Jason Gurney, Department of Public Health, Our people, University of Otago, Wellington, University of Otago, New Zealand

Jason Gurney image

BSc(Hons), PhD

Research Associate Professor and Director, Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) Research Group

Contact details

Mob +64 21 279 3597
Email jason.gurney@otago.ac.nz

Research interests and activities

Associate Professor Jason Gurney is a Māori epidemiologist, Director of the Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) Research Group, and Research Portfolio Leader of the wider Department of Public Health. Jason has expertise leading national projects in cancer, chronic condition and congenital condition epidemiology. He has particular expertise and interest in the investigation (and explanation) of inequities in health outcomes between Māori and non-Māori New Zealanders.

Jason is an HRC Māori Health Research Emerging Leader Fellow, and Principal Investigator of multiple HRC-funded projects investigating topics including post-operative mortality and the co-occurrence of cancer and diabetes. He is a board member of Hei Āhuru Mōwai (the National Māori Cancer Leadership Group), and a committee member of multiple working groups at Te Aho o Te Kahu – Cancer Control Agency.

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Publications

Gurney, J., Davies, A., Stanley, J., Signal, V., Costello, S., Dawkins, P., … Jackson, C., … Koea, J. (2023). Emergency presentation prior to lung cancer diagnosis: A national-level examination of disparities and survival outcomes. Lung Cancer, 179, 107174. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.03.010

Clough, S., Cleverley, T., Kerrison, C., Harwood, M., Koea, J., & Gurney, J. K. (2022). The past, present and future of liver cancer control for Māori. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1567), 91-104. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Gurney, J., Stanley, J., Teng, A., Krebs, J., Koea, J., . . ., Sika-Paotonu, D., & Sarfati, D. (2022). Cancer and diabetes co-occurrence: A national study with 44 million person-years of follow-up. PLoS ONE, 17(11), e0276913. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276913

Lao, C., Gurney, J., Stanley, J., Krebs, J., Meredith, I., Campbell, I., Teng, A., Sika-Paotonu, D., Koea, J., & Lawrenson, R. (2022). Association of diabetes and breast cancer characteristics at diagnosis. Cancer Causes & Control. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10552-022-01654-y

Gurney, J. K., McLeod, M., Thomas, C., Campbell, D., Dennett, E., Jackson, S., Ongley, D., … Stanley, J., Sarfati, D., & Koea, J. (2022). Understanding disparities in post-operative mortality for indigenous patients. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1565), 104-112. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Sarfati, D., & Gurney, J. (2016). What is comorbidity? In B. Koczwara (Ed.), Cancer and chronic conditions: Addressing the problem of multimorbidity in cancer patients and survivors. (pp. 1-33). Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-1844-2

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Baker, M. G., Gurney, J., Moreland, N. J., Bennett, J., Oliver, J., Williamson, D. A., Pierse, N., … Merriman, T. R., … Edwards, R., … Thomson, W. M., Zhang, J., & Lennon, D. (2022). Risk factors for acute rheumatic fever: A case-control study. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100508

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, A., Costello, S., Imlach, F., Jo, E., Gurney, J., Simpson, R., & Sarfati, D. (2022). Using national data to model the New Zealand radiation oncology workforce. Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Oncology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.13448

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Dunn, A., Liu, M., Mako, M., Millar, E., Ruka, M., Crengle, S., … Jackson, C., … Sarfati, D. (2022). The impact of COVID-19 on lung cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1556), 23-43. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., McLeod, M. A., Campbell, D., Dennett, E., Jackson, S., Koea, J., Lash, N., & Ongley, D. (2022). Anaesthetic choice for hip or knee arthroplasty in New Zealand: Risk of postoperative death and variations in use. Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, 50(3), 178-188. doi: 10.1177/0310057x211050934

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., McLeod, M., Stanley, J., Robson, B., Campbell, D., Dennett, E., Ongley, D., … Koea, J. (2022). Regional variation in post-operative mortality in New Zealand. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ans.17510

