RESEARCH REPORT 2OO9-2O1O DIVISION of HEALTH SCIENCES Research Report 2OO9-2O1O DIVISION of HEALTH SCIENCES
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RESEARCH REPORT 2OO9-2O1O DIVISION OF HEALTH SCIENCES RESEARCH REPORT 2OO9-2O1O DIVISION OF HEALTH SCIENCES Cover photo: Divisional winners of some of New Zealand’s most prestigious science awards in 2009 and 2010. From left to right: Professor Frank Griffin, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 2010 Pickering Medal, Royal Society of New Zealand, Professor Warren Tate, Department of Biochemistry, 2010 Rutherford Medal, Royal Society of New Zealand, Professor Allan Herbison, Department of Physiology, 2009 Liley Medal, HRC. Professor Richie Poulton, Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit, 2010 Dame Joan Metge Medal, Royal Society of New Zealand, Absent: Professor Stephen Robertson, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health. 2010 Liley Medal, HRC. Division of HEALTH sCiEnCEs 1 FROM THE PRO-VICE-CHANCELLOR Tënä koutou kätoa. It is a great pleasure to present this report of the research activities of the Division of Health Sciences at the University of Otago for 2009-2010. The Division has an enviable reputation for research excellence and innovation and the achievements reported here reflect this. Our research helps to save lives and reduce suffering, and addresses health inequalities in New Zealand and around the world. The Division has had another two very successful years, as measured by the award of competitive research grants, by publications in highly esteemed journals, and by awards for distinction in research. Our researchers secured over $136 million in external research grants in 2009 and 2010 – a considerable achievement in what has become an increasingly competitive funding environment. The number of research outputs has continued to increase annually with many articles appearing in the world’s most prestigious journals. The Division is immensely proud of the number of prestigious national science awards bestowed upon its staff in recent times. In 2010, Professor Warren Tate from the Department of Biochemistry was awarded the country’s most prestigious science and technology honour, the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Rutherford Medal. Our researchers were also honoured with the Royal Society’s Pickering and Dame Joan Metge medals in 2010, as well as the Health Research Council’s Liley Medal in both 2009 and 2010. In 2010, the University awarded its own Distinguished Research Medal to Professor David Fergusson, who heads the Christchurch Health and Development Study. The Division’s success can also be gauged by the increasing number of students attracted into its postgraduate programs. Especially pleasing is the marked increase in PhD enrolments in recent years. This trend not only reflects the high quality of the postgraduate programs we offer but also the excellent international reputations of our clinicians and academics, many of which are world leaders in their respective fields. As a Division, we have particular expertise in the fields of cancer genetics, mental health, neuroscience, infectious diseases, public health, Mäori health, cardiovascular disease, the pharmaceutical sciences, rehabilitation, diabetes and obesity, asthma, reproductive and structural biology, and oral health. We also host a number of world-renowned research groups and centres including: the Centre for Neuroendocrinology, the Cardioendocrine Research Centre, the Cancer Genetics Laboratory, the Injury Prevention Research Unit, He Kainga Oranga/ the Housing and Health Research Programme, the Centre for International Health, the Webster Centre for Infectious Diseases, and the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit. The innovative research undertaken by these groups and others underpins many advances in health policy and practice and the understanding of health and disease in New Zealand and beyond. The depth and breadth of research expertise in the Division means that research informs our teaching across all aspects of health professional training. Our students are taught by academics and clinicians who are at the forefront of new knowledge, and who are closely integrated into the health workforce. A number of our researchers have successfully moved their research into commercial ventures and others have positive interactions with existing New Zealand businesses. In this manner, we believe that we are laying the foundations for the next generation of health research leaders in New Zealand. I would like to thank all in the Division of Health Sciences for their valuable contributions to what has been an exciting period of growth and achievement. To those of you from outside of the Division reading this, I hope you find much of interest within these pages and I encourage you to contact us if you would like to know more. Professor Peter Crampton Pro-Vice-Chancellor Division of Health Sciences University of Otago 2 REsEARCH REPoRT 2009/2010 CONTENTS FROM THE PRO-VICE CHANCELLOR 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5 NOTES ON HOW