The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) has announced more than $5.6 million in funding to help support nine talented Pacific and Maori health researchers to become leaders in their field.
The 2024 Māori and Pacific Health Research Emerging Leader Fellowships, valued at up to $650,000 each, complement a suite of career development awards funded by the HRC.
That suite includes student scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships as well as funding for healthcare professionals and clinical researchers, all awarded through a competitive and robust peer-review process.
The successful recipients are:
Dr Patrick Thomsen, the University of Auckland Manalagi: Addressing discrimination in healthcare for Pacific Rainbow+.
Dr Sam Manuela, the University of Auckland Enhancing Cook Islands mental health practices, knowledge, and research.
Dr Zaramasina Clark, Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington Theca progenitors: ‘gatekeepers’ of ovulation potential of ovarian follicles?
Dr Radilaite Cammock, Auckland University of Technology Development of a Fijian model of health.
Dr Jesse Kokaua, University of Otago Do the main drivers of poverty vary across Pacific ethnicities in Aotearoa?
HRC’s chief executive, Professor Sunny Collings, says the HRC’s investment in New Zealand’s most promising researchers helps build the skills and capacity to address current and future health needs, and contributes to a world-class science, innovation and technology system.
“The emerging leader fellowships have enormous potential to advance Māori and Pacific health through innovative and impactful research. People-focused funding opportunities, like these, help build and shape a highly skilled, diverse, and responsive research workforce,” she says.
