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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cannabis provides relief for “desperate” endometriosis sufferers – study
Friday 12 February 2021
Some women desperate for relief from the chronic pain of endometriosis have found using cannabis provides more effective relief from their symptoms than other over the counter or prescribed medication, a new study reveals.
Kiwi kids consume five unhealthy snacks a day
Thursday 11 February 2021
On average, 12-year-old children snack on unhealthy food and beverages five times a day, according to new research from the University of Otago.
Otago launches Medical Students’ Elective Inquiry
Wednesday 10 February 2021
The University of Otago is launching a formal inquiry into sixth year Medical Degree electives following failure to meet attendance requirements for overseas electives by a significant number of students in the 2019 MB ChB Trainee Intern Class.
The Science of Medicines - A programme for tamariki
Tuesday 9 February 2021
The Science of Medicines programme for tamariki
COVID-19 lockdown has mixed effects on smokers
Thursday 4 February 2021
New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown had mixed effects on smoking behaviours, a University of Otago study reveals.
Eating disorder project wins Christchurch summer studentship awards
Thursday 4 February 2021
A project summing up the financial cost of eating disorders in New Zealand took out the top prize at this years' University of Otago, Christchurch Summer Studentship programme awards.
Medical Student overcomes challenges on path to dream
Thursday 4 February 2021
With her eyes on the future and using her past experience to guide her, medical student Brenetta Pogi has big plans to make a difference to her community.
Sue Crengle promoted to Professor
Thursday 4 February 2021
Sue Crengle Promoted to Professor
Summer students research burning questions on COVID-19
Thursday 4 February 2021
Four Otago students are working on COVID-19 research projects at the Ministry of Health Manatū Hauora as part of the summer studentship programme.
Type 2 Diabetes research questions fracture risk
Wednesday 3 February 2021
A major study led by a University of Otago researcher challenges an established view that people diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes are at increased risk of fractures.
Action needed on nutritional therapy for type 2 diabetes
Wednesday 3 February 2021
Professor Jim Mann talks about nutritional therapy for type 2 diabetes, and what we need to be doing right now.
University of Otago introduces DIVA to healthcare
Wednesday 3 February 2021
University of Otago-designed computer software for helping surgeons monitor how their patients are doing during their time in hospital has been developed into a commercially available system.
Eating disorders result in significant financial impact on carers
Wednesday 3 February 2021
Anorexia Nervosa has not only a detrimental impact on the people who suffer from the eating disorder, but often a significant financial impact on their carers, new research from the University of Otago, Christchurch, reveals.
Eating disorder project wins Christchurch summer studentship awards
Wednesday 3 February 2021
A project summing up the financial cost of eating disorders in New Zealand took out the top prize at this year’s Christchurch Summer Studentship programme awards.
University scanner the gold standard for Consumer tests
Monday 1 February 2021
Consumer NZ has used the full-body DXA X-ray scanner at the University’s Wellington campus as the gold standard against which to measure the accuracy of body fat bathroom scales and body composition scans.
Congratulations to new EDOR Professor Barbara Galland
Friday 29 January 2021
EDOR researcher Barbara Galland has been promoted to Professor from February 2021.
Targeted health messaging needed in era of vaping, researchers say
Wednesday 27 January 2021
Health authorities should develop targeted health messages for vaping product and e-liquid packaging to encourage smokers to switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes and to prevent non-smokers from taking up vaping, a researcher at the University of Otago, Wellington says.
Ones to Watch: Rebekah Amitrano
Wednesday 27 January 2021
“I’ve known for a long time that I want to do something that helps people and I decided law was a way of helping many people at once.”
COVID-19 focus for 25th annual Public Health Summer School
Tuesday 26 January 2021
One year on from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Otago Wellington has assembled a world-leading line-up of expert speakers for its annual Public Health Summer School in February.
Medical students get hands-on LGBTQIA+ healthcare training
Thursday 21 January 2021
A new six-week placement is giving Otago medical students hands-on experience in LGBTQIA+ healthcare.
Four researchers in top one per cent of citations
Thursday 21 January 2021
Four Otago researchers have been named on the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list for 2020.
HRC funding for groundbreaking cancer prevention research
Wednesday 20 January 2021
A Christchurch-based researcher has secured funding to develop a groundbreaking alternative to invasive surgeries for cancer prevention.
‘Huge achievement’ for Fellowship graduates
Tuesday 19 January 2021
Doctors Koko Lwin and Teariki Puni are the latest graduates of the Cook Islands Fellowship in General Practice.
