John Pickering
HRC success in Christchurch - Kidney Punch
Jun 09, 2014 •
The Health Research Council announced Programme and Project grant recipients. Here’s the list from the Christchurch campus of the University of Otago in which I get a brief mention :). If others have abstracts of successful grants they’d like posted on this blog, then please let me know. *****Update: It’s come to my attention that this … Continue reading →
$20bn for Medical Research! - Kidney Punch
May 15, 2014 •
Alas, not in New Zealand, but close … our Australian counterparts in medical research appear on the face of it to have scored big in what appears otherwise to be a grim Australian budget. An AUD$20bn medical research “future fund” is to be established. This effectively means that by 2022-3 there will be twice the … Continue reading →
Does being unconscious mean you should miss out? - Kidney Punch
May 14, 2014 •
The front page of the Herald this morning questions the participation of unconscious patients in clinical trials. While I understand Auckland Women’s Health Council co-ordinator Lynda Williams unease, I also detected a failure to understand the process of how progress in medicine is made. First, all research in such cases is approved by ethics committees which include … Continue reading →
Oh hell - Kidney Punch
Apr 16, 2014 •
Oh Hell, that hurts! I sat down in a hurry. My first thought was “I’m having a heart attack.” My second was “Don’t be silly you’re only 49 and probably just gobbled lunch too quickly, again.” Jess came up to me and said “Gosh, you look pale.” I mumbled something about a bit of pain. … Continue reading →
A day to celebrate - Kidney Punch
Mar 13, 2014 •
If it weren’t for your kidneys where would you be? You’d be in the hospital or infirmary, If you didn’t have two functioning kidneys. (with apologies to John Clarke aka Fred Dagg) Happy World Kidney Day everyone. This blog started off life as $100 Dialysis because I believe that if we can make a computer … Continue reading →
The patient volunteer - Kidney Punch
Feb 25, 2014 •
Me Curious Ignorant Seeker of understanding Hunter of truths Volunteer Hurting Vulnerable Seeker of healing Hunter for relief Volunteer Willing Generous Seeker of understanding Hunter of truths Tagged: Clinical trials, Emergency Departmen...
Publish And Perish - Kidney Punch
Jan 20, 2014 •
I didn’t want to be in a position to write this post. I’ve procrastinated and debated whether I should or not – mainly because I don’t want it to come across as sour grapes. However, procrastination over… 2013 was a great year from the academic metrics point of view – many articles were written, twice … Continue reading →
How Academia Resembles a Drug Gang - Kidney Punch
Dec 02, 2013 •
Originally posted on Alexandre Afonso:
In 2000, economist Steven Levitt and sociologist Sudhir Venkatesh published an article in the Quarterly Journal of Economics about the internal wage structure of a Chicago drug gang. This piece would later serve as a basis for a chapter in Levitt’s (and Dubner’s) best seller Freakonomics. [1] The title of the…
A taste of success - Kidney Punch
Nov 18, 2013 •
Some recent successes of University of Otago Christchurch researchers: Chlorine bleach key in disease? Professor Tony Kettle from the Centre for Free Radical Research has won a prestigious Marsden Fund grant to better understand a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ chemical with a role in heart disease, cancer, cystic fibrosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Kettle will investigate … Continue reading →
Medical professionals act up - Kidney Punch
Nov 13, 2013 •
Actors are helping Christchurch medical students practise the skills necessary to relate to patients. Dr Lynette Murdoch organises the General Practice component for 4th year medical students at the University of Otago, Christchurch. She says the General Practice Department has long employed professional actors to play the role of simulated patients. “The consultations our students … Continue reading →