Liggins Institute Leadership
The Director of the Liggins Institute has overall responsibility for the operation and scientific direction of the Institute. In the University’s organisational structure, the Director has a similar position to a Dean of a Faculty and reports directly to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation).
The Director is supported by two Associate Directors: Associate Director - Postgraduate, Associate Director - Research. There is also an Institute Executive comprising academic staff, professional staff and postgraduate students.
The on-site Clinical Research Unit is led by a clinical director who manages a team of paediatric endocrinologists, paediatricians, paediatric and research nurses and administrative staff.
The off-site Ngapouri Research Farm is managed by a senior scientist who leads a team of scientists, technicians, PhD students and visiting researchers.
Academic staff comprise professors, senior lecturers and research fellows, research fellows and clinical research fellows, as well as honorary academics.
Liggins Institute's professional staff are managed by the Institute Operations Manager and grouped into the following service divisions: research support, operations, finance, communications, and laboratory.
A Technical Services Manager runs the Liggins Institute's research laboratory and Analytical and Molecular Research Platform, leading a team of specialist technical staff.
National Science Challenges (2014-2024)
Two of the Government’s eleven National Science Challenges, A Better Start and High-Value Nutrition, were hosted at the Liggins Institute and led by Liggins Institute academics.
The 10-year National Science Challenges were designed to take a strategic approach to the Government’s science investment by bringing together the country’s top researchers to focus on a series of goals that, if achieved, would have significant and enduring benefits for New Zealand.
A Better Start (E Tipu e Rea)
A Better Start: E Tipu e Rea National Science Challenge aimed to find practical, evidence-based solutions to support our tamariki and rangatahi in leading healthy and successful lives. The Challenge gathered researchers from around the country working across three health-related research themes: healthy weight, resilient teens and successful learning.
High-Value Nutrition (Ko Ngā Kai Whai Painga)
The ten-year mission of the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge was to grow the science excellence and knowledge New Zealand needs to produce and deliver food and nutrition to the world to help people stay healthy and well. It had had four priority research themes: Digestive Health, Immune Health, Infant Health, and Metabolic Health, with two enabling research themes: the Science of Food and Consumer Insights.