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Stanley, J., Koea, J., Adler, J., Atkinson, J., & Sarfati, D. (2022). Where are we dying? Ethnic differences in place of death among New Zealanders dying of cancer. JCO Global Oncology, 8, e2200024. doi: 10.1200/go.22.00024

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., Kerrison, C., & Koea, J. (2022). Equity of timely access to liver and stomach cancer surgery for Indigenous patients in New Zealand: A national cohort study. BMJ Open, 12, e058749. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058749

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Whitehead, J., Kerrison, C., Stanley, J., Sarfati, D., & Koea, J. (2022). Equity of travel required to access first definitive surgery for liver or stomach cancer in New Zealand. PLoS ONE, 17(8), e0269593. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269593

Journal - Research Article

Wells, C. I., Varghese, C., Boyle, L. J., McGuinness, M. J., Keane, C., O'Grady, G., Gurney, J., Koea, J., … Bissett, I. P. (2022). "Failure to rescue" following colorectal cancer resection: Variation and improvements in a national study of postoperative mortality: Reducing mortality after colorectal surgery. Annals of Surgery. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1097/sla.0000000000005650

Journal - Research Article

Whitcombe, A. L., McGregor, R., Bennett, J., Gurney, J. K., Williamson, D. A., Baker, M. G., & Moreland, N. J. (2022). Increased breadth of Group A Streptococcus antibody responses in children with acute rheumatic fever compared to precursor pharyngitis and skin infections. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 226, 167-176. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac043

Journal - Research Article

Znaor, A., Skakkebaek, N. E., Rajpert-De Meyts, E., Kuliš, T., Laversanne, M., Gurney, J., Sarfati, D., … Bray, F. (2022). Global patterns in testicular cancer incidence and mortality in 2020. International Journal of Cancer. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/ijc.33999

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Millar, E., Dunn, A., Pirie, R., Mako, M., Manderson, J., … Jackson, C. G. C. A., … Sarfati, D. (2021). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer diagnosis and service access in New Zealand: A country pursuing COVID-19 elimination. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 10, 100127. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100127

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Stanley, J., Adler, J., McLeod, H., Atkinson, J., & Sarfati, D. (2021). National study of pain medicine access among Māori and non-Māori patients with lung cancer in New Zealand. JCO Global Oncology, 7, 1276-1285. doi: 10.1200/go.21.00141

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., McLeod, M., Stanley, J., Sarfati, D., Campbell, D., Davies, C., Dennett, E., … Ongley, D., Robson, B., Rumball-Smith, J., Signal, V., Stairmand, J., Thomas, C., & Koea, J. (2021). Disparities in post-operative mortality between Māori and non-indigenous ethnic groups in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1542), 15-28. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Lorenz, N., Ho, T. K. C., McGregor, R., Davies, M. R., Williamson, D. A., Gurney, J. K., … Baker, M. G., & Moreland, N. J. (2021). Serological profiling of group A streptococcus infections in acute rheumatic fever. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 73(12), 2322-2325. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab180

Journal - Research Article

Millar, E., Gurney, J., Beuker, S., Goza, M., Hamilton, M.-A., Hardie, C., Jackson, C. G. C. A., … Sarfati, D. (2021). Maintaining cancer services during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Aotearoa New Zealand experience. Lancet Regional Health: Western Pacific, 11, 100172. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100172

Journal - Research Article

Sam, F. A.-L., Akinremi, A., Mery, L., Sarfati, D., Stanley, J., & Gurney, J. (2021). Cancer Incidence in Samoa: A 10-Year Retrospective Survey (2007-2016). Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 33(6-7), 700-706. doi: 10.1177/1010539520975261

Journal - Research Article

Chung, A. W., Ho, T. K. C., Hanson-Manful, P., Tritscheller, S., Raynes, J. M., Whitcombe, A. L., … Oliver, J. R., Gurney, J. K., … Baker, M. G., & Moreland, N. J. (2020). Systems immunology reveals a linked IgG3-C4 response in patients with acute rheumatic fever. Immunology & Cell Biology, 98, 12-21. doi: 10.1111/imcb.12298

