Cancer research groups, Cancer Research at Otago

This page includes all the research groups and facilities that feature in our Cancer Research at Otago website.

Ageing Well National Science Challenge

The Ageing Well National Science Challenge vision is to add life to years for all older New Zealanders. This will be achieved by harnessing science to sustain health and wellbeing into the later years of life. The mission of Ageing Well is to push back disability thresholds to enable all New Zealanders to reach their full potential through the life course with particular reference to the latter years of life.

Email ageingwell@otago.ac.nz
Web ageingwellchallenge.co.nz

ASPIRE2025

ASPIRE2025 is a partnership between major New Zealand research groups carrying out research to help achieve the Government's goal of a tobacco-free Aotearoa by 2025. ASPIRE2025 brings together leading tobacco-free researchers and health service groups in New Zealand and strengthens existing collaborations. ASPIRE2025 was awarded the status of a University of Otago Research Theme in November 2011.

Email aspire2025@otago.ac.nzWeb aspire2025.org.nz

Biostatistical consulting

Biostatistical consulting provides statistical expertise for clinical, epidemiological and other health-related research. The consulting biostatisticians can collaborate or offer advice on:

Study design
Appropriate statistical methods
Funding applications
Statistical packages
Data coding and cleaning
Statistical analyses
Drafting and revising articles and reports

We have consultants available in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Contact a consultant

The Burden of Disease Epidemiology, Equity and Cost-Effectiveness Programme (BODE³)

The Burden of Disease Epidemiology, Equity and Cost-Effectiveness Programme (BODE³) was a Health Research Council funded research programme. It has studied the health and wider societal gains, costs, cost-effectiveness and equity impacts of health sector interventions, and has built capacity in modelling of health sector interventions.

Health Research Council funding for the BODE3 Programme officially finished in January 2022. This programme of research has produced important evidence on the health impacts and cost effectiveness of a range of policies and interventions for Aotearoa New Zealand. It has also supported many staff in developing skills in the field of epidemiological/health economic modelling.

Going forward, there are a number of modelling research projects that will be continuing in the Department of Public Health and these projects will form a research network: SiHMNet: Simulation Health Modelling Network. Additional work that builds on BODE³ tobacco modelling is being led by the University of Melbourne.

Email bode3@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/publichealth/research/bode3

Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) research group

The Cancer and Chronic Conditions (C3) research group is a collaborative group of researchers working at the interface between public health, health services research, and clinical medicine. Our work includes a range of projects aimed at reducing the impact of cancer and chronic conditions on population health and health inequalities through policy and health system change.

Email jason.gurney@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/publichealth/research/cancercontrol

Cancer biology, Department of Pathology

Cancer is a cell growth disease where cells undergo division many more times than normal. This makes the cells prone to replication errors—mistakes that occur during the copying of the DNA on the chromosomes that occurs in each cell division. If these mistakes or mutations are not repaired they accumulate. As more and more mutations accumulate they affect cell processes involving death, location, intercellular communication and others. Eventually these rogue cells become cancers.

The Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, has a number of laboratories that work on different aspects of cancer biology.

Email pathology@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-pathology/research/otago117838.html

Cancer Society Research Collaboration

We aim to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer in New Zealand, and to reduce cancer-related inequalities.

We work in close coordination with the Cancer Society of New Zealand to prioritise the research we conduct, disseminate our findings, and advocate for world-leading cancer prevention, care and support.

Our partners include Massey University, Michigan State University, The University of Melbourne, and Victoria University of Wellington.

Email louise.signal@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/cancer-society-research

The Canterbury Comprehensive Cancer Centre (C4)

The Canterbury Comprehensive Centre (C4) links together all health professionals involved in the clinical treatment and care of patients with cancer in the Canterbury region. This includes counsellors and support organisations working with cancer patients and their families, researchers with a cancer focus, non-governmental organisations, and the community.

Email c4.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/c4

Cardiology Research Unit

The Cardiology Research Unit's research involves contributing to multi-centre trials, including trials of new devices for coronary angioplasty, and clinical trials of new drugs for management of heart attacks, cholesterol levels, and arrhythmia.

Local research includes assessment of biomarkers as predictors of coronary stent re-stenosis after implantation.

The Research Unit is also performing a prospective study in patients with aortic valve disease evaluating what genes might be important in the development of narrowed heart valves in older persons.

Email medicine@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-medicine/research/otago046613.html

Cardiovascular and respiratory physiology

Within the Department of Physiology several laboratories conduct research concerned with the regulation of cardiovascular and respiratory function in both health and disease.

