ScienceNZ: ESR

ESR and New Zealand Customs collaborate on border control

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:13:15 GMT

Crown Research Institute ESR and New Zealand Customs Service are increasing co-operation to enhance strategic and operational capabilities to control who and what crosses our borders.

ESR studies quantify foodborne illness in New Zealand

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:55:56 GMT

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.

Reverse genetics produces influenza vaccine virus

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:01:06 GMT

ESR scientists have recently trialled a new technique that creates an influenza vaccine virus in less than three weeks compared with the traditional method, which takes several months.

RYO tobacco research

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:32:58 GMT

Roll-your-own tobacco is no safer than tailor made cigarettes according to ESR research.

ESR's National Influenza Centre goes robotic

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:44:53 GMT

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.

Keeping New Zealanders safe

Wed, 14 May 2008 21:44:52 GMT

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.

Collaboration on forensic kits

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:43:02 GMT

ESR and Zygem Corp ltd are collaborating to accelerate development of forensicGEM™ kits for flexible, fast, accurate and low-cost DNA extraction.

Alcohol number one date rape drug

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:50:16 GMT

A six-year study by ESR toxicologists found that alcohol is the number one drug associated with drug facilitated sexual assaults.

Acute gastronintestinal illness study

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:34:11 GMT

ESR estimates that gastrointestinal illness costs more than five million working days each year in

New Zealand

. And there may be better ways of providing risk management information for widespread illnesses such as diarrhoea and vomiting.

ESR has finger on the pulse

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:23:26 GMT

The three most common notified bacterial diseases in New Zealand - Campylobacter, Salmonella, and E. coli - are a focus for the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease at Crown Research Institute ESR. A new tool, connecting to major international research laboratories, will enable New Zealand to research infectious disease in new ways.

Study shows 70% drop in flu deaths

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 20:50:07 GMT

The incidence of ‘flu in the community has significantly decreased over the past decade with a 70% drop in influenza-related deaths according to an assessment by ESR’s influenza experts.

DNA solves more burglaries

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:21:34 GMT

Preliminary research undertaken by ESR shows New Zealand Police are clearing close to 100% of burglary cases where DNA crime scene evidence is processed, but samples are only submitted from 2% of burglaries.

Scientists hot on felons' DNA trail

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:18:28 GMT

"Staggering" advances in DNA testing will make it impossible for a criminal to strike without being detected, a top ESR scientist says.

'Time out' key to forensic progress

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:13:23 GMT

Forensic scientists need to be freed up from solving crimes so they can research how their talents can best be used to fight crime, an ESR research leader says.

Sizing up SurvINZ

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:54:59 GMT

ESR's new state-of-the-art surveillance platform demonstrates its value during the national pandemic planning exercise.

Studying the effects of party pills

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 23:46:37 GMT

The popularity of 'party pills' has increased dramatically in the recent years and ESR scientists are involved in several research projects to learn more about their effects. The results will help inform both users and regulatory authorities.

Detecting drugs through hair analysis

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:56:52 GMT

ESR's toxicology laboratories are increasingly undertaking hair analysis to determine methamphetamine use.

Forensic Science tracks killer

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 22:10:26 GMT

Smart forensic work led police quickly to a suspect and helped secure a guilty plea in the murder of school teacher Lois Dear.

Shoeprint Database Helps Crime Investigation

Tue, 08 May 2007 00:08:04 GMT

“A burglar's 'lucky shoes' may no longer be so lucky, thanks to a new National Shoeprint Database being piloted by ESR and the New Zealand Police. The project will provide a new tool to help link suspects with crime scenes.

New Campylobacter test

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 23:18:45 GMT

ESR Scientists have developed a new way of distinguishing strains and species of Campylobacter.