University of Otago microbiologist Prof Gregory Cook has been awarded a prestigious James Cook Research Fellowship to pursue research linked to a powerful new way to combat tuberculosis.
He will also investigate novel ways to reduce the production by sheep and cattle of the greenhouse gas methane.
It was "really exciting" to gain the fellowship, which is administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand on behalf of the Government, he said.
"I'm really happy to be able to get back to the [laboratory] bench." The full-time fellowships are awarded to researchers who demonstrate they have achieved national and international recognition in their area of scientific research.
The two-year fellowships start early next year and provide $110,000 per year to each recipient, covering salary and expenses. This allows the fellows to focus almost completely on their research, rather than their usual teaching or other administrative duties.
A major focus of Prof Cook's research is a membrane-bound enzyme known as F1Fo-ATP synthase, which is responsible for the generation of ATP, the energy source of every living cell, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis.
Researchers at Johnson and Johnson in Belgium had developed a promising new drug, now undergoing clinical trials, which attacks the bacterium via this enzyme.
Tb kills two million people a year, largely in developing countries, and there are 10 million new cases every year.
New Zealand was not immune to Tb concerns, with nine cases of multi-drug-resistant Tb reported in 2009, all involving arrivals from abroad, he said.
The world faced a growing problem with the development of multi-drug resistant strains of the bacterium, and some cases of extreme drug resistance.
Many traditional antibiotics targeted the bacterial cell wall, but the new anti-Tb medication used "a totally different target", he said.
Prof Cook and fellow researchers in the Otago microbiology and immunology department had been studying the ATP enzyme for about 10 years.
He wanted to fully clarify its structure he said.
A Cook fellowship in engineering science was awarded this week to Prof Rick Millane (University of Canterbury), with Prof Marston Conder (Auckland University) and Prof Matt Visser (Victoria University of Wellington) gaining fellowships in physical sciences.
