Arthritis NZ is proud to announce the successful recipients of its latest research grants and summer scholarship rounds. The funded projects represent approximately $420,000 in research investment and address critical areas relevant to people living with gout arthritis (gout), osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE/lupus). Many of the projects have a strong commitment to addressing health inequities, particularly focusing on improving health outcomes for Māori and Pasifika communities.

Among the research grants, Taimalieutu Kiwi Tamasese from The Family Centre has been awarded $80,000 in funding to lead a study on gout within Pasifika communities living in the Wellington and Wairarapa region with a view to reducing the barriers these consumers face.

Researchers from the University of Waikato will receive approximately $160,000 to ask important questions about RA and SLE/lupus. Dr Chunhuan Lao will investigate several areas, including why the prevalence of RA appears significantly higher in New Zealand compared to other countries. Meanwhile, Dr Tania Blackmore will research the psychosocial needs of patients living with SLE/lupus to understand better how different social factors influence how they manage their condition and the impacts on their mental health.

Auckland University of Technology’s Dr Daniel O’Brien has been awarded $59,034 to develop a community-led OA model of care for patients, aiming to improve treatment, accessibility, and support for this prevalent condition. Complementing this, Dr Anne Haase from Victoria University of Wellington has secured $24,099 in funding to reframe language around OA treatment waiting lists by exploring patient perspectives and experiences to inform the OA model of care further.

Lastly, Dr Estelle Peyroux from the University of Otago has received $72,796 in funding to investigate immune dysfunction in axSpA to help advance understanding of this complex condition.

Additionally, four senior undergraduate and honours-level students have received summer scholarships, each worth $6,000. The projects will include investigation of brain wave patterns associated with OA pain, the potential benefits of lower leg hot-water immersion for patients with hip or knee OA, genetic variants in gout among Māori and Pasifika Peoples, and Māori experiences of engaging with physiotherapy services for OA. These scholarships demonstrate Arthritis NZ’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of researchers while addressing pressing health challenges for New Zealanders with arthritis.

“These projects demonstrate our unwavering commitment to improving the lives of all New Zealanders living with arthritis,” says Dr Richard Griffiths, Research Manager at Arthritis NZ. “By investing in diverse and impactful research, we’re fostering innovation while prioritising health equity for Māori and Pasifika communities living with arthritis.”

For more information on Arthritis NZ’s research grants, click here.

Research Grants

Gout and Pacific Peoples

Taimalieutu Kiwi TamasesePrincipal Investigator:
Taimalieutu Kiwi Tamasese
Coordinator (Pacific) and Social Policy Analyst
The Family Centre

Award Value: $80,000

Project Summary: Utilising culturally appropriate research methods, Tamasese’s study addresses perceptions of gout arthritis within Pacific communities and the barriers Pacific consumers face when managing their condition and quality of life.

By engaging directly with Pacific individuals her team will explore ways to potentially reduce misinformation and stigma relating to gout while improving the understanding around the treatment and management of the condition. This approach recognises that gout impacts individuals, their extended families, and communities, calling for collective strategies to provide effective support. Additionally, aligning health policies, practices, and services with Pacific contexts may make them more acceptable and effective within these communities.

Managing Osteoarthritis in Aotearoa: Constructing a Community-Led Model of Care

Daniel OBrienPrincipal Investigator:
Dr Daniel O’Brien
Senior Lecturer
Department of Physiotherapy
Auckland University of Technology

Award Value:
$59,034 

Project Summary: Dr O’Brien is leading a study to better understand the needs, preferences, and lived experiences of people living with osteoarthritis (OA). This study builds on his previous research, which has highlighted inconsistencies associated with OA care in New Zealand.

By engaging with consumers, public representatives, clinicians, and health researchers in interactive hui or meetings, he and his team aim to develop a data-driven and community-led model of care that seeks to improve OA care in a way that is equitable and cost-effective for all New Zealanders.

Prevalence, Management, and Outcome of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dr Chunhuan LaoPrincipal Investigator:
Dr Chunhuan Lao
Senior Research Fellow
School of Health
University of Waikato

Award Value:
$79,925  

Project Summary: Dr Lao and her team will explore the prevalence, management, and outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in New Zealand. General practice records will be matched with both pharmaceutical dispensing data and mortality records to understand better the management and outcomes associated with RA.

Currently, the only available data on the prevalence of RA in New Zealand comes from the New Zealand Health Survey, which has a small sample size of less than 6,000 individuals. Past analyses of this data indicate that the prevalence of RA in New Zealand is higher than the global rate. This study seeks to provide Arthritis NZ and health professionals with a more accurate understanding of the prevalence of RA in this country and explore whether access to treatment for Māori and Pasifika is equitable.

The Psychosocial and Supportive Care Needs of Patients Managing Established Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE/lupus)

Dr Tania BlackmorePrincipal Investigator:
Dr Tania Blackmore
Research Fellow
School of Psychology
University of Waikato

Award Value:
$80,000

Project Summary: Little is known about the psychosocial impact of managing systemic erythematosus (SLE/lupus) in New Zealand. Dr Blackmore’s study embraces a patient-centred approach and hypothesises that interviews with these patients will provide new insights into how they experience this condition over time. The study also has the potential to reveal various psychosocial needs, such as how various social factors influence how they manage their condition.

Any potential differences in perspectives of psychosocial needs between Māori and non-Māori will also be explored, helping to highlight any systemic factors or barriers that Māori patients may face when managing SLE/lupus.

