Funding brings exciting potential

How refreshing to have such a positive science news story for Dunedin - and a likely $40 million one at that.

The anticipated multimillion-dollar science funding boost for Dunedin research over the next six years (the exact budget is yet to be confirmed) comes with the announcement the University of Otago has been selected to host a new Centre of Research Excellence (Core) in physics, and to co-host a brain research centre.

It is exciting and welcome news in scientific research circles - particularly as the South languishes in the shadow of AgResearch's proposed restructuring of Invermay - and it is long overdue.

The university has long been successful in attracting competitive research funding from the likes of the Marsden Fund, which is an acknowledgement of its world-class research standing and capabilities, but its long wait to be selected to host a research excellence centre since they were established in 2002 has reportedly ''baffled'' staff.

The centres are effectively revolving entities which are hosted by universities, and researchers from different universities work collaboratively between them. The nationally funded centres have been newly revised from seven to six. From next year, the University of Otago will host the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies, and co-host Brain Research New Zealand-Rangahau Roro Aotearoa with Auckland University.

Hosting the centres will further cement and boost the university's international reputation, and the funding will provide the potential for exciting research opportunities in some vitally important fields.

Physicist the late Sir Paul Callaghan advocated building a smarter economy through science and technology innovation. Cutting-edge research is the key to developing products and technologies vital not just in New Zealand but globally. And there is amazing potential for exciting spin-offs in the ground-breaking areas covered by the two centres which Otago will host and co-host.

The decision to allocate Otago the co-hosting of the brain research centre of excellence is possibly also related to our retention of neurosurgery services in Dunedin, which the public so fiercely advocated for, but certainly strengthens and complements Dunedin's capabilities in the area. It is pleasing to see the university's persistence pay off, and be finally rewarded, and it will be exciting to watch the developments ahead.

Illegal highs

So-called ''legal highs'' are now illegal.

The Government's amended legislation to ban the remaining products in the market was passed under urgency this week, making it now illegal to sell, supply or possess any psychoactive substances.

The panicked haste in which the final blow was dealt was an ignominious way to end what had been a careful response to the problem, and a world-leading attempt, through the original legislation, to rid the country of the scourge of legal highs by putting the onus on manufacturers to prove their products are safe.

Given the mounting negative reports and pressure (and with an election looming), the Government in many ways had no choice. But the speed of the immediate ban has probably undone some of the good work by leaving users, some with severe addiction symptoms, no time to seek help before they had to go ''cold turkey''.

United Future leader and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne, who has been behind the changes, admitted this week the original legislation last year should not have included interim product approvals, and a ''less frenzied atmosphere ... without a pending general election'' would have provided a better transition to a regulated market.

Most people will be pleased to see the products removed, except perhaps the manufacturers and retailers - who some have said seemed to put profit before safety even as horror stories were emerging.

But, the Government must ensure through DHBs, and if necessary increased funding for other frontline support agencies, there is adequate support for users and their families as they are forced to deal with the instantaneous fallout of what has simply been a ghastly ''experiment'' on the minds and bodies of some of our most vulnerable.

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