Hello, I'm Big Research
I’m the thing that means Big Breakthroughs can be made so the health of little lives is improved.
Big Research is done by people who notice, ask lots of questions, and have clever ideas. It can involve a lot of different people, and it can take a lot of time. It takes a lot of heart and a lot of brain power. It also takes a lot of money.
And that is what Cure Kids helps with. To raise the money for the hearts and brains to do the big research to improve little lives.
We fund research to...
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Understand the cause
We fund researchers to find out what causes the diseases and health conditions that affect Kiwi kids, so that we can discover new ways to prevent, treat, and cure disease.10 active Cause projects -
Improve the care
We fund researchers to improve the standard of care for Kiwi kids who live with serious health issues, by finding creative ways to reduce pain, extend life, or improve the quality of life for children.36 active Care projects -
Discover the cure
We fund researchers to develop innovative devices, medicines, or methods which have the potential to prevent or cure childhood illnesses.8 active Cure projects
Big Research
We are currently supporting over $19 million of child health research projects.
Learn more-
Preterm Health
4 Active projects$861.5K -
Childhood Cancers
4 Active projects$3.2M -
Maternal and Infant Conditions
6 Active projects$995.2K -
Rheumatic Heart Disease
7 Active projects$3.2M -
Childhood Development and Learning Difficulties
9 Active projects$1.6M -
Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
1 Active project$1.1M -
Obesity, Growth Disorders & Nutrition
5 Active projects$1.4M -
Mental Health and Wellbeing
12 Active projects$2.9M -
Oral and Dental Disease
1 Active project$151K -
Genetic Conditions and Rare Disorders
4 Active projects$1.5M -
Respiratory Conditions
3 Active projects$735.8K -
Infectious Disease
4 Active projects$100K -
Gastrointestinal Conditions
1 Active project$450K
Big Breakthroughs
Here’s a snapshot of the big breakthroughs we’ve helped make happen.
Treatment for a rare disorder – Batten Disease
We contributed to a series of studies that led to the discovery of a gene therapy for Batten Disease, which is now in human clinical trials in the USA.
Discovery of some of the genes which causes epilepsy
We funded research to identify some of the genes that cause epilepsy, enabling more targeted treatments and care.
Digital tools to help children and adolescents better manage their mental health
We funded research to investigate the causes of mental health conditions in young people, and to develop an online tool to combat depression and anxiety.
Demonstration that babies born at 23–24 weeks can survive
Cure Kids funded a study that provided evidence that babies born prematurely at 23-24 weeks can survive and thrive.
Proof that sleeping position can reduce stillbirths by 50%
A study investigating the causes of stillbirth led to new advice for pregnant mothers on the safest sleeping position, reducing the risk of stillbirth by 50%.
Prevention of 200 sudden unexpected deaths in infancy every year
We funded a series of studies on risk factors for SUDI, leading to advice that has prevented at least 200 deaths every year, and many more around the world.
Generation of full-thickness human skin in a lab
In 2012, Professor Rod Dunbar engineered full-thickness human skin in the laboratory using the patient’s own skin cells to enable skin repair after burns.
Invention of a patented car-seat insert
A study on the cause of unexpected deaths of babies in car seats led to the invention of an insert that helps maintain breathing and improve safety.
Diagnostic test to enable treatment for cystic fibrosis at birth
Sir Bob Elliott identified a blood test (newborn heel-prick) to diagnose cystic fibrosis at birth, enabling earlier treatment and increasing life expectancy.
Innovative treatment for infants with brain injury
Cure Kids funding led to the development of a cap to cool babies’ heads to limit or reverse brain injury in at-risk babies.
Our research in action
We improve health and wellbeing for tamariki Māori
We’ve got a unique population here in NZ, and Māori children have a genetic heritage found nowhere else in the world.
To enable health and wellbeing for tamariki Māori, we need to use local knowledge to design homegrown solutions to tackle NZ-specific health problems.
