Media Release Archive - 2007
Otago academics made
full professors
19 December 2007
Four University of Otago academics from the disciplines of Geology, Law, Medicine
and Music are being promoted to full professorships. Otago's new professors are:
Dave Craw (Geology); Kevin Dawkins (Faculty of Law); Henry Johnson (Music) and Kelvin
Lynn (Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch) who becomes a Clinical Professor.
Awards for members
of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology
19 December 2007
Dr Sharon Gardiner and Professor Evan Begg received special awards at the annual
meeting of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists
and Toxicologists (ASCEPT) held in Adelaide in December.
New Professor for University
of Otago, Christchurch
19 December 2007
Associate Professor Kelvin Lynn has been promoted to Clinical Professor by the
University of Otago along with four other members of the academic staff of the University.
Postgraduate students
celebrate success in health sciences
13 December 2007
This academic year 160 postgraduate students from the University of Otago,
Christchurch have received a Certificate, Diploma, Masters or PhD in Health
Sciences taking a further step in their careers as health professionals.
Record grants for
health research from Lotteries
11 December 2007
The University of Otago Christchurch has received more than double last year’s
grants from the Lottery Grants Board for health research for 2008. The grants for
new or ongoing health research are for $1.1 million dollars over 11 projects ranging
from drug use in the elderly, to genetic changes in leukaemia, to risk factors in
inflammatory bowel disease.
Surgeon named New Zealander
of the year by magazine
6 December 2007
Associate Professor Philip Bagshaw has been named New Zealander of the Year by
North and South Magazine. Mr Bagshaw is a member of the academic staff at the
University of Otago, Christchurch, and a General Surgeon at Christchurch Hospital.
Young adults in denial
about alcohol abuse
6 December 2007
A high proportion of 25 year olds who experience problems with alcohol don’t
think that they need help according to new research from the University of Otago,
Christchurch.
Professor David Fergusson,
Honorary Fellow RACP
29 November 2007
Professor Fergusson who leads the Christchurch Health and Development Study
at the University of Otago Christchurch has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship
by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Why Health Research
Is Not Put Into Practice.
22 November 2007
Professor Paul Glasziou, Director of the Centre for Evidence-based Medicine at Oxford
University, is warning that much more needs to be done to translate good health research
into medical practice to avoid wasting millions of dollars on health care.
Should Alcohol be Classified
as a High Risk Drug?
6 November 2007
Health researchers at the University of Otago, Christchurch and the Medical Research
Institute in Wellington are arguing that alcohol is a high risk drug according to the
national classification regulations. This follows comparative research with another
similar, but illegal drug, into its effect on public health.
Ethnic Differences
in Drug and Alcohol Use in New Zealand
5 November 2007
Latest analysis from the New Zealand Mental Health Survey by Dr Elisabeth Wells
from the University of Otago Christchurch, clarifies ethnic differences in drug
and alcohol use and disorder in NZ.
Canterbury Medical Research
Foundation grants awarded.
26 October 2007
Health researchers at the University of Otago, Christchurch have been awarded
nearly $385,000 in project grants by the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation
as part of its annual grant round for 2007.
Driving Under Influence
of Cannabis More Common and Riskier Than Drink Driving
10 October 2007
New research from the University of Otago, Christchurch supports current initiatives
to introduce drug driving regulations in New Zealand.
The latest paper from the long running Christchurch Health and Development study led by
Professor David Fergusson, clearly shows that for young adults there is a greater risk
of driving under the influence of cannabis than alcohol, and the results are more harmful.
NZ doctors warn
European Parliament about drug advertising
5 October 2007
Practising GPs, who also teach at the University of Otago Christchurch, are
warning the European Parliament about the risks of direct to consumer advertising
(DTCA) of prescription drugs in the media.
Access to mental
health services in NZ still inadequate
1 October 2007
A survey coordinated by the World Health Organisation shows that New Zealand
access to services for mental health is better than in most countries, but
is still not adequate. The survey covered 17 countries across all income levels
and involved face-to-face interviews with 84,850 adults.
Meet the CDHB candidates
25 September 2007
There will be an opportunity to meet the candidates for the Canterbury
District Health Board in the local body elections on Tuesday September
25.
$2M fund
establishes chair in paediatric research
21 September 2007
A $1m donation from charity Cure Kids will strengthen the University of Otago’s
excellence in paediatric research at its Christchurch campus.
Single parent
families not a risk factor for children's development
20 September 2007
Latest research from the University of Otago's Christchurch Health and Development
Study shows that the major influences on how a child develops are not related to
single parenthood, but rather to how a family functions.
