Final OMRF funding awarded for 2025

06/01/2026

We are delighted to announce the following recipients were awarded Otago Medical Research Foundation funding just prior to Christmas.

Laurenson Award

The Laurenson Award supports medical research in areas relating to the investigation and dissemination of knowledge concerning the effects of proper diet and/or drugs on human health (in accordance with the wishes of the Laurenson family).

Project: High-fibre high-protein bread in type 2 diabetes management: a randomised crossover trial

Principal investigator: Assoc Prof Andrew Reynolds, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago (photo is of Andrew)

Lay summary of research proposal: Bread is a staple food in Aotearoa, however most varieties do not provide many beneficial nutrients (e.g. fibre 3/100g, protein 8/100g). We have maximally-fortified a bread beyond anything available in the food supply (fibre 14/100g, protein 27/100g) to see if improving diet through a single fortified food can influence type 2 diabetes management. We will do this by having 30 adults with type 2 diabetes try both our fortified bread and a standard bread for periods of two-weeks. We will measure change in standard cardiometabolic risk factors as well as the move in novel markers of the blood metabolome, gut microbiota, and objective markers of food intakes from buccal cells.

Jack Thomson Arthritis Fund

The Jack Thomson Arthritis Fund supports medical research into the problems and treatment of arthritis (in accordance with the wishes of William John (Jack) Thomson).

Project: The effectiveness of joint replacement surgery for hip and knee osteoarthritis

Principal investigator: Dr Ross Wilson, Department of Surgery & Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago

Lay summary of research proposal: Osteoarthritis (OA) affects over half a million New Zealanders and represents a diverse spectrum of pathological processes culminating in joint damage and loss of function. Recent research has highlighted an inflammatory type of OA, suggesting potential for repurposing existing therapies to target early inflammation. Currently, identifying patients with inflammatory OA typically relies on imaging modalities such as ultrasound or MRI, which are resource-intensive and impractical for widespread screening. Developing a cost-effective biomarker for early inflammatory OA could revolutionise diagnostic and treatment approaches, enabling timely intervention and preventing irreversible joint damage. This project builds on pilot data, potentially identifying pathways for targeted interventions based on inflammatory cytokine signatures.

In 2025, the OMRF has funded over $426,000 in our Annual Grant, Jack Thomson and Laurenson Bequests, and Summer Research Scholarship rounds (an increase of over $44,000 from 2024). The Foundation could not achieve this without the support of community individuals and organisations who provide vital funding for these grants.

If you are interested in finding out how to support the Otago Medical Research Foundation and therefore support world-class medical research in Otago, contact Tracey Fleet on 021 030 4900 or [email protected]