Health researchers investigate major issues

Health researchers investigate major issues

A number of significant health issues facing New Zealanders will be addressed by Wellington researchers in the latest Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) funding round grants.

The HRC is the principal Government agency responsible for funding health
research in New Zealand.

Five research projects will address public health issues including obesity and diabetes and tobacco control, while two research projects will seek to improve treatments for serious disease.

Dr Jeremy Krebs from the University of Otago’s Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences (WSM & HS) will lead a study to test the effectiveness of two specific diets on overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes and obesity are reaching epidemic proportions in New Zealand and reducing the incidence and impact of these conditions is a top health priority.

WSM & HS will also host a study following a group of smokers and evaluating their responses to national tobacco control interventions. Dr Nick Wilson and fellow researchers will participate in the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Survey. This will also allow New Zealand to examine the effects of policies not yet adopted by New Zealand.

Public health researcher, Associate Professor Tony Blakely from WSM & HS, will develop the School’s research into health inequalities with a study named Cancer Trends. This study will determine the ethnic and socio-economic trends in cancer incidence and survival in NZ.

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