Specific areas of interest include:

How hormonal, neuronal and intrinsic processes control the heart
Understanding the vasculature of the lungs
Describing calcium regulation of heart rhythms
Identifying pathogenic mechanisms operating in diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart failure, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmia.

Email physiology@otago.ac.nz
Web https://www.otago.ac.nz/physiology/research

Centre for Bioengineering and Nanomedicine

Our Centre is at the forefront of research in the following areas:

Molecular and Biomedical Imaging—advancing diagnosis and treatment of major health diseases in new ways by detecting spectral (colour) differences in tissues
Engineered Therapeutics—triggered and controlled drug delivery systems, nanomedicine, engineered particles, selective and targeted therapies
Regenerative Medicine—combines a patient's cells with biodegradable scaffolds and growth factors offering considerable advantages over current surgical interventions
Bioengineering Materials—medical gels which stop bleeding, infection, and dramatically reduce adhesions and bone substitutes and bone ceramics
Bioengineering Devices—uses engineering design principles for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention or monitoring of disease
Medical Computing—The MPJV research group is using mobile technology to bring visibility to the patient journey; in order to deliver the right care to the right patient at the right time.

Email tim.woodfield@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/bioengineering/research

Mātai Hāora – Centre for Redox Biology and Medicine

(Formerly Centre for Free Radical Research)

We carry out research on the regulation of oxidative stress and redox metabolism in cancer cells, and how these pathways may be manipulated to assist treatment.

Research Projects:

Alterations in the redox metabolism of cancer cells during metastasis and the development of drug resistance
Targeting the antioxidant systems of cancer cells
Vitamin C and the regulation of cancer cell epigenetics
Role of innate immune cells in the promotion and progression of cancer
Regulation of cell death pathways

Email mark.hampton@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/freeradical

Centre for Translational Cancer Research - Te Aho Matatū

Translational cancer research bridges the gap between laboratory-based science and treatment in the clinic. We now have sufficient knowledge in the fields of cancer biology, molecular biology, and immunology to make a significant impact on the treatment and management of cancer.

We're bringing about rapid improvements in cancer outcomes by addressing defined clinical problems. Our research is accelerating the development and testing of new drugs and diagnostic tools that directly assist clinicians and their patients.

Our research programmes include:

Email ctcr@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/ctcr

Christchurch Heart Institute

Here at the Christchurch Heart Institute we help save thousands of lives through research into improved diagnosis, better prediction and advanced treatments for heart disease. Our team of internationally-renowned experts directly play a role in increasing the survival of New Zealanders with heart disease.
Our research is focused on:

New blood tests for heart attack diagnosis and prognosis
Using new methods for treating heart failure and improving outcomes
Understanding the genetics of heart disease; why heart disease runs in some families

Email chi@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/chch-heart-institute/index.html

Clinical Genetics Group

Our group identified mutations in a gene called WTX as the cause of osteopathia striata congenita with cranial sclerosis (OSCS). This is an X-linked dominant disorder characterized by the accrual of dense, sclerotic bone throughout the skeleton, most especially the skull. Males who are hemizygous for a disease-causing mutation are severely affected—not only with skeletal manifestations, but also with malformations in multiple organ systems, which are often life-limiting.

Several surprising aspects have arisen out of this discovery. For instance, WTX is a negative regulator of WNT signaling and it has also been shown to be a tumour suppressor gene, implicated in the development of Wilms tumour, a kidney cancer which primarily affects children. Ongoing work in the laboratory is aimed at disentangling this developmental disease-cancer link in addition to addressing questions around how defects in WNT signaling can cause such widespread malformations in several organ systems.

Email stephen.robertson@otago.ac.nz
Web https://www.otago.ac.nz/clinical-genetics/index.html

Colorectal Translational Research Group

The Colorectal Translational Research Group (CTRG) incorporates research expertise from a range of disciplines including surgery, medical oncology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, immunology, and experimental pathology. Our work contributes to the broader goals of the Centre for Translational Cancer Research, and promotes synergies with other research groups in New Zealand. We aim to maximise research opportunities into colorectal cancer by providing a strong clinical base for laboratory-based research and promoting the translation of laboratory discoveries into the clinical environment.

