A simple blood test for bowel cancer? It could be a "lifesaver." The University of Otago is backing a groundbreaking project to develop a blood-based test for bowel cancer. The project is led by Dr Jordon Lima, who received the 2025 Otago Health Sciences Māori Postdoctoral Fellowship. Read more⬇️

OPINION: The government’s announcement this week that it would move ahead with plans for a new facility to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), potentially as early as next year, was framed as a way to shore up energy security. Read more⬇️

Ngā mihi nui to Otago ecologist Professor Priscilla Wehi, who has been made a fellow of the British Ecological Society. Read more⬇️

OPINION: Until recently, Aotearoa New Zealand led global tobacco control innovation. Evidence-based policies, including sustained tobacco excise tax increases, saw large reductions in smoking rates, which will save thousands of lives. Read more⬇️

OPINION: Imagine investing in a premium Central Otago vineyard, or owning a slice of prime Wellington commercial property, all without needing millions in upfront capital. Through asset “tokenisation”, this is becoming a reality. Read more⬇️

OPINION: Beneath Antarctica’s Ross Ice Shelf lies one of the least measured oceans on Earth – a vast, dark cavity roughly twice the volume of the North Sea. Read more⬇️

Otago nutritionist call for dietary fibre to be officially recognised internationally as an essential nutrient🥦🤔 Co-author Associate Professor Andrew Reynolds says increasing our dietary fibre intake would have greater health benefits than increasing any other essential nutrients. Read more⬇️

OPINION: Did NZ's sweeping health reforms deliver on their promise? 3 years on, the verdict is mixed⬇️

Our researchers Tadhg Ryan-Charleton, Dave Maré, Dean Hyslop, Amelia Blamey worked with Conor O’Kane from the @universityofotago.bsky.social, who contributed qualitative and subject-specific expertise to the evaluation. A perspective Deloitte NZ (a RDTI stakeholder). www.deloitte.com/nz/en/servic...

University of Otago will be entering a 10-year partnership to improve brain health research and treatment🧠🧐 Department of Anatomy Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie, who is co-leading the initiative, says neurological and mental health disorders are leading causes of disability and mortality globally⬇️

Anatomy tauira Shontay Simpson and Esmé Hewitt have won awards at the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society Symposium. Shontay was "shocked" to win best poster presentation. "I was still so excited that Esmé had been called out as best oral presenter that my brain went blank..."⬇️

The New Zealand velvet worm's reign as Bug of the Year is coming to an end, with voting now open for the 2026 competition🪲 Check out this year's nominees in an article from Otago Zoology PhD Candidate Connal McLean and Ecology PhD Candidate Jacqueline Theis⬇️

- potentially could reduce the number of colonoscopies needed More here at the @universityofotago.bsky.social press release www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroo... 2/2

NZ is facing a moment of reckoning in its foreign policy, writes Professor Robert Patman in The Conversation: theconversation.com/as-trump-rew...

Huge congratulations to Otago's Professor Christopher Jackson, who has been named one of OncoDaily’s 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in the world for 2025. Christopher is a leading medical oncologist and cancer policy expert and a strong advocate for evidence-based, humane cancer care.

Since graduating with First Class Honours in French and Economics from Otago, Amanda Ellis's career has taken her worldwide ✈️🌎 Now a globally-recognised leader in sustainable development and international relations, Amanda shared her success story with us on Otago's iOU Podcast! Listen here 🎧⬇️

Older New Zealanders in residential care have inadequate access to vision and hearing tests, new Otago research has found. These findings highlight significant inequities in access to care that can profoundly impact quality of life, lead author Dr Francesc March de Ribot says.

Three Otago researchers have each received $1.16 million fellowships to support their research and science careers!🔬👏 Dr Matthias Fellner, Dr John Kerr, and Associate Professor Matthew McNeil are among 12 researches who have been awarded Mana Tūānuku Research Leader Fellowships🥳 Read more here👇

Blocking reproduction increases lifespan in many different species, a new Otago-led study has found 🤯 Using data from mammals, researchers found ongoing hormonal contraception and permanent surgical sterilisation saw increased life expectancy, though the cause may differ between sexes.

A huge congratulations to the 32 Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka kaimahi taking on the title of Professor in 2026! 🎉👏 These promotions reflect each individual's outstanding contributions to research, teaching, and service to the University and Ōtepoti community as a whole. Read the full list ⬇️

OPINION: 8 reasons the government should not introduce oral nicotine pouches to NZ ⬇️

Professor Ceridwen Fraser has crafted a very special addition to the Department of Marine Science's new digs 🤩 She's created this beautiful stained glass piece celebrating Otago's unique marine life, now on display in the foyer of the Geology Museum in the Quad building 🌊🦭 📸 Gerard O'Brien

Early detection of prostate cancer could soon be simplified, thanks to an initiative led by Dr Jim Smith (Te Ātiawa) 👏 He has received funding to create a targeted DNA methylation-based blood test, which he hopes will lead to earlier detection, accurate diagnoses, and improved patient outcomes.