THESE DATA ARE PRESENTED 6 THE DIVISION AT A GLANCE 7 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS 2009-2010 9 COMMERCIALISATION 16 RESEARCH THEMES AND CENTRES 18 MÄORI HEALTH RESEARCH 26 SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS 28 FACULTY OF DENTISTRY 28 Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences 28 Department of Oral Rehabilitation 30 Department of Oral Sciences 31 FACULTY OF MEDICINE 33 OTAGO SCHOOL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 33 Department of Anatomy 33 Department of Biochemistry 37 Department of Microbiology and Immunology 41 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology 44 Department of Physiology 46 DUNEDIN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 50 Department of General Practice 50 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences 51 Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 51 Bioethics 52 Medicine 53 Ophthalmology 55 Orthopaedic Surgery 55 Surgery 57 Department of Pathology 59 Department of Preventive and Social Medicine 61 Department of Psychological Medicine 64 Department of Women’s and Children’s Health 65 UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, CHRISTCHURCH 67 Department of Anaesthesia 67 Department of Medicine 68 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 71 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine. 72 Department of Paediatrics 74 Department of Pathology 75 Department of Psychological Medicine 77 Department of Public Health and General Practice 79 Department of Radiology 80 Department of Surgery 81 Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies 82 UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO, WELLINGTON 84 Department of Medicine 84 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 86 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health 86 Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine 87 Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice 89 Department of Psychological Medicine 91 Department of Public Health 92 Department of Radiation Therapy 95 Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia 96 Division of HEALTH sCiEnCEs 3 SCHOOL OF PHARMACY 98 SCHOOL OF PHYSIOTHERAPY 100 COLLABORATIONS WITH EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS 102 RESEARCH SUPPORT SERVICES 104 RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE OFFICE 105 APPENDIX 1: PUBLICATIONS BY DEPARTMENT FOR 2009 – 2010 108 APPENDIX 2: DIVISIONAL STRUCTURE 272 Professor Barry Taylor is investigating the links between sleep patterns in infancy and obesity in childhood and adulthood. 4 REsEARCH REPoRT 2009/2010 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • The Division of Health Sciences is a research intensive Division with the highest overall annual research income within the University. • The Division incorporates three campuses (Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington) and comprises the following Schools and Faculties: Faculty of Dentistry Faculty of Medicine Otago School of Medical Sciences Dunedin School of Medicine University of Otago, Christchurch University of Otago, Wellington School of Pharmacy School of Physiotherapy A chart showing the organisational structure of the Division is provided as Appendix 2. • The University of Otago has established 14 Research Themes and 15 Research Centres for which the University is pre- eminent and to which it gives particular recognition and support. Researchers within the Division of Health Sciences are leaders of 9 of the Research Themes and 9 of the Research Centres. • All Schools and Faculties have a strong research focus as evidenced by their successes in securing external income, their increasing numbers of postgraduate students, their high quality research outputs, and the many and varied honours and scholarships awarded to their staff and students. • The Division strongly encourages and supports the dissemination and commercialisation of research results. Commercialisation activities include contract research, patents and licensing, and spin out companies. • The Division has many diverse and valuable collaborations and affiliations with organisations external to the University of Otago. National and international connectivity and their associated benefits (e.g. co-funding opportunities, access to equipment, technologies and expertise) are viewed as crucial aspects of the Division’s research endeavours. • The Division boasts extensive research support services including state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment, training opportunities, and staff expertise. • The Division operates a Research Committee which is responsible for the dissemination of fellowships and funding as well as having a mentoring role for researchers. Research in the Division is further supported by the University’s Research and Enterprise Office which is the point of liaison between researchers and funding bodies. Division of HEALTH sCiEnCEs 5 NOTES ON HOW THESE DATA ARE PRESENTED This report contains information on the research activities of the Division of Health Sciences at the University