Our main research areas are:

Genetic and epigenetic factors in colorectal cancer
Prognostic tests for colorectal cancer
Immune response to colorectal cancer
Immunotherapy for colorectal cancer
Immune mechanisms in Crohn's disease
Clinical trials

Email surgery@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-surgery/research/colorectal-translational-research-group

D4 Network

D4—Diagnostics, Drugs, Devices and Discovery focuses on translational research for improving care via:

Creating novel point-of-care diagnostics and devices enabling targeted and selective treatments
Developing smart drug delivery systems and devices to improve and optimise therapy
Drug discovery for innovative treatments

The network draws together the disciplines of bioengineering, pharmaceutical science and drug discovery with an emphasis on collaborating with commerce and industry.

Email greg.walker@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/d4/index.html

Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research (EDOR)

Our mission is to make a significant contribution to reducing the global burden of diabetes and obesity through research and dissemination of knowledge.. We aim to reduce the prevalence, and to improve the management, of diabetes and obesity by finding new ways to prevent and treat these conditions. By striving for research excellence and encouraging international collaboration we can bring the greatest benefit to New Zealanders and the wider world. We're sharing our discoveries with individuals, communities, teachers, health professionals and policymakers.

Email diabetes@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/diabetes

Haematology Research Group

Our main area of research interest is the immunobiology of cancer and leukaemia. Our long term aim is to develop better methods for the diagnosis and treatment of malignant disease.

The group has considerable experience in cell biology methodology including flow cytometry, magnetic bead technology, T cell proliferation assays, cytotoxicity assays, ELISAs, cell membrane biochemistry, preparation of cell suspensions from solid tissues, dendritic cell purification, immunohistochemistry and mammalian cell tissue culture.

Currrent projects include:

Analysis of myeloid derived suppressor cell numbers and function in patients with cancer
Investigation of mechanisms of immunosuppression by leukaemic cells

Email judy.mckenzie@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/haematology

Healthier Lives – He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge 2015–2024

The Healthier Lives – He Oranga Hauora National Science Challenge was a national research collaboration dedicated to achieving healthier lives for all New Zealanders.

It has contributed evidence, technology and tools that can help to achieve more equitable health outcomes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The website remains available as a resource and for archived materials.

Web healthierlives.co.nz

Health Inequalities Research Programme (HIRP)

The Health Inequalities Research Programme is a longstanding programme of research hosted by the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington. HIRP encompasses a series of research projects including the New Zealand Census Mortality and CancerTrends Study (NZCMS/CT), the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge, and the Virtual Health Information Network (VHIN). The aim of HIRP is to capitalise on New Zealand's Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) to provide information to influence and support policies and programmes that will reduce inequalities in health.

Email hilary.day@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/publichealth/research/hirp

Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit (HePPRU)

The Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit aims to foster excellence in research in health promotion and public health policy. HePPRU works in collaboration with policy-makers and policy advocates to advance the good health of the peoples of Aotearoa/New Zealand through independent, critical and innovative research, teaching, and community service.

Email louise.signal@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/heppru

He Kainga Oranga / Housing and Health Research Programme

He Kainga Oranga, the Housing and Health Research Programme, examines and clarifies the links between Housing and Health. Although the association between poor housing and ill health is known, the links that make up the causal chain have until recently been poorly understood. Conducting our own studies and examining existing evidence enables us to identify and evaluate housing-related interventions to improve individual, family and community health. Our multi-disciplinary team has expertise in both qualitative and quantitative disciplines.

Email healthlyhousing@otago.ac.nzWeb healthyhousing.org.nz

Hugh Adam Cancer Epidemiology Unit

The Unit regularly examines trends in cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in New Zealand as well as conducting research into the causes, detection, and prevention of cancer. Collaborative studies are being, or have been, conducted of cancer of the prostate, breast, colon, rectum, cervix, skin (melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer), stomach, ovary, mouth and oral cavity, lung, head and neck, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in New Zealand. In addition, with biomedical scientists, studies linking specific cancer risk factors with biological mechanisms of cancer development of are being undertaken.

The Unit also specialises in the design, evaluation and monitoring of national cancer screening programmes and the calculation of an individual's risk of specific cancers. The individual risk calculator for melanoma has been accepted internationally. The Unit has numerous collaborations with national and international institutions and also represents New Zealand in the International Cancer Screening Network of the National Cancer Institute (USA) and the International Lung Cancer Consortium of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO).

Email: hughadam.unit@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm/hughadam

Long-term condition management research

The focus of this research group, in the Centre for Postgraduate Nursing, is the development of evidence-based healthcare to minimise the impact of chronic health needs on people's lives. Research explores symptom experience, risk assessment, preventative care and symptom control issues, with particular emphasis on the enhancement of patient self-management strategies.

