Research reports

Arthritis NZ funds research to provide information or an "evidence base" that has been produced by highly qualified researchers and their teams through careful, well-planned and ethically approved research projects.

We also provide students who are enrolled in recognised tertiary courses or are undertaking relevant professional training the opportunity to participate in short research projects every summer under the supervision of experienced supervisors with a research background.  

These research findings are then used to inform the development and delivery of our programmes, support services, community engagement and advocacy work. The research projects we fund ultimately seek to improve the lives of people affected by arthritis. 

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or lupus for short, is an autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system attacks its own tissue and organs. Prior to 2021, only a very limited amount of research had been done on Lupus/SLE in New Zealand. 

Arthritis NZ established a Lupus/SLE Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2021 to provide significant financial support to emerging researchers in New Zealand to undertake Lupus/SLE research which has the potential to advance knowledge and address the aforementioned knowledge gaps in the Lupus/SLE research field. 

Funding for this opportunity was made available through an extremely generous bequest by the late Dorothy Ashbolt.

Dr Chunhuan Lao from the University of Waikato was awarded our inaugural Lupus/SLE Postdoctoral Fellowship in July 2022 for three years. Dr Lao's findings have been instrumental in informing how we can better support people living with Lupus/SLE in New Zealand. 

Arthritis NZ also commissions external agencies to carry out research and evaluation projects to provide new knowledge in key areas of significant interest for our organisation. Below are the most significant project findings. 

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or lupus for short, is an autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system attacks its own tissue and organs. Prior to 2021, only a very limited amount of research had been done on Lupus/SLE in New Zealand. 

Arthritis NZ established a Lupus/SLE Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2021 to provide significant financial support to emerging researchers in New Zealand to undertake Lupus/SLE research which has the potential to advance knowledge and address the aforementioned knowledge gaps in the Lupus/SLE research field. 

Funding for this opportunity was made available through an extremely generous bequest by the late Dorothy Ashbolt.

Dr Chunhuan Lao from the University of Waikato was awarded our inaugural Lupus/SLE Postdoctoral Fellowship in July 2022 for three years. Dr Lao's findings have been instrumental in informing the support of people living with Lupus/SLE within New Zealand.