Wednesday 1 September 2021
The swift move to electronic prescribing during the early months of the first COVID‑19 pandemic saw a number of general practices struggling to adapt, with some patients and whānau too scared or cash-strapped to pick up their medications, a new University of Otago study has found.
Wednesday 1 September 2021
A University of Otago geriatrician and researcher is calling on neighbours and extended family to reach out to support older New Zealanders potentially struggling with their physical and mental health, with the imminent shift to Level 3 lockdown for much of the country from Wednesday.
Friday 20 August 2021
Marou Tikataake came to New Zealand to arm herself with more knowledge to fight communicable disease back home in Kiribati.
Wednesday 11 August 2021
Languages and Cultures French Programme Teaching Fellow Dr Christiane Leurquin has become the first Pacific person to receive the Fédération des Alliances Françaises de Nouvelle-Zélande’s John Dunmore Medal.
Monday 2 August 2021
The University of Otago’s Global Health Institute and Dunedin’s Mercy Hospital are supporting the establishment of a new Communicable Diseases Research Centre at Fiji National University.
Tuesday 29 June 2021
A new study out of the University of Otago has examined the financial vulnerability of older New Zealanders, with results showing Māori, Pacific Islanders, and women have lower levels of financial literacy, resulting in them being financially underprepared for their senior years.
Tuesday 8 June 2021
Pacific nations are leading the way regionally with taxes on sugary drinks in a bid to battle obesity and related diseases, new University of Otago-led research reveals.
Friday 4 June 2021
The University of Otago is strongly embracing the idea of commercialisation as a valuable way to increase research impact.
Monday 31 May 2021
Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu, the Associate Dean (Pacific) at the University of Otago, Wellington, has won the New Zealand Association of Scientists (NZAS) Cranwell Medal for science communication for 2020.
Wednesday 26 May 2021
Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga has been appointed to the role of NZ Health Adviser, Samoa with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
Thursday 20 May 2021
Engaging Pasifika school students in conversations about climate change and supporting them to tell their own stories is the kaupapa of an Otago research grant pilot-project led by Dr Gianna Savoie.
Wednesday 19 May 2021
For the recipients of the New Zealand Scholarship, studying at Otago gives them the opportunity to return home and make a difference in their communities.
Friday 7 May 2021
Dr Vakaola Mafi has overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve a notable first.
Thursday 8 April 2021
New Pacific Islands Centre Manager Tagiilima Feleti wants students to see the Pacific Island Centre as a home away from home.
Thursday 1 April 2021
Leadership, learning and love: the story behind master's student and NZ's first Pasifika Clinical Leader of Physiotherapy.
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.
Friday 12 March 2021
Dr Xaviour Walker is a perfect example of the change he wants to see.
Thursday 4 March 2021
The University of Otago has established a new Pacific Community Engagement Manager role in Auckland.
Wednesday 24 February 2021
Tongan postgraduate student Jordan Quensell is celebrating reaching his ambitious goal of entry into the competitive postgraduate Clinical Psychology programme.
Thursday 4 February 2021
The University of Otago, Auckland Dental Facility officially opened on 4 February.
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.
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.
Tuesday 19 January 2021
Doctors Koko Lwin and Teariki Puni are the latest graduates of the Cook Islands Fellowship in General Practice.
Monday 18 January 2021
An inspirational group of University of Otago alumni, staff and friends have been recognised in the 2021 New Year Honours.
Friday 11 December 2020
Iuliano (Jono) Tinielu always wanted to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a doctor.
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.
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.
Friday 20 November 2020
Division of Humanities researchers Professor Claire Freeman (Geography), Dr Erica Newman (Te Tumu: School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies) and Dr Karen Greig (Archaeology) have secured Marsden funding for research projects.
Friday 20 November 2020
New Zealanders who live outside the major urban centres are significantly more likely to experience adverse long-term health outcomes after a stroke than those managed in urban hospitals, research from the University of Otago, Wellington has found.
Tuesday 17 November 2020
New Otago-led Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) Coastal People: Southern Skies (CPSS) recently received $32 million in funding.
Tuesday 10 November 2020
University of Otago researchers have secured $17.5 million in Marsden funding for 30 world-class research projects.
Tuesday 10 November 2020
Professor Pauline Norris cannot sit quietly by and watch people struggle to access medicine in New Zealand.
Friday 6 November 2020
University of Otago researchers have contributed to a new comprehensive global study which reveals concerning height and Body Mass Index (BMI) trends among school-aged children and adolescents.
Friday 6 November 2020
For many of the recipients of the New Zealand Scholarship studying at Otago has given them the opportunity to follow dreams they otherwise couldn’t have.
Tuesday 20 October 2020
Receiving two Freemasons study awards on the same day was a real surprise for University of Otago Department of Paediatrics and Child Health researcher Dr Mona Elbalshy.
Monday 12 October 2020
If effective school zoning policies were widely applied, more adolescents would get valuable exercise walking or cycling to their nearest school, an Otago researcher says.
Wednesday 30 September 2020
An international study led by the University of Otago has revealed how exercise can reduce the chance of diabetes leading on to heart disease.
Tuesday 15 September 2020
Ten University of Otago proposals have been awarded funding through the Health Research Council’s (HRC) new Health Delivery Research Investment round. The 32 research grants are the first of two funding announcements for the HRC’s new Health Delivery Research portfolio.
