Child health research groups, Child Health Research at Otago

This page includes all the research groups that feature in our Child Health Research at Otago website.

A Better Start National Science Challenge

Better science together for a better start in life

Our children are our future, we want to give them the best possible start in life. Getting a good start includes being a healthy weight, learning successfully and being mentally well. That's what all families, whānau and communities want for their tamariki. But obesity, learning and mental health are challenges for some children.

Our mission is to find better ways to predict, prevent and treat obesity, learning and mental health problems in children and teenagers.

University of Otago researchers contribute in the Science Leadership Team and in projects.

E Tipu e Rea—Grow and Branch Forth

Email contact@abetterstart.nz
Web www.abetterstart.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 has been a University of Otago Research Theme since November 2011.

Smoking in the car—time to stub it out is an opinion piece about reducing children's exposure to secondhand smoke.

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

Bioethics Centre

Bioethics is the study of ethical issues arising within health care and the life sciences.

Our Centre aims to examine the conventional and novel moral dilemmas arising from medical research, clinical settings, and advances brought about by life sciences and biotechnologies.

Reproductive ethics is one of the research themes we explore.

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

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

Centre for International Health

The Centre for International Health facilitates and promotes research to contribute to the understanding and improvement of health in under-resourced countries, and focuses on postgraduate training and strategic mentorship of leaders.

Researchers interests include:

Anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies, child under-nutrition, and effectiveness of maternal and child health interventions
Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease, Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage, disease, and vaccination
The syndrome of fever in resource-limited areas, Salmonella and other invasive bacterial infections, bacterial zoonoses, diagnostics and ethics in global health

Child health research in Indonesia

Email cih@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/internationalhealth

Centre for Neuroendocrinology

The CNE comprises ten research groups focused upon understanding how the brain controls hormone levels and how hormones control brain function.

We have three themes of research that focus upon understanding the neural regulation of:

Reproduction
Body weight and metabolism
Stress

Email allan.herbison@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/neuroendocrinology

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 work covers:

Drug development
Immunotherapy
Childhood cancers
Diagnostic test design
Personalised medicine

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

Childhood sexual abuse

In the Department of Psychological Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, there is a broad programme of research that focuses on the influence of childhood sexual abuse on adult outcomes.

Specifically, research is currently being conducted examining male's experience of sexual abuse and the resulting sequelae, the effects of sexual abuse over time (i.e., in older age), and also a new research initiative with international collaborators examining post traumatic growth via group treatment with sexual abuse survivors. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used to examine childhood sexual abuse issues.

Email tess.patterson@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-psychmed/research/otago634501.html

Christchurch Health and Development Study

The Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS) has been in existence for 40 years. During this time we have followed the health, education and life progress of a group of 1,265 children born in the Christchurch (New Zealand) urban region during mid-1977.

This cohort has now been studied from infancy into childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The data gathered over the course of the study now comprises some 50 million characters of information, with which the study has published over 440 scientific papers, reports, books and book chapters describing the 40-year life history of the CHDS cohort.

As of June 2017, we are interviewing the CHDS participants for their 40 year assessment.

CHDS current research objectives

Email CHDS.UOC@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/healthdevelopment

Clinical Genetics Group

The Clinical Genetics Group study single gene disorders in children, with a particular emphasis on disorders that affect the development of the skeleton and the brain.

Single gene disorders are typically rare but in aggregate account for a sizeable fraction of morbidity in the community. The era of large-scale DNA sequencing has brought an unprecedented opportunity to define their cause and study their pathogenesis.

We have a particular interest in a group of disorders called the filaminopathies. These are caused by mutations in a family of genes encoding proteins called filamins. Somewhat unexpectedly, mutation in one of the filamin genes causes both disorders of brain development and bone development. Our evolving interest has led to a programme of research that studies the development of both of these organ systems.

Email stephen.robertson@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/clinical-genetics

Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch

The Paediatric Department is one of three paediatric departments within the University of Otago, the other two being in Dunedin and Wellington.

The Christchurch Department of Paediatrics, which was established in 1972, has played a leading role in the development of teaching, research, and professional training for paediatrics and child health in New Zealand.

Research in the Department of Paediatrics

Our department works closely with a number of University basic science research groups and departments, such as the Centre for Free Radical Research.

Email paediatrics.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/paediatrics/research

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington

We are committed to excellence in teaching to both undergraduate medical students as well as postgraduate students.

