Investment in the development of the future health research workforce is an important activity for the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC). The HRC builds research capacity through our Career Development Awards and the support of emerging researchers on HRC-funded contracts. Our Career Development Awards, Māori Health Research Awards and Pacific Health Research Awards provide essential support for students through to Postgraduate training and Postdoctoral Fellowships.
“The HRC is committed to investment in the development of the future health research workforce, and addressing the challenge of keeping future health research leaders in careers in New Zealand is an essential part of that,” says HRC Chief Executive, Dr Robin Olds.
“Our Career Development Awards support health research-related awards ranging from Summer Studentships, to advanced Postdoctoral Fellowships. These include Māori and Pacific health research awards, which are aimed at fostering and developing the emerging Māori and Pacific health research workforce in New Zealand,” he says.
Three emerging health research leaders have been awarded Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowships by the HRC. The Fellowships, worth up to $0.5M over four years, will assist the researchers to complete advanced postdoctoral health research in scientific fields that have the potential to contribute to both the health and economic goals for the Government’s investment in science and innovation.
Dr David Baddeley from The University of Auckland will investigate the nanostructure and organisation of cellular signalling domains. The tight spatial organisation of proteins within signalling domains such as the cardiac dyad or neuronal synapse is critical to correct and efficient function. This organisation occurs on a scale of a few 10s of nanometres, until recently the exclusive domain of electron microscopy. Newly developed optical super-resolution techniques now allow these domains to be investigated with unprecedented contrast, specificity and throughput. In his project Dr Baddeley will aim to use super-resolution microscopy to investigate the nanostructure of these domains. This will provide basic structural information underlying the functional properties of these domains as well as identifying morphological changes linked to disease.
Cardiac rehabilitation, a programme of education about risk factors, medication, and lifestyle change, is as an essential part of the care of people who have had a heart attack. Despite the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation, too few people who would benefit from it are using it.
Associate Professor Ralph Maddison from Auckland UniServices Limited has received close to $500K for an innovative mHealth research programme, which involves the development and evaluation of mobile phone intervention to modify lifestyle factors (exercise, diet, smoking and adherence to medication) in people with heart disease. A series of projects will develop specific behaviour change information and support packages, which will be delivered via mobile phones. This research has the potential to improve delivery of cardiac rehabilitation and thereby improve outcomes for people with heart disease.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women yet for most women the genetic changes underlying their disease remain undetermined or poorly understood. The multi-disciplinary research by Dr Logan Walker from the University of Otago, Christchurch aims to address this clinically important issue by exploiting strong local clinical linkages and international collaborations to implement advanced breast cancer genomics research within New Zealand. Specifically, his study aims to determine the clinical and biological impact of 1) DNA sequence variants in known breast cancer susceptibility genes, and 2) DNA copy number variants across the genome, in breast cancer development. Dr Logan’s research will make significant contributions to an exciting and important research area that is developing at a rapid pace, with the ultimate goal of translating new discoveries into clinical care.
The Māori term ‘matakite’ refers to an experience of unusual perception that is subject to misdiagnosis as mental illness. Mr Ronald Ngata from the University of Waikato received an Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie Research Fellowship for a project which will explore how matakite understandings are being applied by mental health professionals working in Kaupapa Māori health providers around the country. Guided by Kaupapa Māori principles and methods, the aim of the research is to produce a document identifying elements of best-practice in the application of matakite understandings by health providers. This project will contribute to an area of research of increasing importance internationally, but one that is still relatively unexplored in Aotearoa New Zealand, i.e. the practical relationship between spirituality and health. It will also give Dr Ngata an opportunity to develop his skills towards a career in Māori and indigenous health research.
Ms Glenis Mark from Whakauae Research Services received an Eru Pomare Research Fellowship and will undertake a qualitative research project, which aims to explore Māori consumers’ perspectives on health, their experiences of rongoa (traditional medicines and practice) Māori and/or primary health services and their views on integration between rongoa Māori and primary health care. Two groups of Māori consumers: one who use rongoa in addition to primary health treatment; and one who use primary health treatment only, will be interviewed. This research aims to contribute to knowledge on how Māori beliefs on health and illness contribute to health treatment choice, and how their health treatment experiences reveal ways to improve the interface between rongoa and primary health services from the perspective of the Māori consumer.
