Health
New Thinking
CRI scientists turn to porridge and weeds for sustainable natural beauty products
If you want to have better, healthier skin, chances are in future you’ll be buying a product derived from the main ingredient for your porridge (oats), or an ancient grain-cum-purple weed called amaranth.
Prime Minister talks of value of relationship with Australia for science
Prime Minister John Key’s speech recognised the success of the Vital Vegetables® programme as an example of Australia – New Zealand scientific collaboration.
Testing time cut as sample numbers rise
ESR's National Influenza Centre has cut its testing time of influenza samples to less than eight hours despite processing the highest daily number of samples in its history….
The Future of Rongoa Maori
New research reports investigate the current status of traditional Maori healing and the challenges of integrating rongoa Maori with mainstream healthcare.
AgResearch biotech work to have health focus
The country's largest science company is entering the business of human health and medicine.
NZ research leading to better foods, health
A collaboration between international quality researchers at AgResearch and the Liggins Institute has the potential to bring about major improvements in agriculture, such as lamb growth, disease resistance and milk production, and human health.
ESR's National Influenza Centre goes robotic
New robotic equipment at ESR's National Influenza Centre Laboratory has significantly increased capacity to analyse flu specimens reducing the time from days to just hours.
Deer may lend a hand
Imagine if your hand or another limb was chopped off and you could just grow another. Sound far-fetched? Invermay scientists don't think so. Their research into how deer grow a new set of antlers each year may one day provide the answer.
Marsden funds benefit primary sector, human health
Two AgResearch researchers who were last week awarded prestigious Marsden Fund grants will use animal models for research that could lead to important insights into human and animal growth and development and potential new treatments for cancer and heart disease.
Fake drugs a growing problem
The trade in fake drugs is growing as sophisticated counterfeiting operations produce billions of fake pills for sale, says GNS scientist Dallas Mildenhall.
New Science
Mood Foods
New study explores the stress triggers experienced by middle-class working mothers with young children, the strategies used to cope with stress and receptiveness to using mood foods with stress-relief properties.
NZ scientific breakthrough: Heart rate regulator
AgResearch scientists, working with Victoria University and a scientist in the USA, have discovered that calcium-activated-potassium ion channels, present in only small amounts in the heart, have a significant role in modulating heart rate.
NZ drug may offer relief from gout
IRL scientists are working on a new medicine they say may provide relief for millions of people who suffer crippling pain from gout.
What triggers meningococcal disease?
An ESR scientist has received a Fast Start grant from the Marsden Fund to research what triggers the meningococcal pathogen to become infectious.
Deer velvet to be tested for healing human wounds
The treatment of wounds using a unique deer velvet product will be tested on humans thanks to an investment by AgResearch, Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) and their joint venture company VARNZ Ltd.
New research highlights sports recovery potential in blackcurrants
A preliminary study by Plant & Food Research suggests that natural chemicals found in blackcurrants may help balance the impacts exercise can have on the body.
Special honey halts bacteria
Researchers at Plant and Food Research have identified what makes manuka honey good for treating and preventing bacterial infections.
"Tamiflu" resistance in flu viruses
ESR virologists at the WHO National Influenza Centre have identifed seasonal influenza A viruses resistant to oseltamivir, the active ingredient in "Tamiflu".
NZ-assisted cow genome holds hope for medicine
Crown Research Institute scientists are part of an international team that has sequenced the cow genome – which holds hope for both animal and human health.
Turmeric relieves symptoms in some cases of inflammatory bowel disease
Researchers have found that curcumin, the major yellow constituent of turmeric spice, reduces inflammation in model systems of Crohn’s disease.
New Value
Drinking water
The results from ESR's annual review of New Zealand's drinking water on behalf of the Ministry of Health have been released...
Study into NZ'ers pandemic flu immunity
2500 people are being asked to participate in a study by ESR investigating the level of immunity New Zealanders have to pandemic influenza A(H1N1). The study, on behalf of Ministry of Health, is being done to enable the health sector to plan more effectively for a second pandemic wave.
Collaboration boost for nutraceutical development
IRL has signed a $300,000 agreement with Nutriventures Ltd, the major shareholder of Nelson-based Nutrizeal to jointly develop world-leading nutraceutical products.
ESR responding to swine flu
ESR is providing a comprehensive laboratory and surveillance response to the swine flu outbreak.
Surveillance shows rise in MRSA
Surveillance by ESR has found significant increase in the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the period 2003-2008.
New mobility hope for hip dysplasia children
A revolutionary new standing frame currently being developed out of research by IRL could allow upright mobility for children who are forced to spend up the three months lying horizontal in an immobilising plaster cast , due to hip dysplasia or upper-leg fractures
ESR studies quantify foodborne illness in New Zealand
Foodborne diseases in New Zealand are estimated to cost society $86 million according to ESR reports for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. Campylobacteriosis accounts for approximately 90% of the estimated cost.
RYO tobacco research
Roll-your-own tobacco is no safer than tailor made cigarettes according to ESR research.
Keeping New Zealanders safe
SARs, avian flu, influenza, economic biosecurity, counter-terrorism around biological and chemical threats, and other threats at microbial level. This takes top people to keep New Zealand safe, and now they have top facilities as ESR opens its new site at Wallaceville, Upper Hutt.
Acute gastronintestinal illness study
ESR estimates that gastrointestinal illness costs more than five million working days each year in New Zealand