Our department is also active in a variety of research projects within the field of Child Health including:

Sleep and breathing in preterm and term infants as well as in the older paediatric age-range
Acute and chronic complications of diabetes
Epilepsy Research Group, improving the quality of life for children with epilepsy and their families
Allergy and infectious disease
The impact of preterm birth on cardiac autonomic function, vascular function, and the development of regional adiposity

Email paediatrics.uow@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/paediatricschildhealth/research

Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch

The Department of Psychological Medicine is one of the largest Departments at the University of Otago, Christchurch. Over the past decade it has grown from a staff of less than ten to over forty.

The Department continues to be actively involved in the teaching of Psychological Medicine to medical students. The Department is also responsible for the academic programme for Christchurch's successful psychiatric registrar training programme.

Research interests include:

Email psychmed.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/departments/psychmed/research

Department of Women's and Children's Health

Providing outstanding health care to women, youth, children, their families and whānau

The Department of Women's and Children's Health at the Dunedin School of Medicine has two sections:

Both sections have a long and proud tradition in the University of Otago for their teaching and research.

The Department holds positions of national leadership in the form of:

Curatorship of the National Mortality Review Data Group
Hosting of the New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit
New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service

These three units have been brought together under the banner of the Child Youth Policy Research Support Service (CYPRSS).

Email wch.admin@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-wchealth/research

Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research (EDOR)

Our mission is Reducing the global burden of diabetes and obesity. 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.

Our child-health-related research includes:

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

Epilepsy Research Group

Epilepsy is the most common serious brain disorder worldwide. It is characterised by seizures which can occur at any age. 1 in 20 people will have seizures at some stage in their lives. In New Zealand, there are 38,000 individuals living with epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a group of disorders organised into syndromes defined by age of onset, types of seizures, EEG features and comorbidities. We now know that genetic abnormalities are the cause of the majority of epilepsy. Unfortunately, to date only a small percentage of the genes responsible for the epilepsies have been identified. These genes encode many different ion channel subunits and brain-expressed proteins.

Epilepsy Research Group aims to:

Identify new and refine emerging epilepsy syndromes
Elucidate the genetic architecture of the epilepsies
Discover the genes that cause the epilepsies
Work toward precision medicine with targeted therapies for epilepsies

Email epilepsy.research@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/paediatricschildhealth/research/otago031999.html

Genetics Otago

Genetics lies at the root of many human diseases. At Genetics Otago, we have a remarkable breadth of human genetics research studying both complex and single-gene diseases. As an example, researchers at the Cancer Genetics Laboratory are world-leaders in their field.

Our human developmental disease research provides an insight into how human embryos work, and how that is related to human health. We study both the genetics and epigenetics of human development and cell division.

Pharmocogenomics is another major area of research—this is a modern approach to understanding the side-effects of, and sensitivities to, drug treatments—by analysing the effect of a person's genes on their response to drugs.

Email go@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/genetics

Health, Environment and Infection Research Unit (HEIRU)

The Health, Environment and Infection Research Unit is a collaboration of researchers focused on the impact of infectious diseases and adverse environmental factors on population health. We use a range of research methods to investigate these health concerns; to identify effective interventions to reduce the burden of disease and inequalities; and to support the move to greater environmental sustainability. HEIRU aims to provide evidence-based recommendations and advice to support New Zealand and international agencies and practitioners in their disease prevention and control activities.

Email michael.baker@otago.ac.nz
Webotago.ac.nz/wellington/publichealth/research/heiru

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 jasmine.xu@otago.ac.nz
Web healthyhousing.org.nz

The Infection Group

The Infection Group are interested in all aspects of human infection, and our research aims to provide new insights into the prevention, management, surveillance and control of infections of global importance. We are a research collaboration between the University of Otago and the Canterbury District Health Board, based in Christchurch, with members and collaborators in other centres.

Email the-infection-group@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/infection-group

Injury Prevention Research Unit

The Injury Prevention Research Unit (IPRU) undertakes research that contributes to reducing the incidence, severity and consequences of injury in New Zealand.

Child home safety research project

Email iprunz@otago.ac.nz
Web blogs.otago.ac.nz/ipru

Late effects of prematurity study

Modern neonatal practice has significantly improved outcomes for children born very preterm.

However, as they grow up, they are at increased risk for a range of neuro-developmental problems that impact on both home and school life.

A Canterbury team has been studying the brain and behavioural development since birth, of 110 children born very preterm along with 113 term born peers.

Email enquiries.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/mentalhealthclinicalresearch/otago627545.html

Maternal and Fetal Health Group

This research group covers both maternal and fetal health and outcome.

Our work includes database development for both complex fetal problems and for mothers with underlying medical issues.

