What have we achieved so far?

Leading Thinkers

  • AgResearch Chair in Reproduction and Genomics
  • Alexander McMillan Chair in Childhood Studies
  • Carney Centre for Pharmacogenomics
  • The Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance
  • Centre for Molecular Research in Infectious Diseases
  • The Community Trust of Otago National Centre for Trace Element Analysis
  • Cure Kids Chair in Child Health Research
  • Cure Kids Chair in Paediatric Research
  • Dunedin City Chair in Entrepreneurship
  • Eamon Cleary Chair in Irish Studies
  • Chair in Early Modern Philosophy
  • The Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research and Education
  • Gama Research Fellowship in Bipolar Disorder
  • Howard Paterson Chair in Theology and Public Issues
  • Karitane Senior Research Fellowship in Early Childhood Obesity
  • McAuley Chair in International Health
  • New Zealand Institute for Cancer Research Trust Chair in Cancer Pathology
  • New Zealand Law Foundation Chair in Emerging Technologies
  • Ocean Science Vessel – Polaris II
  • Chair in Peace & Conflict Studies
  • The Ron Lister Chair in Geography
  • Stuart Chair in Science Communication
  • Stuart Chair in Scottish Studies
  • TD Scott Chair in Urology
  • University of Otago Legal Issues Centre
  • Chair in Viral Pathogenesis

AgResearch Chair in Reproduction and Genomics

Professor Neil Gemmell
Donor – AgResearch Ltd

This Chair strengthens the research partnership between New Zealand’s most research-intensive university and the largest Crown Research Institute. A joint Centre for Reproduction and Genomics will be set up at the same time. The Chair will add capability in the field of reproductive science, clearly important to New Zealand, and the physical proximity of the University’s Dunedin campus and AgResearch at Invermay will make collaboration especially fruitful.

Alexander McMillan Chair in Childhood Studies

Professor Gordon Harold
Donor – Alexander McMillan Trust

This endowment enables the Centre for Research on Children & Families at the University of Otago to be further developed as a nationally and internationally recognized authoritative source of multidisciplinary research on the wellbeing and rights of children and young people, and a significant influence on public policy.

Carney Centre for Pharmacogenomics

Associate Professor Martin Kennedy
Donor - Jim and Mary Carney Charitable Trust

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genes influence a patient’s response to drugs. This new research area has created great excitement through the promise of understanding genetic differences that contribute to risk of side effects or failure of drug treatment, and the possibility of better tailoring medications to each patient, leading to improved safety and effectiveness.

2007 Annual Report - pp47-52

Donor impressed

Carney Centre News

The Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance

The Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance honours Caroline Plummer (1978-2003). Caroline completed a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and a Diploma for Graduates in Dance, and was awarded the University of Otago Prestige Scholarship in Arts. What made her academic achievement most remarkable was that she was diagnosed with and treated for cancer during her study. Caroline completed her degrees in November 2002, and she was given a personal graduation ceremony in March 2003. She died on 28 April 2003. The Fellowship acknowledges Caroline's outstanding scholarship at the University of Otago, her passion for dance, and her vision for community dance in New Zealand.

This Fellowship has been made possible by the Caroline Plummer Memorial Trust's mission to remember and maintain Caroline's aspiration that: "dance be utilised in more and more positive ways to help us embrace the diversity and difference that makes our world so fantastic". In order to continue Caroline's vision, the Trust donated to the University of Otago the funds necessary to establish and maintain the Caroline Plummer Dance Fellowship. Further information regarding the Caroline Plummer Memorial Trust can be found at http://www.carolineplummer.org.nz.

The University of Otago has a proud heritage of remembering its alumni, and celebrating those people who have made memorable contributions to society. The University notably acknowledges the importance of New Zealand's arts communities through its support for Fellowships in the creative arts. The Caroline Plummer Dance Fellowship joins this suite of Fellows in recognition of the value and role of dance, both within New Zealand society, and within the University. This world-leading Fellowship will stimulate national and international research and practice in community dance.

The Fellow will be located at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, within the School of Physical Education. Further information regarding the Caroline Plummer Dance Fellowship can be obtained by emailing cpfellow@otago.ac.nz or by contacting the School of Physical Education, telephone 64 3 479 8991.

2007 Annual Report - pp52-57

Application information for the Fellowship is available.

