Health Research Council Funding Announcement

Housing, Cancer, Heart Disease And Injury Prevention Research

NEWS RELEASE

NEW FUNDING FOR HOUSING, CANCER, HEART DISEASE AND INJURY PREVENTION RESEARCH

Four major new research programmes were awarded a total of more than $8 million by the Health Research Council in its latest funding round, which was released today.

Housing and health

Dr Philippa Howden-Chapman will lead this three-year programme worth more than $2.5m on the impact of housing on health, based at the Wellington School of Medicine. This is the first programme the HRC has funded on this topic. Different research projects will clarify how our indoor environment affects our health, and evaluate housing changes which are designed to improve individual, family and community health. Comment - Dr Philippa Howden-Chapman, phone 04 385 5999 ex 6047(w), fax 04 385 5951, e-mail howdenc@wnmeds.ac.nz

Cancer drugs

Associate Professor William Wilson and Professor William Denny are based at the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre at the University of Auckland. They have been awarded more than $2.3m to develop two cancer drugs for clinical trials. These prodrugs are designed to be switched on selectively within tumours. Comment - Associate Professor William Wilson, phone 09 307 4949 ex 6283 (w), fax 09 357 0479, wr.wilson@auckland.ac.nz

Injury prevention

Professor John Langley and Dr David Chalmers lead a team of researchers in the Injury Prevention Research Unit at the University of Otago. They have been awarded more than $2.3m to study how to further reduce the amount and severity of injury in New Zealand life. This includes sport, traffic, children, work and hazardous drinking. Comment - Professor John Langley, phone 03 479 8511 (w), fax 03 479 8337, john.langley@ipru.otago.ac.nz

Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases

Dr Anthony Rodgers and Professor Craig Anderson and a team of 18 researchers at the Clinical Trials Research Unit at the University of Auckland have been awarded more that $1.5m. They will build on earlier research into the causes of cardiovascular disease and how it can be more effectively prevented. Among multiple planned projects is a trial of chitosan, a New Zealand squid industry by-product, for obesity and lower cholesterol, and a trial of vitamin C for blood pressure reduction. Comment - Dr Anthony Rodgers, phone 09 373 7599 ex 4716 (w), fax 09 373 1710, a.rodgers@ctru.auckland.ac.nz

Comment about HRC funding - Dr Bruce Scoggins, Chief Executive, phone 09 303 5203 (w), 021 959 118 or 520 4662 (h)

Complete new contract list follows.

HEALTH RESEARCH ANNUAL FUNDING ROUND RESULTS

The HRC received 207 applications in its annual project round and awarded a total of 53 contracts. These were chosen in a two-step process involving local and overseas expert referees who work in the same research area, and intense scrutiny by specialised assessing committees. The total amount for new contracts was $31,428,953 (excluding GST).

NEW HRC PROGRAMMES

Dr Philippa Howden-Chapman, Associate Professor Julian Crane, Dr Michael Baker, Dr Chris Cunningham, Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine, phone 04 385 5999 ex 6047 Housing and health research programme, 36 months, $2,530,000

Professor John Langley, Dr David Chalmers, Dr Dorothy Begg, Injury Prevention Research Unit, University of Otago, 03 479 8511 Injury prevention research, 36 months, $2,320,000

Dr Anthony Rodgers, Professor Craig Anderson, Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 4716 Causes, prevention and treatment of vascular diseases, 36 months, $1,570,000

Associate Professor William Wilson, Professor William Denny, Dr Adam Patterson, Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, 09 307 4949 ex 6283 Tumour-activated prodrugs for cancer therapy, 36 months, $2,350,000

EXTENSIONS TO HRC PROGRAMMES

Dr Carolyn Coggan, Injury Prevention Research Centre, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 6345 Injury prevention research, 24 months, $460,000

Dr Chris Cunningham, Putahi-a-Toi, Massey University, 06 350 5527 Te Pumanawa Hauora, 24 months, $506,000

Professor Peter Joyce, Dr Frances Carter, Ms VirginiaMcIntosh, Dr Janice McKenzie, Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 372 0404 Mental health clinical research centre, 24 months, $778,000

Professor Murray Mitchell, Dr Jeffrey Keelan Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Auckland, 09 3737599 6331 Molecular mechanisms and strategies for the prevention of preterm birth, 24 months $709,000

Professor Ian Reid, Dr Jillian Cornish, Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 6259 Studies in bone and calcium metabolism, 24 months, $1,633,174

NEW PROJECTS

Professor Craig Anderson, Associate Professor Neil Anderson, Professor Valery Feigin, Dr Ngaire Kerse, Dr Paul Brown, Ms Lorna Dyall, Ms Elizabeth Mitchelson, Dr Harry McNaughton, Dr Sitaleki Finau, Professor Ruth Bonita, Mr Malakai Ofanoa, Dr Derrick Bennett, Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 4727 Determinants of stroke impact on individuals, families and the community, 36 months, $1,236,508

Associate Professor Innes Asher, Dr Richard Mackay, Dr Philip Pattemore, Professor Neil Pearce, Dr Chris Moyes, Department of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 6451 International study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) phase three fieldwork in New Zealand, 12 months, $165,716

