HealtheX 2020

Although this was a challenging shift, HealtheX 2020 was a successful event that provided students with a platform to present their research to a wider audience. This success could not have been possible without the commitment and generous support of all of our staff and student volunteers, and the Co-Chairs of HealtheX 2020 would like to express our deep gratitude to all those who worked alongside us this year. Congratulations to all of our participants and winners!

Scott Bolam – AMRF Outstanding Emerging Researcher Award
Title: Understanding Obesity's Harmful Effects on Tendon Healing in a Rat Rotator Cuff Tear Model
Department of Surgery
Supervisor: Dr David Musson

Julia Plank – AMRF Doctoral Oral Presentation Runner Up Award
Title: Validating neuroimaging to detect neuroinflammation in vivo
School of Pharmacy
Supervisor: Dr Joanne Chun-Hung Lin

Kate Loveys – Second Runner Up Doctoral Oral Presentation Award
Title: A digital companion for loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic: A feasibility study
Department of Psychological Medicine
Supervisor: Associate Professor Johanna Montgomery

Sameer Bhat – Best Non-Doctoral Oral Presentation Award
Title: Re-admissions after ileostomy formation: a retrospective analysis from a New Zealand tertiary centre
Department of Surgery
Supervisor: Professor Ian Peter Bissett

William Cook – Non-Doctoral Oral Presentation First Runner Up Award
Title: Using a novel molecular switch to optimise gene therapy for neurological disease
Centre for Brain Research
Supervisor: Associate Professor Deborah Young

Don Laing – Millenium Science Non-Doctoral Oral Presentation Second Runner Up Award
Title: NeoGluCO (I) Study Intervention Validation
Kidz First Neonatal Care
Supervisor: Dr Chris McKinlay

Alice McDouall – AMRF Best Poster Presentation Award
Title: Tonabersat is neuroprotective after hypoxia-ischaemia in neonatal rats
Department of Physiology
Supervisor: Dr Joanne Davidson

Ziyin (Silver) Huang – Poster Presentation First Runner Up Award
Title: Could P2X4 be a candidate for preventing hair cells loss in sensorineural hearing loss?
Section of Audiology, School of Population Health
Supervisor: Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr

Chiara Gasteiger – Poster Presentation Second Runner Up Award
Title: Beliefs and behaviours are associated with negative perceptions towards biosimilars
Department of Psychological Medicine
Supervisor: Professor Keith Petrie

Yi-Han Wu – Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust Best Elevator Pitch Presentation Award
Title: Fighting Traumatic Brain Injury
Auckland Bioengineering Institute
Supervisor: Dr Vicki Shim

Sanjukta Duarah – FMHS-PDS First Runner Up Elevator Pitch Presentation Award
Title: Anti-Inflammatory Microneedles: The Future of Painless Injections and No-Tear Shots for Kids
School of Pharmacy
Supervisor: Associate Professor Jingyuan Wen

Jeffrey Chan – FMHS-PGSA Second Runner Up Elevator Pitch Presentation Award
Title: The Gut inner ear axis: on the road to discovery
Section of Audiology, School of Population Health
Supervisor: Associate Professor Srdjan Vlajkovic

Sarah Appleby
Title: Generating immune-compatible sheep for xenotransplantation
Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology
Supervisor: Associate Professor Bjorn Oback

Timothy Jones
Title: Diabetic heart disease: is calcium the critical factor?
Department of Physiology
Supervisor: Dr Marie-Louise Ward

Nikita Karulkar
Title: Investigating the role of psychological factors in gut electrophysiology using non-invasive mapping technology and eHealth
Department of Psychological Medicine
Supervisor: Dr Elizabeth Broadbent