Latest News
OSMS Awards announced • Grants a delight to researchers • HRC's Liley Medal awarded to Prof Allan Herbison
See also: News from previous years (2009 & 2008)
OSMS Awards announced
A number of OSMS awards were presented to personnel from Otago School of Medical Sciences on Wednesday 27 January. The ceremony recognized a number of people from the Department of Physiology who had received awards during 2009 and these people were presented with OSMS certificates.
University of Otago Early Career Award for Distinction in Research: Dr Rebecca Campbell
MacDiarmid Master's Award: Mickey Fan
HRC Liley Medal: Professor Allan Herbison
John Hubbard Memorial Prize for Excellence in Studies towards a PhD (PSNZ): Rosemary Brown
Mary Bullivant Poster Award (PSNZ): Mike Gill
Mary Bullivant Oral Award (PSNZ): Shel Hwa Yeo
Two OSMS awards were received by people from Physiology.
OSMS Postdoctoral Fellow Poster Prize: Dr Stephanie Constantin
and
OSMS Distinguished Research Support Staff Member Award: Sue Deans
 Our congratulations go to Sue Deans in particular, as the award she has received is a prestigious one.
The Dean of OSMS, Professor Helen Nicholson spoke appreciatively of Sue's contribution and commitment to the smooth running of the Department.
"Sue began work as a technical trainee in the Department of Physiology in February 1982 and in the ensuing almost 28 years has risen to become the technical manager in the Department. This position includes a variety of roles including planning and leading the teaching support, supporting the running of Emtech and being the sole departmental contact for Property Services and playing a pivotal role in the Space Committee.
"Anyone who knows Sue will realise that she fulfils her roles in an excellent fashion and I thought the best way to demonstrate this is to read you some comments from her academic and professional staff colleagues."
“Sue is a team player and a loyal member of the department. She exhibits excellent organisational skills, people skills and leadership skills and is a good communicator and listener.”
“Sue Deans’ service to the Department over the years exemplifies the commitment to which we should all aspire in our work. If there was a “face” of collegiality in the University that face would be Sue Deans.”
“Most importantly, Sue is a leader in the Department and she leads by example, with an incredible work ethic and an immense pride in the quality and accuracy of her work.”
Grants a delight to researchers
ODT Monday 14 December 2009
  University of Otago researchers are bringing to New Zealand a new scientific technique using light pulses to study brain cells, which could help pave the way for new treatments for Parkinson's disease.
This research, led by Research Fellow Dr Louise Parr-Brownlie from the Physiology Department, has been boosted by a project grant from the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand. Dr Parr-Brownlie was "absolutely ecstatic" to gain the funding and said that Parkinson's disease was expected to pose growing challenges as New Zealand's population continued to age.
Dr Parr-Brownlie said the new research method, using light pulses, would help to gain critical information about changes taking place in the motor thalamus, a key part of the motor control circuit. Research results could help improve current treatments or guide the development of new treatments, researchers said.
Physiologist Associate Professor Brian Hyland and biochemist Dr Stephanie Hughes are co-investigators in the project, undertaken through the University's Brain Health and Repair Research Centre.
Professor Allan Herbison awarded HRC's Liley Medal for outstanding research
ODT Thursday 19 November 2009
 Professor Allan Herbison, of the Department of Physiology and Centre of Neuroendocrinology, has been awarded the Health Research Council's Liley Medal for "outstanding" research which could lead to new treatments for infertility.
Prof Herbison was delighted to receive the award which was presented at a science honours dinner in Auckland. The award was made for an outstanding contribution to the health and medical sciences in the field of neuroscience and neuroendocrinology.
The medal provided a "nice recognition" of world-class research being undertaken by Otago researchers at the Otago centre and by collaborators at Cambridge University.
Research Council officials said his "breakthrough" research showed a small protein molecule called kisspeptin played a crucial role within the brain in triggering ovulation.
His research, published last year, described the process by which a small group of nerve cells in the brain, called gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons were activated, thereby triggering the hormone surge that leads to ovulation.
Up to 20% of couples in New Zealand suffer from infertility.
|