Thursday 27 August 2020
Genetics Masters student Anežka Hoskin has been named a Fulbright New Zealand scholar and will start her PhD in genetics at Stanford University in September next year.
Monday 24 August 2020
Better dental care for Kiwi kids could be just around the corner, thanks to new technology being developed at the University of Otago.
Thursday 6 August 2020
How health research changes the world is the focus of a new booklet from the University of Otago Division of Health Sciences.
Tuesday 30 June 2020
The University of Otago’s housing and health research programme He Kāinga Oranga will receive just under $5 million from the Health Research Council of New Zealand to continue research to maximise the health and wellbeing gains from housing.
Tuesday 30 June 2020
University of Otago, Wellington infectious diseases expert Professor Michael Baker has received almost $5 million from the Health Research Council for a programme investigating the connection between infectious diseases and long-term conditions, something he was planning well prior to the outbreak of Covid-19.
Tuesday 30 June 2020
The creator of New Zealand’s bubble concept, introduced early on in the COVID-19 response to ensure Kiwis maintained social distancing, has been surprised and delighted by the take up of his idea.
Sunday 28 June 2020
Seven students are the recipients of the 2019 University of Otago Pacific Peoples’ Awards.
Friday 26 June 2020
Fiji's COVID-19 Incident Management Team (IMT) represents Fiji's whole-of-government response to the pandemic and implements the Fiji Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Plan.
Friday 12 June 2020
Parents of pre-schoolers can take reassurance from new Otago research which shows early bedtimes aren’t vital for healthy development, as long as young children get enough sleep.
Friday 12 June 2020
BMI (Body Mass Index) is likely to be an inconsistent measure of obesity in Māori and Pacific patients, new University of Otago research reveals.
Friday 29 May 2020
The tobacco industry is targeting a new generation of smokers with sophisticated marketing designed to associate smoking with rebellion, social prestige and attractiveness, researchers from the tobacco control research centre ASPIRE 2025, at the University of Otago, say.
Thursday 28 May 2020
A collaboration between Otago and ESR has received a substantial government grant to lead an international team of scientists to sequence the genomes of all of New Zealand’s positive COVID-19 cases and track how the virus spread across New Zealand.
Monday 25 May 2020
Māori and Pasifika who have not been able to quit smoking may need more support to move from smoking to vaping, researchers from the University of Otago and Māori public health collective Hāpai Te Hauora have found.
Wednesday 13 May 2020
University of Otago, Christchurch researchers and paediatricians are launching an urgent study to understand what information parents need to understand and feel reassured about COVID-19 and its potential impact on children.
Monday 11 May 2020
COVID-19 may well be the catalyst for significant change in how general practice operates in New Zealand in future, according to University of Otago general practice experts.
Tuesday 28 April 2020
Development of a COVID-19 vaccine is at best 12 to 18 months away, according to University of Otago infectious disease specialist Professor David Murdoch.
Wednesday 22 April 2020
Researchers from the University of Otago’s Department of Psychology are urgently seeking participants for research into life under the lockdown imposed in response to Covid-19. Participants would be required to take a 15 minute survey.
Wednesday 22 April 2020
As other parts of our lives have shut down during lockdown, food has become increasingly important as a focus in our daily routine. Mary Spiers and Dr Claire Smith discuss some food-related challenges and offer simple advice.
Tuesday 21 April 2020
Dr Rachelle Martin, a researcher and lecturer in the University of Otago Wellington’s Department of Medicine was one of two people to share their COVID-19 story with New Zealand Doctor. We re-publish this article with permission.
Friday 17 April 2020
Three University of Otago researchers have received a share of $3.8 million in new Government funding for research projects directly related to COVID-19.
Friday 17 April 2020
A University of Otago molecular biologist has received new Government funding of $235,746 for Covid-19 related research to develop an effective point-of-care test for the infectious disease.
Wednesday 15 April 2020
New Zealanders who have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of the virus are being urged to participate in two surveys – a global and national one - that aim to better understand how COVID-19 impacts a patient’s loss of taste and smell.
Tuesday 7 April 2020
Concerned about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic University of Otago medical school alumnus Dr Zeid Abussuud decided to spread the word on staying safe. With a little help from his friends, many of them also graduates of Otago, Dr Abussuud has made a moving YouTube video, ‘Do it for the whole world: Stay at home’.
Wednesday 1 April 2020
Personal protective equipment for front-line health workers is an ethical imperative, University of Otago ethicist Dr Elizabeth Fenton says.
Friday 27 March 2020
The fast-moving COVID-19 pandemic has seen the international scientific community rallying to detect, understand and combat this global threat.
Friday 27 March 2020
In less than 48 hours, all people in New Zealand will have to self-isolate, unless they are essential service workers. This is our best chance to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Wednesday 25 March 2020
All the hand sanitiser needed by the University of Otago’s Dunedin campus over the coming weeks has been produced in-house and in record time by a School of Pharmacy senior lecturer and his students.
Wednesday 25 March 2020
The current pandemic risks further accentuating the rural – urban health inequities that exist in New Zealand, University of Otago rural health specialists warn.
Tuesday 24 March 2020
Professor Michael Baker on New Zealand’s coronavirus shutdown, and the challenging weeks ahead
Tuesday 24 March 2020
New Zealand must urgently build its capacity for COVID-19 case identification and contact tracing capacity, as the country goes into ‘lockdown’, Dr Ayesha Verrall, an infectious diseases doctor and epidemiologist at the University of Otago, Wellington, says.
