Source: University of Otago
Dr Matthew Jenkins, Dr Michael Pankhurst and Dr Emma Wade are among the researchers who have received Division of Health Sciences Acceleration Grants.
Fifteen early and mid-career researchers (EMCR) have received a boost from the Division of Health Sciences after being awarded their share of about $53,000.
EMCR Management Committe Chair Dr Khoon Lim says that the purpose of the grant is to enhance career development of early and mid-career researchers.
“The grant is designed to support development of meaningful relationships with Māori and Pasifika communities, strengthening of research collaborations, or proof-of-concept experiments for future grant applications.”
Applications were reviewed by a panel of six early to mid-career researchers from five different schools and divisional offices.
The projects awarded grants range from solving renal disease for Māori whānau to researching what factors influence academic stress of Pasifika anatomy students.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Health Sciences Professor Paul Brunton says he is delighted to see these early and mid-career researchers being recognised and supported.
“This support is so important because these are our future academics.”
Division of Health Sciences Acceleration Grants awardees:
Early-career researchers:
Dr Angela Clark, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, School of Dentistry, $3994.03
Project: Te tapu o te Tangata – biological and sociocultural considerations of the 3D visualisation of human skeletal remains in Aotearoa New Zealand
Dr Emma Wade, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, $3900
Project: Solving renal disease for a Māori whānau
Dr Jithendra Ratnayake, Oral Sciences, School of Dentistry, $1700
Project: Development of a silver-doped nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste derived from bovine bone for root caries management
Dr Matthew Jenkins, Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, $4000
Project: Enhancing community health through movement: A one-day wānanga
Dr Tim Chambers, Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, $2641.50
Project: Nitrate in drinking water and Human Health
Dr Linda Buss, Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, $4000
Project: Developing interventions to reduce immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated cardiovascular disease
Dr Abigail Bland, Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences, $3478
Project: Modelling the in vivo tumour environment for in vitro analysis of metformin on lung cancer cells
Dr George Wiggins, Patology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch, $3800
Project: Epitranscriptomic gene regulation and breask cancer risk
Dr Arthur Morley-Bunker, Pathology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch, $4000
Project: Development of digital pathology and artifical intelligence technology for the classification of cancers
Mid-career researchers:
Dr Rebecca Kinaston, Anatomy, Biomedical School, $3980
Project: Collaborative bioarchaelogical research with four hapu from Waikato Tainui iwi
Dr Michael Pankhurst, Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, $3923
Project: Mass spectrometry imaging of high- and low-quality mouse oocytes
Dr Nhung Nghiem, Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, $4000
Project: Health and economic data science lab
Dr Elisabeth Phillips, Pathology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Christchurch, $4000
Project: Adipocyte-driven expression of Major Vault Protein in human breast cancer samples
Dr Simone Bayer, Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, $3445
Project: Inflammasome activation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Dr Erik Wibowo, Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, $2560
Project: What factors influence stress of Pasifika anatomy students