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., McLeod, M., Stanley, J., Campbell, D., Boyle, L., Dennett, E., … Sarfati, D. (2020). Postoperative mortality in New Zealand following general anaesthetic: Demographic patterns and temporal trends. BMJ Open, 10(9), e036451. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036451

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Stanley, J., & Sarfati, D. (2020). The inequity of morbidity: Disparities in the prevalence of morbidity between ethnic groups in New Zealand. Journal of Comorbidity, 10, 1-11. doi: 10.1177/2235042x20971168

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Stanley, J., Jackson, C., & Sarfati, D. (2020). Stage at diagnosis for Māori cancer patients: Disparities, similarities and data limitations. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1508), 43-64. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Stanley, J., McLeod, M., Koea, J., Jackson, C., & Sarfati, D. (2020). Disparities in cancer-specific survival between Māori and non-Māori New Zealanders, 2007-2016. JCO Global Oncology, 6, 766-774. doi: 10.1200/go.20.00028

Journal - Research Article

McLeod, M., Signal, V., Gurney, J., & Sarfati, D. (2020). Postoperative mortality of indigenous populations compared with nonindigenous populations: A systematic review. JAMA Surgery, 155(7), 636-656. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2020.0316

Journal - Research Article

Znaor, A., Skakkebaek, N. E., Rajpert-De Meyts, E., Laversanne, M., Kuliš, T., Gurney, J., Sarfati, D., … Bray, F. (2020). Testicular cancer incidence predictions in Europe 2010-2035: A rising burden despite population ageing. International Journal of Cancer, 147, 820-828. doi: 10.1002/ijc.32810

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Florio, A. A., Znaor, A., Ferlay, J., Laversanne, M., Sarfati, D., … McGlynn, K. A. (2019). International trends in the incidence of testicular cancer: Lessons from 35 years and 41 countries. European Urology, 76, 615-623. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2019.07.002

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Stanley, J., York, S., & Sarfati, D. (2019). Regional variation in the risk of lower-limb amputation among patients with diabetes in New Zealand. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 89, 868-873. doi: 10.1111/ans.15079

Journal - Research Article

Millar, E., Gurney, J., Stanley, J., Stairmand, J., Davies, C., Semper, K., Dowell, A., Lawrenson, R., Mangin, D., & Sarfati, D. (2019). Pill for this and a pill for that: A cross-sectional survey of use and understanding of medication among adults with multimorbidity. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 38(2), 91-97. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12606

Journal - Research Article

Srinivasa, S., Gurney, J., & Koea, J. (2019). Potential consequences of patient complications for surgeon well-being: A systematic review. JAMA Surgery, 154(5), 451-457. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2018.5640

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Stanley, J., & Sarfati, D. (2018). The M3 multimorbidity index outperformed both Charlson and Elixhauser indices when predicting adverse outcomes in people with diabetes. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 99, 144-152. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2018.04.002

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Stanley, J., York, S., Rosenbaum, D., & Sarfati, D. (2018). Risk of lower limb amputation in a national prevalent cohort of patients with diabetes. Diabetologia, 61(3), 626-635. doi: 10.1007/s00125-017-4488-8

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Stanley, J., Rumball-Smith, J., York, S., & Sarfati, D. (2018). Postoperative death after lower-limb amputation in a national prevalent cohort of patients with diabetes. Diabetes Care, 41(6), 1204-1211. doi: 10.2337/dc17-2557

Journal - Research Article

Huang, S., Signal, V., Sarfati, D., Shaw, C., Stanley, J., McGlynn, K., & Gurney, J. (2018). Physical activity and risk of testicular cancer: A systematic review. BMC Cancer, 18, 189. doi: 10.1186/s12885-018-4093-3