Friday 20 March 2020
With some of the toughest border restrictions and a newly-announced NZ$500 million boost to health services, New Zealand is among a small number of countries with a strategy to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday 19 March 2020
Most infectious diseases have an Achilles heel, the secret is to find it. The question is, if we don’t have a drug or a vaccine for COVID-19, is there something else we can do to beat it?
Friday 13 March 2020
China, Taiwan and other Asian countries have shown that a massive public health response to COVID-19 works. Now is the time for New Zealand to do the same.
Friday 13 March 2020
New Zealand should follow the UK and more than 30 other countries in introducing a tax on sugary drinks to tackle obesity and reduce deaths from chronic diseases, leading researchers say.
Tuesday 10 March 2020
Otago’s commitment to supporting Pacific youth into tertiary education now has a new face: Jack Scanlan – the University’s first dedicated Pacific Liaison Officer.
Wednesday 4 March 2020
New Zealand joined 48 other countries affected by the novel coronavirus last week when health authorities confirmed the first COVID-19 case.
Thursday 27 February 2020
Building and connecting the University of Otago’s work in science with the Pacific, in order to contribute to development and help address the region’s challenges, is the priority of Dr Losa Moata’ane.
Monday 17 February 2020
Researchers in the collaboration Coastal People: Southern Skies feature prominently in the latest edition of He Kitenga, a prestigious University of Otago research publication.
Thursday 13 February 2020
Two University of Otago staff have received 2020 Scholar Awards from Fulbright New Zealand, allowing them to travel to the United States to pursue research and form international connections.
Thursday 30 January 2020
Damp and mouldy housing has been included as an indicator of socioeconomic deprivation in New Zealand by University of Otago researchers developing the latest version of the New Zealand Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation (NZDep2018).
Wednesday 29 January 2020
Unlike armed conflict, here we are fighting an external threat to global health where collaboration and sharing of information benefits all nations.
Monday 13 January 2020
The Otago Global Health Institute, a flagship research centre of the University of Otago, is investing in new research initiatives in collaboration with the Fiji National University and the National University of East Timor to help address health problems in these countries.
Thursday 9 January 2020
Thousands of New Zealanders could be missing out on prescriptions they desperately need because they can’t afford them, an Otago researcher fears.
Monday 16 December 2019
Growing up Ivana Pereira thought she needed to become a doctor or a lawyer to help her people, but studying at Otago opened her eyes to the wide array of careers public health can offer.
Friday 6 December 2019
When Oripa Waqa returns to Fiji after graduation she will be the first female oral surgeon specialist in not only Fiji but in the wider Pacific Islands.
Thursday 21 November 2019
An Otago undergraduate student has received a prestigious scholarship to continue the work of researchers from the Psychology Department.
Thursday 21 November 2019
The resilience of Samoan communities in the face of climate change is providing a blueprint for other nations to follow, according to Samoa and Otago researchers.
Thursday 14 November 2019
The University of Otago’s newest award-winning early-career researcher Dr Anna Gosling says a Māori proverb – “ka mura, ka muri” (we walk backwards into the future) – is a focus for her work.
Thursday 14 November 2019
Researching how to help the healthy stay healthy is hugely important, and Otago's Dr Andrew Reynolds is working hard in that area. He talks to the Otago Bulletin Board about his research, his motivation and his hopes for the future.
Tuesday 5 November 2019
University of Otago researchers are the recipients of an inaugural Marsden Fund Council Award worth $3 million to investigate genetic predisposition to metabolic diseases like diabetes and gout among Pacific people.
Thursday 31 October 2019
The Health Research Council has awarded 23 University of Otago researchers $3.8 million in Career Development Awards.
Friday 11 October 2019
The University of Otago’s Pacific Academic Staff Caucus (PASC) held its inaugural symposium, at the Dunedin campus on 27 September to engage in important conversations about the place and future of Pacific research at Otago.
Tuesday 8 October 2019
Three Niuean siblings, all University of Otago alumni now working as GPs in Wellington, will today help launch a book celebrating Pacific success in health sciences at the University.
Tuesday 24 September 2019
There is a little slice of the Faculty of Dentistry’s history in Samoa with the recent arrival of dental chairs no longer needed in Dunedin, with the development of the new clinical services building.
Wednesday 11 September 2019
The University of Otago is gifting dental chairs from its Faculty of Dentistry to the Samoan Ministry of Health to assist with dental care in the Pacific nation.
Monday 19 August 2019
A major research series on cancer control in small island nations led by Professor Diana Sarfati from the University of Otago, Wellington, has been welcomed at the Pacific Health Ministers Meeting in Tahiti.
Thursday 15 August 2019
A breakthrough in monkey malaria research by two University of Otago scientists could help scientists diagnose and treat a relapsing form of human malaria.
Tuesday 6 August 2019
People living in the Pacific Islands are dying regularly from highly treatable cancers because of a lack of cancer care services around the region, researchers say.
Wednesday 24 July 2019
A new line of research is proposed at Otago to discover whether there are physiological reasons for higher instances of cardiovascular disease in Pasifika peoples.
Tuesday 16 July 2019
Whether you feel a strong attachment to New Zealand’s Māori culture, majestic landscapes, or the All Blacks, an Otago study has found a sense of belonging to the country is positively related to mental health.
Thursday 20 June 2019
Cameron Young always ticked the New Zealand European box on forms, but since finding his roots at the University of Otago he is proud to tick the Pacific Islander box.
