HRC Funds More Than $2 Million In Awards

HRC Funds More Than $2 Million In Health Research Awards

The Health Research Council of New Zealand today announced funding of $2,366,470 in career development awards for health researchers around the country. This includes more than $1 million to train more Maori health researchers, and $312,300 to train more Pacific health researchers. The awards resulted from applications made in the annual HRC award round in September. This new investment brings the total number of current HRC-funded awards to 150, including summer studentships administered directly by universities.

Topics covered a diverse range, including diabetes, stroke, asthma, alcohol, mental health, palliative care, health promotion, sleep disorders, gambling and violent crime.

Awards included three post-doctoral fellowships, 19 awards for PhD training or equivalent and nine awards for Masters students, as well as 21 summer studentships for undergraduates.

Excluding summer studentships, Auckland award recipients received a total of $910,075; Hamilton gained $179,188; Palmerston North-based recipients were awarded $155,650, Wellington gained $632,491; Christchurch gained $138,030 and Dunedin $267,036. Full details follow overleaf.

Comment - Dr Bruce Scoggins, HRC Chief Executive, phone 09 303 5203 (w) or 09 520 4662 (h)

2000 HEALTH RESEARCH COUNCIL AWARDS

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP Dr Helen Conaglen, Department of Psychology, Waikato University, phone 07 834 1520 Characteristics of clinical low sexual desire and measurement of sexual desire changes with therapy, 24 months

ERIHAPETI REHU-MURCHIE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (Post-doctoral award) Mihi Ratima, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University at Wellington, 04 380 0602 Maori health promotion: Increasing Maori control over the determinants of their own health development, 36 months

ERU POMARE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP IN MAORI HEALTH (Post-doctoral award) Nicola Walsh, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 6265 The genetic basis of diabetes in New Zealand Maori, 36 months

TRAINING FELLOWSHIPS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH (For health professionals to carry out a PhD or equivalent) Dr Adam Bartlett, Department of Surgery, University of Auckland, 09 307 4949 The role of CD154 in liver allograft rejection, 12 months (fees allowance only) Dr Matire Harwood, Rehabilitation Research and Training Unit, Wellington School of Medicine, 04 385 5999 Stroke recovery for Maori: Barriers, measures and effectiveness of a specific intervention, 36 months Dr Lianne Parkin, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, 03 464 0891 Venous thrombo-embolism, oral contraceptives and long-distance air travel, 36 months

TRAINING FELLOWSHIPS (Provides a salary to carry out a PhD) Dr Elizabeth Craig, Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, 0061 907 4069 Gestational inequalities: Socioeconomic status, stress and birth outcome in New Zealand, 36 months Lis Ellison-Loschmann, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University at Wellington, 04 380 0602 Asthma in Maori people, 24 months Ieti Lima, Department of Sociology, University of Auckland, 09 528 4075 Examining alcohol and Pacific people's health within the socio-cultural framework of fa'asamoa, 36 months Dr Ate Moala, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University at Wellington, 04 383 6961 Effective health promotion for fanau Pasifiki and their families, 36 months Lynne Pere, Department of Maori Studies, Massey University, 04 916 3860 The relationship between mental well-being and cultural identity for Maori, 36 months Craig Webster, Green Lane Hospital, University of Auckland, 09 630 9943 A systems approach to safer drug administration in anaesthesia, 36 months

FOXLEY FELLOWSHIP (For a health sector professional carrying out a research sabbatical) Torfrida Wainwright, Department of Public Health and General Practice, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 312 8683 Patterns in use of Christchurch community services linked to primary and secondary care, 12 months

POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS (Provides a stipend to carry out a PhD; all 36 months) Maryanne Baker, Department of General Practice, University of Auckland, 09 631 7781 Kaupapa Maori palliative care for terminally ill kuia and koroheke Marianne Lill, Department of Pathology, University of Otago, 03 471 4399 Genetic investigation of novel candidate genes in bipolar disorder Mei San Loh, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Auckland, 09 298 1189 Superantigens as vaccine delivery vehicles Amanda Lorier, Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, 09 373 7999 Modulation of respiratory networks by ATP Patrick McHugh, Department of Pathology, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 352 9965 Embryonic stem cell derived neurons as a model for studying antidepressant drug responses

2000 HEALTH RESEARCH COUNCIL AWARDS (Continued)

POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS (Continued) Angus McMorland, Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, 09 373 7999 Information processing by motorneurons Kara Mihaere, Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine, 04 918 6505 Towards a systematic approach to the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in New Zealand Laurie Morrison, Department of Psychology, University of Waikato, 07 838 4505 The impact of gambling on the health of Maori whanau and appropriate interventions Cathy Stinear, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Auckland, 021 260 4852 The stability of sensorimotor function following mild head injury Tania Wolfgramm, Department of Psychology, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 5926 Reducing violent crime perpetuated by Maori men: Using positive ways to regain equilibrium