Cure Kids is proud to work alongside Māori health experts so we can be sure we’re allocating funds and support to the very best projects.
The Advisors
Behind every funding decision we make is a panel of advisors – a talented bunch of 10 who together make up Cure Kids Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee.
Professor Stephen Robertson
Professor Stephen Robertson has been the Cure Kids Chair of Paediatric Genetics at the University of Otago since 2002.
Prof Robertson has gained international acclaim in his field for his expertise in the field of genetic mutations, specifically those affecting the skeleton and the brain.
He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Otago, Dunedin, where he would eventually return more than a decade later. During his absence from Otago, he held the prestigious Nuffield Scholarship at the Institute of Molecular Medicine at the world-leading Oxford University. Also specialising in paediatrics, Prof Robertson is a clinician who sees children with varying degrees of malformation on a regular basis.
Prof Robertson’s work has seen him and his team discover genes that are implicated in a number of genetic disorders. These include familial disorders where a number of members of a particular family are affected with life-affecting, even fatal, conditions. One such story involved Robertson working tirelessly with a whanau in the far North who were inexplicably losing children soon after birth. After a long journey, he identified the gene which was responsible for the babies’ deaths enabling a diagnosis to be made. This was also fundamental in giving the whanau information regarding future offspring as well as the peace of mind of knowing what happened to their loved ones.
“What we’re about is helping people understand and live with disability as best they can, and part of that’s through giving information about what causes it.”
Prof Robertson and his team continue to work to characterise and better understand rare, yet significant, diseases that affect a number of New Zealand children.
Professor Te Kani Kingi
His specialist expertise is in mental health, psychometrics, health services, and Māori health. Prof Kingi leads a research theme for the 'Growing Up in NZ' longitudinal study of child health, and holds a range of governance roles throughout the health, research, and science sectors, including for the Royal Society of NZ, the Health Research Council, EMERGE Aotearoa, and the National Institute for Economic and Demographic Research. Prof Kingi is on Cure Kids' Medical & Scientific Advisory Committee, and leads the process for peer review of Grant applications by Māori experts.
Professor Ian Morison
Professor Ian Morison is a haematologist working both in a medical diagnostic laboratory and in a university research laboratory.
In the hospital setting, he diagnoses and sees first-hand the impact of childhood blood disorders, the most common of which is childhood leukaemia.
Despite the excellent prognosis that has been gained through 50 years of international collaboration, the journey to a cure is still long and arduous and unfortunately a few children don’t obtain a cure.
Within Professor Morison’s research laboratory we can see the potential of new markers that will assist us in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood leukaemia. These are called epigenetic markers, and over the past 20 years his research group has established considerable expertise with these markers. They are using epigenetic markers to find the cells that give rise to childhood leukaemia and using these markers to monitor the response of leukaemia cells to treatment in the hope that we can refine our understanding of the successful treatments that are currently used.
Emeritus Professor Sally Merry
Professor Sally Merry holds the Cure Kids Duke Family Chair in Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the University of Auckland.
“I am a trained child and adolescent psychiatrist, and founded the Werry Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, based in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland.
At the heart of my work is investigating insights into the causes of mental health conditions and developing research-led treatments and prevention strategies with the aim of improving outcomes for young people and their families. My work is specifically focussed on e-therapies.
Recognising the growing use of smart technology amongst children and adolescents, I work with my team seeking to harness this potential by developing engaging and immersive therapies that can be utilised in the homes of children and families living with a mental health issue.
Cure Kids funding allows us to be ambitious in our thinking as we try to tackle the important issue of mental health for our young people. Ongoing secured funding has enabled us to focus on how we might use technology to support young people to be resilient, and support parents to raise resilient children.”
Professor Andrew Day
Professor Andrew Day holds the chair of Paediatric Research at University of Otago, Christchurch.