Wednesday 19 June 2019
A postgraduate distance education paper in Obesity Prevention and Management run by the University of Otago, Wellington has enlisted help from some hard hitters in a quest to improve the management of patients in the community.
Thursday 23 May 2019
University of Otago researchers have discovered that high-intensity exercise can reduce or reverse the loss in heart function caused by type 2 diabetes.
Wednesday 15 May 2019
Four University of Otago Alumni will be recognised for their life’s work and their contribution to the University, New Zealand and the world during a special graduation ceremony on 1 June.
Monday 13 May 2019
Eliana Viali knows she will have more challenges than most people starting a new job when she takes the skills of her new degree home to Samoa.
Thursday 18 April 2019
Sitting at the forefront of inequalities in oral health care, Pasifika youth are well placed to provide solutions to the problem, a unique University of Otago study has found.
Wednesday 17 April 2019
Researchers from the Otago Global Health Institute have secured funding from the e-Asia Joint Research Programme and the Health Research Council of New Zealand to help improve the management of tuberculosis (TB) in Indonesia.
Monday 15 April 2019
Working across cultures and around the globe, Papali’i Dr Viopapa Annandale-Atherton has quietly forged a distinguished career in public health and as an advocate for women’s rights, helping pave the way for generations of Pacific Island medical students.
Friday 5 April 2019
University of Otago research group ASPIRE 2025 has won praise from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand for its exemplary efforts and achievements in the field of smoking cessation and tobacco control.
Thursday 4 April 2019
Construction of the University’s dental teaching facility and patient treatment clinic in South Auckland is proceeding well, with structural steel now being ordered, Campus Development Division Director David Perry says.
Thursday 28 March 2019
Last week, the Pacific 150th anniversary celebrations attracted alumni from around New Zealand and the Pacific region, to celebrate the achievements and acknowledge the important role and contribution of Pacific staff and students to Otago.
Monday 18 February 2019
New research from the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge has found people who speak te reo Māori have a reduced risk of progressing from pre-diabetes to diabetes.
Wednesday 13 February 2019
Cake, song and prayer set the tone for the launch of Pacific at Otago’s 150th anniversary celebrations last week.
Monday 11 February 2019
A three-year project aimed at pinpointing the most effective ways to prevent and control rheumatic fever and associated heart disease in New Zealand is being launched tomorrow (Tuesday 12 February) at the University of Otago, Wellington.
Friday 8 February 2019
New University of Otago research is warning doctors to be wary of potential health risks for Māori and Pacific patients taking a common blood thinner.
Friday 1 February 2019
University of Otago academic health and business leaders consider it timely for a debate about funding primary healthcare services including the possibility of the Government salarying all GPs and abolishing patient fees.
Thursday 17 January 2019
Childcare can be expensive, stressful, and annoying to organise, but a University of Otago-led study has found it may also be behind religion’s resilience.
Wednesday 19 December 2018
Four Otago teachers who received awards at this year’s National Teaching Excellence Awards earlier this year had their achievements recognised at a Clocktower event on Monday afternoon.
Friday 14 December 2018
Professors from the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington are calling on the government to set up a research fund to help prevent pandemics and increase New Zealand’s preparedness to deal with such disasters.
Wednesday 12 December 2018
The first study of the burden of listeria in pregnant New Zealanders and their babies has found reassuringly low rates of the infection – indicating food safety warnings are working to prevent unnecessary cases of miscarriage, still birth, and meningitis in babies infected in the womb.
Tuesday 4 December 2018
Delegates from across the Pacific region travelled to Dunedin last week for a two-day Pacific International Health Symposium hosted by the University of Otago.
Tuesday 4 December 2018
In pre-clinical trials, University of Otago researchers have discovered a promising new therapy that has the potential to be used clinically for improving survival rates for people who suffer a heart attack.
Friday 30 November 2018
Pain is an extremely common condition and increasing in prevalence in New Zealand, University of Otago researchers say.
Tuesday 20 November 2018
A University of Otago Christchurch engineer is developing a ‘lego’ system to 3D-bioprint bone; a solution that could one day replace the billions-of-dollars-worth of ceramic and titanium implants required by New Zealand patients annually.
Monday 19 November 2018
The Healthier Lives – He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge, hosted by the University of Otago, welcomes the announcement from the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation Hon Megan Woods, confirming funding for its 2019-2024 research strategy
Thursday 15 November 2018
Professor Vernon Ward (Dean, Biomedical Sciences), Associate Professor Faumuina Fa’afetai Sopoaga (Associate Dean Pacific, Health Sciences), Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu (Associate Dean Pacific, UOW), Dr Kiki Maoate (Associate Dean Pacific, UOC) and Va’ a o Tautai staff joined members of the School of Biomedical Sciences Pacific Strategic Framework Group (PSFG) to acknowledge Associate Professor Daryl Schwenke’s appointment to the role of Associate Dean Pacific for the School of Biomedical Sciences.
Wednesday 14 November 2018
Professor Lisa Matisoo-Smith has been awarded the 2018 Mason Durie Medal for her ground-breaking work that has, through strong relationships with New Zealand’s indigenous people, reshaped our understanding of the last great human migration into the Pacific.
Thursday 8 November 2018
Antarctica and the South Pacific islands seem worlds apart but a recent exhibition taken to Niue and Rarotonga taught local schools this connection is closer than expected.
