News of New Zealanders via Global Media

Christopher Shaw leads motor neuron research

Christopher Shaw leads motor neuron research

Professor Christopher Shaw, Professor of Neurology at Kings College London and Otago  University  graduate in Medicine (1984), is to co-lead a team to clone embryos to study motor neuron disease, in particular those patients whose condition cannot…

SurfAid International Races Aid to Tsunami Areas

SurfAid International Races Aid to Tsunami Areas

SurfAid International   a non-profit organization founded by New Zealander Dr Dave Jenkins dedicated to the alleviation of human suffering through community-based health programs, has secured $500,000 worth of medical supplies and equipment, including 10,000 mosquito nets,…

Make No Bones About It

Make No Bones About It

NZ has again opened a new path in medicine, this time in the field of bone reconstruction. Dr George Dias of Otago University’s anatomy and structural biology department struck on the idea of using a material based…

Healer of Body, Mind and Soul

Healer of Body, Mind and Soul

The Guardian pays tribute to Duncan Forrest, NZ born surgeon and renowned anti-torture campaigner. An “outstanding and innovative paediatric surgeon,” Forrest spent his career at the vanguard of surgical developments in spina bifida, hydrocephalus and cleft palate….

Kiwis Breathe Easy

Kiwis Breathe Easy

NZ has joined Ireland and Norway in banning the smoking of tobacco in bars, casinos and restaurants. “The 75% of NZers who do not smoke have the right to a smokefree environment, and we congratulate the…

Iron-will an Inspiration

Iron-will an Inspiration

The inspiring story of Napier mother-of-four, Tracey Richardson, has made headlines around the world. Two of Richardson’s children have cystic fibrosis and, in 2002, she decided to create awareness for the disease by competing in the…

Hobblers Anonymous

Hobblers Anonymous

Paul Kennett of the NZ Police has founded what is believed to be the first broken leg recovery room online. Entitled ‘My Broken Leg,’ the website was inspired by Kennett’s own biking accident and has quickly caught…

A Kiwifruit a Day…

A Kiwifruit a Day…

Eating kiwifruit can help ward off heart disease, according to new research undertaken in Norway. Polyphenolic compounds in the fruit cut the amount of fat platelets being pumped around the body and thin the blood, thus reducing…

New Findings, New Hope

New Findings, New Hope

Doctors at NZ’s Liggins Institute have made a crucial breakthrough in the study of breast cancer. Researchers have discovered a growth hormone in breast cancer cells which determines how quickly the cancer spreads. “We have found a…

Honey Power

Honey Power

Professor Peter Molan of Waikato University’s Honey Research Unit was the subject of a BBC feature on the healing power of honey. Molan hopes to take his area of expertise to the world via revolutionary wound dressings,…

Bring Back Germs

Bring Back Germs

According to a NZ report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, children who suffer from asthma at an early age are less likely to outgrow the disease by adulthood. The figures are drawn from an…

Gene-injected Performance

Gene-injected Performance

Dr Matthew During of Auckland University is part of a US medical team promoting the groundbreaking use of gene therapy in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Speaking in New York, During emphasised that the procedure was…

Living Large

Living Large

New research undertaken at Auckland University suggests that the tendency towards obesity occurs in the womb, rather than as a result of our remote-control society. The findings – recently published in the American Physiological Society journal -…

Tukuitonga Joins WHO’s Who

Tukuitonga Joins WHO’s Who

Nieuean Colin Tukuitonga has resigned as NZ’s director of health to take up a post with the United Nations World Health Organisation. Tukuitonga, a former community health lecturer at Auckland University, will work in non-communicable diseases and…

Edge Therapies in Demand

Edge Therapies in Demand

Virionyx – the NZ company behind an experimental new AIDS drug – has been hired by two US organisations to develop therapies for diseases such as SARS. Said PM Helen Clark, at the opening of Virionyx’s…

NZ Says No to “Suckle Chuckle”

NZ Says No to “Suckle Chuckle”

Apparently, the NZ public is “not ready” for the image of a breast-feeding man. The Ministry of Health vetoed an advertisement designed by the Women’s Health Action group in support of World Breastfeeding Week, stating that it…