Journal - Research Article

Millar, E., Stanley, J., Gurney, J., Stairmand, J., Davies, C., Semper, K., Dowell, A., … Sarfati, D. (2018). Effect of multimorbidity on health service utilisation and health care experiences. Journal of Primary Health Care, 10(1), 44-53. doi: 10.1071/HC17074

Journal - Research Article

Stairmand, J., Gurney, J., Stanley, J., Millar, E., Davies, C., Semper, K., Dowell, A., Mangin, D., Lawrenson, R., & Sarfati, D. (2018). The impact of multimorbidity on people's lives: A cross-sectional survey. New Zealand Medical Journal, 131(1477), 78-90. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Kersting, U. G., Rosenbaum, D., Dissanayake, A., York, S., Grech, R., … Sarfati, D. (2017). Pedobarography as a clinical tool in the management of diabetic feet in New Zealand: A feasibility study. Journal of Foot & Ankle Research, 10, 24. doi: 10.1186/s13047-017-0205-6

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Richiardi, L., McGlynn, K. A., Signal, V., & Sarfati, D. (2017). Analgesia use during pregnancy and risk of cryptorchidism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Human Reproduction, 32(5), 1118-1129. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dex047

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Stanley, J., Baker, M. G., Wilson, N. J., & Sarfati, D. (2016). Estimating the risk of acute rheumatic fever in New Zealand by age, ethnicity and deprivation. Epidemiology & Infection, 144(14), 3058-3067. doi: 10.1017/s0950268816001291

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Stanley, J., Shaw, C., & Sarfati, D. (2016). Ethnic patterns of hypospadias in New Zealand do not resemble those observed for cryptorchidism and testicular cancer: Evidence of differential aetiology? Andrology, 4(1), 82-86. doi: 10.1111/andr.12121

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Chong, A., Culliford-Semmens, N., Tilton, E., Wilson, N. J., & Sarfati, D. (2016). The benefits and harms of rheumatic heart disease screening from the perspective of the screened population. International Journal of Cardiology, 221, 734-740. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.07.025

Journal - Research Article

Sarfati, D., Gurney, J., Lim, B. T., Bagheri, N., Simpson, A., Koea, J., & Dennett, E. (2016). Identifying important comorbidity among cancer populations using administrative data: Prevalence and impact on survival. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 12(1), e47-e56. doi: 10.1111/ajco.12130

Journal - Research Article

Wernham, E., Gurney, J., Stanley, J., Ellison-Loschmann, L., & Sarfati, D. (2016). A comparison of midwife-led and medical-led models of care and their relationship to adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes: A retrospective cohort study in New Zealand. PLoS Medicine, 13(9), e1002134. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002134

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J. K., Sarfati, D., & Stanley, J. (2015). Obscure etiology, unusual disparity: The epidemiology of testicular cancer in New Zealand. Cancer Causes & Control, 26(4), 561-569. doi: 10.1007/s10552-015-0533-4

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Sarfati, D., & Stanley, J. (2015). The impact of patient comorbidity on cancer stage at diagnosis. British Journal of Cancer, 113, 1375-1380. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2015.355

Journal - Research Article

Gurney, J., Shaw, C., Stanley, J., Signal, V., & Sarfati, D. (2015). Cannabis exposure and risk of testicular cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Cancer, 15, 897. doi: 10.1186/s12885-015-1905-6

Journal - Research Article

Signal, V., Sarfati, D., Cunningham, R., Gurney, J., Koea, J., & Ellison-Loschmann, L. (2015). Indigenous inequities in the presentation and management of stomach cancer in New Zealand: A country with universal health care coverage. Gastric Cancer, 18(3), 571-579. doi: 10.1007/s10120-014-0410-y

Journal - Research Article

Sarfati, D., Gurney, J., Stanley, J., & Koea, J. (2014). A retrospective cohort study of patients with stomach and liver cancers: The impact of comorbidity and ethnicity on cancer care and outcomes. BMC Cancer, 14, 821. doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-821

Journal - Research Article

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