Science says your skin loves vitamin C🍊 New research from Otago shows a strong link between diet and skin health. Eating foods high in vitamin C every day (such as two SunGold kiwifruit) can boost collagen, skin thickness and cell renewal in just eight weeks. Read more here⬇️

Can you treat disease without medication or surgery?🤔 Otago researchers are pioneering non-invasive ways to treat the brain and body. From smart patches to sound waves that target the brain, these breakthroughs could transform care across Aotearoa.🩻 Read more here⬇️

OPINION: A global tax crackdown is coming for crypto – including NZ trades worth billions ⬇️

Aotearoa's green-lipped mussels are under pressure from warming seas, toxic blooms and disease - but Otago scientists are fighting back.🌊 Dr Nathan Kenny's team has built the first high-quality kuku genome, helping us breed resilience into these this treasured taonga.💚 Read more here⬇️

Associate Professor Nic Rawlence has been awarded the New Zealand Association of Scientists’ prestigious Cranwell Medal for his exceptional mahi communicating the wonders of science with the public 🏅👏 “I feel humbled and on cloud nine at the same time,” he says. Read more here ⬇️

From public speaking to job interviews, stress is a part of everyday life that can feel all too familiar 😵‍💫🧠 Find out how the cutting-edge research of Faculty of Biomedical Sciences kaimahi Dr Joon Kim and Associate Professor Karl Iremonger could impact how we manage stress ⬇️

Next year, we will welcome Scottish writer Donald S Murray to Ōtepoti for an exciting fellowship 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✈️✍️ Donald is thrilled and honoured to be awarded the 2026 Scottish Writing Fellowship with Mātai Airana, Mātai Kotirana, in conjunction with the Caselberg Trust! 👏

The 'Dirty Ashtray' award draws attention to Aotearoa's significant fall from grace in tobacco regulations, Otago researchers say 🚭 “New Zealand was once a leader in global tobacco control policy. Now, our national shame is playing out on an international stage," Professor Janet Hoek says.

Four Otago researchers have been recognised at the 2025 BLAKE awards for their leadership in science and conservation.🌿✨ Sir Alan Mark received the BLAKE Medal, with Liz Slooten, Steve Dawson and Sally Carson also honoured. A huge achievement for our environmental champions. Read more here⬇️

What was everyday life really like in the Otago goldrush?⛏️ Dr Ruth Warren and Dr Charlotte King from the Department of Anatomy have gained international recognition for a schools programme that brings those stories to life.👏 Read more here⬇️

Otago Christchurch researchers have secured $1.5m in funding from the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation to tackle major health challenges such as cures for cancer, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease and mental health. It is the largest investment in grant funding made by the CMRF ever!⬇️

An Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka-led study has produced a detailed blueprint of a bacteriophage, furthering their "extremely exciting" potential in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria 🦠 Read more here ⬇️

Two Otago studies examining the experience of imprisoned and recently released Māori have led researchers to believe the Government is breaching their rights. They found Māori were consistently undercounted while in prison, and had unmet needs in primary care services after release. Read more here ⬇️

Weeks at sea, thousands of samples, and one burning question: what really happened inside the Hunga eruption?🌋 Two Otago researchers joined an international voyage to uncover the clues buried in the seafloor. Their work could help decode one of the most powerful eruptions in modern history!⬇️

The 17th Otago Global Health Institute conference will explore ‘Global health in challenging times’, bringing researchers, students, and health practitioners together to address topics spanning from pandemics to climate change 🏥☀️ Read more here ⬇️

OPINION: Detection is not prevention: will drug testing drivers really make NZ roads safer? ⬇️

Otago has joined forces with Ngāti Hine Health Trust, one of the largest Māori health providers in Aotearoa, to address and improve persistent inequities in diabetes care for Māori ❤️‍🩹 Read more here ⬇️

Dr Mariela de Amstalden has been appointed as a full professor to the New Zealand Law Foundation Chair in Emerging Technologies!   She will have a key role in delivering innovative solutions to the legal and policy issues shaping our technological future. Read more about her appointment ⬇️👏

A growing global presence for Aotearoa's largest university-based herbarium 🌱🌏 In an exciting development for botanists worldwide, digital records for almost 23,000 specimens in the Otago Regional Herbarium are now available through the Australasian Virtual Herbarium network! Read more here ⬇️

Psychology Professor Cliff Abraham and PhD candidate Helena Abolins-Thompson (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāi Tahu, Rangitāne o Tamaki nui a rua) received Royal Society Te Apārangi awards last night 👏 Find out more about their honours 👇

Otago's Law community has struck gold once again, with 4 alumni and staff receiving Borrin Foundation awards 💪⚖️ Read about the recipients 👇

A new species of fossil billfish has been named Zealandorhynchus fordycei, honouring the legacy of the late Emeritus Professor Ewan Fordyce ❤️‍🩹 The species is one of two rare fossil billfish skulls from about 50 million years ago found in Otago. Read more here 🔗 www.otago.ac.nz/about/news/n...

A mana-enhancing research project in Te Tari Mātauranga Matū – the Department of Chemistry has received support from an Otago Research Grant 🧑‍🔬 The project will use Māori methodologies to determine how tauira and kaimahi experience undergraduate chemistry education at Otago. Read more here ⬇️

Meet two Otago kaimahi working at the forefront of rare genetic disease research: Professor Stephanie Hughes and Associate Professor Louise Bicknell 🧬🌟 A revolution in genetic sequencing technology is helping them bring answers to families facing ultra-rare disorders. Read more here⬇️

We're kicking off the second series of our alumni podcast iOU by catching up with Lynley Edmeades! 🎙️🎓   Lynley talks to us about the many hats she wears, her student days at Otago, and her new book 'Hiding Places'. Check it out 👉

Otago researchers, including students and alumni, left the recent international Adaptation Futures Conference feeling inspired💡✅ The climate change adaptation conference brought together nearly 2,000 practitioners to collaborate towards a more sustainable future. Read more here⬇️

Eight research Centres have secured funding in the latest University of Otago Research Centre funding round👏 Each will receive a total of $200,000 to boost research in health, climate, culture, and more. Read more about the winning Centres here⬇️