Unemployed at Risk

Unemployed at Risk

Research into suicide conducted by the Wellington School of Medicine has been published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health and reported on around the world. The findings – based on the NZ population for three…

Via Satellite

Via Satellite

In a world first, surgical teams in NZ and Australia have successfully completed a trans-Tasman kidney operation using state-of-the -art digital conferencing technology. The procedure itself took place in Christchurch, where a team of doctors led by…

Battle of the Bulge

Battle of the Bulge

Auckland University is at the forefront of new medical research linking malnutrition at the time of conception to instances of premature birth. Pediatrician Dr. Frank Bloomfield has conducted a study using sheep which ” suggest that…

Tea-total

Tea-total

Auckland University researcher, Joy Hsu, has confirmed the belief of generations: a strong, hot cuppa works wonders. Hsu measured the antioxidant levels of 33 types of green, black and oolong teas to discover that the stronger and…

Brain-gain

Brain-gain

The findings of a team of Auckland University researchers have created hope for sufferers of degenerative brain disease. According to Professor Richard Faull, diseased brains produce new cells to replace dying ones at a previously unknown rate….

Perils of Modern Life

Perils of Modern Life

Who says desk-jobs are easy? NZ medical researchers have discovered a potentially deadly threat to frequent computer users. Dubbed “e-thrombosis,” the blood-clotting disorder has similar effects to those sometimes suffered by long-distance air travellers. The methods of prevention…

Tribute to Edge-geneticist

Tribute to Edge-geneticist

NZ’s “third man of the double helix” Maurice Wilkins has been honoured in the lead-up to next year’s 50th anniversary of DNA. In 1962, Wilkins shared the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with fellow discoverers…

Team NZ’s High-tech Edge

Team NZ’s High-tech Edge

NZ bioengineering group, Christian Cook, have developed a radical method of keeping Team NZ one step ahead of their rivals. Health levels of the 36 sailors are monitored via a daily “blood reading.” The low-frequency ultrasound delivers…

Edge Medicine

Edge Medicine

Gene therapist Matt During and his team of trans-pacific researchers have announced a “significant advance” in their search for a potentially revolutionary treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Published in the prestigious journal Science the findings derive from a technique…

The Mating Game

The Mating Game

Challenging the common assumption that reproduction is a random process, Auckland University’s Valerie Grant claims to be able to predict whether a woman is more likely to produce male or female offspring via a “personality test.” By…

Lolita, Letters and the Language Instinct

Lolita, Letters and the Language Instinct

Influential scientist Steven (The Language Instinct) Pinker names New Zealanders Brian Boyd and Denis Dutton amongst his exemplary practitoners contributing towards a third culture “convergence” of art and science. To Pinker, the Nabakov scholar and founder of…

A Model Diet

A Model Diet

British scientists have developed a type of pet food aimed at helping arthritic dogs. The “joint support” food contains NZ green-lipped mussels, which have an ideal combination of fatty acids and antioxidants for reducing pain caused by…

Cell Growth

Cell Growth

London-based NZ biochemist Dr Peter Shepherd was honoured for his groundbreaking work on the causes of type-2 diabetes at the London Biotechnology Network (London, Oxford and Cambridge) biotechnology excellence event in London. Shepherd was joint winner of…

Do You Remember?

Do You Remember?

Why are our early years a blur? Otago University’s Gabrielle Simcock and Harlene Hayne have found a clue. According to their research, so-called “childhood amnesia” is ultimately informed by language development. After conducting controlled memory experiments, the…

Diabetes Breakthrough #2

Diabetes Breakthrough #2

New Zealand biotechnology company Diatranz will run clinical trials, in the Cook Islands, of an experimental diabetes treatment which once in place start making diabetes-curing insulin. The controversial treatment involves transplanting cells from pigs…

I Can See Your Heart Beat

I Can See Your Heart Beat

Auckland University’s Bioengineering Institute  leads ground-breaking new research into heart and lung modeling and software development. Led by Dr Peter Hunter, the team of in silico biologists translate human organs “into thousands of mathematical equations and millions…

Diabetes Breakthrough

Diabetes Breakthrough

Diatranz of Auckland claims it has conducted a successful trial that could eventually provide a cure for 15 million people around the world with type 1 diabetes who currently need daily injections of insulin. The Mexican…

The Heart of the Matter

The Heart of the Matter

Dr Peter Hunter, of the University of Auckland, has created a “virtual heart” – hailed by Economist magazine as a spectacular example of in silico biology, an emerging discipline that brings computing power to bear on…

DMXAA Discovery Fights Cancer

DMXAA Discovery Fights Cancer

Yahoo News recognises Professors Bruce Baguley and William Denny of the Cancer Society Research Centre , University of Auckland, for their discovery of DMXAA, a significant new development in to cancer research.

