$2.2m awarded to promising Maori health researchers

Thursday, 20 November 2014

$2.2m awarded to promising Maori health researchers

The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) has today announced more than $2.2 million in funding for Maori health researchers as part of its career development awards programme – up from $1.5 million last year.

The Maori health research career development awards for 2015 include four postdoctoral fellowships, six PhD scholarships, four masters scholarships, two Rangahau Hauora training awards, and four summer studentships. The successful projects form part of $6.25 million in total funding for the HRC’s career development awards to support the education, training and retention of those engaged in health research.

Emerging Maori biomedical researcher Dr Kimora Henare (Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa) from the University of Auckland has received a Maori Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship to develop novel treatments for cancer by harnessing the natural abilities of immune cells to kill cancer cells.

In New Zealand the cancer burden is disproportionately greater for Maori, particularly for the most lethal cancers (i.e. lung, breast, prostate, stomach, and pancreas). Dr Henare’s research project will target macrophages, multi-functional immune cells that have been implicated in tumour growth and development – and which are also potential targets for effective treatment.

“With the growing number of studies involving tissues and genomic data, there’s a growing demand for Maori biomedical scientists who not only carry out the research, but also take on an important kaitiaki role within the project. Enhancing this capacity will foster safe participation by Maori in these studies and ensure their health benefits flow on to Maori whanau,” says Dr Henare.

Ms Kelly Tikao (Waitaha, Kati Mamoe, Kai Tahu) from the University of Otago will use her Maori Health Research PhD Scholarship to explore the rituals associated with traditional Maori birthing practices and their application to birthing plans today. Ms Tikao explored this topic for her Masters in Science Communication, producing a film (Iho – a cord between two worlds) on Maori birthing rituals, practices, and tribal and hapu variations. She hopes her

PhD research will help Maori communities to “reclaim and rebuild this area of knowledge that has been forgotten by some hapu, remembered but not practiced by others, and to support whanau Maori who still incorporate some tikanga into their birthing experience”.

In 2013, Nicola Grace from Victoria University of Wellington and Hiria McRae developed a whanau-led weight loss and lifestyle change model named ‘Hauroa Homies’ to support whanau to reduce obesity long term by participating in a ‘challenge’. Now Miss Grace has been awarded a HRC Maori Health Research Masters Scholarship to evaluate this model.

“Having faced long-term health challenges personally, my passion is to support the physical health and fitness of whanau. This evaluation will deepen an understanding of how kaupapa Maori models are reducing obesity, increasing fitness, improving healthy eating, and strengthening whanau self-sufficiency to maintain these changes,” says Miss Grace.

HRC Board Chair Sir Robert Stewart, KNZM, says these awards contribute to improving health equity by investing in promising Maori health researchers who are best placed to identify and resolve health issues in their communities.

“Maori health research graduates are in great demand across a number of sectors. We’re pleased to be able to support this talented pool of researchers as they seek to address the health needs and aspirations of Maori.”

ENDS

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