Email mandy.wilkinson@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/nursing/research

Lymphoedema treatment with laser therapy

The School of Physiotherapy is running the first clinical evaluation of laser treatment for lymphoedema in New Zealand. Professor David Baxter and his team are evaluating the potential effectiveness of low level laser therapy (LLLT) for breast cancer-related lymphoedema, its acceptability to patients and therapists, and the feasibility of incorporating the treatment into existing clinical practice within New Zealand's hospitals. LLLT is a non-invasive form of phototherapy, based on the principles of photobiomodulation that is light interacting with tissue to modulate biological processes, typically tissue repair.

Email david.baxter@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/physio/news/otago088152.html

Mackenzie Cancer Research Group

We are interested in the pathology of human tumours and in identifying the genetic changes that give rise to cancer. Our research focuses on the molecular regulation of tumour growth, metastasis and response to therapy.

Due to our close links with clinicians at Christchurch hospital and with the Cancer Society Tissue Bank, together with our laboratory expertise, we are able to carry out investigations that span from bench to bedside.

Email pathology.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Web http://www.otago.ac.nz/mackenzie-cancer/index.html

Microbiology and Immunology

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology has a large number of research programmes across the fields of microbiology, immunology and virology.

Cures for infectious and autoimmune diseases, as well as non-communicable diseases such as cancer and asthma, require knowledge of the immune response and how it can be manipulated.

Associate Professor Alex McLellan's lab is studying the immune response to cancer, specifically the roles of T cells, NK(natural killer) cells and extracellular vesicles in antigen presentation.

Professor Ros Kemp's lab is looking at T cell and myeloid cell subsets in colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease to improve diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

Email microbiology@otago.ac.nz
Web micro.otago.ac.nz

Māori Indigenous Health Innovation (MIHI)

MIHI is based at the University of Otago, Christchurch. We undertake and support research that explores Māori health inequities and building excellence in research evidence that contributes to Māori health advancement.

Heart Health: The Hauora Manawa community heart study
Medical education research
Chronic kidney disease
Respiratory disease
Mental health
Community service

Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/mihi

Oncology Research Group

The Oncology Research Group is a predominantly clinical trials-focused group with a portfolio comprising of collaborative, investigator-led, and commercial trial activity.

Current projects include:

The Recharge Study, investigating the use of ice cream containing lactoferrin in order to reduce chemotherapy-associated diarrhoea (Principal Investigator – Professor D Perez)
The CapTox Study investigating genomic predicators of chemotherapy toxicity (PI – C Jackson and Prof P Guilford)
BRACKIT study (PI – C Jackson and Prof M Eccles) – examining predictors of melanoma recurrence from matched primary lesions and sentinel lymph nodes

Dr Jackson is also clinical lead for the HRC-funded PIPER study, which is the largest study of treatment and outcomes of colorectal cancer ever undertaken in New Zealand. The project is 18 months into a three-year term, and is progressing very well.

The Oncology Research Group has also recently expanded and now employs a Haematology Research Nurse in order to extend its research activities into benign and malignant Haematology. Seed funding for this position was generously provided by the Ruth Spearing Trust.

Email christopher.jackson@southerndhb.govt.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-medicine/research/otago046620.html

Oral molecular and immunopathology

Our programme, at the Sir John Walsh Research Institute, aims to investigate the cellular, and molecular basis of oral diseases, and their treatment.

Oral mucosal diseases including oral squamous cell carcinoma are being investigated using single and double layer immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry coupled with focused micro-arrays to determine gene expression profiles. Of major interest is regulation of the local immune response in oral mucosal lichen planus and in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Angiogenesis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress are also being investigated in these lesions so as to develop a better understanding of the role of these mechanisms in the pathogenesis of mucosal lesions.

Email sjwri.admin@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/sjwri/research/oral-molecular-immunopathology

Otago Genomics Facility

We provide expertise and sequencing resources to New Zealand researchers and industry including:

Project design
Library preparation
Illumina sequencing
Oxford Nanopore sequencing
Nanostring nCounter analysis

The Otago Genomics Facility is an Illumina Propel-certified service provider for Illumina platforms, and is also a Nanostring nCounter analysis system core facility.

Email genomics@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/genomics

Otago Micro and Nanoscale Imaging (OMNI)

Four well-established and highly respected research-expertise providers have joined together under one umbrella to offer:

All the expertise, highly sophisticated instrumentation, and stellar support remains in place, as do the existing locations of services on our Dunedin campus.