The Genetics of Antipodean Cattle

The Genetics of Antipodean Cattle

The Times of India reports that “an Australian-New Zealand company aims to run off copies of top breeding bulls for export to the world.”

Doctor Nurse

Doctor Nurse

“There is not many people I take my hat off to, but I take my hat off to Olly. She is one of the best sisters we have ever had,” says Wanaaring local Jimmy Skinner…

Best Breath? No Breast!

Best Breath? No Breast!

Breast-feed infants may have a greater chance of developing asthma in later life according to a study conducted on over 1000 New Zealanders.

As Good as New?

As Good as New?

Age should be no barrier to going under the surgeon’s knife: 85 year-old patients come out of surgery as well as 65-year old patients according to Auckland researcher Dr Falah Haddawi, who believes the elderly are…

Dozing at the Wheel

Dozing at the Wheel

42% of drivers involved in crashes are affected by lack of shut-eye according to research done by the Wellington School of Medicine Sleep Investigation Centre.

Good Health Globally

Good Health Globally

New Zealand doctors spread the word on good health with on-line Doctor Global.

Antelope Contagion

Antelope Contagion

Professor Roger Morris of Massey University believes he has tracked down the source of the BSE epidemic – an antelope from a wildlife park, probably in south-west Britain. His paper on the subject will be published…

Picking the IQ Knot

Picking the IQ Knot

Otago scholar James Flynn suggests our brains rise to the occasion, developing higher IQs in response to more challenging work and environments.

Mussel and Bone

Mussel and Bone

New Zealand green-lipped mussels put the flexibility back into stiff joints.

Milk for the Heart

Milk for the Heart

It’s a rogue protein in diary products, not fat, that clogs the arteries and causes heart disease according to New Zealand scientist Dr Corrie McLachlan.

Smokin’ Gun

Smokin’ Gun

New Zealand anti-smoking study reveals passive smoking’s deadly aim and gives Massachusetts legislation breath of life.

Star-jumps for Gran

Star-jumps for Gran

Seniors who perform supervised exercises at home reduce the risk of falls and serious injury report two studies from Otago Medical school.

Science Award in Memory of New Zealand Doctor

Science Award in Memory of New Zealand Doctor

The 14th Bruce F Cain Memorial Award, commemorating Dr Cain’s work on anti-cancer drugs, was awarded by the American Association to  Yale Professor Alan C. Sartorelli for his work in the same field.

Gene Out of the Bottle

Gene Out of the Bottle

A gene identified by Auckland National Women’s Hospital researchers may help woman at risk of early menopause to plan children or have eggs frozen for later.

Sweet Tooth

Sweet Tooth

Dental-wise, honey’s sweet as says Waikato scientist Dr Peter Molan.

Gene Genie

Gene Genie

Edge Gene Therapist and Professor of Neurosurgery at the Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia Matthew During, releases a first and major step forward in the prevention and possible treatment of stomach cancers through a technique involving oral doses…

We Want Waitangi

We Want Waitangi

Canadian victims of the Feb blues want a holiday, citing Waitangi day’s health-giving properties.

Wheezy September

Wheezy September

Mysterious medical matter: asthma admission in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Trinidad all have an unexplained annual peak in the third week of September.

Long in the Tooth – at 26

Long in the Tooth – at 26

New Zealand researchers have uncovered the biting truth – periodontal disease, which leads to loss of teeth, can be a problem from as early as 26.

Keep Your Skin On

Keep Your Skin On

A New Zealand-developed vaccine “switches off” debillitating skin disease psoriasis.  

Baby Step

Baby Step

Researchers at Auckland University have uncovered a gene that may be linked to premature menopause, a condition that prevents up to 1% of women from bearing children.