Click photo to enlarge
Prof Allan Herbison (right), director of the University of
Otago Centre for Neuroendocrinology, and Dr Greg Anderson,
a principal investigator at the centre, have gained funding
to study the brain's role in controlling human fertility.
Photo by Linda Robertson.
A University of Otago study exploring links between
ageing and the risk of chronic disease is among a series of
research projects boosted by $30.3 million in grants in the
latest Health Research Council funding round.
Otago University researchers received grants totalling 36% of
the overall $83.58 million available nationally from the HRC
this year.
This outcome was better than in the previous funding round
last year, when Otago researchers gained about $21.6 million
(34%) of the overall $63 million HRC pool.
Among the latest highlights was a new $4,568,389 three-year
programme grant to Otago University's Dunedin
Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study to undertake a
planned study of health-related aspects of ageing.
Some of the research, led by study director Prof Richie
Poulton, will test the novel hypothesis that a persistent
history of psychiatric disorder might accelerate individuals'
risk of progression towards age-related cardiovascular
disease, HRC officials said.
The health and development study, which has for several
decades tracked the progress of about 1000 people born in
Dunedin in 1972-73, will also investigate oral health up to
the age of 38, and will consider sexual and reproductive
health at the same age.
Otago deputy vice-chancellor, research and enterprise, Prof
Harlene Hayne said it was "fantastic" 25 Otago University
health research programmes and projects with "great potential
to produce significant health benefits for individuals,
families and communities" had been supported in the latest
round.
Prof Poulton was yesterday "relieved and very grateful" the
funding had been granted.
Subject to satisfactory performance, HRC funding could also
be gained for a further three years, providing some security
for the study to continue in difficult economic times, he
said.
The overall HRC funding supports a wide range of Otago
University programmes and projects, from investigations of
basic biomedical mechanisms involved in cancer and other
diseases to community-level interventions aimed at making
homes healthier, and tackling childhood obesity.
Research will be undertaken at the university's Dunedin,
Christchurch and Wellington campuses.
Members of the Otago Centre for Neuroendocrinology have also
received grants totalling more than $4.1 million to continue
their research into unravelling how the brain controls
fertility.
Centre director Prof Allan Herbison, Dr Greg Anderson and Dr
Rebecca Campbell have gained funds through a $3,242,207
three-year centre programme extension. Prof Dave Grattan has
gained $949,105 for a related study.
Prof Herbison was "absolutely delighted" 11 scientists -
eight part-time and three full-time - and 10 undergraduate
and postgraduate students involved in the centre could
continue to be funded.
The centre was a world leader in exploring how the brain
controlled fertility, research which could ultimately result
in new treatments for infertility and new approaches to birth
control, he said.
Dr Roslyn Kemp, a microbiology researcher who is also working
collaboratively with the university's Cancer Genetics
Laboratory, has gained a $133,413 HRC Emerging Researcher
First Grant to study aspects of colorectal cancer immune
responses.
Other Dunedin grants: Dr Elspeth Gold, anatomy and structural
biology, $953,695; Prof Janet Hoek, marketing, $740,727; Prof
Ian Morison, pathology, $1,326,265; Dr Rachael Taylor,
medical and surgical sciences, $1,307,272; and another
$799,244 grant; HRC Feasibility Study Project, Dr Rebbecca
Lilley, preventive and social medicine, $65,966.