The four units have collaborated on a new website as a central repository of their capabilities and achievements.

For all you need to know about what can be offered, who can help, what services, training, and specialist expertise and advice is available, please contact us.

Email omni@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/omni

Otago Vascular Diagnostics

We are a team of vascular surgeons, technologists and research staff using various diagnostic investigations to research the causes and management of vascular conditions.

The unit provides clinical diagnostic services to the Southern District Health Board, and to the wider community, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases such as:

Deep vein thrombosis
Carotid artery disease
Peripheral vascular disease
Aortic aneurysms
Varicose veins and venous ulcer

Our services include:

Medical imaging using ultrasound to capture real-time images of blood vessels and blood flow
Physiological testing to measure how well the vascular system is functioning both during exercise and at rest
Treatment of varicose veins and vascular malformations using endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) and sclerotherapy

The unit is part of the Vascular Research Group and works closely with other research groups at local, national and international levels.

Email ovd@otago.ac.nz
Web https://www.otago.ac.nz/dsm-surgery/research/otago-vascular-diagnostics/

Pacific Health Research at Otago

Talofa lava, kia orana, malo e lelei, fakaalofa lahi atu, bula vinaka, malo ni, halo ola keta, mauri, fakatalofa atu, and warm Pacific greetings!

We're celebrating our Pacific health research in the Division of Health Sciences.

Learn about what's going on in Pacific health research, how we can support researchers, and where to start if you're excited about research.

Email vot@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/pacific-health-research

Pathology and molecular medicine

Our research centers on the pathology of human tumors and identifying the genetic and epigenetic drivers of tumour development, including tumor growth, metastasis, response to treatment. We are also interested in investigating the role of the immune system in cancer and how inflammation can promote epigenetic change. Our current research activities are focused on prostate, kidney, and bladder malignancies.

Email pathology.uow@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/pathologymolecularmedicine/research

Pharmacology and Toxicology

In the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology state-of-the-art technologies, including the use of in vivo disease models, are used to undertake integrative, cellular and molecular investigations aimed at understanding animal and human pathophysiology (and to delineate targets for novel drugs).

Research in Professor Rhonda Rosengren's group involves the identification of both novel treatments for triple negative breast cancer and hormone refractory prostate cancer.

Dr Sarah Baird's group is interested in how the supportive area surrounding the cancer cells, the stroma, develops and functions. The lab also specializes in determining cell death mechanisms.

Associate Professor John Ashton's group is currently investigating mechanisms of drug resistance to small molecule inhibitors in oncogene-dominant non-small cell lung cancer, and ALK positive lung cancer in particular. They also have an interest in modelling metastatic disease for drug testing, and are currently working on improving a metastatic prostate cancer mouse model for drug testing.

Email pharmacology@otago.ac.nz
Web https://www.otago.ac.nz/phal/research/index.html

Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy has a very active research programme with disciplines ranging from science to humanities.

We have three main research areas:

Pharmaceutical Sciences: drug discovery, drug metabolism and drug action to extend the range of drugs available and to provide a scientific basis for the quality use of medicines and bioactive substances.
Clinical Pharmacy: concerned with patient care and the optimisation of medicine use in order to promote health and wellness, and prevent disease.
Social Pharmacy: our research focuses mainly on access to, and use of medicines.

Email pharmacy.research@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/pharmacy/research

Protein biochemistry, structural biology and apoptosis

Many key events within cells are regulated by the appropriate interaction of two proteins. Understanding the molecular basis of protein-protein interactions is central to elucidation of these cellular processes and can lead to the development of new or improved therapeutic compounds.

Professor Catherine Day is interested in understanding how a number of proteins involved in apoptosis interact, and how this knowledge can be exploited for the development of improved anti-cancer compounds. Most recently, her group has focused on characterisation of processes that result in attachment of ubiquitin to proteins because the addition of ubiquitin regulates protein interactions and protein abundance—both of which regulate signaling pathways.

Email catherine.day@otago.ac.nz
Web biochem.otago.ac.nz/our-people/academic-teaching-staff/catherine-day

Research in radiation therapy

The Radiation Therapy Department has a very varied research portfolio ranging from preclinical cancer research and educational research to research into radiation-induced side effects, cancer patient education and information, self care of radiation therapists and advanced radiation therapy practise.

Email rtenquiries.uow@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/radiationtherapy/research

Research commercialisation and innovation

The Division of Health Sciences promotes research excellence by encouraging the development of products, services, and policies that provide health, social, and economic benefits.

