Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery launches Pacific Strategy

The Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery will formally launch its inaugural Pacific Strategy at the 2nd Pacific Peoples Fono in the Community, hosted at The Cause Collective in Manukau on 27 February.

Tautai fa’atonutonu folau (Take the lead, set the course) provides a clear framework, a strategy aiming to strengthen Pacific leadership, participation and excellence across biomedical research, while deepening partnerships with Pacific communities.

The Maurice Wilkins Centre is a national Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), operating as a virtual national institute and bringing together a large, multidisciplinary network of researchers and clinicians across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Professor Dave Grattan FRSNZ, Director of the Maurice Wilkins Centre, said the location of the launch is significant.

“Launching our Pacific Strategy at The Cause Collective places community at the heart of this work,” Professor Grattan said.

“It reflects our commitment to Pacific leadership, partnership and excellence, and to ensuring biomedical research delivers meaningful outcomes for Pacific peoples.”

The Pacific Strategy has been co-created through extensive talanoa with Pacific researchers across career stages and institutions and is structured around three interconnected pou: Tagata o le Moana (People), Fakatotolo (Research), and Kainga (Partnerships, Place and Relationality).

Dr Ofa Dewes MNZM (Rotuma, Tonga, Tuvalu, Tokelau and Ngāti Porou), senior research fellow, University of Auckland (COMPASS), and Research Director, The Cause Collective, and a member of the Maurice Wilkins Centre Research Leadership Forum, said the strategy represents a collective commitment to future Pacific leadership in science.

“This strategy affirms Pacific values, knowledge systems and community relationships as central to excellence in biomedical research,” Dr Dewes said.

She added that early-career Pacific scholars were particularly drawn to the field of Metabolism and the Maurice Wilkins Centre provided the opportunity to grow professional capacity for Pacific peoples.

The fono and launch will bring together Pacific community leaders, health organisations, researchers, students and stakeholders to strengthen relationships and support Pacific-led research pathways.

Professor Nikki Moreland, Principal Investigator, Maurice Wilkins Centre & Rapua Te Mea Ngaro Ka Tau, will deliver the keynote address ‘Innovative efforts to beat Strep A and Rheumatic Fever in Aotearoa and beyond’ during the launch.