Associate Prof Jim Cotter, of the Otago School of Physical Education, Sports and Exercise Sciences, said it was "fantastic'' to have gained a $111,348 grant in the latest round of Lottery Health Research funding.
Prof Cotter, a researcher in exercise and environmental physiology, gained the funding to undertake further research on "heating for health in arterial disease''.
The health benefits of exercise were well known, but many people could not exercise because of physical disability, he said.
Heat conditioning could be "an alternative for people who face such barriers to exercise'' and the cardiovascular effects could be particularly beneficial.
Some people with peripheral vascular disease could find it painful and difficult to walk longer distances, and a "vicious cycle'' could result if ability to exercise was progressively reduced and the health benefits of exercise also lost.
Simply heating the body in a spa pool was likely to provide some health benefits, and some physical exercises could be undertaken both in the pool or shortly after coming out enabling more physical exercise to be undertaken, and health benefits gained.
The funding would enable two young researchers, Ashley Akerman and Kate Thomas, to pursue the research, which could help pave the way to gaining significant health benefits in future, he said.
The Lottery Grants Board funding will support a wide range of Otago University translational research projects aimed at improving health in the 2015-16 round.
The projects range from developing a better model of Alzheimer's disease to developing wool-derived proteins as bone graft substitutes.
A total of $2.6 million was granted nationally by the Lottery Grants Board in the latest funding round, down from $3.8 million last year, of which Otago gained $2.2 million.
Researchers from Otago's three main campuses, in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington, gained 19 research grants, as well as equipment grants, and some scholarship support.
Other Otago Lottery health research grants include: Prof Dirk De Ridder, surgical sciences, $23,643; Associate Prof George Dias, anatomy, $60,000; Dr Martin Fronius, $100,000, Associate Prof Fiona McDonald, $60,000, both physiology; Dr Stephanie Hughes, $26,000, Dr Liz Ledgerwood $88,800, Dr Cushla McKinney, $51,000, all three biochemistry; Dr Matloob Husain $45,000, Associate Prof Alexander McLellan $41,840, both microbiology and immunology; Dr Paula Skidmore, human nutrition, $52,940; Prof Tim Stokes, general practice and rural health, $51,950; Prof John Sullivan, physiotherapy, $52,543; Dr Luke Wilson, medicine, $50,000.
Otago research equipment grants include: Dr Mihnea Bostina, microbiology and immunology, $120,000; Dr Jaydee Cabral, chemistry, $100,000; Associate Prof Ping Liu, anatomy; $107,709; Associate Prof Brian Monk, oral sciences, $109,133; Dr Sigurd Wilbanks, biochemistry,$81,608.
