The University of Otago almost scooped the pool in this year's Health Research Council national funding round.
Research on projects such as the late effects of premature birth; bone regeneration and vascularisation; mucosal associated invariant T cells; and an intranasal treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy have helped the university attract funding.
Eight of the nine emerging researcher first grants in the Health Research Council's (HRC) 2015 funding round were won by up-and-coming researchers from the university's three main campuses.
The grants total more than $1.3 million, and support the career development of some of New Zealand's best and brightest health researchers, while also allowing them to conduct research that could benefit the health of all New Zealanders.
The eight recipients are Dr Max Berry (paediatrics and child health, University of Otago, Wellington), Dr Shyamal Das (pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin), Dr Khoon Lim (orthopaedic surgery and musculoskeletal medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch), Dr Daniel Ribeiro (physiotherapy, University of Otago, Dunedin), Dr Shakila Rizwan (pharmacy, University of Otago, Dunedin), Dr Euan Rodger (pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin), Dr Lisa Te Morenga (human nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin) and Dr James Ussher (microbiology and immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin).
HRC chief executive Kathryn McPherson said the recipients were outstanding in their respective research fields.
The HRC also awarded grants to nine feasibility study recipients, five of whom were University of Otago researchers, Dr McPherson said.
These grants covered a range of topics, including diabetes and pre-diabetes in pregnancy, and tart cherry concentrate as a potential treatment for gout flare-ups.
The recipients were Dr Rosemary Hall (University of Otago, Wellington), Dr Ruth Hughes (obstetrics and gynaecology, University of Otago, Christchurch), Dr Sally Rose (primary health care and general practice, University of Otago, Wellington), Prof Lisa Stamp (medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch) and Prof Margreet Vissers (pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch).
University of Otago research and enterprise deputy vice-chancellor Prof Richard Blaikie was pleased by Otago's ''exceptionally strong'' performance, especially in the emerging researcher grants.
''This stellar showing reflects the large body of highly talented early-career staff at our university, who are poised to become the research leaders of tomorrow.''