Our staff engage in a number of clinical trials in New Zealand and internationally exploring:

Placental transfusion (Sydney)
Neuroprotection of magnesium sulphate (Adelaide) and related MRI scanning (Auckland)
Sildenafil therapy in early onset intrauterine growth restriction (Auckland)
Optimal glycaemic targets for gestational diabetes (Auckland)
Prediabetes in pregnancy (Christchurch)
Protective factors of Syncytial Virus vaccine against lung disease in babies (USA)
Baby movements (Brisbane)

Email obgyn.uoc@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/maternalfetalhealth

Molecular pathogenesis (Hung and Slatter Laboratory)

Why do cancer cells survive and proliferate while fresh new fetal cells fade and die?

In the Hung and Slatter Laboratory, Department of Pathology, we are interested in translating knowledge about some of the most fundamental aspects of cell fate to the bedside. This work involves tissue samples from many different conditions such as precancerous lesions, cancer, the placenta, and autoimmune disease.

In conjunction with Dr Celia Devenish, in the Dunedin School of Medicine Department of Children's and Women's Health, “The Otago Placental Study (OPuS)” is being established as a cohort of abnormal and normal placentas for study. We have shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) in the placenta is a key factor in some complications during pregnancy.

Email tania.slatter@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-pathology/research/otago117895.html

National Addiction Centre

The National Addiction Centre (formerly the National Centre for Treatment Development (Alcohol, Drugs & Addiction)) was established by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand in 1996 particularly as a resource for the alcohol and drug treatment field of New Zealand.

We are a university-based centre dedicated to improving treatment and prevention of addiction and related problems for people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

There are three main activities by which the National Addiction Centre aims to achieve its mission:

Research projects
Teaching and training programmes
Consultation and liaison

Email doug.sellman@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/christchurch/research/nac/

New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service

We collate and disseminate information on the health of children and young people in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service (NZCYES) was established in 2004, and has been hosted by the University of Otago since March 2009 within the Paediatrics section of the Department of Women's and Children's Health in the Dunedin School of Medicine.

Through its annual report series, the New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service:

Provides the New Zealand health sector with up to date and accurate information of the health of children and young people
Highlights areas where there are disparities in child and youth health, or where inequities in service provision mean that children and young people are not reaching their full potential
Contributes to the evidence base for policy development in child and youth health
Shares the Service's expertise with other researchers interested in improving the wellbeing of children and young people.

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

The New Zealand Mortality Data Review Group—Te Rōpū Kohi Pitopito Mōhiotanga mō te Taka Mate

The NZ Mortality Review Data Group—Te Rōpū Kohi Pitopito Mōhiotanga mō te Taka Mate, was established in 2003 to support the national Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee (CYMRC). We now also support the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee (established 2006), and since 2016, the Perioperative Mortality Review Committee.

We have a contract with the Health Quality & Safety Commission to receive and store data, manage a database and provide data and research support for the above committees. We are also heavily involved in the CYMRC research programme. Having been involved in mortality review from the inception of the first still-existing national mortality review committee in 2002, we have a wealth of experience and expertise in this area.

The group receives information from a variety of sources, such as health, coronial, transport, water safety and child protection data, and data gained from the process of local review of each death, which is stored in a comprehensive database. This is a valuable resource that is being used increasingly to research areas of interest and importance.

We have expertise in mortality research, the process of mortality review, and the development of IT systems to support the above. Our team is made up of data and IT experts, research analysts and a clinical epidemiologist.

Email mortality.group@otago.ac.nz
Web https://secure-www.otago.ac.nz/nzmrdg

New Zealand National Poisons Centre

The New Zealand National Poisons Centre (NZNPC) answers enquiries both from health professionals and from the general public concerning acute poisoning and the toxic effects of chemicals, drugs, poisonous plants, poisonous insects and marine animals. The 24-hour telephone number is 0800 POISON (0800 764-766). The NPC also maintains an extensive database (TOXINZ) that contains information and treatment guidelines for the management of poisoned patients. The database contains some 200,000 listed chemical products, pharmaceuticals, plants and hazardous creatures. It has New Zealand specific trade names, household products, plant and animal species.

Our Kidzone page has some games to help children learn about safety.

Email poisons@otago.ac.nz
Web poisons.co.nz

New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit

The New Zealand Paediatric Surveillance Unit (NZPSU) was established with funding from the Ministry of Health in order to:

Operate a system for monitoring acute flaccid paralysis, as part of the global certification of eradication of poliomyelitis, required by the World Health Organization
Facilitate national surveillance and improve the knowledge of uncommon childhood conditions in New Zealand

The NZPSU is part of the Department of Women's and Children's Health, Dunedin School of Medicine.

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

Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit

The Ngāi Tahu Māori Health Research Unit is a partnership between Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Dunedin School of Medicine of the University of Otago. The Unit collects, collates, interprets and publishes information, data and statistics on Māori health issues.

