Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Skip to main content

Contact Details

Phone
Tel +64 4 832 3078 Mob +64 21 753 383
Email
rebecca.grainger@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Head of Department of Medicine
Department
Department of Medicine (Wellington)
Qualifications
MB ChB (Distn), BMedSc (Distn), PhD, FHiNZ, FAIHSI, FRACP
Research summary
Rheumatology (including inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune diseases), medical education and digital health
Teaching

MB ChB 4th year – Rheumatology submodule convener

I supervise postgraduate research across clinical rheumatology, digital health, medical education and health services research. Students are encouraged to work within multidisciplinary teams and undertake projects with clear potential to improve patient outcomes, healthcare delivery or medical education.

Memberships
  • Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology – Co-chair Education committee (APLAR Academy), member Scientific Committee, Digital Health Special Interest Group Co-convener
  • Chair of Research Advisory committee and Board Member Research for Life/Wellington Medical Research Foundation
  • Clinical Advisory Board member Rare Disorders New Zealand

Research

Professor Rebecca Grainger is a rheumatologist, educator and health systems researcher whose work focuses on improving outcomes for people living with arthritis and other immune-mediated diseases. She is Head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington, and a consultant rheumatologist in the Wellington region.

Rebecca leads research spanning inflammatory arthritis, gout and systemic autoimmune disease, with a particular focus on digital health, models of care, patient-reported outcomes, and health service innovation. Her research aims to translate evidence into practical solutions that improve access, quality and equity of care for people with chronic conditions.

A recognised leader in medical education, Rebecca has extensive experience in curriculum design, assessment and health professions education research. She works closely with clinicians, patients, policy makers and community organisations to ensure that research delivers meaningful benefits for people, whānau and health systems.

Rebecca welcomes collaborations with students, clinicians, researchers and industry partners interested in improving health outcomes through innovation, technology and implementation science.

Watch Rebecca's inaugural professorial lecture

Rebecca's research aims to improve the lives of people living with arthritis and other long-term immune-mediated diseases through innovative, patient-centred and sustainable healthcare.

Current research themes include:

  • Improving outcomes for people with inflammatory arthritis, gout and systemic autoimmune diseases
  • Digital health, artificial intelligence and wearable technologies in clinical care and self-management
  • Models of care, workforce innovation and health service redesign for chronic disease management
  • Patient-reported outcomes, experience measures and value-based healthcare
  • Health professions education, clinical reasoning and assessment
  • Implementation science and translating evidence into routine clinical practice
  • Equity and access to healthcare for people living with rheumatic diseases

Selected awards/distinctions:

  • 2022 University of Otago Students association award for outstanding supervisor, Division of Health Sciences Finalist
  • 2021 The Flinders University – ANZAHPE Award for Health Professions Education
  • 2020 University of Otago Wellington Deans award for outstanding leadership
  • 2017 Hutt Hospital award for Quality in Research

Current projects:

  • “Making it work” early work intervention for people with arthritis (In Collaboration with Professor Diane Lecaille, Arthritis Research Canada)
  • Investigator and site lead Australia and New Zealand Vasculitis Registry
  • IgG4-Related disease diagnosis in Wellington Region (with Dr Anthea Anthatharajah, CCHV)
  • Metabolic signatures in rheumatoid arthritis (MESRA study) (with Dr Katharina Robichon, FoM-W)

Editorial roles (research peer esteem/scholarship):

  • Australian Journal of Rheumatology – Editorial Board member and section editor (education)
  • BMJ Connections Rheumatology - Editorial Board member
  • Focus on Health Professions Education – Associate Editor
  • Gout, Urate and crystal deposition disease - Editorial Board member
  • PEC Global (Elsevier) – Editorial Board member
  • Rheumatology (Oxford) - Editorial Board member

Additional details

Professor Rebecca Grainger's Google Scholar profile

Publications

Filippou, G., Pezzoni, L., Filippucci, E., Tedeschi, S. K., Pascart, T., Adinolfi, A., … Grainger, R., … Stamp, L., … Dalbeth, N. (2026). Gout, hyperuricemia and crystal-associated disease network (G-CAN) consensus statement regarding labels and definitions for disease elements in calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition (CPPD). Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.ard.2026.05.019 Journal - Research Article

McNeill, J. J., Mearns, G. J., Grainger, R., & Zinn, C. (2026). The effect of an autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet in adults with rheumatoid arthritis: A single arm crossover pilot feasibility study. Musculoskeletal Care, 24(2), e70214. doi: 10.1002/msc.70214 Journal - Research Article

Venuturupalli, S., He, J. J., Lee, M.-J. I., Koger, T., Havadjias, S., Jinka, Y., … Grainger, R., & Curtis, J. R. (2026). Evaluating a smartphone app–based module for joint self-assessment as a complementary tool in rheumatoid arthritis remote disease management. ACR Open Rheumatology, 8(4), e90018. doi: 10.1002/acr2.90018 Journal - Research Article

Darlow, B., Brown, M., Vincent, L., Keenan, R., Simmonds, S., Briggs, A. M., Hudson, B., … McKinlay, E., Grainger, R., Stanley, J., & Dean, S. (2026). Participant experiences of the Knee Care for Arthritis through Pharmacy Service (KneeCAPS): A personalised hī. Osteoarthritis & Cartilage Open, 8(2), 100759. doi: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2026.100759 Journal - Research Article

Bowman, J., White, D., Lao, C., Gregory, K., Kenwright, D., Chembo, C., Clark, C., & Grainger, R. (2026). Lupus nephritis outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand: A retrospective case series. Lupus, 35(4), 417-425. doi: 10.1177/09612033261419670 Journal - Research Article

Back to top