Dr Joanne Baxter, Dr John Broughton, Professor David Fergusson, Mr John Horwood, Mrs Christine Rimene, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, 03 479 8424 Maori health in the Christchurch Health and Development Study, 36 months, $323,314

Dr Annette Beautrais, Professor David Fergusson, Canterbury Suicide Project, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 372 0408 Suicidal behaviour in young adults, 36 months, $382,908

Dr Nigel Birch, Dr Eva Mezey, Dr Walter Young III, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 8239 Axon regeneration through regulation of extracellular proteolysis, 36 months, $490,384

Associate Professor Stephen Chambers, Dr Peter George, Dr Michael Lever, Associate Professor Richard Robson, Dr David McGregor, Professor Justin Roake, Department of Pathology, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 364 0951 Betaines and dimethylglycine: Role in treatment of elevated homocysteine in renal failure, 36 months, $620,480

Ms Jacqueline Cumming, Ms Toni Ashton, Ms Pauline Barnett, Ms Pamela Scott, Ms Cynthia Kiro, Dr Chris Cunninham, Ms Amohia Boulton, Ms Marie Russell, Dr Tim Tenbensel, Professor Michael Powell, Professor Gregor Coster, Health Services Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, 04 463 6567 Assessing goverance, purchasing and accountability in the New Zealand health care sector, 36 months, $606,139

Ms Lis Ellison-Loschmann, Professor Neil Pearce, Ms Irihapeti Ramsden, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Wellington Campus, 04 380 0602 Asthma in Maori adolescents, 36 months, $210,966

Professor David Fergusson, Mr John Horwood, Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 372 0406 The prevalence and consequences of cannabis use in young adults, 36 months, $314,383

Professor David Fergusson, Mr John Horwood, Dr Lianne Woodward, Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 372 0406 Outcome evaluation of Early Start, 36 months, $417,935

Professor David Fergusson, Dr Elisabeth Wells, Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 372 0406 Psychiatric disorder: Prevalence, comorbidity and treatment seeking in young adults, 36 months, $242,104

Professor David Fergusson, Dr Elisabeth Wells, Department of Psychological Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 372 0406 Consequences of alcohol use/abuse in young adulthood, 36 months, $336,380

Dr Gregory Funk, Associate Professor Gary Housley, Professor Janusz Lipski, Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 6317 Modulation of central respiratory networks by ATP, 36 months, $579,060

Dr Alistair Gunn, Dr Laura Bennet, Dr Jennifer Westgate, Research Centre for Developmental Medicine and Biolology, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 6793 Chronic hypoxia and ECG prediction of fetal compromise during brief repeated asphyxia, 36 months, $388,865

Dr Martin Kennedy, Dr Vicky Cameron, Dr Paul Edgar, Dr Geraldine Rogers, Associate Professor Evan Begg, Professor Peter Joyce, Department of Pathology, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 364 1222 Identifying molecular determinants of antidepressant drug response, 36 months, $664,883

Professor Graham Le Gros, Dr Sarah Hook, Dr Charles Mackay, Dr John Miller, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington School of Medicine, 04 389 5096 Mycobacteria induced inhibition of atopic airway disease, 37 months, $658,103

Professor Jim Mann, Dr Kirsten McAuley, Ms Eleanor Murphy, Mrs Sheila Williams, Professor Ailsa Goulding, Dr Noela Wilson, Dr Alex Chisholm, Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, 03 479 7719 Lifestyle intervention to improve insulin sensitivity, 30 months, $608,715

Dr David Markie, Department of Pathology, University of Otago, 03 479 5060 Identifying new genes in the mitotic spindle checkpoint, 36 months, $629,432

Dr Colin McArthur, Associate Professor Rinaldo Bellomo, Professor Stephen MacMahon, Professor Robyn Norton, Dr Anthony Williams, Dr Sefon Henderson, Dr Keith Hickling, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Auckland Healthcare. 09 307 2892 Saline versus Albumin Fluid Evaluation, 24 months, $385,739

Associate Professor John McCall, Dr Rohan Ameratunga, Dr Adam Bartlett, Professor Stephen Munn, Department of Surgery, Auckland Hospital. 09 307 4949 ex 7697 Immunological tolerance in liver transplant recipients, 13 months, $98,486

Associate Professor Ian McLennan, Dr Kyoko Koishi, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, University of Otago, 03 479 7346 The adult neuron in neurodegenerative disorders, 36 months, $582,675

Anne McNicholas, Kathryn Leslie, Ms Jane MacDonald, Miss Maria Turley, Mr Nicholas Garrett, Environmental and Health Effects, Institute of Environmental Science and Research, 04 914 0693 Prevalence of urogenital chlamydia infection in female university students, 17 months, $118,182

Dr Tony Merriman, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, 03 479 5798 Chromosome 18 and susceptibility to auto-immune disease, 36 months, $1,045,624

Dr Patricia Metcalf, Ms Lorna Dyall, Dr Sitaleki 'Ata'ata Finau, Professor Rodney Jackson, Professor Robert Scragg, Dr Peter Black, Department of Community Health, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 8856 Monitoring cardiovascular risk factors in Auckland, 36 months, $1,553,373