Eight health researchers have received Clinical Research Training Fellowships, which provide an opportunity for medical, dental and allied health professionals to undertake a PhD or equivalent qualification.
The full list of 2012 HRC Career Development Award recipients are listed below:
Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowships
Dr David Baddeley, The University of Auckland
The nanostructure and organisation of cellular signalling domains
4 years, $500,000
Associate Professor Ralph Maddison, Auckland UniServices Limited
Preventing cardiovascular disease in New Zealand: An mHealth approach
4 years, $500,000
Dr Logan Walker, University of Otago, Christchurch
Genetic variation and breast cancer development
4 years, $500,000
Clinical Research Training Fellowships
Dr Paul Chin, University of Otago, Christchurch
Determining drug clearance for clinically applicable dosing individualisation
2 years, $166,667
Dr Amanda D'Souza, University of Otago, Wellington
Healthy public policy for children in New Zealand: Overcoming the obstacles
4 years, $250,000
Dr Hye-won Han, The University of Auckland
Pharmacological determinants of oxaliplatin neurotoxicity in cancer patients
3 year, $250,000
Dr Daniel Lemanu, The University of Auckland
The Role of Community-Based Prehabilitation in Bariatric Surgery
2 years, $166,667
Dr Janine Pilcher, Victoria University of Wellington
High concentration oxygen and hypercapnia in respiratory disease
3 years, $250,000
Dr Rakesh Premkumar, The University of Auckland
Delineating the pro-inflammatory state of obesity on severe acute illness
2 years, $166,667
Dr Deborah Williamson, The University of Auckland
Molecular analysis of Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections
3 years, $250,000
Dr Nichola Wilson, The University of Auckland
What are 'real world' outcomes after surgery for children with cerebral palsy?
3 years, $200,000
Māori Health Career Development Awards
Erihapeti Rehu-Murchie Research Fellowships in Māori Health
Mr Ronald Ngata, University of Waikato
Exploring practical applications of Matakite (unusual perception) understandings in health provision
$339,407
Ms Kirsten Smiler, Victoria University of Wellington
Ka puāwa ngā kōhungahunga turi: The early development of Māorideaf children
$330,734
Eru Pomare Research Fellowship
Ms Glenis Mark, Whakauae Research Services
Huarahi rongoā ki a ngai tātou: Māori views on rongoā (traditional medicines and practice) Māori and primary health
$333,273
Māori Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship
Dr Isaac Warbrick, Massey University, Palmerston North
The optimal mode of exercise for preventing diabetes in Māori men
$335,538
PhD Scholarships in Māori Health Research
Ms Maria Baker, Massey University, Wellington
A Māori centred grounded theory study of Māori with mental illness
$85,050
Mr Andre McLachlan, Te Atawahi o Te Ao/University of Otago
Collaboration with and for rural Māori with addiction and related problems
$80,278
Miss Jodi Porter, Ngaitai Iwi Authority/Massey University
Ngaitai wellbeing indicators: Measuring iwi health outcomes
$110,050
Masters Scholarship in Māori Health Research
Mrs Isabel Tui Edwards, AUT University
Optimising Māori women’s breastfeeding
$17,600
Māori Health Rangahau Hauora Awards
Mrs Josephine Church, The Cardiac Clinic, Tauranga
A Kaupapa Māori approach to cardiac risk reduction
$12,000
Miss Jaqueline Lumsden, Massey University, Palmerston North
Best outcomes for Māori with cancer
$11,970
Pacific Health Research Career Development Awards
Pacific Health PhD Scholarship
Miss Alana McCambridge, The University of Auckland
Improving upper-limb impairment after stroke with novel brain stimulation
$105,230
Pacific Health Masters Scholarships
Ms Rochelle Newport, The University of Auckland
Going local: Impact of sustainable development policies on health in Rarotonga
$18,253
Ms Jacqueline Schmidt-Busby, The University of Auckland
Diabetes: Impact on work, income and finances in Samoan families
$18,253