The University of Otago has received $14.6 million confirmation it's at the cutting-edge of health science research - and there could be more to come.
The university was yesterday awarded the lead role in the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's fifth National Health Challenge - Ageing Well.
Innovation and Science Minister Steven Joyce, who launched the challenge in Dunedin yesterday, said it would lead to improved health and wellbeing in later life for New Zealanders.
University of Otago deputy vice-chancellor research and enterprise Prof Richard Blaikie said leading the challenge was a ''great honour and privilege'' for the university, but also recognition of its strength in health science.
''It's recognition of our clear status as one of the leading research institutions in New Zealand,'' he said.
The $14.6 million funding would carry the project through to 2019, but $34.92 million of potential funding has been allocated to the challenge for its 10-year duration.
The Otago Daily Times understands the University of Otago is also the front-runner to lead the healthier lives National Science Challenge - with $31.26 million of potential funding allocated.
Asked about Otago University's prospects for hosting the healthier lives challenge, Mr Joyce told the ODT he had yet to be formally briefed on any decision.
''But Otago is naturally central to all the health ones,'' he said.
The National Science Challenge follows last year's decision to have the university host a new Centre of Research Excellence in physics and co-host a brain research centre.
Prof Blaikie said the decision to host health-related National Science Challenges at Otago University was appropriate, especially considering the Brain Health Research Centre.
''The Centre for Research Excellence has a focus on the ageing brain, so this ... National Science Challenge will assist the efforts of both activities,'' he said.
Mr Joyce said the Ageing Well challenge brought together researchers from throughout the country and involved multi-disciplinary research across a range of research organisations.
''The Ageing Well Challenge will help improve the lives of older people and enhance New Zealand's ability to cope with, and benefit from, our changing demographics,'' he said.
''The number of New Zealanders aged 65 years and over is currently 650,000, and is projected to climb to more than one million in the late 2020s. Those aged 65 years and over will then account for 20-22% of our population.
''This rapid demographic change is one of New Zealand's biggest long-term societal and financial challenges. Clever strategic ground-breaking science is needed now to start addressing this challenge.
''With the opportunities for improved physical and mental health in this ageing population, there is both the ability and a definite need for older people to play a much greater role in contributing to our economy and strengthening our society in the future.''
The challenge would develop science to reduce and moderate the impact of dementia, strokes, depression, impaired vision and hearing, and physical disability.
Development of new techniques and technologies to improve the ability of older people to live independently by researching innovations in housing, transport and care services would also be a focus of the challenge, Mr Joyce said.
The challenge will be led by Prof David Baxter, the university's deputy pro-vice chancellor for health sciences and dean of the School of Physiotherapy, and will be run out of the School of Physiotherapy's Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research.
Prof Baxter said he was ''delighted to be at the forefront of this innovative and important National Science Challenge''.
Life expectancy in New Zealand had risen by about 20 years since 1901, increasing life expectancy for men into the late-70s and women to the low-80s''Over coming decades, the number of people with degenerative conditions such as dementia, arthritis, cerebrovascular disease and frailty will increase significantly,'' he said.
''Furthermore, growing numbers of older people experiencing social isolation, reduced economic participation and increasing vulnerability to poverty and sub-optimal living conditions will pose additional challenges.''
Research carried out as part of the challenge would delay the onset and reduce the impact of those issues, he said.