Thursday 8 November 2018
People who drink sugary beverages are more likely to eat fast food and confectionery and less likely to make healthy dietary choices, Otago research has found.
Thursday 11 October 2018
Dietary factors have a far smaller influence on urate levels (a precursor to gout) than previously envisaged, new University of Otago research reveals.
Thursday 11 October 2018
Researchers are using World Obesity Day today to call for an end to the stigma which fat people experience in their daily lives.
Wednesday 3 October 2018
Primary school is the correct place to educate girls about periods and provide sanitary bins and pads, say University of Otago researchers.
Wednesday 26 September 2018
Despite the plethora of information available about type-2 diabetes, the ability to understand it, and willingness to engage in it, differs among ethnic groups, Otago research has revealed.
Monday 17 September 2018
Otago scientists secure almost $1.6 million for heart research
Friday 14 September 2018
For the sixth time in seven years, the University of Otago has the top tertiary teacher in New Zealand.
Thursday 13 September 2018
Brin Ryder, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, won the Otago Spotlight student poster competition. As one of five finalists he presented his work, on early immune response, to a large audience at the Infectious Disease research forum in Wellington, and gained first place from the judges.
Wednesday 12 September 2018
University of Otago researchers have helped characterise a genetic variant that enables new understanding of why some people are at risk of gout, a painful and debilitating arthritic disease.
Monday 10 September 2018
Māori research presentations, Te Reo wristbands and an ‘Amazing Race’ are just some of the ways the University of Otago is planning to celebrate Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori this year.
Thursday 6 September 2018
Changing the way tobacco is sold is a crucial step in achieving the Government’s 2025 smokefree goal, new University of Otago research suggests.
Thursday 6 September 2018
Don't miss out! A day of short, accessible presentations from international leaders and emerging investigators in infectious disease research. We're exploring the issues affecting New Zealand and how our research is addressing globally challenging health risks. Join us on Tuesday, 11 September, 9am-3.30pm, Nordmeyer Lecture Theatre, UOW campus, Wellington.
Monday 3 September 2018
Unhealthy diet is the leading preventable risk for poor health in New Zealand. Diet-related diseases (and how we manage them) is becoming a pressing issue for the country.
Thursday 30 August 2018
The Ministry of Health is looking for volunteers to help track influenza. People who live in New Zealand who have easy access to email on a weekly basis are being invited to help .
Wednesday 29 August 2018
A University of Otago doctor and scientist is calling on New Zealand to be the first country in the world to eliminate tuberculosis (TB), the top infectious disease killer in the world.
Tuesday 28 August 2018
Trooper, champion, and hero versus coward, weirdo, and killjoy. How tertiary students refer to their peers depends on how much alcohol they consume, a University of Otago academic has found.
Monday 27 August 2018
The University of Otago is building a dental teaching facility and patient treatment clinic in South Auckland to help meet high health needs, while providing students with wide-ranging learning opportunities in a diverse community.
Tuesday 31 July 2018
Innovative camera research has revealed New Zealand children are exposed to alcohol marketing on average 4.5 times per day.
Monday 9 July 2018
In comparing efforts to address health inequities, researchers in Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ) and the United States (US) have found that both countries are failing to align policy with evidence-based approaches that could help achieve equity.
Monday 9 July 2018
Junk food dominates New Zealand sport venues, according to new research led by the University of Otago, Wellington.
Thursday 5 July 2018
The Body Mass Index (BMI) of New Zealanders is continuing to rise and on current trends, two million New Zealanders will be considered clinically obese by 2038 up from 1.1 million in 2015, new University of Otago research reveals.
Wednesday 4 July 2018
University of Otago researchers have discovered a novel property of a new anti-tuberculosis drug which may help develop more drugs to treat the top infectious disease killer in the world.
Monday 25 June 2018
A study that will investigate whether the price of medications is preventing low income New Zealanders from accessing their prescriptions will go ahead thanks to funding from the Health Research Council (HRC).
Monday 25 June 2018
Multimorbidity has a substantial impact on sufferers who report not only poorer health but also adverse impacts on their employment and financial wellbeing compared to the general population, new University of Otago research reveals.
Friday 22 June 2018
Although the incidence of stroke and mortality are declining due to better management strategies, stroke volumes are going up in New Zealand due to a growing and ageing population.
Friday 22 June 2018
A group of tobacco control experts today published an open letter in the New Zealand Medical Journal calling for bold new actions from the New Zealand Government to achieve the Smokefree 2025 goal.
Friday 22 June 2018
A University of Otago research team whose ultimate goal is to restore fertility in women suffering Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), has received a significant boost with an almost $5 million grant from the Health Research Council.
Tuesday 19 June 2018
The cost of buying healthy food in a weekly supermarket shop continues to grow, the latest New Zealand Food Cost Survey carried out by the University of Otago shows.
Monday 18 June 2018
A new study investigating for the first time the health of occupants of leaky homes in New Zealand is one of many University of Otago-led projects being funded this year by the Health Research Council to the tune of almost $19 million.
Thursday 14 June 2018
The Prime Minister of Samoa Hon Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi believes it is vital that elected leaders in the Pacific respond to the needs of their people, in order to maintain national stability.
Friday 8 June 2018
There has been a significant increase in diversity of students entering the University of Otago’s health professional programmes in recent years, especially among Māori and Pacific students and those from rural areas.
Thursday 7 June 2018
Otago researchers and clinicians are helping lead development of a cervical cancer prevention programme in the Pacific, aimed at saving lives.
