Dr. Reece Hill

Waikato Regional Council   Dr Hill led development of a framework which uses data from a variety of existing sources – including land use capability models, biodiversity information and sediment and water quality monitoring data – to identify priority areas for soil conservation. The framework can be applied at a variety of scales to compare…

Dr. Charis Brown

University of Waikato   Understanding the consumer experience of health care is important to ensure the benefits of the system are fully realised in an equitable way. Dr Brown’s recent work focuses on the experience of Pasifica women managing breast cancer. The initial studies have developed into two new projects to translate the research findings…

Assoc. Prof. Nicola Starkey

LIC   Associate Professor Starkey was instrumental in a world-first, large-scale statistical study, which discovered that the incidence of traumatic brain injury in the Waikato (especially mild injury) was higher than expected. It also highlighted the large proportion of children affected – concerning as it is generally accepted that a brain injury during childhood (including concussion)…

Dr. Aydin Berenjian

University of Waikato   Vitamin K2 (also known as MK-7) can substantially improve bone and cardiovascular health but is extremely expensive to produce. Dr Berenjian sought to resolve the problem by simplifying the methods used to ferment, extract and purify MK-7. His patented biochemical reactor design merges several operations into one efficient and environmentally friendly…

Dr. Ryan Paul

Waikato DHB   The primary aim of Dr. Paul’s research was to determine the mechanisms responsible for why the majority of mammalian species, including humans, display sexually dimorphic growth with males having a larger body size and greater skeletal muscle mass than that of females. Characterising the mechanisms of normal growth has identified targets for…

Dr. Chunhuan Lao

Waikato Clinical Campus, The University of Auckland    Dr. Lao researches Economic evaluation of prostate cancer screening and concludes screening of asymptomatic men for prostate cancer is widely practiced in NZ. She identified that better targeting and screening would be more cost-effective. Dr. Chunhuan Lao, Waikato Clinical Campus, The University of Auckland Back to Scientists…

LIC Genomics/ Biology Team

LIC Genomics/ Biology Team   Heifers from LIC sire, Matrix, had inherited a genetic mutation and passed it on to his daughters. DNA sequence analysis quickly pin-pointed a genetic defect in a key structural part of prolactin, a hormone produced in the pituitary gland and known to be vital for regulating milk production and coat…

Dr. Michael Walmsley

CodeAvengers & University of Waikato   Michael Walmsley Jr. started creating the CodeAvengers.com learning platform in November 2011, launching April 2012, while doing his Ph.D. on the related topic of Computer-Assisted Foreign Language Learning at University of Waikato Computer Science department. Learning from his Ph.D. research about student engagement, language learning pedagogy, user interactivity and…

Ian Carr

Rutec   Ian is responsible for the development of a fast curing adhesive and applicator to apply high retention heat detectors directly to cattle. This allows bonding of between 20 – 60 seconds when the adhesive is applied. HEATMARK ERO Heat Detectors offers a faster, less messy way to achieve a well bonded/well-retained heat detector.…

Prof. Brendan Hicks

University of Waikato   Brendan began his research in the field of estimation of fish abundance by developing the systematic and quantitative use of drift diving, a direct counting technique of salmon and trout. He has used statistical analyses of fish abundance to produce a unique quantitative view of fish abundance in New Zealand’s lakes…