Research projects gain funding of $1m each
Otago research projects on glowworms, natural hazards, heart attacks and reconstructive surgery have each received about $1 million in funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
They are among 46 early stage research initiatives which received funding in this year's Endeavour Fund Smart Ideas investment round.
Each project was selected for its potential to deliver significant scientific, environmental and economic benefits for New Zealand.
University of Otago biochemist Prof Kurt Krause is leading a project which aims to harness the unique glow of the New Zealand glowworm (titiwai) as a biotechnology tool.
"We will work to understand and enhance these bioluminescent properties in the laboratory and explore the use of this bioluminescent system as a biotechnology tool in biomedical and biological investigations.
"Biotechnology tools based on luminescence can be used to track disease causing microorganisms or locate abnormal cells, like cancer cells, in organs and tissues."
School of Surveying researcher Prof Tony Moore is looking at climate stress-testing to improve the resilience of New Zealand's real estate market in the face of natural hazards.
"The team will improve the physical multi-hazard analysis using site-specific climate and groundwater data sets; factor behavioural responses of market participants (homeowners, banking and insurance firms) and explore how this may affect the pricing of flooding risk; develop better ways to estimate risks to mortgage lending including repayment and defaults; capture the wider effects of flooding risk on the broader economy and financial stability; and go beyond financial impacts and consider social, physical, and cultural factors with a spatial multi-criteria risk index.
"Successfully achieving these goals will result in more accurate, applicable, and relevant climate risk estimates that better serve the needs of climate risk pricing and adaptation policies."
University of Otago (Christchurch) medical researcher Prof Chris Pemberton is leading a project which aims to develop a point-of-care blood testing device designed to help predict cardiovascular disease risk.
Advanced biochemistry and experimental cardiology techniques had been used to discover two novel proteins carried in the blood that could accurately assess a person's risk of serious heart disease and future heart attack.
A prototype point-of-care device capable of measuring these proteins from a very small blood sample has since been built, potentially enabling on-site testing in small towns and remote areas.
The next step was to bring the device to commercial markets, he said.
University of Otago (Christchurch) orthopaedic surgery and musculoskeletal medicine researcher Prof Tim Woodfield aims to revolutionise the medical aesthetic and tissue grafting industry by developing a new light-based medical device.
"The process involves injecting tissue-like materials into the targeted site with the aim of contouring tissue under the skin or repairing damage.
"Our light-based technology is expected to drastically reduce the number of repeated reconstruction surgeries that are currently performed (e.g. breast cancer surgeries) and support tissue regeneration."
john.lewis@odt.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Research projects gain funding of $1m each
Otago research projects on glowworms, natural hazards, heart attacks and reconstructive surgery have each received about $1 million in funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. They are among 46 early stage research initiatives which received funding in this year's Endeavour Fund Smart Ideas investment round. Each project was selected for its potential to deliver significant scientific, environmental and economic benefits for New Zealand. University of Otago biochemist Prof Kurt Krause is leading a project which aims to harness the unique glow of the New Zealand glowworm (titiwai) as a biotechnology tool. "We will work to understand and enhance these bioluminescent properties in the laboratory and explore the use of this bioluminescent system as a biotechnology tool in biomedical and biological investigations. "Biotechnology tools based on luminescence can be used to track disease causing microorganisms or locate abnormal cells, like cancer cells, in organs and tissues." School of Surveying researcher Prof Tony Moore is looking at climate stress-testing to improve the resilience of New Zealand's real estate market in the face of natural hazards. "The team will improve the physical multi-hazard analysis using site-specific climate and groundwater data sets; factor behavioural responses of market participants (homeowners, banking and insurance firms) and explore how this may affect the pricing of flooding risk; develop better ways to estimate risks to mortgage lending including repayment and defaults; capture the wider effects of flooding risk on the broader economy and financial stability; and go beyond financial impacts and consider social, physical, and cultural factors with a spatial multi-criteria risk index. "Successfully achieving these goals will result in more accurate, applicable, and relevant climate risk estimates that better serve the needs of climate risk pricing and adaptation policies." University of Otago (Christchurch) medical researcher Prof Chris Pemberton is leading a project which aims to develop a point-of-care blood testing device designed to help predict cardiovascular disease risk. Advanced biochemistry and experimental cardiology techniques had been used to discover two novel proteins carried in the blood that could accurately assess a person's risk of serious heart disease and future heart attack. A prototype point-of-care device capable of measuring these proteins from a very small blood sample has since been built, potentially enabling on-site testing in small towns and remote areas. The next step was to bring the device to commercial markets, he said. University of Otago (Christchurch) orthopaedic surgery and musculoskeletal medicine researcher Prof Tim Woodfield aims to revolutionise the medical aesthetic and tissue grafting industry by developing a new light-based medical device. "The process involves injecting tissue-like materials into the targeted site with the aim of contouring tissue under the skin or repairing damage. "Our light-based technology is expected to drastically reduce the number of repeated reconstruction surgeries that are currently performed (e.g. breast cancer surgeries) and support tissue regeneration."
