Awards recognise research excellence

ODT 18.11.2005

Several staff and students have received awards from the University of Otago
School of Medical Sciences, recognising their research excellence.

The awards were announced at a recent university function, attended by senior administrators and researchers.

Leading biochemist Prof Warren Tate won a 2005 school award, and $2000 prize, for writing the top scientific paper published during the calendar year.

His paper, published in the journal Cell, deals with aspects of a failure by the ribosome - the cell's essential protein factory - to maintain fidelity when reading genes.

The paper was the culmination of 15 years' work, award organisers said.

Biochemistry Senior Research Fellow Marion Maw and a team of researchers also received a $1000 prize for their "highly recommended" research paper.
Backed by scientific colleagues in Austria, the research probed the genetic origins of an eye disorder in a large Maori family.

The research was initiated by a team of Auckland opthalmologists, led by Dr Carolyn Hope of Auckland University, Dr Maw said.

The work also featured a partnership with the family and a significant contribution by Otago University students, including biochemistry graduate Ariana Hemara-Wahanui, she said.

Third-year Otago University medical student Janine Pilcher won the school dean's prize for the best student summer research project for her work on a group of neurons linked to pregnancy and lactation.

Ms Pilcher said she had been given strong support by Associate Prof Dave Grattan and Dr Ilona Kokay, her supervisors at the department of anatomy and structural biology.

Biochemistry doctoral student Peter Mace said it was "great" to receive a prize for outstanding achievement by a doctoral student.

He is studying the structure and function of ovarian fertility determinant proteins, in the laboratory of biochemists Dr Sue Cutfield and Associate Prof John Cutfield.

This year, Mr Mace also received the inaugural Otago University Elman Poole Travelling Scholarship, and was chosen by the Royal Society of New Zealand to attend a major scientific conference in Lindau, Germany.

• At the award function, Otago University microbiologist Prof Sandy Smith was formally awarded the society's silver medal for science and technology for his long contribution to medical mycology.

Prof Tony Reeve, director of the Cancer Genetics Laboratory, in the biochemistry department, was acknowledged for winning the Distinguished Research Medal, Otago University's highest research distinction.

Anatomy Research Fellow Dr John Reynolds won the university's early career award for distinction in research.