Services include:

Support for staff within the Division of Health Sciences
Research and Enterprise Office
Opportunities for students
Support for emerging entrepreneurs and ideas
Callaghan Innovation

Professor Paul Glue is Health Sciences Associate Dean for Research Commercialisation. He provides strategic overview for the Division in the translation of these discoveries into practical applications.

Email paul.glue@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/research/innovation

Research Infrastructure Centre

Our Research Infrastructure Centre offers specialist expertise, technology and facilities in protein research, genomics, imaging, and biomedical research.

We support optimum design and analysis of your research, and provide skill development opportunities.

Our academic leadership is of the highest calibre and we have extensively experienced and skilled staff.

Our services are available to researchers in institutions, industry, government and private companies.

Email ric.admin@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/research/ric

Social and Behavioural Research Unit

The Social and Behavioural Research Unit was established in 1990 with core funding from the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the support of the University of Otago. It has research programmes in priority areas of tobacco control, ultraviolet radiation exposure, physical activity and nutrition, psycho-social-spiritual factors, alcohol, and Hauora Māori.

Emailsbru@otago.ac.nzWeb otago.ac.nz/sbru

Structural biology of cellular signalling

Dr Peter Mace's lab aims to understand signalling networks that regulate how cells respond to stress or proliferative stimuli. Of particular interest are the mechanisms by which phosphorylation, ubiquitination and proteolysis act in concert to control fundamental cellular processes such as proliferation and cell death. Using a combination of X-ray crystallography, biochemical and biophysical methods we aim to decipher how signalling proteins regulate these outcomes in normal cells, how signalling is disrupted in cancer, and how this understanding can be translated into more effective disease therapy.

Current projects in the lab include understanding stress-activated protein kinase activation, as well as deubiquitinase enzymes that remove ubiquitin from substrates targeted for degradation. In collaboration with Associate Professor Anita Dunbier we are also investigating Tribbles Homolog 1, which is a pseudokinase protein implicated in various forms of cancer.

Email peter.mace@otago.ac.nz
Web biochem.otago.ac.nz/our-people/research-only-staff/peter-mace

Search the Health Sciences Expertise Database

The Division of Health Sciences benefits from its high calibre of staff and their wide range of skills and research expertise.

Our Staff Expertise Database provides details on University of Otago, Health Sciences staff. Each staff profile provides information on qualifications, current academic position, contact details, and a summary of research and publications.

You can search our database by keyword (eg cancer) or by name.

Health Sciences expertise database

Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora A Eru Pōmare

Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare strives to create a Kaupapa Māori space committed to improving Māori health outcomes and eliminating inequalities through quality science and ongoing theoretical development. It takes a rights-based approach consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi, and is engaged with community through a spectrum of influence from community development, policy advocacy, research dissemination and Māori health research workforce development.

Email bridget.robson@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/publichealth/research/erupomare

Vascular Research Group

The Vascular Research Group, in the Department of Surgical Sciences, Dunedin School of Medicine, is headed by Professor Andre van Rij and Professor Greg Jones, and conducts a wide range of research in the fields of vascular biology, genetics, and physiology.

This multidisciplinary group has a wide range of basic science and clinical skills, including molecular biology (genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics), immunohistopathology, cell culture, and vascular physiology (ultrasonography).

The Vascular Research Group's primary research interests:

The genetic basis of different forms of vascular disease including abdominal aortic aneurysm, coronary artery disease, lower limb arterial disease, stroke, and varicose veins
Determining the early processes in the formation of atherosclerosis (arterial disease)
The identification of circulating markers of vascular susceptibility and/or post-interventional outcome
Determining the pathophysiology of venous disease

The Vascular Research Group is currently funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Our research group is a leading member of the Vascular Research Consortium of New Zealand, which aims to support collaborative vascular networks nationally.

Email andre.vanrij@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-surgery/research/vascular

Wellington Cardiovascular Research Group

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death, and a significant cause or morbidity in the western world. The Wellington Cardiovascular Research Group undertakes basic science projects, translational research and clinical research into ischaemic heart disease, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia.

Our current areas of research interest include:

Platelet reactivity and inflammation in ischaemic heart disease
Technical aspects of interventional cardiology
Mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmia
Provision of implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy
Applications of novel imaging techniques to aid in diagnostic processes
Scoring tools for risk stratification in cardiac disease

Email peter.larsen@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/research/wcrg