Dr Theodore, who is co-director of the university's National Centre for Lifecourse Research, said that gaining the 2018 Maori Health Research Emerging Leader Fellowship was positive for her and others.
``It's also wonderful news for the research teams that I work with, and the Maori community as well,'' she said.
The Health Research Council announced yesterday that Dr Theodore, and senior research fellow Dr Jason Gurney, of Otago's Wellington campus, had won the two new prestigious four-year fellowships.
Dr Gurney said it had been estimated that Maori were 20% more likely to develop cancer, and nearly 80% more likely to die from it.
Dr Theodore, who is a senior research fellow at the Otago psychology department, said that high-quality education, ranging from early childhood to advanced tertiary study, was associated with significant long-term health and social wellbeing benefits.
But there had been little Maori-led lifecourse research in these areas, she said.
Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study director Prof Richie Poulton said Dr Theodore was a ``future lifecourse research leader'', whose research would help clarify key factors in achieving ``positive Maori outcomes''.
Dr Theodore said her fellowship will support three pieces of research, the first considering the benefits of Kaupapa Maori early childhood education for Maori children and families.
The second piece of research will consider the effect of education on the wellbeing of young Maori, under the age of 24.
The final project will track Maori university students and analyse the benefits of tertiary education for their health and wellbeing.
