Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Skip to main content

Contact Details

Phone
+64 4 918 6848
Email
stephen.inns@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Associate Professor of Medicine and Consultant Gastroenterologist
Department
Department of Medicine (Wellington)
Qualifications
FRACP, MD(Research), MB ChB
Research summary
Inflammatory bowel disease, Helicobacter pylori, gastric cancer prevention, eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease, precision medicine approaches to digestive health, Māori and Pacific health equity
Teaching

Stephen contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in gastroenterology within the University of Otago medical programme, including MICN401 teaching and clinical supervision.

He has a strong interest in mentoring emerging clinical researchers and supporting trainees in translational and clinically focused gastroenterology research.

Stephen welcomes postgraduate supervision enquiries in the areas of inflammatory bowel disease, Helicobacter pylori, gastric cancer prevention, endoscopy, clinical trials, implementation science, and health equity research. He has particular interest in projects that bridge translational science with real-world clinical practice and health system improvement.

Memberships
  • Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP)
  • Medical Lead Research and Research Governance Committee Chair, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora Capital Coast & Hutt Valley
  • Director, The Rutherford Clinic
  • Clinical investigator and collaborator in national and international gastroenterology research networks
Clinical

Stephen is a consultant gastroenterologist and general physician with expertise across the full spectrum of luminal gastroenterology and digestive disease. His clinical interests include:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Helicobacter pylori management
  • Iron deficiency anaemia
  • Irritable bowel syndrome and functional gut disorders
  • Eosinophilic oesophagitis
  • Dyspepsia and reflux disease
  • Small bowel disorders
  • Advanced therapeutic endoscopy including endoscopic mucosal resection

He provides both public and private specialist services and is committed to delivering evidence-based, patient-centred care informed by current research and modern clinical practice.

Research

Stephen completed his MD(Res) at University College London, where his doctoral research examined dietary interventions in inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. He also undertook advanced fellowship training in luminal gastroenterology and endoscopy at University College Hospital London.

His current research programme focuses on:

  • Precision and resistance-guided treatment of Helicobacter pylori
  • Gastric cancer prevention strategies in Aotearoa New Zealand
  • Inflammatory bowel disease therapeutics and service delivery
  • Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders
  • Hookworm and microbiome-based immunomodulatory therapies
  • Clinical trials and translational gastroenterology research
  • Equity-focused implementation research for Māori and Pacific populations

Stephen leads the New Zealand arm of the World Helicobacter pylori Registry and is involved in multiple collaborative national and international studies examining antimicrobial resistance, molecular diagnostics, and tailored treatment pathways for H. pylori infection.

Stephen also has a strong interest in research governance, ethics, and clinical research systems, and currently serves as Medical Lead – Research for Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Capital Coast and Hutt Valley.

Additional details

Stephen combines clinical practice, research leadership, and health system governance roles across both public and private healthcare settings. His work aims to improve equitable access to modern gastroenterology care and translate emerging evidence into practical clinical pathways for patients in Aotearoa New Zealand.

He has a particular interest in building collaborative research networks and developing sustainable models for precision gastroenterology care within New Zealand health services.

Publications

Schauer, C., van Rijnsoever, M., Taylor, S., Wang, M. T. M., Walmsley, R., Koea, J., Inns, S., & Hills, T. (2026). The burden of secondary antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 139(1633), 55-64. doi: 10.26635/6965.e1633 Journal - Research Article

Mules, T. C., Camberis, M., Lavender, B., Payne, K., Yumnam, B., Vacca, F., … Inns, S. (2026). Exploratory study characterizing gastrointestinal physiological changes during controlled human hookworm infection. American Journal of Physiology: Gastrointestinal & Liver Physiology, 330(2), G206-G213. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00300.2025 Journal - Research Article

Inns, S. J., Sowerbutts, S., Yumnam, B., Payne, K., Wheller, G., Camberis, M., & Mules, T. (2025). Droplet digital PCR-based detection of clarithromycin resistance on rapid urease test samples predicts Helicobacter pylori eradication success: A New Zealand cohort study. Helicobacter, 30, e70075. doi: 10.1111/hel.70075 Journal - Research Article

Noble, S.-L., Tyrrell, R., Mules, T. C., & Inns, S. (2025). Non-invasive biomarkers to diagnose and monitor eosinophilic esophagitis: A systematic review. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, 1607306. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1607306 Journal - Research Article

Teng, A., Hildred, E., Stanley, J., Inns, S., & McLeod, M. (2025). Ethnic inequity in the current approach to testing and treatment: Linked data cohort analysis. Helicobacter, 30, e70005. doi: 10.1111/hel.70005 Journal - Research Article

Back to top