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Recognition For 40-Year Contribution To Strong Food Safety Culture And Sector
Press Release – New Zealand Food Safety With more than 40 years of contributions to the food safety sector, Professor Phil Bremer has made a significant contribution to food safety science, publishing more than 200 academic papers. New Zealand Food Safety congratulates Professor Phil Bremer for scooping this year's Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award at New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology's Food Industry Awards last night. In addition to his roles as Professor of Food Science at University of Otago and Chief Scientist New Zealand Food Safety and Scientific Research Centre (NFSSRC), Professor Phil Bremer is also an active member on several industry steering groups. 'We are delighted to present Professor Bremer with the award,' says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. 'With more than 40 years of contributions to the food safety sector, Professor Bremer has made a significant contribution to food safety science, publishing more than 200 academic papers. 'His work has helped build effective food safety culture, industry best practice, equipment and processing technology, product and packaging development, and science and research.' Among his many achievements are leading the development of a guide to prevent contamination of infant formula with Cronobacter, a lethal bacterium for infants under 6 months of age. 'New Zealand dairy companies now benefit from this resource, which helps to ensure the safety of infant formula for the youngest consumers, at home and abroad,' says Mr Arbuckle. 'Professor Bremer has made an immense contribution to the quality and breadth of food safety science in New Zealand, and to the strength of the wider food safety sector, with a number of leadership roles in New Zealand food safety associations and societies across his 40-year career. He also passes on his knowledge undertaking significant post-graduate supervision.' Mr Arbuckle says New Zealand Food Safety's ongoing support of the award is an important opportunity to celebrate champions of food safety culture, research and applications in food production. 'We applaud Professor Bremer, all 2025 award nominees and past winners whose contributions and commitment support New Zealand's world-class food safety system,' says Mr Arbuckle. Previous winners of the Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award include Dr Pierre Venter (2024) and Dr Rob Lake (2023).
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Recognition For 40-Year Contribution To Strong Food Safety Culture And Sector
New Zealand Food Safety congratulates Professor Phil Bremer for scooping this year's Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award at New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology's Food Industry Awards last night. In addition to his roles as Professor of Food Science at University of Otago and Chief Scientist New Zealand Food Safety and Scientific Research Centre (NFSSRC), Professor Phil Bremer is also an active member on several industry steering groups. 'We are delighted to present Professor Bremer with the award,' says New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle. 'With more than 40 years of contributions to the food safety sector, Professor Bremer has made a significant contribution to food safety science, publishing more than 200 academic papers. 'His work has helped build effective food safety culture, industry best practice, equipment and processing technology, product and packaging development, and science and research.' Among his many achievements are leading the development of a guide to prevent contamination of infant formula with Cronobacter, a lethal bacterium for infants under 6 months of age. "New Zealand dairy companies now benefit from this resource, which helps to ensure the safety of infant formula for the youngest consumers, at home and abroad,' says Mr Arbuckle. "Professor Bremer has made an immense contribution to the quality and breadth of food safety science in New Zealand, and to the strength of the wider food safety sector, with a number of leadership roles in New Zealand food safety associations and societies across his 40-year career. He also passes on his knowledge undertaking significant post-graduate supervision.' Mr Arbuckle says New Zealand Food Safety's ongoing support of the award is an important opportunity to celebrate champions of food safety culture, research and applications in food production. "We applaud Professor Bremer, all 2025 award nominees and past winners whose contributions and commitment support New Zealand's world-class food safety system," says Mr Arbuckle. Previous winners of the Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award include Dr Pierre Venter (2024) and Dr Rob Lake (2023).