Download the Conditions of Award (40k in PDF format)
Download the Conditions of Award (60k in DOC format)

Download the Application Form (52k in PDF format)
Download the Application Form (80k in DOC format)

Centre for Molecular Research in Infectious Diseases

Professor Kurt Krause
Donor – Dr John Thrash (USA)

The Centre is multidisciplinary and advances understanding of the molecular basis of some of the world’s worst human diseases. The laboratory’s work involves minutely probing the molecular structure of proteins inside infectious viruses and microbes to seek out weaknesses that can be exploited. Using state-of-the-art Xray equipment recently installed in the Biochemistry Department, the laboratory’s aim is to identify and closely examine sites of interest within these protein structures.

2007 Annual Report - pp63-67

For further details see news release:
Otago Magazine Issue 18 - pp6-10

The Community Trust of Otago National Centre for Trace Element Analysis

Dr Claudine Stirling
Donor - Community Trust of Otago

The Centre is one of two Leading Thinkers projects that use capital spending to both unlock the research capability of researchers already in the country and make the University of Otago (and thus New Zealand) a more attractive place to work for those now overseas.

The world-class Centre takes scientific detective work to a new level, and already the list of topics shows remarkable range across topics as diverse as climate change and the metabolism of the human body. The clean laboratory is now fully operational.

2007 Annual Report - pp86-92

For further details see news release:
Otago Magazine Issue 13 – pp33-34

Website: http://neon.otago.ac.nz/chemistry/consulting/

Cure Kids Chair of Child Health Research

Professor Stephen Robertson
Donor – The Child Health Research Foundation (CureKids)

This position, within the Dunedin School of Medicine, explores the genetic determinants underlying childhood diseases. Principal amongst these conditions are congenital malformations in which the laboratory has established itself a specialist niche that is recognised internationally. Professor Robertson is a clinical geneticist and contributes to teaching and treatment as well as research. His special interest is understanding the genetics of malformations that afflict children.

2007 Annual Report - pp78-81

For further details see news release:
Otago Magazine Issue 16 pp24-25

Cure Kids Chair in Paediatric Research

Professor Brian Darlow
Donor – The Child Health Research Foundation (CureKids)

The establishment of the Cure Kids Chair in Paediatric Research has enabled additional resources to be put in place to support and enhance established and future planned research programmes in Neonatal Medicine.

2007 Annual Report - pp118-122

For further details please see:

Cure Kids web site

Dunedin City Chair in Entrepreneurship

Professor Brendan Gray
Donor - Dunedin City Council

The University of Otago and the Dunedin City Council have joined forces to establish the Dunedin City Chair in Entrepreneurship. Professor Gray is based in the University’s School of Business and will introduce students to the skills needed to succeed in developing new or innovative businesses and will lead and expand academic developments in the area.

2007 Annual Report - pp93-96

Eamon Cleary Chair in Irish Studies

Professor Peter Kuch
Donor - Mr Eamon Cleary

Irish Studies will be able to focus academic attention on a range of issues that will have implications for and relevance to the future development of New Zealand’s society and its economy.

Established through the University’s Leading Thinkers Advancement programme, the Eamon Cleary Chair will enable the University of Otago to provide national leadership in the area of Irish Studies. This Chair will be an integrated multi-disciplinary programme drawing upon existing expertise in Irish literature, Celtic spirituality, economic history, Irish music, and recognised strengths in studies of community, cultural diversity, anthropology and issues of national identity.

The last two decades have seen a major resurgence of interest in Irish culture throughout the Western world, including New Zealand. This interest has been spurred by elements of political and economic devolution in Ireland, together with a renaissance of Irish culture.

The more recent economic rejuvenation of Ireland, adds a dimension that is of particular relevance to New Zealand and which, indeed, has attracted the attention of the New Zealand government. Ireland’s recent success as a small resource-based island in a globalised era has particular resonance in this context.

Issues which are fundamental to Irish Studies have a significance beyond the academic world since they raise problems of social exclusion and poverty, community relations, integration and social citizenship, political independence and devolution, race and inter-culturalism, national identity and the significance to home and host nations of waves of emigration/immigration. The introduction of Irish Studies will thus be able to focus academic attention on a range of issues that will have implications for and relevance to the future development of New Zealand’s society and its economy.

Otago has existing networks with Ireland including ongoing collaborative projects and will further formal linkages with Irish universities will be stimulated by the Chair. It is planned that provision for students to study Irish Gaelic will be made in the form of in-country study through an exchange agreement with University College Dublin.

   2007 Annual Report - pp97-98

   

Chair in Early Modern Philosophy

Professor Peter Anstey
Donor – Anonymous

Professor Peter Anstey took up this Chair in mid-2006, joining us from Australia, adding further critical mass to philosophy at Otago and researching the thought of those philosophers who thereby underpinned modern western political systems.