Professor Andrew Day undertook his medical training at University of Otago, New Zealand. After his initial paediatric training in Christchurch, he completed clinical and research fellowship training at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. In 2000, he took up appointments at the University of New South Wales and Sydney Children’s Hospital in Sydney, Australia. Professor Day then returned to NZ in 2009 to take an academic position at University of Otago (Christchurch) and a clinical position (Paediatric Gastroenterologist) at Christchurch Hospital. In 2017, Prof Day was appointed as Cure Kids Chair of Paediatric Research in Christchurch.
The overall objectives of Prof Day’s ongoing research activities are to delineate and define aspects of gastrointestinal inflammation, especially in the context of inflammatory bowel disease, and to define how interactions occurring at the gastrointestinal epithelial border between the host and the environment affect disease pathogenesis and manifestations. This has focused especially upon epithelial responses to inflammatory stimuli, host innate immune responses and to modulation of these responses with therapeutic intervention, providing clinical relevance to laboratory activities. He has an ongoing active and productive research program, with local and international collaborations, leading to more than 220 peer-reviewed publications and numerous other presentations or publications.
Professor Stuart Dalziel
Professor Dalziel is the Cure Kids Chair of Child Health Research.
He is a Professor in the School of Medicine’s Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics, Director of Emergency Medicine Research and a Paediatric Emergency Medicine Specialist, Children’s Emergency Department, at Starship Children’s Hospital. He is also the current chair of the Paediatric Research in Emergency Departments International Collaborative (PREDICT, Australasia’s paediatric emergency medicine research network) and Vice-Chair of the Paediatric Emergency Research Network (PERN), a collaboration of the six major international paediatric emergency medicine research networks.
Originally from Hawke’s Bay, he trained at the Universities of Otago and Auckland, returning to New Zealand over a decade ago following a fellowship post at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London. Professor Dalziel’s research is strongly aligned to his everyday clinical practice as a Paediatric Emergency Medicine Specialist. It focuses on both medical emergencies, such as status epilepticus (the most common paediatric neurological emergency), and common paediatric conditions, such as asthma and bronchiolitis (the most common reason for infants to be admitted to hospital). Professor Dalziel has received numerous local and international awards for mentoring and research excellence. He is actively involved in the leadership of a number of international research networks which directly address important questions related to the acute care of children.
Professor Terryann Clark
Her specialist expertise is in mental health, nursing, social determinants of health, and health services for young Māori. Much of her research has focused on depression, suicide, and delivery of equity in mental health for young Māori. Prof Clark also holds a range of governance and advisory roles related to young people, Māori health, and mental health. Since 1998 Prof Clark has been the Principal Investigator and Co-Lead of the Youth2000 series of national surveys on youth health and wellbeing. She is a founding member of the national Adolescent Health Research Group. In 2022, Prof Clark joined Cure Kids' Medical & Scientific Advisory Committee.
Associate Professor Teuila Percival
She has specific expertise in respiratory and rheumatic heart disease in young children, and her research has encompassed maternal and child health, climate change and health, child obesity, health systems and informatics.
Assoc. Prof Percival has worked in both New Zealand and throughout the Pacific region in both clinical and research roles.
She is Vice-President of the Pasifika Medical Association, Chair of Fale Futures Trust, Chair of South Seas Healthcare, a trustee of Ta Pasifika Primary Health Organisation, and serves on a number of government health advisory groups. Assoc. Prof Percival was awarded a Queen’s Service Order medal in 2010, and in 2023, she received a King's Birthday Honours as Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to health and the Pacific community.
Professor Tony Walls
Prof Walls graduated from the University of Otago and trained as a general paediatrician. He then moved to London to train in Infectious Diseases at the Royal London Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Before returning to New Zealand he worked as a Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, where he was the lead clinician for the Paediatric HIV Service.
