Children’s Sleep Health Research Group
The Children’s Sleep Health Research Group, headed by Professor Barbara Galland, focusses on sleep health in teenagers and preschoolers, investigating sleep metrics essential for understanding the complexities of sleep and its impact on health, well-being and performance.
Learn more about the Children’s Sleep Health Research Group
Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Group
The Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Group, led by Professor Ben Wheeler, investigates childhood diabetes and new technologies, Vitamin D and bone health, and other aspects of nutrition and endocrinology.
Learn more about the Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Group
Laboratory for Genomic Medicine
The Laboratory for Genomic Medicine is led by Professor Stephen Robertson and was established through the Leading Thinkers Campaign and Curekids. The major research theme is developing an understanding of childhood disorders characterised by congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders.
We have a major research programme centred on Indigenous Genomics. The team consists of three research fellows, one postdoctoral fellow, three& assistant research fellows, and graduate research students. Significant outputs include more than 200 publications, including papers in Nature Genetics, PNAS, Science and the American Journal of Human Genetics.
Find out more about the Laboratory for Genomic Medicine
Obesity Research Group
The Obesity Research Group, led by Professor Barry Taylor, investigates the prevention and management of unhealthy child weight gain, the identification and treatment of obesity-related sleep disorders, and the prevention of obesity using positive rather than negative messaging (e.g. improving sleep rather than a focus on nutrition or activity). The group also uses "big data" to answer questions about child health.
Learn more about the Obesity Research Group
Quantitative Social Science Research Group
The Quantitative Social Science Research Group, led by Dr Nick Bowden, specialises in impactful, data-driven research that translates complex population data into actionable insights to inform evidence-based policy change.
Learn more about the Quantitative Social Science Research Group
Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy Research
The Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy Research group, led by Professor Barry Taylor, has two main research areas: preventing SUDI using positive as well as negative messaging (e.g. improving sleep rather than a focus on safety), and the use of "big data" to answer questions about changing prevalence of safer sleep options for infants.
Learn more about Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy Research
Vaccine-related Research Group
The Vaccine-related Research Group, led by Professor Peter McIntyre, investigates vaccine delivery and immunological responses to vaccines, and also collaborates on projects about maternal vaccination and the acceptability of interdermal patches.
New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service (NZCYES)
The New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service (NZCYES) was established by the Paediatric Society of New Zealand in 2004, in response to the perceived need for a single national entity to select, collate and disseminate timely and accurate information on the health of children and young people in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Initially hosted by the University of Auckland, it has been hosted by the University of Otago since March 2009.
Find out more about the New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service
New Zealand Mortality Review Data Group (NZMRDG)
The New Zealand Mortality Review Data Group - Te Rōpū Kohi Pitopito Mōhiotanga mō te Taka Mate (NZMRDG) – was established in 2003 to provide customised systems and research support for the former Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee (CYMRC). NZMRDG also provided systems, research support and reorting for the former Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee (PMMRC) from its inception in 2006.
The National Mortality Review Committee (NMRC) of Aotearoa New Zealand came into effect on 1 July 2023, replacing the former mortality review committees. The focus on Child & Youth (CY) and Perinatal & Maternal (PM) mortality continues as part of the NMRC workstream.
The NZMRDG continue our work under contract to Te Tāhū Hauora | Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC), curating NMRC mortality data via our custom-built systems, and providing research, epidemiological and reporting services as required in support of the NMRC.
Find out more about the New Zealand Mortality Review Data Group
New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit (NZPSU)
The unit now hosts and administers nine studies of uncommon high impact conditions including Vitamin D deficiency rickets, perinatal H.I.V. exposure and self-harm seen in under 16 year olds. Most of these have been undertaken by paediatricians with research interests in the conditions.
The New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit (NZPSU) was established in the Department in 1997 through funding from the Ministry of Health to undertake surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) for the Ministry of Health's National Certification Committee for the Eradication of Poliomyelitis (NCCEP).
Find out more about the New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit