Otago Gains $3.2 Million in Grants Researchers at the University of Otago have been awarded $3.2 million by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. The funding is part of a $48 million Government initiative to support research that could potentially benefit the economy. A team from the Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology will utilise the funding to develop a treatment for age-related mobility loss. A group in the Department of Oral Sciences, headed by Dr. Kyoko Niimi, hopes to find a solution to the problem of drench resistance in livestock parasites. Meanwhile the Department of Chemistry’s Professor Keith Gordon is leading research that aims to develop long-life solar panels consisting of self-repairing organic materials.
Abuse Link to Mental Illness Uncovered A University of Otago study has found that children who suffer abuse are more likely to develop psychiatric problems later in life. The study, led by Dr. Kate Scott, examined the records of 2144 individuals in the Te Rau Hinengaro: New Zealand Mental Health Survey and differed from previous research into mental health issues and childhood trauma because of its use of official documentation records. Findings from the study showed that a history of maltreatment during childhood significantly increased the likelihood of developing a mental disorder, especially conditions such as anxiety or substance abuse.
Vitamin C Just Keeps Getting Better A University of Otago study published in the latest edition of the Cancer Research journal has found that Vitamin C may help fight cancer. The study showed that tumours had 40 percent less vitamin C than the surrounding normal tissue. The findings indicate that Vitamin C could limit the rate of tumour growth, increase responsiveness to chemotherapy, and prevent the formation of solid tumours. Associate Professor Margreet Vissers, who led the research, told the New Zealand Herald “Our results offer a promising and simple intervention to help in our fight against cancer, at the level of both prevention and cure.”
OPSA withdraws from NZUSA The Otago University Polytechnic Student’s Association (OPSA) has officially withdrawn from the New Zealand University Student’s Association. OPSA President Meegan Cloughley cited concerns about NZUSA’s financial management and a perceived lack of proactive measures on behalf of students as the grounds for OPSA’s withdrawal from the Association. 13