Could fish eyes help solve a donor cornea shortage? Can we objectively tell how much sugar some one has been eating? Do e-cigarettes really help you quit smoking?
The New Zealand Health Research (HRC) council is helping Kiwi researchers find answers to these questions through their latest HRC Emerging Researcher First Grants and HRC Feasibility Study Grants.
Examples of the fascinating research funded in the 2016 round include:
Dr Lisa Te Morenga from the University of Otago has received $150,000 to examine the possibility of using carbon stable isotope ratios (δ13C) as an objective measure of sugar intake.
Professor Janet Hoek, also from University of Otago, received $150,000 to develop a ‘smart e-cigarette’ which will record patterns of e-cigarette use and help to ultimately determine if the devices are a useful aid for quitting smoking.
Dr Laura Domigan from the University of Auckland received $70,000 to investigate building human corneal replacements from proteins derived from fish eye lenses – a throwaway by-product of the fishing industry.
The funded projects have been covered by the New Zealand media:
NZ City News: High-tech e-cigarette study gets funding
Otago Daily Times: Otago smart e-cigarette study
Newshub: E cigarette study gets funding
Otago Daily Times: Prescription-fee project one of four Otago studies funded
Newshub: Probiotics linked preventing diabetes onset
MSN NZ News: Scientist looks to prevent type 2 diabetes
NZ City News: Scientist’s global vision for fish eyes
Newshub: Scientist funded for fish eye cornea replacement research
NZ Doctor: Fasting and probiotics may help prevent diabetes