His current research interests include the epidemiology of infections in children, the diagnosis and management of paediatric bone and joint infections and vaccinating pregnant women to protect their infants. He is Co-Director of the recently established Research for Children Aotearoa research collaborative which brings together researchers from across institutions, regions and disciplines to enhance community-led child health research.
Professor Walls is also an advisor to PHARMAC and the New Zealand Ministry of Health on vaccine policy matters, and is an author on the National Immunisation Handbook.
Our research in action
62 active projects, 85 phenomenal researchers
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Dr Hilary Sheppard
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Professor Frank Bloomfield
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Associate Professor Nigel Wilson
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Associate Professor Simon Swift
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Ass Prof Laurie McLay
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Dr Samantha Marsh
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Distinguished Professor Linda Smith
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Professor Peter Vuillermin
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Dr Peter Choi
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Dr Jennifer Hollywood
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Dr Andrew Wood
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Emeritus Professor Ed Mitchell
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Dr Rebecca Findlay
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Professor Rich Masters
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Professor Lynette Sadleir
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Professor Stephen Robertson
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Dr Tanya Cully
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Dr Rosie Dobson
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Mr Nicholas Bowden
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Professor Ian Morison
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Dr Seini Taufa
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Dr Mairin Taylor
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Dr Louise Bicknell
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Dr Nicola Ludin
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Professor Andrew Day
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Dr Teresa Gontijo de Castro
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Associate Professor John Thompson
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Dr Nadia Mitchell
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Professor Terryann Clark
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Professor Te Kani Kingi
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Associate Professor Martin De Bock
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Professor Simon Malpas
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Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles
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Dr Amy Scott-Thomas
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Associate Professor Laurens Manning
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Associate Professor Alys Clark
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Dr Mariana Muelbert
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Dr Simerdeep Dhillon
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Dr Jason Turuwhenua
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Distinguished Professor Margaret Brimble
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Associate Professor Sarah Hetrick
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Dr Rachel Brown
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Professor Greg O'Grady
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Professor Trecia Wouldes
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Associate Professor Catherine Byrnes
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Dr Manisha Sharma
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Associate Professor Mhoyra Fraser
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Emeritus Professor Sally Merry
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Dr Ben Albert
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Dr Sarah Fortune
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Associate Professor Nikki Moreland
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Dr Jennifer Knopp
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Professor Leonie Pihama
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Dr Amber Young
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Dr Fiona Langridge
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Dr Jacelyn Loh
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Associate Professor Teuila Percival
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Professor Tony Walls
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Professor John Everatt
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Dr Tania Cargo
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Professor Boyd Swinburn
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Dr Yvonne Anderson
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Associate Professor Jo James
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Mrs Nicky-Marie Kohere-Smiler
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Professor Stuart Dalziel
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Dr Guido Wassink
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Dr Joanne Choi
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Professor Nick Draper
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Professor Russell Snell
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Associate Professor Ehsan Vaghefi
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Dr Alexandra Wallace
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Dr Christine McIntosh
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Professor Barry Taylor
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Dr Alison Leversha
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Dr Jiney Jose
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Associate Professor Chris McKinlay
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Professor Barbara Galland
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Dr Lisa Pilkington
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Dr Angus Lindsay
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Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu
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Dr Anneka Anderson
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Dr Mark Oliver
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Dr Julie Bennett
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Professor Cameron Grant
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Ngā piki me ngā heke: Evidence-based rangatahi mental health preventionAwarded 600,000Mental Health and Wellbeing
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Accelerating vaccine development of TeeVaxAwarded 588,553Rheumatic Heart Disease
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Understanding reduced fetal movements in late pregnancy to reduce the risk of stillbirthAwarded $124,771Maternal and Infant Conditions
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Trialing a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophyAwarded $119,932Genetic Conditions and Rare Disorders
2021 Report
State of Child Health in Aotearoa New Zealand
Cure Kids' inaugural State of Child Health Report 2021 sets out three key indicators to benchmark the health of New Zealand children.