new chapter for (then) high school student Isobel Harris Clark.
Christchurch researcher awarded almost $250,000 to study ‘quake brain’
Thursday 18 February 2021
The ongoing impact of ‘quake brain’ is the focus of a newly-funded study that will look for ways to help those suffering from a decline in cognitive function.
NZ part of global project with world-leading scientists to map future COVID-19 scenarios
Wednesday 17 February 2021
Two top New Zealand scientists are key members of a new international panel mapping future Covid-19 scenarios.