JUNIOR AWARDS IN HEALTH RESEARCH (To finish a Masters thesis; $5,500 for one year) Patricia Adams-Smith, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Victoria University of Wellington, 04 Issues of primary health services for Taranaki Te Atiawa children Erin Cawston, Department of Pathology, University of Otago, 03 477 8603 The role of helix A of the antithrombin protein Jackie Chau, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Auckland, 09 529 1887 Generation of a marked myeloid compartment in zebrafish David Hernandez, Department of Pathology, University of Otago, 03 471 4416 Identification of protein interactions in the mammalian spindle checkpoint Stephen Hoskin, Department of Pathology, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 341 5326 Oxidation of beta2-agonists by peroxidases and its relevance to asthma control Rajiv Kumar, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, 021 294 6579 PAX2 and the development of the eye and kidney Cindy Towns, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, University of Otago, 03 473 6400 The ethics of stem cell research Molly Vale, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Auckland, 09 630 0410 The targeting of HIF-1 for treatment of solid tumours Peter Watts, Department of Psychology, Massey University, 06 353 6312 Expressions of depression in a clinical sample of males given an omega-3 supplement in the management of depression

RANGAHAU HAUORA AWARD (Provides training in research skills for a Maori community health worker) Anne Cliffe, Maori and Psychology Research Unit, Waikato University, 07 307 8986 To identify constraints for matua and kuia with a disability in accessing their traditional waiariki in Ohinemutu, 4 months

SUMMER STUDENTSHIPS (Awarded for 10 weeks over the academic break; all $4,000. This list does not include 32 studentships funded by the HRC but administered by tertiary institutions.) Shontelle Bishara, Te Röpu Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pömare, Wellington School of Medicine An inquiry into how the inclusion of the Treaty of Waitangi clause into the the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Bill will impact on Maori health policy Belinda Borell, School of Education, University of Auckland Quantitative analysis skill development Wendy Burgess, Department of Maori and Pacific Health, University of Auckland Designing a skeleton of a pilot of a new program to increase physical activity Matthew Butterworth, Department of Psychology, Waikato University Cognitive-behavioural methods for enhancing active lifestyle in tangata whaiora with serious mental illness Holly Coombes, Department of Psychology, Massey University Assessing elements of Maori women's decisions about exercise adoption Helen Davidson, Bioethics Research Centre, University of Otago Ethical and legal issues regarding access to medical files, research participants, and informed consent procedures in epidemiological research Charlotte Hill, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Access to personal health information in bicultural Aotearoa/New Zealand

2000 HEALTH RESEARCH COUNCIL AWARDS (Continued)

SUMMER STUDENTSHIPS (Continued) Jack Fati Kirifi, Health Services Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington Understanding of pharmacy terms amongst Tokelauan people in New Zealand Zabeen Lateef, Department of Microbiology, University of Otago Is Helicobactor pylori adherence to gastric mucosa influenced by environmental iron levels? Greg Lewis, Bioethics Research Centre, University of Otago The Maori concept of death and dying in relation to posthumous reproduction and organ donation Vinita Mathew, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Gender issues in family violence: The relationship between early abuse and susceptability to relationship violence in later life Kiri Merritt, Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences An analysis of the provision of sexual health services for Maori rangatahi in the Tauranga region Lara Roderique, Children's Issues Centre, University of Otago The Tamariki Family Violence Programme: Analysis of data from 300 children Annette Rose, Department of Gender and Women Studies, University of Otago Visualising the body pregnant Myra Ruka, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Auckland Through the looking glass: What does it hold for older Maori women? Here Aroha Sadlier, School of Health Sciences, Massey University at Wellington The experience and expectation of Maori patients newly diagnosed with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM): An exploratory study Armon Tamatea, Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences Spiritual experience or mental illness? Maori mental health professionals' judgments of anomalous experience Sarah Tango, School of Physiotherapy, Auckland University of Technology Maori people's experiences of being a physiotherapy patient: A phenomenological study Veronica Tawhai, School of Maori Studies, Massey University Is there an important link between Te Reo Maori and health outcomes for Maori? Katrina Tonga, Department of Paediatrics, Christchurch School of Medicine Pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction: Changing clinical presentation Claudine Tule, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, Massey University Maori and Pacific first time parents: Health service provision in the Palmerston North region

Silipa Wong Health Research Council of NZ P O Box 5541, Wellesley St Auckland Phone 64 9 303 5215(DDI) Fax 64 9 377 9988 Visit our website at http://www.hrc.govt.nz/

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