Friday 1 June 2018
An open letter published today in a leading international medical journal, Lancet Oncology, calls on the World Health Organization (WHO) and Governments to prioritise health improvements for Indigenous peoples worldwide.
Tuesday 29 May 2018
Dunedin’s toy population is on track to be fit and healthy over winter thanks to the University of Otago’s Teddy Bear Hospital.
Friday 25 May 2018
A researcher of the effects of cannabis says any law change to free up the drug’s availability needs to take account of scientifically-robust data showing regular use in young people is associated with a higher risk of mental health issues, use of other substances, and lower levels of achievement.
Thursday 24 May 2018
A University of Otago-led Citizens’ Jury on euthanasia could not reach agreement about whether it should be legalised, highlighting complexities around the debate.
Thursday 24 May 2018
Getting old doesn’t necessarily mean getting weak and frail – just a little bit of exercise can help maintain muscle mass and strength, Otago research has revealed.
Monday 21 May 2018
Current health warning labels on alcohol beverage containers in New Zealand are highly deficient, new research from the University of Otago, Wellington shows.
Friday 18 May 2018
New University of Otago research highlights the difficulties for GPs of discussing obesity with patients who are overweight and signals the need for resources to support them and other community health providers in this role.
Thursday 17 May 2018
When Meli Malani attended an Otago information evening in Fiji last year – encouraged by his father who is an Otago medical alumnus – he recognised the opportunity to continue a proud family tradition.
Thursday 17 May 2018
A researcher aiming to develop an early-detection genetic-based test for bowel cancer is one of several University of Otago researchers who have been awarded almost $1.5 million in Health Research Council funding.
Monday 14 May 2018
Urgent attention needs to be paid to frail older New Zealanders’ oral health, a University of Otago study has highlighted.
Friday 11 May 2018
In a New Zealand first, University of Otago, Christchurch, researchers have analysed nicotine levels in infants’ hair to get a true measure of the impact of passive smoking on respiratory problems.
Wednesday 9 May 2018
A University of Otago expert is part of an international collaboration that has created a new machine learning tool that can detect whether emerging strains of the bacterium Salmonella are more likely to cause life-threatening bloodstream infections rather than only food poisoning.
Friday 4 May 2018
New Zealand prescribers do not always follow guidelines when prescribing other medicines to patients taking simvastatin, according to University of Otago researchers from the Pharmacoepidemiology Research Network.
Thursday 3 May 2018
University of Otago, Wellington (UOW) researchers are leading a new collaborative study to find out why New Zealand breastfeeding rates are so low and even dropping.
Tuesday 1 May 2018
In a new study on children with severe forms of epilepsy, researchers have found the genetic copying mistake that causes the severe epilepsy in children can be found in their parents who do not have epilepsy.
Tuesday 1 May 2018
Injuries impact on the financial well-being of older workers with substantial lost earnings of between 20 and 30 per cent of their work income, new University of Otago research reveals.
Monday 23 April 2018
Some patients in New Zealand may not be receiving adequate information about their newly-prescribed medicines, new University of Otago research suggests.
Friday 20 April 2018
In a New Zealand first, the University of Otago has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Tuesday 17 April 2018
New research has found that many New Zealand consumers are unaware of the high levels of Campylobacter contamination of fresh chicken and most want safety labelling about the risks on poultry products.
Monday 16 April 2018
Seeking the feel good factor? Go natural. That is the simple message from University of Otago researchers who have discovered raw fruit and vegetables may be better for your mental health than cooked, canned and processed fruit and vegetables.
Friday 23 March 2018
Researchers from The University of Otago are playing a key role in revealing previously unknown information about prehistoric settlement in the South Pacific.
Friday 23 March 2018
Can your local council stop you getting heart disease or cancer? Yes, say researchers in a new study led by the University of Otago, Wellington.
Wednesday 21 March 2018
University of Otago researchers are using bottlenose dolphin teeth to help them understand coastal contamination.
Thursday 15 March 2018
University of Otago research has revealed what works and what doesn’t when it comes to the success of Pacific students, and highlights the need for a tailored university preparation programme.
Wednesday 14 March 2018
Today marks the introduction of standardised packaging for tobacco products sold in New Zealand.
Friday 9 March 2018
A new study on smoking trends among doctors and nurses in New Zealand finds smoking has declined steadily within these healthcare professions. Researchers say this shows that very low smoking rates can be achieved in large occupational groups, suggesting that New Zealand’s Smokefree 2025 goal is reachable.
Friday 9 March 2018
A University of Otago health expert is calling for an independent assessment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact’s potential impacts on climate change and health.
Wednesday 7 March 2018
The new Co-Directors of the Cancer Society Social & Behavioural Research Unit, Dr Richard Egan and Dr Louise Marsh, are keen to ensure they make a real difference to the wellbeing of New Zealanders through high-quality research.
Tuesday 6 March 2018
Enthusiasm and passion in teaching their areas of expertise has resulted in four staff members being honoured in the University of Otago’s annual Teaching Excellence Awards.
Thursday 1 March 2018
School teachers were among the majority of frontline workers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the Christchurch earthquakes, new University of Otago research shows.
Wednesday 28 February 2018
A new iwi-driven health village focusing on affordable, high quality health and social services in partnership with the University of Otago officially opened its doors in Dunedin today.