2007 Annual Report - pp72-74

For further details see news release:

Otago Magazine Issue 19 - pp26-28

The Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research and Education

Professor Jim Mann
Donors - Eion and Jan Edgar Charitable Trust

With the looming global obesity and diabetes epidemic, the world-leading work of the ENCDR in understanding and combating these diseases is more vital than ever.

2007 Annual Report - pp100-109

Website: http://www.otago.ac.nz/diabetes/research/otago.html

Gama Research Fellowship in Bipolar Disorder

Head of Mental Health Clinical Research Unit - Professor Peter Joyce
Gama Research Fellow – Ms Virginia Maskill
Donors – Gama Foundation, the Canterbury Community Trust and the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation

The Community Trust in Canterbury and the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation combined with the Gama Foundation to fund this fellowship that focuses on the way in which families interact with sufferers from bipolar disorder. This covers both how families are affected by the disorder and how they can help the sufferer. The Fellowship supports the research work of Leading Thinker Professor Peter Joyce in the University’s Christchurch School of Medicine.

2007 Annual Report - pp82-85

For further details see news release:
Otago Magazine Issue 14 pp5-8

Howard Paterson Chair in Theology and Public Issues

Professor Andrew Bradstock
Donors – Paterson Charitable Trust, Presbyterian Synod of Otago & Southland, Ian and Annette Tulloch

New Zealand's first research centre tackling social issues such as poverty, social welfare and the environment from a theological perspective will soon be established. The professorial appointee to the new Chair will direct a centre charged with undertaking and promoting informed theological and ethical analysis of the challenges facing contemporary New Zealand society.

For further information please contact the Department of Theology & Religious Studies

For further details see news release:
Otago Magazine Issue 8 – pp31-32

Karitane Senior Research Fellowship in Early Childhood Obesity

Dr Rachael Taylor
Donor – KPS Society Limited

Dr Taylor works within the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research and Education supporting the Centre’s Director, Professor Jim Mann, and contributes to furthering child - and thus adult - good health.

2007 Annual Report - pp110-114

Website: http://www.otago.ac.nz/diabetes/research/otago.html

McAuley Chair in International Health

Professor Philip Hill
Donor – Mercy Hospital Ltd (Sisters of Mercy)

This Chair, a New Zealand first, will build on the University’s established strength in such fields as public health, human nutrition and infectious diseases, and will help fulfil the commitment to international progress, including the needs of people in the developing world.

The Chair is funded by a gift from the Sisters of Mercy through the Mercy Hospital in Dunedin, who see this as a contribution to meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, with the name of the Chair commemorating the founder of the order.

Website: http://dnmeds.otago.ac.nz/departments/psm/research/international_hlth/research.html

New Zealand Institute for Cancer Research Trust Chair in Cancer Pathology

Professor Mike Eccles
Donor – New Zealand Institute for Cancer Research Trust

New Zealand has some of the worst cancer statistics in the OECD. But groundbreaking genetic research promises to kill rogue cells that cause cancer. Professor Eccles’ work seeks understanding about cancer diagnosis and treatment through first understanding the biology of the disease.

2007 Annual Report - pp68-71

 

New Zealand Law Foundation Chair in Emerging Technologies

Appointment to be made
Donor – NZ Law Foundation

The New Zealand Law Foundation Chair in Emerging Technologies will provide research leadership in New Zealand on legal, regulatory and policy issues arising from emerging technologies and aims to foster thoughtful and balanced public discussion.

Website: http://www.otago.ac.nz/law/genome/index.html

Ocean Science Vessel – Polaris II

Associate Dean of Research, Division of Sciences - Professor Gary Wilson
Donors – Community Trust of Otago, Mace Charitable Trust, Eion & Jan Edgar Charitable Trust, Callis Charitable Trust

The University purchased the fishing vessel Polaris II in 2006 for conversion to a research vessel and it was re-launched during 2007. This project qualifies as a long term investment in human capital because of the exceptional range of disciplines and of individual researchers who will access it to further their research output, over 20 researchers from 7 departments being identified at the time the University itself decided to invest a significant sum of its own capital. The research is important to our own marine nation and will also contribute to the world at large. A marine research Memorandum of Understanding with Auckland University was signed in conjunction with the boat purchase.

