Kidney Punch

The patient volunteer

John Pickering • Feb 25, 2014

• clinical trials,
• Emergency Department,
• patient,
• volunteer

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... Read More

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Publish And Perish

John Pickering • Jan 20, 2014

• PBRF,
• Perish,
• publish,
• Science policy,
• university

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 → … Read More

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How Academia Resembles a Drug Gang

John Pickering • Dec 02, 2013

• $100Dialysis

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… … Read More

A taste of success

John Pickering • Nov 18, 2013

• bleach,
• chlorine,
• Christchurch,
• Chronic Kidney Disease,
• Dialysis,
• Doug Sellman,
• Food addiction,
• free radical,
• heart disease,
• Maori/Indigenous Health Institute,
• Marsden,
• MIHI,
• Obesity,
• Rutherford fellowship,
• Suetonia Palmer,
• Tony Kettle,
• Transplant,
• University of Otago

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 → … Read More

Medical professionals act up

John Pickering • Nov 13, 2013

• Acting,
• Christchurch,
• medical school,
• medical student,
• University of Otago Christchurch,
• volunteer

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 → … Read More

Legionnaires’ disease more common than once thought

John Pickering • Nov 11, 2013

• David Murdoch,
• gardening,
• Legionnaires disease,
• Pneumonia,
• potting mix,
• University of Otago,
• University of Otago Christchurch

Infectious diseases expert Professor David Murdoch is passionate about his work in better understanding legionnaires’ disease and its causes. “If I ever have the opportunity in my career to help eradicate a disease it would likely be legionnaires’ disease. It’s the most common cause of pneumonia for much of the year in Christchurch and it … Continue reading → … Read More

More women injured in quakes

John Pickering • Nov 06, 2013

• Christchurch Earthquake,
• earthquake,
• Emergency Department,
• Emergency Room,
• University of Otago Christchurch,
• women

A Christchurch researcher is trying to understand why so many more women than men were injured in the Canterbury earthquakes. Professor Mike Ardagh is Chair of the RHISE (Researching the Health Implications of Seismic Events) group. Professor Ardagh leads a team investigating the health system response to the quakes. His team found the health system … Continue reading → … Read More

A letter for all District Health Board Candidates

John Pickering • Sep 30, 2013

• budget,
• District Health Board,
• evidence based policy,
• Health,
• research,
• vote

Dear District Health Board Candidates Soon I and thousands like me will cast our votes to choose our District Health Boards.  Given the huge budgets of DHBs and the huge potential to influence health outcomes I want more information from you than a couple of paragraphs I received with the voting packs.  Below are two … Continue reading → … Read More

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Teach creationism; undermine theology

John Pickering • Sep 24, 2013

• creationism,
• education,
• Gospel,
• Kingdom of Heaven,
• religion,
• school,
• theology

My fellow science blogger Alison Campbell recently wrote a blog post entitled “teach creationism, undermine science”  in which she highlighted some of the concerns shared by many scientists.  As a Christian and as a scientist I believe the issue is far worse than the undermining of science.  Because so many teaching creationism are so well … Continue reading → … Read More

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What the HRC should have done

John Pickering • Sep 18, 2013

• Explorer Grants,
• Funding,
• grants,
• Health Research Council,
• HRC,
• Lottery,
• National Science Challenges,
• Project grants,
• Random,
• Randomised controlled trial

The system is broke.  It is no better than a lottery.  The Health Research Council tacitly acknowledged this last year when they introduced a lottery to their grant funding round.  The lottery was for three grants of $150,000 each.  These “Explorer Grants” are available again this year.  The process went thus: HRC announced the grant … Continue reading → … Read More

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