Next Step for Living with OA: Re-framing Communication About Waiting Lists into Supportive Lifestyle Choices

Dr Anne Haase Principal Investigator:
Dr Anne Haase
Associate Professor of Health Promotion
School of Health
Victoria University of Wellington

Award Value:
$24,099

Project Summary: Dr Haase has been awarded research funding to investigate how people with osteoarthritis (OA) experience waiting for care and their associated expectations of this care. Her project will also examine the language currently used for patient waiting lists. Instead of focusing on delays and limitations, Dr Haase and her team will explore how empowering language and lifestyle support strategies can engage patients and enhance their overall health while awaiting further medical care.

The research will involve co-designed hui, where focus groups will be used to capture diverse consumer experiences and create practical recommendations for integrating improved communication into healthcare pathways. The findings will contribute to a broader effort to formulate an OA model of care across New Zealand.

Investigating Immune Dysfunction in Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA)

Dr Estelle PeyrouxPrincipal Investigator:
Dr Estelle Peyroux
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Pathology
Otago Medical School
University of Otago

Award Value:
$72,796

Project Summary: Following her teaching commitments in semester one, Dr Peyroux will begin a new study into axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), a debilitating inflammatory condition typically affecting young adults. The study will investigate vital cellular processes that contribute to the progression of the disease, focusing on understanding how abnormalities at a cellular level drive immune dysfunction for those living with this condition.

Currently, treatment options for axSpA are limited and primarily consist of a combination of anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, and immune-suppressing drugs. Dr Peyroux believes that the identification of new inflammatory pathways could reduce cellular stress and downregulate inflammatory signalling pathways, which could, in turn, lead to repurposing existing therapies or expanding the range of treatment options for those affected by axSpA.

Summer Scholarships

How does brain dysrhythmia influence pain sensitisation? Informing future neuromodulation targets for pain management in knee osteoarthritis

Luke Spencer BialostockiStudent:
Luke Spencer Bialostocki
3rd year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), currently undertaking an Honors degree in Anatomy at Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago

Project Summary: Bialostocki’s summer scholarship project aims to better understand neural mechanisms and regions of the brain that could be linked with chronic knee pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA).

Electroencephalography (EEG) techniques will be used to investigate how brain activity and connectivity contribute to chronic pain experiences and map brain regions involved in pain perception. A specific emphasis will be placed on understanding why pain levels do not always correlate directly with physical joint damage.

This summer scholarship seeks to improve pain management strategies and enhance the quality of life for individuals experiencing chronic knee pain while potentially providing more personalised and effective interventions that address the complex neurological aspects that underpin OA-related pain.

Supervisor:
Dr Jerin Mathew
Lecturer in Clinical Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, University of Otago

Does lower-leg hot-water immersion before or after exercise improve pain during and after exercise for people with osteoarthritis?

Matthew Bruce JonesStudent:
Matthew Bruce-Jones
3rd year Medicine, University of Otago

Project Summary: Bruce-Jones is exploring the benefits of lower-leg hot-water immersion before and/or after exercise for individuals with hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA). This research is inspired by traditional Māori healing practices that have shown promise in relation to pain relief.

The project will investigate whether hot-water immersions of only the lower leg can help make physical activity more comfortable and enjoyable for those with knee or hip OA, thus addressing a significant challenge for people who often avoid exercise due to joint pain. The study hopes to provide a simple, accessible, and cost-effective intervention with the potential to improve the quality of life for New Zealanders living with OA.

Supervisor:
Dr Brendon Roxburgh
Lecturer, School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago

Prioritisation and in vivo screening of Māori and Pacific gout-associated genetic variants

Selina WilliamsStudent:
Selina Williams, 4th year, Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, majoring in Reproduction, Genetics and Development, University of Otago

Project Summary: Williams’s research project aims to gain a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms behind gout arthritis which disproportionately affects Māori and Pasifika.

This summer scholarship project will use advanced genetic screening and zebrafish models to investigate how specific genetic variants might contribute to gout, which in turn addresses a critical gap in the emerging field of precision medicine. By focusing on genetic variants that are common in Māori and Pasifika, this innovative genetic research also seeks to reduce health inequities and potentially develop more effective approaches to managing this form of painful inflammatory arthritis.

Supervisor:
Dr Megan Leask
Lecturer, Department of Physiology, University of Otago

Mō te katoa te oranga – Exploring the experiences and perceptions of kiritaki Māori engaged in physiotherapy services for hip and knee osteoarthritis: A qualitative study guided by Kaupapa Māori principles

Amiria Koopu and Kona-Ariki Hippolite Students:
Amiria Koopu (Te whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou, me Ngāti Kahu)

Kona-Ariki Hippolite (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Koata, Te Whakatōhea, me Ngāti Toa Rangatira)

Koopu and Hippolite are both 4th Year Physiotherapy Honours students, Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC)

Project Summary:  Koopu and Hippolite aim to explore the experiences and perceptions of Māori patients receiving physiotherapy services for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA).

The students will analyse data from interviews previously conducted with adult Māori patients with hip or knee OA who are enrolled at a local health clinic in the Waikato area.

In addition to its aim to generate more culturally safe and equitable physiotherapy practices for Māori patients in New Zealand, the study is also concerned with addressing existing health disparities for Māori. To achieve this goal, the research is guided by Kaupapa Māori Research principles and is conducted by Māori, for Māori, and with Māori.

Supervisor:
Rory Christopherson
Programme Lead – Physiotherapy, WINTEC

For further information on any of the project and grants in this media release, please contact:

Dr Richard Griffiths

Research Manager

Arthritis NZ Mateponapona Aotearoa

E: richard.griffiths@arthritis.org.nz

M: 027 293 6709

Philip Kearney

Chief Executive

Arthritis NZ Mateponapona Aotearoa

E: philip.kearney@arthritis.org.nz

M: 027 419 8946