Waikato Regional Council’s State of Environment 2022 Team, led by Thomas Wilding, has produced a vital reference for future management of the region’s air, land and water. The State of Environment Report 2022 collects, analyses and interprets over two decades of environmental data, integrating information from over 25 peer-reviewed publications by Waikato Regional Council scientists…
LIC’s Variant Discovery Team is giving farmers new options for selecting healthier, higher-performance dairy animals and raising the bar in genetics research. LIC’s Variant Discovery Team has discovered over 20 genetic variants which cause disease or impact fertility, milk yield, or growth and developmental traits in dairy animals. Finding one variant is a significant achievement,…
Dr. Manar Khashram’s dedication to vascular surgery and research is enhancing the management of aortic and vascular disease. Widely published, Dr. Khasham’s research includes a groundbreaking Metformin Aneurysm Trial, an investigation of genetic aspects of thoracic aortic diseases in Māori and Pacific Island communities, and validation of two decades-worth of New Zealand data on the…
Dr. Matthew CL Phillips is exploring dietary strategies, including a Maatauranga Māori approach, to address challenging neurological disorders and cancer. In addition to his clinical and teaching responsibilities as full-time neurologist at Waikato Hospital, Dr. Phillips is pursuing his passion for science and research. His main interest lies in exploring diets that put the body…
Associate Professor Lynne Chepulis is a leading researcher at the intersection of public health, primary care and chronic disease management in Aotearoa. Diabetes is a rising problem in Aotearoa, disproportionately affecting Maaori and Pacific people. Associate Professor Chepulis works with clinicians, patients and whānau to understand the barriers and challenges these different groups face and…
Associate Professor Joe Baker’s specialist bent is keeping our backs in good form. A leading academic orthopaedic surgeon with a special interest in spinal deformity and disease, Associate Professor Baker’s research focus is on infection and metastatic cancer of the spine, particularly in children. His work is enhancing understanding of spinal conditions and injuries, predictors…
Associate Professor Bridgette Masters-Awatere draws on mātauranga Māori knowledge to inform medical best practice. Associate Professor Masters-Awatere has been instrumental in embedding Kaupapa Māori approaches and principles into medical and health-related research, creating meaningful health impacts for Māori at individual, community, service-provision and policy levels. Her focus is consistently reflected in her publication record, supervisory…
Biogeochemist Dr Terry Isson has clarified the link between silica-rich marine ecosystems and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, with big implications for climate change. Dr Isson’s work reveals the death of creatures such as single-cell plankton, that have skeletons made of silica, influence levels of dissolved silica in seawater and its subsequent deposit in marine clays,…
With her research into goat milk and its impact on brain processes, Dr Anica Klockars is traversing new ground in nutritional research. When breastfeeding is not possible or practical, formula feeding is the alternative. Cow-milk products are the usual choice but rising popularity of goat milk options revealed a research gap. Dr Klockars examined the…
Dr. Etuini Ma’u’s leadership and research is improving our understanding of dementia care needs, particularly in relation to Pacific people. As our population ages, the number of people with dementia is rapidly increasing. An academic psychiatrist specialising in mental health services for older people, Dr. Ma’u is currently undertaking a PhD looking at dementia prevention,…