Ms Laurie Morrison, Ms Lorna Dyall, Department of Psychology, University of Waikato, 07 838 4505 The health implications of new forms of gambling on Maori women and their whanau, 36 months, $45,000

Professor Gary Nicholls, Mr Tim Prickett, Professor Mark Richards, Dr Tim Yandle, Dr Miriam Rademaker, Department of Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 364 0903 Identity, circulating levels and applications of aminoterminal C-Type natriuretic peptide, 36 months, $380,687

Dr Janis Paterson, Dr Colin Tukuitonga, Faculty of Health Studies, Auckland University of Technology, 09 917 9999 ex 7324 Pacific Islands families study: First two years of life, 30 months, $457,220

Professor Neil Pearce, Dr Jeroen Douwes, Professor Graham Le Gros, Dr Angela Zacharasiewicz, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Wellington Campus, 04 380 0606 Airway inflammation in childhood asthma: The contribution of non-allergic mechanisms, 24 months, $316,490

Professor Neil Pearce, Dr Michael Baker, Dr Jeroen Douwes, Dr Angela Zacharasiewicz, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Wellington Campus, 04 380 0606 Childhood infections and asthma risk, 12 months, $424,134

Ms Mihi Ratima, Mrs Maureen Holdaway, Dr Guy Naden, Professor Neil Pearce, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Wellington Campus, 04 380 0602 A type 2 diabetes control demonstration project for rural Maori, 36 months, $194,486

Dr Christopher Sissons, Dr Martin Lee, Dr St John Wakefield, Ms Lisa Wong, Dr Richard Cannon, Department of Pathology, Wellington School of Medicine, 04 385 5549 Evaluation of caries risk and treatment programs in young children by oral microbiota studies, 60 months, $1,135,001

Professor Paul Smith, Associate Professor Cynthia Darlington, Department of Pharmacology, University of Otago, 03 479 7266 The contribution of inhibitory amino acids to recovery from vestibular damage, 36 months, $620,053

Dr Christopher Strey, Professor Gary Nicholls, Professor Mark Richards, Dr Russell Scott, Dr John Lainchbury, Lipid and Diabetes Research Group, Christchurch Hospital, 03 364 1586 HMG CoA reductase inhibitor treatment for endothelial dysfunction in heart failure, 25 months, $186,276

Professor Warren Tate, Dr Chris Brown, Dr Elizabeth Poole, Dr Russell Poulter, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, 03 479 5614 Strategies for novel drugs against HIV, HBV and pathogenic fungi, 36 months, $916,125

Ms Jacqui Te Kani, Dr Fiona Cram, Ms Leonie Pihama, Dr Papaarangi Reid, Maori Women's Welfare League, Wellington, 04 473 6451 Rapuora: Health and Maori women II (phase 1), 24 months, $348,100

Dr David Tipene-Leach, Ms Eileen Clarke, Ms Riripeti Haretuku, Dr Tim McCreanor, Dr Sally Abel, Department of Maori and Pacific Health, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 7601 Experiences of Maori SIDS parents, caregivers and whanau, 18 months, $155,865

Professor Les Toop, Associate Professor Stephen Chambers, Dr Derelie Richards. Department of Public Health and General Practice, Christchurch School of Medicine, 03 364 0536 Optimising antibiotic use in the management of uncomplicated urinary tract infection, 12 months, $94,918

Mr Charles Waldergrave, Dr Peter King, Ms Catherine Love, Ms Kiwi Tamasese, Social Policy Research Unit, The Family Centre, 04 569 7112 The social dynamics underlying impacts of housing crowding and costs upon health, 24 months, $205,331

Dr Philip Weinstein, Ms Rebekah Eyles, Dr Heather Brooks, Professor Colin Townsend, Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine, 04 385 5999 ex 6055 Characterisation of Campylobacter strains from human cases and water in the Taieri catchment, 12 months, $70,815

Dr Jinny Willis, Professor Brian Darlow, Dr Russell Scott, Lipid and Diabetes Research Group, Christchurch Hospital, 03 364 0448 Epidemiology and immunogenetic features of diabetes in children and adolescents, 36 months, $151,703

NEW HRC STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS

Dr Peter Black, Dr Phillippa Poole, Dr Robert Young, Department of Medicine, Auckland Hospital, 09 379 7440 Randomised, controlled trial of N-acetyl cysteine in exacerbations of COPD, 7 months, $43,800

Ms Riri Ellis, Centre for Interdisciplinary Management Studies, University of Waikato, 07 577 5323 Assessing social marketing as a tool to improve Maori public health gains, 18 months, $98,933

Ms Marewa Glover, Department of Applied Behavioural Science, University of Auckland, 09 373 7599 ex 6560 Attitudes of pregnant Maori women and their healthcare providers to smoking cessation, 30 months, $23,142

Ms Mihi Ratima, Professor Mason Durie, Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University Wellington Campus, 04 380 0602 Foundations for Maori health promotion, 12 months, $44,346

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