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 otago.ac.nz/physiology/research/index.html
Mātai Hāora – Centre for Redox Biology and Medicine
(Formerly the 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 Research
The Centre for Translational Research (CTR) is a central research facility at the University of Otago, Wellington. It is designed to forge world-class research programmes that will accelerate the transfer of clinically-relevant scientific knowledge.
Translation of non-clinical research that results in real world clinical applications is a major challenge for biomedical researchers. With increasing sub-specialisation in both medical and basic biomedical disciplines, such knowledge transfer can become fragmented unless concerted efforts are made to promote their integration. A hallmark of those involved in the CTR is a willingness to collaborate on projects which utilise both scientific and clinical expertise. This is in recognition of the importance we believe translational research provides in generating answers to clinical problems.
The following topics are of particular interest:
- Energy and metabolism
- Neurocritical care
- Cardiovascular genetics
- Exercise and environmental physiology
- Clinical physiology and biomedical engineering
- Paediatrics
- Acute and chronic airways disease
- Sleep medicine
Email ctr@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/uow-physiology
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
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 joel.tyndall@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/d4
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
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.
Heart Otago
Heart Otago is comprised of cardiovascular researchers and clinicians located at the University of Otago and Dunedin Hospital. The goal of the group is to expand upon traditional cell and animal models to better understand the molecular nature of cardiac disease in patients with heart disease and to translate the laboratory-based cardiovascular research into the clinical setting.
The strong link between fundamental researchers and clinicians allows the group to study cardiac disease from genetic mutations within a single protein, through tissue and animal models, to patients presenting with a range of cardiac anomalies.
Investigations involve a wide range of techniques including:
- Electrophysiology
- Cell imaging
- Genetic and biomarker screening
- Multicellular human tissue and whole animal heart function measurements
- Human and animal in vivo cardiac function via echocardiography
Email heart@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/heart-otago
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 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 otago.ac.nz/dsm-surgery/research/otago-vascular-diagnostics/
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
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 cardiovascular) or by name.
Health Sciences expertise database
Stroke neurology
Professor Anna Ranta's research focuses on stroke epidemiology and service delivery optimisation, service integration, health equity and knowledge translation. She is a Consultant Stroke Neurologist with Capital, Coast, and Hutt Valley District alongside her roles as Head of the Department of Medicine and Professor of Neurology at University of Otago Wellington. She is also the Clinical Co-Director for the National Hyper-Acute Stroke Service.
Current research projects include:
- Developing a national stroke data strategy with Te Whatu Ora
- Co-designing community stroke interventions for Māori living in rural areas
- Ongoing work on the REGIONS Care Study including linking data with the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI)
- Co-leading a Health Research Council programme grant sub-study on IDI data linkage to determine nationwide stroke epidemiology as part of the ARCOS V Study
- Evaluating Telestroke models of care in the pre-hospital and post-discharge settings
- Assessing the FeSS (“Fever, Sugar, Swallow”) tool within NZ Stroke Hospitals
- Testing feasibility of stroke service support in Pacific Islands
- Assessing an Atrial Fibrillation electronic decision support tool
Professor Ranta is accepting enquiries for PhD opportunities.
Email anna.ranta@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/expertise/profile/index.html?id=2356
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