Our child health collaborations include:

Reducing disease burden and health inequalities arising from chronic dental disease among Indigenous children: an early childhood caries intervention

Email emma.wyeth@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/dsm-psm/research/maori-health.html

Otago Genomics Facility

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

Project design and advice
Illumina HiSeq sequencing
Illumina MiSeq sequencing
Nanostring nCounter Analysis System

The Otago Genomics Facility is an Illumina Propel-certified service provider for Illumina HiSeq 2500 and MiSeq sequencing platforms, and is also a Nanostring nCounter Analysis System core facility.

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

Otago Global Health Institute (OGHI)

At the Otago Global Health Institute (OGHI), we foster partnerships to help solve global health problems. OGHI harnesses both technical and collaborative strengths across the Divisions, Schools, and Departments of the University of Otago to make them available to share with partners as we seek together to find solutions to complex global health problems.

Email globalhealth@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/global-health

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.

In Pacific child health read more about the research interests of an established professional, and a project from a young researcher:

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

Reproduction, Genomics and Development Research Group

The Reproduction, Genomics and Development Group, in the Department of Anatomy, is made up of a number of labs that explore different aspects of development: from fertilisation and the processes governing the very first cellular divisions, through to adulthood, and how problems that arise during early development and gestation may have effects on the health of individuals and populations.

Our group explores these questions in humans, model systems, and a host of unique and understudied animal taxa.

Email greg.anderson@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/anatomy/research/r-g-d

Research for Children Aotearoa

Whānau, Wellbeing and Health

The Research for Children Aotearoa collaborative brings together established research institutes, organisations, and communities to advance equitable, innovative, world-leading research for children. Proudly supported by Te Papa Hauora, this collaborative fosters research excellence across disciplines to strengthen impact across clinical, medical, sociological, and educational domains.

Te Papa Hauora is a strategic partnership between Canterbury's major tertiary and health institutions; the University of Canterbury, the University of Otago, Ara Institute of Canterbury and the Te Whatu Ora Waitaha, working together with representatives from Ngāi Tahu, a foundation member.

Email tony.walls@otago.ac.nz
Web healthprecinct.org.nz/research-for-children-aotearoa/

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

School of 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.

Our School of Pharmacy child health research page provides a taste of our relevant research.

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

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 child health) or by name.

Health Sciences expertise database

Sir John Walsh Research Institute

The Sir John Walsh Research Institute is the research arm of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago.

Oral health is essential for wellbeing. We lead the advancement of oral health research, and practice in New Zealand by combining the strengths of biological, clinical, and public health expertise. From the molecular level through biological systems to the health of populations, our research is improving oral health in New Zealand.

Our research objectives are:

To develop clinical research that translates discoveries into measurable health benefits
To maintain fundamental research that underpins our teaching

We are uniquely placed within the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago—the only dental school in New Zealand, and ranked highly worldwide. This enables researchers and clinicians to work together to solve specific oral health problems and to rapidly translate findings into improved clinical practice.

Read more about some of our work in child oral health:

Email sjwri.admin@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/sjwri/research

Social and Behavioural Research Unit

The Cancer Society 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. Presently it has research programmes operating in our six priority areas of tobacco control, ultraviolet radiation exposure, physical activity and nutrition, psycho-social-spiritual factors, alcohol, and Hauora Māori.

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

Social Justice and Child Protection Aotearoa (SJCP)

The SJCP research network is comprised of researchers, academics, educators, policymakers, practitioners and people with lived experience of the child protection system. Our aim is to describe, analyse and reduce the inequities that shape people's trajectories through the system, and people's experiences of it. Addressing these requires a focus on multiple factors ranging from social and economic conditions, issues related to the distribution of authority and resources under te Tiriti, and the distribution, roles and responses of organisations in this context. While our focus is research, we define that broadly and have a strong emphasis on research collaborations across sectors and disciplines, social impact and advocacy.

Visit Social Justice and Child Protection Aotearoa

Suicide and Mental Health Group

Te Rōpū Rangahau i te Mate Whakamomori me te Hauora Hinengaro | Suicide and Mental Health Group is a multi-disciplinary team of researchers and clinicians. It contributes to knowledge, policy, and services by conducting high quality research in suicide prevention, mental health and illness.

The following sections highlight research activities undertaken in the Suicide and Mental Health Research Group. These build on a number of previous projects undertaken individually and collectively:

Suicide prevention
Mental Health research
- Primary care
- Community mental health
- Understanding diverse sex development / intersexuality in NZ

Email sarah.mckenzie@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/wellington/research/suicide-and-mental-health-research-group

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.

Read more about our work for young mothers:

E Hine—reducing barriers to care for pregnant Maori women under 20 years and their infants

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