Tuesday 27 February 2018
A University of Otago, Christchurch, summer student has identified the days when patients are most vulnerable to dying from a ‘broken heart’.
Tuesday 27 February 2018
The University of Otago continues to lead the way in education for Pacific peoples with the development of Va’a o Tautai, the Pacific entity within the Division of Health Sciences.
Tuesday 27 February 2018
Thousands of New Zealanders can look forward to improvements in treatment and care of heart failure following new research findings that look set to alter the clinical approach and health care planning for heart failure globally.
Thursday 22 February 2018
He may offer nothing but pure entertainment, but at least SpongeBob SquarePants’ fast and fantastical nature is not harming children, say University of Otago academics.
Tuesday 13 February 2018
A University of Otago scientist at the forefront of developing applications from tiny science to powering a new technology sector has won the 2017 Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize.
Tuesday 13 February 2018
Health Sciences investigators shine in the latest edition of He Kitenga, the University of Otago's prestige publication of research highlights. Sixteen of the articles feature work by Health Sciences investigators over an array of fields.
Tuesday 13 February 2018
Urgent and proactive action is needed to protect young people from the current mumps outbreak in New Zealand, says Dr Ayesha Verrall, an infectious diseases physician and researcher at the University of Otago, Wellington.
Thursday 8 February 2018
Smokers attempting to quit the habit by vaping or using e-cigarettes do not always find the process plain sailing, according to new University of Otago research published in the international journal, Tobacco Control.
Thursday 8 February 2018
A final report on the unethical clinical study conducted by Dr Herbert Green at National Women’s Hospital in Auckland from the 1960s to the 1980s, known widely as the “Unfortunate Experiment”, has just been published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Wednesday 7 February 2018
University of Otago researchers are ready to take a significant step in the development of a new natural product that could potentially prevent diabetes.
Friday 2 February 2018
New Zealand surgeons are often prepared to treat an abnormality discovered during an elective surgical procedure in the absence of patient consent, especially if the patient’s health is threatened and the risk of the additional procedure is low.
Friday 2 February 2018
New research has found that only a fifth (20 per cent) of childrens’ playgrounds in the lower North Island of New Zealand had drinking fountains (11 out of 54 playgrounds).
Tuesday 23 January 2018
There are substantial gaps between expert recommendations and public knowledge about risk factors for cancer, though these gaps are closing for some cancer types, according to new University of Otago research.
Monday 22 January 2018
New Zealand women and their babies are at greater risk of vitamin D deficiency and current health guidelines fall short of curbing this detrimental trend, new University of Otago research shows.
Wednesday 17 January 2018
Primary care physicians can improve their communication to newly-diagnosed diabetes patients by offering more information specific to the patient’s experience, new research from Otago, Auckland and Victoria universities shows.
Monday 15 January 2018
The Predator Free 2050 campaign to rid New Zealand of rats and possums will have major benefits for human health as well as for native plants and animals, says University of Otago, Wellington public health researcher Dr Mary McIntyre.
Tuesday 9 January 2018
Children visiting playgrounds this summer may be at high risk of sunburn, according to a new study from the University of Otago, Wellington.
Tuesday 9 January 2018
Two University of Otago academics have received Fulbright New Zealand Scholar Awards to undertake research in the United States.
Monday 8 January 2018
Despite being in peak physical form, young elite rugby players may be suffering from body image issues and poor nutritional choices, a University of Otago study has found.
Friday 5 January 2018
The molecule responsible for heart disease in diabetics has been identified by University of Otago researchers, greatly improving chances of survival.
Tuesday 19 December 2017
University of Otago researchers have found that the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in New Zealand frequently does not conform to international guidelines.
Thursday 14 December 2017
In an article published today in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal, New Zealand researchers found that Google laptop searches performed better at finding online sexual health advice than the digital assistants on smartphones.
Wednesday 13 December 2017
In a bid to curb New Zealand’s horrific drowning rates, a University of Otago researcher is aiming to fill the gap in children’s open water survival skills.
Wednesday 13 December 2017
Firearms and public health, impacts of New Zealand’s most common natural hazard - flooding, and lessons from the 1918 flu pandemic are just some of the courses and seminar talks being offered by the University of Otago, Wellington’s Public Health Summer School.
Thursday 7 December 2017
Many children may not be sun-safe during school lunch breaks, research from the University of Otago, Wellington, reveals.
Thursday 23 November 2017
Professor Peter Crampton has this week announced he will step down from his roles as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Health Sciences and Dean of the Otago Medical School, taking effect during the middle part of next year.
Thursday 23 November 2017
New research has shown governments can help improve health in low and middle income countries, simply by providing cash to people living in poverty.
Tuesday 21 November 2017
Cutting saturated fat in children’s diets reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood, a University of Otago study has found.
Thursday 16 November 2017
The hard work and sacrifices of international Pacific scholarship students were rewarded last Friday when the University of Otago New Zealand Development Scholarship Completion Ceremony was held.
Thursday 16 November 2017
The importance of working together to prevent mosquito-borne diseases will be highlighted during an upcoming University of Otago-organised event.
Tuesday 14 November 2017
Otago Pacific Alumni Networking Fono at Auckland Centre on 18 October provided opportunity for wide-ranging discussion on Otago's future in region.
Friday 10 November 2017
Crucial new information about how the brain controls fertility has been unlocked by University of Otago researchers, with their findings just published in prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS).
