Monday 27 February 2006
$5.6 Million Invested in New Research Chairs, Fellowship
Otago’s Leading Thinkers Advancement Campaign Builds Momentum
In a major announcement today, the University of Otago released details of two foundation professorships and a new
fellowship. The three projects are all additions to the University’s Leading Thinkers Initiative and have been made
possible by gifts to the University totalling $2.81 million.
The two new professorships are the New Zealand Institute for Cancer Research Trust Chair in Cancer Pathology and the
Chair in Viral Pathogenesis. The fellowship is the Gama Research Fellowship in Bipolar Disorder.
The Leading Thinkers Initiative was launched to build on the University’s current research strengths and ‘human
capital’, said University Vice-Chancellor Professor David Skegg. “Universities need physical capital - we couldn’t
function without buildings or computers - but in the end it is people who can make a university great. Leading Thinker
projects all support people who are distinguished researchers in their fields,” said Professor Skegg.
Leading Thinker projects attract matching dollar for dollar funding from the Government through a Partnerships for
Excellence agreement, meaning that the total sum announced today effectively exceeds $5.6 million. The money will be
invested through the University of Otago Foundation Trust, with the income being used to support the new research
positions.
“These gifts bring substantial and long-term benefits to the University and we are most grateful to our donor partners
for their support and the confidence they have shown in us,” said Professor Skegg.
These new projects bring to 12 the total number established to date by the Leading Thinkers Initiative, with total funds
now reaching $20 million. This was almost half way to the $50 million projected total and several more projects are
currently in the pipeline, said Director of Development Dr Clive Matthewson.
“In fact, another new professorship is signed up and will be announced shortly. We’re building momentum. This is great
news for the University and for the South Island, but also for people everywhere in New Zealand because the research
pursued by these new professors is aimed at contributing to their health,” Dr Matthewson said.
ENDS