2007 Annual Report - pp115-117

For further details see news release:
Otago Magazine Issue 15 – pp26-29

Website: http://www.otago.ac.nz/MarineScience/vessel/

Chair in Peace & Conflict Studies

Professor Kevin Clements
Donor - Aotearoa Peace and Conflict Studies Trust

The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in Aotearoa New Zealand will create a unique institutional environment dedicated to critical reflection on the nature of conflict, its resolution and the creation of peaceful environments.

Website: Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflict Studies Centre

The Ron Lister Chair in Geography

Professor Tony Binns
Donor - Anonymous

Former University of Otago Foundation Chair of Geography, Professor Ron Lister, served as the Head of the Geography Department for nearly thirty years and inspired many students with his passion for the integrative discipline which aims to establish knowledge of relationships between and among human and natural systems.  He was also passionate about community issues and was involved with many organisations throughout Otago such as the QEII Trust, the Department of Conservation and the Otago Regional Council.

To pay tribute to his vision and enthusiasm for Geography at the University of Otago, a benefactor has assisted with the establishment of the Ron Lister Chair in Geography through the Advancement Programme's ìLeading Thinkers Campaign. The donor has also contributed a further gift making it possible for two additional appointments in Development Studies:

Lecturer in Geography, with a regional specialisation in India or China
An annual visiting Fellow to teach a Special Topic paper
These three positions have the potential to make the University a national centre of excellence in Development Studies bringing together a significant Research Cluster with inter-disciplinary programmes involving Geography, Economics, and Anthropology.

Taking up the position of the Ron Lister Chair of Geography on 5 October is Dr J A (Tony) Binns. Tony Binns was a Reader in Geography at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK, where he worked since 1975. Tony's field research has focused mainly on people-environment relationships in a development context, and on aspects of community-based development.

2007 Annual Report - pp58-62

For further details see news releases
Otago Magazine Issue 12 - pp24–26

Stuart Chair in Science Communication

Professor Lloyd Davis
Donor – Stuart Residence Halls Council

New Zealand’s first Chair in Science Communication. The Chair builds on existing science education activities such as the prestigious Diploma in Natural History and Filmmaking and the NZ Marine Studies Centre at Portobello and is grounded in the idea that the University sharing its knowledge with the public will benefit New Zealand and in the observation that the Southern Hemisphere is short of places committed to better understanding of science. Professor Davis will lead an associated Centre for Science Communication.

2007 Annual Report - pp75-77

Website - http://www.sciencecommunication.info/

Stuart Chair in Scottish Studies

Professor Liam McIlvanney
Donor – Stuart Residence Halls Council

The country’s only Chair in Scottish Studies was appropriately launched on St Andrews Day 2006 at the University established by Scottish settlers as New Zealand’s first, and in the presence of the British High Commissioner. The endowment will not only foster research and study into Scottish history and culture but will, importantly, provide understanding about the Scottish impact on New Zealand’s identity and development. Together with the Eamon Cleary Chair in Irish Studies, this Chair will be a key partner in the Centre for Scottish and Irish Studies.

T D Scott Chair in Urology

Appointment to be made
Donor – Trevor Scott

This Chair will undertake research in a field of men’s health that many consider to be a neglected area of medicine. There are currently very few academic urologists in New Zealand and the appointee will be expected to stimulate and lead research as well as attracting postgraduate students and enhancing undergraduate teaching.

For further information please contact the Office of the Dean, Dunedin School of Medicine

University of Otago Legal Issues Centre

Appointment to be made
Donor – GAMA Foundation

Justice John Hansen said in an address at the University of Otago last year that New Zealand needed a "radical rethink as to how we solve disputes. The law is no longer a profession - it is a business". The new Centre is intended to take part in that rethink, acting as “critic and conscience” of the legal profession and helping to reorient the legal system so that it works better for people. The Centre is endowed by Christchurch couple Grant and Marilyn Nelson through the Gama Foundation.

For further information please contact the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Law

For further details see news release:
Otago Magazine Issue 17 - pp29-31

Website: http://www.otago.ac.nz/law/lic/

Chair in Viral Pathogenesis

Chair in Viral Pathogenesis – Appointment to be made
Donor - anonymous donor

The University of Otago’s Chair in Viral Pathogenesis will be a critical weapon in the battle against emerging infectious diseases. The new professor will seek to better understand animal viruses that could evolve to new strains and present a
great threat to human life.

For further information please contact the Department of Microbiology

For further details see news release:
Otago Magazine Issue 14 – pp14-16

Note: Information contained in news releases is correct as of date posted.

Updated information about Leading Thinkers projects may be obtained by contacting:
Kathy Young
Partner Relations Manager
Tel +64 3 479 5999
Email kathy.young@otago.ac.nz