Wednesday 25 October 2017
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) causes adult New Zealanders to lose a total of 467,240 quality-adjusted years of life (QALY) across their lifetimes, new University of Otago research shows. One QALY equates to one year in perfect health.
Thursday 19 October 2017
A new study from the University of Otago, Wellington, has found that only six per cent of Wellington City children’s playgrounds have drinking water fountains.
Monday 16 October 2017
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health (MOH) rarely recommends using supplements, but does urge mothers to take in additional iodine and folic acid before and during pregnancy, and iodine when breastfeeding, to help avoid neurodevelopmental problems in their babies.
Wednesday 11 October 2017
The signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) at the University of Otago with three leading Shanghai institutions due to be held tomorrow is a welcome sign of the growing collaborations between New Zealand and Chinese health researchers, according to organisers.
Wednesday 11 October 2017
For the first time, a University of Otago researcher has shown that not only are the effects of climate change influencing people’s decision to migrate, it is actually a more important driver than income and political freedom at the origin country.
Wednesday 11 October 2017
The outstanding achievements of three University of Otago researchers were recognised through the bestowing of prestigious national awards at the 2017 New Zealand Research Honours Dinner earlier this week. The trio were among New Zealand researchers to be presented with 21 medals in total at the Royal Society Te Apārangi-hosted event in Auckland.
Monday 9 October 2017
New Zealand children are exposed to around 27 unhealthy food advertisements per day, innovative camera research from Otago and Auckland Universities reveals.
Wednesday 4 October 2017
A student from Otago’s Christchurch campus has taken part in a 48-hour competition to develop a medical education learning application at the world’s biggest and best medical education conference.
Wednesday 27 September 2017
Athletes and the body-conscious beware – at least six sports supplements on sale in Australia and New Zealand contain anabolic steroids not declared on their labels.
Thursday 21 September 2017
Fighting the wave of adolescent obesity in New Zealand could be as simple as establishing family rules and routines around food consumption and limiting screen time, a new University of Otago study has found.
Tuesday 19 September 2017
A new book sets out important ideas for helping New Zealand cities resolve the challenges of providing quality, affordable housing, designing healthy transport systems and dealing with climate change.
Tuesday 12 September 2017
A new study published in the Journal of Child Language has taken a selfie of the language skills of more than 6000 New Zealand two-year-olds and found some concerning gaps.
Thursday 7 September 2017
Researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington (UOW) have shown that leaking and mouldy homes may lead to the development of a first attack of asthma in young children living in them.
Tuesday 5 September 2017
Having a baby may never be the same again as increasingly sophisticated genetic testing is likely to raise thorny ethical issues, according to a new report.
Monday 28 August 2017
A team of researchers at the University of Otago, Wellington has just launched a unique on-line eLearning module to provide realistic and practical guidance for clinicians working with spoken language interpreters in primary health care.
Thursday 24 August 2017
A new study of the smokefree signs at 63 New Zealand playgrounds has found that less than half of the playgrounds (44 per cent) had any such signs. Even when present, many of the signs were small and poorly designed, with some being only postcard sized.
Wednesday 23 August 2017
The Otago Spotlight Series: Child Health Research forum is rapidly approaching. Attendees will have the chance to meet with researchers, and to discuss the future of child health research in New Zealand.
Monday 21 August 2017
A new study from the University of Otago, Wellington has found New Zealand’s Quitline service is a highly cost-effective way to improve health and even saves the health system money.
Friday 18 August 2017
The University of Otago is to lead a $35 million project known as Genomics Aotearoa, a new science platform supporting advanced genomics research.
Thursday 17 August 2017
Wellington City Council is partnering with the University of Otago, Wellington, to launch a voluntary Rental Warrant of Fitness for minimum housing standards in Wellington, Mayor Justin Lester has announced.
Wednesday 9 August 2017
Join us 21-22 November, Dunedin, 2017, where participants will be able to improve their understanding of some existing frameworks, tools, approaches and knowledge about research impact and its assessment with leading international experts.
Thursday 3 August 2017
Darlene Pupi, a University of Otago medical student, used her HRC-funded Pacific Health Career Development Award to explore the economic cost of diabetes among Pacific peoples living in New Zealand.
Monday 24 July 2017
The Tupu Tai Pasifika Public Sector Internship Programme is an interagency initiative that supports Pasifika students to explore career pathways within the public sector. Applications will be open from 21 July – 13 August 2017.
Thursday 20 July 2017
Bowel-cancer screening in New Zealand will improve health cost effectively, according to University of Otago research just published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.
Tuesday 11 July 2017
Babies who feed themselves as soon as they have started eating solids appear to be less fussy eaters, new University of Otago research has found.
Friday 7 July 2017
New evidence shows one in five children continue to be exposed to smoking in cars, and that exposure even increased in 2015.
Tuesday 4 July 2017
Child health research is our Otago Spotlight Series focus for 2017. Please join us in Wellington, 12 September, for another superb day hearing about the latest research from a range of disciplines. The presentations are short and designed for a lay audience. Come along for the day, or pop in and out, and maybe have a chat with researchers over some yummy lunch.
Thursday 29 June 2017
In May, the Division of Health Sciences Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Crampton was the Special Guest Speaker at the 70th anniversary of the Samoan Medical Association's AGM in Apia.
Friday 9 June 2017
New research from the University of Otago, Wellington, shows that influenza kills about 500 New Zealanders each year, and the risk of premature death is much higher for Māori, Pasifika, men and those living in relative poverty.
