Record grants for health research from Lotteries

The University of Otago Christchurch has received more than double last year's grants from the Lottery Grants Board for health research for 2008. The grants for new or ongoing health research are for $1.1 million dollars over 11 projects ranging from drug use in the elderly, to genetic changes in leukaemia, to risk factors in inflammatory bowel disease.

Professor Evan Begg from Clinical Pharmacology ($94K) is to study free drug metabolic clearance in the elderly. The results aim to confirm if it is possible to make consistent recommendations about dose reductions of drugs in the elderly, thus reducing adverse side effects.

Professor Steven Chambers from Pathology ($78.8K) is studying diagnosis of the bacterium pseudomonas aeruginosa by breath testing. The aim is to identify a marker that can be developed for this infection in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.

Dr Margaret Currie, Angiogenesis Research, ($178K) is investigating whether insulin resistance fuels tumour growth and colon cancer progression. Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths and there are increased risks with being overweight or obese.

Dr Leigh Ellmers, Christchurch Cardioendocrine Research ($13.4K).The effect of long-term urocortin 2 treatment following heart attack.

Professor Zoltan Endre, Department of Medicine, ($105K). Investigating preventing and reversing the effects of diabetes on the kidney. Kidney disease is the second most common cause of death in patients with diabetes.

Dr Ursula Jewell, Cancer Genetics Research. $165K to go towards the purchase of a state-of the art microarray scanner. She has also received $120K to further investigate hidden genetic changes in leukaemia by high-resolution microarray profiling.

Dr Barry Palmer, Cardioendocrine Research ($43K) is researching gene variants from the X chromosome in heart disease. The aim is to provide findings to develop tests that can be used in patient risk profiles and individual treatment regimens.

Dr Tim Prickett, Cardioendocrine Research ($121K) is investigating heart hormones and bone formation. The findings may lead to new prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and monitoring bone growth in adults.

Dr Rebecca Roberts, Gene Structure and Function Laboratory ($91.4K) is investigating genetic risk factors for irritable bowel disease.

Professor Tim Yandle, Cardioendocrine Research ($114K) is investigating a new system for multiple and simultaneous immunoassays.