Call for participants
in alcohol and depression study
17 September 2007
A world-first study into the best treatment for people with both alcohol dependence
and depression is being launched this month in Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton,
Christchurch and Dunedin. This ground-breaking research is being led by the National
Addiction Centre at the University of Otago, Christchurch and has major funding from
the Health Council of New Zealand over three and half years.
World Suicide
Prevention Day - September 10
10 September 2007
The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day this year is `Suicide Prevention Across
the Life Span' to emphasise that suicide occurs across all ages, and that
evidence-based strategies need to be adopted internationally that recognise this fact.
Top achiever
doctoral scholarships awarded to Christchurch PhD candidates
4 September 2007
Two PhD candidates at the University of Otago, Christchurch have been awarded Top
Achiever Doctoral scholarships by the Tertiary Education Commission. The three year
scholarships recognise and reward excellent postgraduate students, and support research
at PhD level in all disciplines.
Canterbury
Health Research Conference awards
27 August 2007
The Canterbury Health Research Conference, which brings together health researchers
in the Canterbury region, presented three awards at Saturday's biennial Conference.
Canterbury Health Research Weekend
24 August 2007
The wide range of high quality and innovative health research in Canterbury will be
showcased this weekend with two major events.
Use of preventative
medicines in elderly needs rethinking
10 August 2007
Dr Dee Mangin from the University of Otago, Christchurch argues in this week’s
British Medical Journal (BMJ) that using preventive medicines in the elderly aimed at
reducing the risk of a particular disease may be simply changing the cause of death
rather than prolonging life.
Chlorine bleach a
key weapon against bacterial infections
20 July 2007
Scientists at the University of Otago, Christchurch have discovered that bleach is
one of the key factors used by white blood cells to control bacterial infections in
the body. Exactly how these foot soldiers of the immune system control and kill
invading bacteria has long been an area of controversy in medical research.
Early career
award for distinction in research
1 August 2007
Research Fellow, Dr Rebecca Roberts, has received an Early Career Award for
Distinction in Research from the University of Otago. Five Awards are granted
each year ($5000 each) to be used for research purposes. She currently also holds
a NZ Science and Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Caesarian birth not linked to
post-natal depression
18 July 2007
A systematic review of international studies by the University of Otago, Christchurch
has shown that the evidence for a link between giving birth by caesarian section
and post-natal depression, is unconvincing.
Award for Christchurch
PhD candidate
14 June 2007
PhD candidate, Michelle Hunt, from the Angiogenesis Research Group, University of
Otago, Christchurch, has been awarded the $4500 South Canterbury Finance Research
Scholarship for 2007. This award was set up by South Canterbury Finance Ltd to mark
the company's 75th anniversary and to recognise University of Otago researchers.
Mental health
research receives funding boost
07 June 2007
Mental Health research at the University of Otago, Christchurch has received a
significant increase of nearly $8 million in this year's Health Research Council
funding round announced today.
Careers
in Health evening - Thursday 31 May 2007 (pdf)
Christchurch students experience
health and research careers on Workchoice Day
15 May 2007
Canterbury District Health Board and the University of Otago, Christchurch are
introducing 220 year 12 secondary school students from local schools to a wide range
of possible health and research careers on Tuesday May 15. The two health employers are
mounting a range of displays, talks and tours as their part in the annual nationwide
WorkChoice Day.
Researcher reveals
the vital role of Vit C and health
15 March 2007
Ever since the relatively scurvy-free voyages of Captain Cook in the late eighteenth
century, medicine has recognised the importance of fruit and vegetables for the
body’s health. But no one has determined the processes in the body which make
the active ingredient , Vitamin C, so important.
Medical
staff honoured for research and teaching excellence
16 February 2007
Three gold medals for outstanding achievement in medical research and teaching will
be awarded at the academic inauguration ceremony at the University of Otago’s
Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences on Friday February 16.
Funding
boost for successful interactive medical education
29 January 2007
An interactive medical education computer programme for patients, doctors and
students has been given a major boost following an additional $400,000 grant to
the University of Otago ’s Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Students present
health research results
25 January 2007
Every summer, students from the University of Otago’s Christchurch School of
Medicine and Health Sciences, and other tertiary institutions, have the opportunity
to carry out a research project, supported by a variety of sponsors with a grant of
$4000 for each student. This is a chance for many medical and science students to
experience health research under the supervision of a clinician or scientist.
Resistin,
obesity and surviving heart attack
15 January 2007
Medical researchers at the Otago University’s Christchurch School of Medicine
and Health Sciences have uncovered information which links a protein secreted by body
fat with reduced heart function following a heart attack.
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