ScienceNZ: Health

Wool protein wound dressings win AgResearch scientist prestigious award

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:57:26 GMT

On 24 August AgResearch’s Dr Azam Ali won the prestigious 2010 Bayer Innovators Award in the Science and Health category.

Top scoring technology taps healing power of play

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 05:39:24 GMT

A computer game-based arm rehabilitation device developed by IRL has won first prize in the prototype category of the 2010 Engineers Australia, College of Biomedical Engineering Better Technology Awards.

The Singing Scientist's new song

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:28:50 GMT

Dr Matthew Barnett, Senior Scientist in AgResearch’s Agri-Foods & Health Section who featured on TV and radio last year with his Epigenome Song, has written a second song based on his scientific work, this time about fibre. Click here to view YouTube track.

No gout about it

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:16:57 GMT

A potential treatment for gout co-invented by IRL is showing promising results in human trials being conducted in the US.

Virtual vermin

Mon, 24 May 2010 00:26:11 GMT

Millions of stroke survivors worldwide could benefit from technology IRL has developed that uses virtual reality and assistive devices to speed up the rehabilitation process.

New device helps assess personal sunshine exposure

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:44:35 GMT

A New Zealand engineer working in conjunction with NIWA has invented a "cutting-edge" device to calculate just how much sunshine we need to stay healthy.

IRL and Epichem Pty Ltd combine strengths in Australasian alliance

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:20:05 GMT

CRI IRL and Epichem Pty Ltd have announced a strategic alliance designed to provide clients with continuous and seamless services from drug discovery to cGMP production.

Asthma sufferers get help from blackcurrants

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:12:28 GMT

Plant & Food Research scientists have isolated a compound in blackcurrants which has the potential to help the lungs fight inflammation

CRI scientists turn to porridge and weeds for sustainable natural beauty products

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:25:39 GMT

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.

Mood Foods

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:29:53 GMT

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 drug may offer relief from gout

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:01:03 GMT

IRL scientists are working on a new medicine they say may provide relief for millions of people who suffer crippling pain from gout.

NZ scientific breakthrough: Heart rate regulator

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:59:00 GMT

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.

Drinking water

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:47:25 GMT

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

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:10:44 GMT

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.

What triggers meningococcal disease?

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:55:46 GMT

An ESR scientist has received a Fast Start grant from the Marsden Fund to research what triggers the meningococcal pathogen to become infectious.

Prime Minister talks of value of relationship with Australia for science

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:08:37 GMT

Prime Minister John Key’s speech recognised the success of the Vital Vegetables® programme as an example of Australia – New Zealand scientific collaboration.

Deer velvet to be tested for healing human wounds

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:55:01 GMT

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.

Collaboration boost for nutraceutical development

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:15:15 GMT

IRL has signed a $300,000 agreement with Nutriventures Ltd, the major shareholder of Nelson-based Nutrizeal to jointly develop world-leading nutraceutical products.

New research highlights sports recovery potential in blackcurrants

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:36:22 GMT

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.

Testing time cut as sample numbers rise

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:52:28 GMT

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….