The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) has today announced more than $2.2 million in funding for Māori health researchers as part of its career development awards programme – up from $1.5 million last year.
The Māori health research career development awards for 2015 include four postdoctoral fellowships, six PhD scholarships, four masters scholarships, two Rangahau Hauora training awards, and four summer studentships. The successful projects form part of $6.25 million in total funding for the HRC’s career development awards to support the education, training and retention of those engaged in health research.
Emerging Māori biomedical researcher Dr Kimora Henare (Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa) from the University of Auckland has received a Māori Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship to develop novel treatments for cancer by harnessing the natural abilities of immune cells to kill cancer cells.
In New Zealand the cancer burden is disproportionately greater for Māori, particularly for the most lethal cancers (i.e. lung, breast, prostate, stomach, and pancreas). Dr Henare’s research project will target macrophages, multi-functional immune cells that have been implicated in tumour growth and development – and which are also potential targets for effective treatment.
Ms Kelly Tikao (Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu) from the University of Otago will use her Māori Health Research PhD Scholarship to explore the rituals associated with traditional Māori birthing practices and their application to birthing plans today. Ms Tikao explored this topic for her Masters in Science Communication, producing a film (Iho – a cord between two worlds) on Māori birthing rituals, practices, and tribal and hapū variations. She hopes her PhD research will help Māori communities to “reclaim and rebuild this area of knowledge that has been forgotten by some hapū, remembered but not practiced by others, and to support whānau Māori who still incorporate some tikanga into their birthing experience”.
In 2013, Nicola Grace from Victoria University of Wellington and Hiria McRae developed a whānau-led weight loss and lifestyle change model named ‘Hauroa Homies’ to support whānau to reduce obesity long term by participating in a ‘challenge’. Now Miss Grace has been awarded a HRC Māori Health Research Masters Scholarship to evaluate this model.
“Having faced long-term health challenges personally, my passion is to support the physical health and fitness of whānau. This evaluation will deepen an understanding of how kaupapa Māori models are reducing obesity, increasing fitness, improving healthy eating, and strengthening whānau self-sufficiency to maintain these changes,” says Miss Grace.
HRC Board Chair Sir Robert Stewart, KNZM, says these awards contribute to improving health equity by investing in promising Māori health researchers who are best placed to identify and resolve health issues in their communities.
“Māori health research graduates are in great demand across a number of sectors. We’re pleased to be able to support this talented pool of researchers as they seek to address the health needs and aspirations of Māori.”
See below for a list of all the HRC career development award recipients (Māori health research category), or go to our funding recipients page.
2015 HRC career development awards (Māori health research category)
Māori Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowships
Dr Meihana Durie, Te Wānanga o Raukawa
The Hohua Tutengaehe Postdoctoral Fellowship
Te papa o te ora
36 months, $421,600
Dr Kimiora Henare, The University of Auckland
The Eru Pōmare Postdoctoral Fellowship
Teaching immune cells old tricks: An innovative strategy for treating cancer
48 months, $388,172
Dr Huhana Hickey, AUT University
Māori Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship
The health and disability experiences of whānau haua
36 months, $376,365
Dr Jennifer Reid, The University of Auckland
Māori Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship
A kaupapa Māori feasibility study to improve type 2 diabetes in Whangaroa
36 months, $343,520
Māori Health Research PhD Scholarships
Mr Paul Davis, AUT University
Paramedic systems of care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients
36 months, $111,835
Ms Anna Fay, The University of Auckland
Towards medical education that addresses Indigenous rights to health
36 months, $57,277
Ms Tania Huria, University of Otago, Christchurch
‘Created equal’: Investigating health system perspectives of disparities
39 months, $74,616
Ms Christina McKerchar, University of Otago, Wellington
Food availability for Māori children: A rights based approach
48 months, $120,750
Ms Kelly Tikao, University of Otago, Dunedin
Iho – a cord between two worlds. Traditional Māori birthing practices
36 months, $106,750
Ms Erena Wikaire, The University of Auckland
Māori participation in traditional Māori health practices
36 months, $109,309
Māori Health Research Masters Scholarships
Ms Margaret Cheung, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi
The Korimako practice-led Māori social work model of theory and praxis
12 months, $17,797
Miss Nicola Grace, Victoria University of Wellington
An evaluation of a Māori health weight loss and lifestyle change model
12 months, $18,734
Mr Mahonri Owen, University of Waikato
Development of a brain controlled prosthetic
12 months, $18,600
Miss Jordan Pearse, The University of Auckland
Micro-aggressions and Māori
12 months, $20,600
Māori Health Research Summer Studentships
Miss Christina Gordon, University of Otago
Changes in neural control of the heart following a heart attack
$5,000
Miss Kennedy Sarich, Independent
Burden of MRSA on Far North communities
$5,000
Ms Moerangi Tamati, Te Pou Tiringa Incoporated
A life-course approach to health and wellbeing
$5,000
Ms Te Kahui Tapsell, University of Otago, Wellington
Analysis of 20 cases of severe acute maternal morbidity in Aotearoa
$5,000
Māori Health Research Rangahau Hauora Training Award
Ms Lisa Kelly, Independent
Te ha ora: Exploring the effectiveness of kaupapa Māori antenatal education
$12,000
Reverend Bettina Maxwell, Independent
Te puna roimata te oranga whānau
$12,000