From left, National MP Mike Woodhouse and pathology
researchers Dr Sarah Young, Pathology Department head Prof
Ian Morison and Prof Mike Eccles in the department's newest
laboratory. Photo by Jane Dawber.
"In the past, it was a sad old building with lots of
walls and dark rooms with lots of secrets."
But now, University of Otago Pathology Department head Prof
Ian Morison believes the Hercus Building - home of the former
city morgue - is very different.
He told the Otago Daily Times the department had seen an
enormous transition during the past 15 years to a strong
medical science department with a broad range of teaching.
"Where the morgue once was, we now have state-of-the-art labs
for medical laboratory scientist training.
"Where the pathology museum was, we now have a world-class
Zebrafish [cancer research] facility.
"And where the uncomfortable, gloomy tutorial rooms were, we
now have an open, bright space for research," he said.
The University of Otago opened the last of its new pathology
laboratories in the building on Thursday, and now the
department's research groups will be able to settle and focus
on their work, which incorporates areas of pathology from
conception to old age.
Prof Morison said the new laboratories would be used to find
better ways to treat polycystic kidney disease, find
solutions to the malignant behaviour of melanoma, find better
ways of curing childhood leukaemia, develop a test for the
blood disorder myelodysplastic syndrome, solve the mysteries
of the placenta, and develop vaccines against cancer.
"Every piece of research aims to solve a human disease
problem - to discover causes of low birthweight and
prematurity through abnormal placental function, to find
approaches to ameliorate developmental disorders, to use the
lessons from inherited genetic disorders to untangle chronic
disease and cancer, to use the biology of cancer to create
smarter, better ways to cure and control cancer."
Prof Morison estimated the recent pathology upgrade cost
close to $1 million.
"Compared to the unused and unusable space that we had, it is
a great investment in terms of research return to the
department and to the city."
- john.lewis@odt.co.nz
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