Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences with Honours (BBiomedSc(Hons)) at the University of Otago, Wellington

The Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences with Honours ( BBiomedSc(Hons) ) is a separate one-year research-orientated postgraduate degree completed after the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences ( BBiomedSc ) undergraduate course (or equivalent).

Being situated next to the regional hospital in Wellington, the programme focuses on translational medicine and many of the supervisors are clinicians at the hospital – offering you a unique opportunity to partake in hands on clinical research with real patients.

The Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBiomedSc) is also offered at the University of Otago, Wellington.

Why do BBiomedSc(Hons) ?

It is an excellent stepping stone to a career in research, diagnostics or biotechnology, or to master's or PhD study in a wide range of biomedical sciences. With an honours degree, you can proceed directly to PhD study.

What work is involved in the BBiomedSc(Hons) ?

The BBiomedSc(Hons) comprises a significant research component (about eight months' hands-on research project) and presentation of a thesis. You will also undertake a theory component which will include taught workshops on research methods, ethics, and statistics.

Projects on offer

We offer research projects that have a strong focus on translational and clinical medicine. For more information, contact the course convenor:

Dr Aaron Stevens
Email aaron.stevens@otago.ac.nz

Research groups offering BBiomedSc(Hons) projects in 2026

Robichon Research group offering BBiomedSc(Hons) projects in 2026

The Robichon Research Group focuses on understanding treatment responses in autoimmune diseases, with particular emphasis on multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. We are a translational research group working in collaborations with neurologist and rheumatologist as well as basic scientists and chemists Our current research interests include:

• Characterising immunophenotypic changes in response to established therapies for multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis
• Exploring the relationship between chronic viral infections and successful treatment outcomes in autoimmune conditions
• Investigating the mechanisms of action of both existing and novel therapies by testing their effects on healthy immune cells

Group leader:
Dr Katharina Robichon

The Surgical Immunology Research Group (SIRG)

The SIRG is a translational research group focusing on utilising the body’s response to surgery for predicting adverse postoperative outcomes. We are a group of scientists, surgeons and other clinicians based at the University of Otago, Wellington and Wellington Regional Hospital. We are offering research projects across multiple surgical specialties, with a current focus on vascular surgery. We are well recognised for our research involving spectral flow cytometry.

Current projects include:

• Tracking the trajectory of the immune response to surgery for biomarker discovery
• Ensuring reproducibility in longitudinal flow cytometry studies
• Understanding platelet activation and anti-platelet responsiveness in vascular surgery
• Cardiac troponin surveillance for detecting silent myocardial injury after vascular surgery

Group lead:
Dr Kathryn Hally
Email kathryn.hally@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 4 832 3266

Genetic and Epigenetics Research Lab (GERL)

Genomic and Epigenomic Research Lab web page

We investigate multiple aspects of the genetic and epigenetic contributors in disease development. In 2026 projects for our BBioMedSci(Hons) will be based around:

• Investigating how oxidants produced by immune cells during inflammation and infection can impact the pattern of epigenetic modifications on human genomic DNA. Oxidative stress is a common feature of inflammation-driven cancers, and promotes genomic instability and aggressive tumour phenotypes
• Investigating how genomic rearrangements accumulate in tumour cells and the impact this has on tumour development, and also diagnosis
• The contribution of the human gut microbiome towards ADHD

Group leaders:
Dr Aaron Stevens (BBioMedSci(Hons)), course convener

Collaborators/Co-supervisors:
Dr Annika Seddon (University of Otago, Christchurch)
Dr Katharina Robichon (University of Otago, Wellington)

Fertility Associates and University of Otago, Wellington scholarship

Fertility Associates, New Zealand’s leading fertility provider, will award the Fertility Associates – University of Otago, Wellington, Biomedical Sciences Scholarship to one Wellington student in 2026.

The scholarship has been set up as a partnership between Fertility Associates and the University of Otago, Wellington. Its aim is to recognise and support exceptional students pursuing Honours in Biomedical Sciences and related fields who have a strong commitment to advancing the field of reproductive science/medicine and who require financial support.

Dr Alex Varghese, the Scientific Director at Fertility Associates, says the collaborative partnership with the University is an investment in the future of reproductive medicine in New Zealand.

“This scholarship represents our commitment to supporting the development of future medical/research professionals who will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in fertility treatment.”

For more information enquire with:
Dr Aaron Stevens (BBioMedSci(Hons)), course convener
Email aaron.stevens@otago.ac.nz

The Translational Gynaecology Research Group

The TGG offers research projects across ovarian and endometrial cancer, and endometriosis. We work across biomedical (biomarker, cell biology) and qualitative/clinical (interviews, audit and retrospective data) methodologies. Our group's interests include:

• Women’s experiences of endometrial cancer
• Biomarkers of response to endometrial cancer treatments
• Ovarian cancer diagnostics
• Non-invasive biopsies for cancer and endometriosis
• The role of inflammation and microenvironment in endometriosis development and treatment response

Group leader:
Claire Henry

The Surgical Cancer Research Group (SCRG)

The SCRG is a translational research group that is a collaboration between scientists and surgeons in the Wellington region. We are offering multiple research projects across colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and tissue reconstruction. Examples of project areas include:

• The use of extracellular vesicles from adipose-derived stem cells as a novel therapeutic for tissue repair following cancer surgery (particularly mastectomy for breast cancer)
• The study of tumour microenvironments and the interactions between different cell types that contribute to cancer progression (e.g. interactions between colorectal cancer cells and immune cells)
• Liquid biopsy biomarkers (e.g. plasma microRNA, extracellular vesicles) for predicting how patients will respond to cancer therapies OR to diagnose cancers that are difficult to biopsy

Projects include opportunities to focus specifically on Māori health (with Māori co-supervisors), to work with primary human cell cultures, and to be involved in clinical sample collections.

Group leader:
Associate Professor Kirsty Danielson

The Wellington Cardiovascular Research Group (WCRG)

The WCRG is a translational research group that is a collaboration between scientists, Interventional Cardiologists and Cardiothoracic Surgeons at Wellington Regional Hospital. Our interests include basic science projects and translational or clinical research in ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias. We are currently offering research projects investigating inflammation in this context. Our group's interests include:

• The study of neutrophil-mediated inflammation in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using novel spectral flow cytometry techniques
• Reducing operative risk for morbidly obese individuals undergoing cardiothoracic surgery

Group leads:
Associate Professor Peter Larsen
Dr Ceridwyn Jones

Wellington Southern Community Laboratories

Optimising turnaround time for urgent outbreak investigation using Oxford Nanopore next generation sequencing of bacteria.

At Wellington Southern Community Laboratories we have introduced next generation sequencing (NGS) into our regular molecular testing workflow, using the ONT MinION device.

To date, we have been using the instrument to perform molecular typing of organisms to look for evidence of spread within Wellington and Hutt Hospitals. Currently we perform a weekly routine surveillance run, and achieve a turnaround time for samples of around 48-96 hours.

Hospital outbreaks can be extremely disruptive to patient care and overall service delivery, so the ability to reduce the size of an outbreak with rapid results has the potential to significantly improve patient care.

This project will test various sample preparation, sequencing and analysis protocols on Oxford Nanopore (ONT) devices to minimise time from sample collection to sequencing result for bacterial organisms that are associated with hospital transmission events.

Project leader:
Dr Max Bloomfield, Wellington Southern Community Laboratories

How to apply

For entry requirements and to apply, see the BBiomedSc(Hons) qualification page:

BBiomedSc(Hons) regulations and application

We recommend you also contact the course convenor. Places on this course are limited.