Postgraduate study at the Reseach Farm Laboratory

Some of our researchers are based at the University of Auckland's Research Farm Laboratory just outside of Rotorua. Run by the Liggins Institute, supervisors and postgraduate students work alongside collaborators from the University of Auckland’s departments of Orthopaedics, Physiology and Pharmacy, as well as Auckland Bioengineering Institute, and Massey University for animal health, behaviour and welfare studies.

As a postgraduate student, you can undertake early stage research at the Research Farm Laboratory before moving to laboratory work at the Auckland campus. Biomedical research to date at this site has involved maternal nutrition, premature birth and fetal growth restriction, as well as consequences, treatments and management. Other areas have involved drug delivery and repair strategies for bone, tendon and ligament damage.

• Effects of intrauterine insulin-like growth factor-1 therapy for fetal growth restriction on adult metabolism and body composition are sex specific    
• Postnatal effects of intrauterine treatment of the growth-restricted ovine fetus with intra-amniotic insulin-like growth factor-1
• Parenteral administration of l-arginine to twin-bearing Romney ewes during late pregnancy is associated with reduced milk somatic cell count during early lactation
• Twin Conception in Sheep Leads to Impaired Insulin Sensitivity and Sexually Dimorphic Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle Phenotypes in Adulthood
  

Masters and doctoral projects are available to explore the following questions:

•  Development of maternal blood markers of fetal growth restriction (FGR)

You can get a scholarship to assist with your study. See what’s on offer for Liggins Institute students.

Contact Dr Mark Oliver to find out more about the projects on offer or to apply.

m.oliver@auckland.ac.nz