Exceptional service recognised in New Year Honours
Monday 18 January 2021
An inspirational group of University of Otago alumni, staff and friends have been recognised in the 2021 New Year Honours.
Care urged before banning people entering NZ from the UK
Wednesday 13 January 2021
The Government should be careful about banning people entering New Zealand from specific countries based on the presence of variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, given most countries are not testing for variants, University of Otago experts say.
Otago appoints Acting Vice-Chancellor
Monday 21 December 2020
Professor Helen Nicholson will take up the role of Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Otago in 2021.
Diverse Pathology researchers united by Marsden success
Thursday 17 December 2020
Almost a quarter of the $17.5 million in Marsden funding recently awarded to the University of Otago was shared among five researchers in the Dunedin and Christchurch based Pathology departments.
He Kete Kōrero – Summer 2020
Wednesday 16 December 2020
Welcome to the Summer 2020 edition of He Kete Kōrero, with the latest news from the Wellington campus.
New Associate Dean Research one of youngest in OMS history
Tuesday 15 December 2020
From his first outdoor classroom under a tree to the cutting edge of global epigenetics research, it has been quite an academic journey for Aniruddha Chatterjee.
Medical student experiences motherhood and postnatal depression before graduation
Tuesday 15 December 2020
When Rebecca Pascoe graduated from medical school last weekend there was an unanticipated but much appreciated person in attendance.
Otago study identifies ‘three pillars’ of good mental health for young adults
Monday 14 December 2020
Getting good quality sleep, exercising, and eating more raw fruits and vegetables predicts better mental health and well-being in young adults, a University of Otago study has found.
Marsden Grants for Wellington research
Monday 14 December 2020
Three researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington, have received grants from the Marsden Fund to conduct research into topics ranging from tissue grafting to youth substance use to energy use in a warming world.
Strengths and vulnerabilities of teen skateboarders revealed in Otago study
Monday 14 December 2020
More young people are opting for skateboards as a mode of transport, with fewer choosing to get their driver licence, and more needs to be done to protect them on the road, a University of Otago study has found.
Radiation Therapy scholarship a special accomplishment
Monday 14 December 2020
The first thing Jesse Miller did when he found out he’d received the 2019 Angela Allen Travelling Scholarship for top Bachelor of Radiation Therapy graduate was call his mum.
Boost for biomedical research at Otago
Monday 14 December 2020
The arrival of a new state-of-the-art $400,000 spectral flow cytometer on the Wellington campus will significantly enhance the University’s capacity to do biomedical research.
Largest cohort of Pacific medical students graduate from Otago
Friday 11 December 2020
Iuliano (Jono) Tinielu always wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a doctor.
Juggling babies with medical degree ‘a wild ride’
Friday 11 December 2020
Even Amy Hensley – who lived every minute of it – seems a little surprised she managed to complete a medical degree while having two babies.
Reconnecting Aotearoa with pedal power and postcards
Friday 11 December 2020
A researcher at the University of Otago, Wellington, will begin an epic 3,000 kilometre cycle ride from Cape Reinga to Bluff in December.
Otago announces 26 new Professors
Tuesday 8 December 2020
Twenty-six University of Otago academics have been promoted to the position of professor this year.
Long-serving manager of OMS to retire
Monday 7 December 2020
Bruce Smith, who is retiring as manager of the Otago Medical School, says he is proud to have played his part over a long career.
Otago study debunks arguments behind continuing availability of tobacco at convenience stores
Monday 7 December 2020
Claims that tobacco drives foot traffic into convenience stores have been discredited in new research from the University of Otago.
NZ Health survey update: no decrease in adult obesity
Friday 4 December 2020
EDOR members comment on the recently released 2019/2020 NZ Health Survey, which shows no decrease in adult obesity rates and marked ethnic & socioeconomic inequalities.
Use of controversial restraints varies wildly across the Pacific – Otago-led study reveals
Friday 4 December 2020
Despite being considered a form of torture, and policies to reduce or abolish it in place, the use of mechanical restraints in psychiatric settings continues, a University of Otago-led study shows.
COVID-19 unemployment may bring increased risk of heart disease
Friday 4 December 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic-induced recession and rising unemployment may increase the occurrence of heart disease in New Zealand, particularly in middle-aged men.
Travel Medicine in a time of COVID
Thursday 3 December 2020
With COVID-19 vaccines now on the horizon, a travel doctor and convenor of the travel medicine programme at the University of Otago, Wellington, is urging general practice staff to undertake further study to upgrade their travel medicine skills.
