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Liggins Link
May 2024
Kia ora koutou
In this issue of the Liggins Link, our research on preterm birth takes centre stage. We feature two stories with Professor Katie Groom discussing her work with the Carosika Collaborative, a group dedicated to improving preterm birth pregnancy care across Aotearoa. Also in the news is the 50-year follow-up to Professor Mont Liggin’s steroid study and findings from the DIAMOND Study’s research into nutritional support for preterm babies. Have a read.
It was a pleasure to witness the exceptional performance of our Liggins Institute staff and students at the prestigious PSANZ Conference in Christchurch. Congratulations to the five researchers who were honoured with awards, a testament to their dedication and the quality of their work.
We also celebrate the Māori Research Advisory Group's well-deserved Tu Rangatira Mo Te Ora Award from the Public Health Association of New Zealand, acknowledging their invaluable contributions.
Finally, we warmly congratulate the four Liggins Institute students who graduated in the May ceremony. Ka rawe to you all!
Ngā mihi nui
Justin
Professor Justin O'Sullivan
Director, The Liggins Institute,
University of Auckland
PITOPITO KŌRERO | NEWS
Preterm babies deserve better- Professor Katie Groom
'Implementation of the national best practice guide, Taonga Tuku Iho, is already two years behind schedule.'
Despite the government-funded Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee making a number of preterm birth recommendations over the last 15 years no government has led or funded such a programme
Opinion: A young Māori woman and her Pacific partner arrive at their local hospital by ambulance. She has gone into labour at just under 24 weeks, but the couple haven’t recognised the symptoms – and don’t know the risks of premature birth for their baby. By the time they arrive, her labour is too far advanced to be able to stop it and there is not enough time to offer treatments that might have helped to save their baby’s life.
Fifty years on follow-up finds landmark steroid study remains safe
Pediatrician Dr Ross Howie (left) and obstetrics researcher Graham 'Mont' Liggins in 1972.
A follow-up analysis 50 years later finds no adverse heart health risk from Professor Mont Liggins' landmark steroid study to reduce illness and death for pre-term babies.
A new study has found there are no adverse long-term cardiovascular health consequences for the now-adult children of mothers who were given corticosteroids because they were at risk of early birth in a landmark trial conducted in Auckland, New Zealand, 50 years ago.
Waiting for mums' milk safer than thought for preterm babies
Most moderate-to-late-preterm newborns need some sort of nutritional support, but an intravenous sugar syrup is likely to be enough
A new Liggins-led study into feeding moderately premature babies finds giving them costly intravenous proteins and extra milk doesn’t get them out of hospital sooner than simply waiting until a mother’s milk has come in.
It seems intuitive: babies born a bit early would benefit from being bolstered with a bit of extra feeding while waiting to get to full breast milk feeds.
But it seems they are more resilient than we might have thought.
Why NZ's pre-term birth rate keeps rising - and how it could be prevented
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Each year, around 4500 babies are born early in Aotearoa. Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal death and may also be associated with lifelong disability and poor health and wellbeing.
Earlier this month, Liggins Institute Professor Katie Groom was interviewed on RNZ's Nine to Noon about her work alongside the Carosika Collaborative to improve the standard of preterm birth care across Aotearoa.
Liggins graduate leads groundbreaking mental health research
Metua Daniel-Atutolu with her family at graduation. "This research is not mine, it is ours."
Liggins Institute student Metua Daniel-Atutolu graduated this month with a Master of Health Sciences, first-class honours. Her research journey into the mental health of Cook Island adolescents highlights the importance of Indigenous voices in research and sheds light on a deepening crisis.
More sustainable approach needed regarding puberty blockers - Professor
Liggins Institute Professor Paul Hofman recently appeared on Mike Hosking Breakfast, discussing the UK Cass report and the use of puberty blockers to treat gender dysphoria in New Zealand children.
Review of evidence for puberty blockers and hormone treatment in youth - Expert Reaction
Dr Ben Albert, Paediatric Endocrinologist and Senior Research Fellow at the Liggins Institute was recently asked by the Science Media Centre to provide third-party expert commentary on the BMJ’s review of the evidence for puberty blockers and hormone treatment in youth.
Dr Mariana Muelbert, Liggins Institute Post Doctoral Fellow, was recently interviewed by Cure Kids about her research investigating the impact of antenatal steroids on infant wellbeing and lactation.
Mariana’s Fellowship project, “Antenatal corticosteroids effect on lactation and maternal-infant health: The ALMA Study”, is co-funded by Cure Kids and Maurice & Phyllis Paykel Trust.
Reels of the interview are available to watch on Facebook and on Instagram.
One way out of an inequitable health system - Dr Simone Watkins
Dr Simone Watkins, Liggins Institute
Dr Simone Watkins, Liggins doctoral candidate and paediatric doctor of Pasifika descent, has written an insightful opinion piece for Newsroom about ethnic inequities in health outcomes.
Public Lecture - Born too soon: improving preterm birth pregnancy care across Aotearoa
Alena, Katie Groom, Lisa Dawes, Tina Allen-Mokaraka, and Tasi Wilson at the Liggins Institute public lecture
Our recent public lecture was an extraordinary success, drawing a large and engaged audience. We thank our exceptional speakers—Professor Katie Groom and Dr Lisa Dawes—for sharing their work with the Carosika Collaborative to improve preterm birth pregnancy care across Aotearoa. We’re also incredibly grateful to Alena, Izak, Tina Allen-Mokaraka, and Tasi Wilson for sharing their moving stories.
If you missed the public lecture, don’t worry. The video is now available to view on our YouTube channel.
Dr Lisa Dawes and Professor Katie Groom presenting at the Liggins Institute public lecture
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Liggins Institute participates in the 2024 Mānawa Mai Catalyst programme
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Photos: Mark Vickers (left), Fiona Lithander (right)
Last month, the Liggins Institute had the pleasure of participating in the 2024 Mānawa Mai Catalyst programme, which connects New Zealand’s future superstars, innovators, disruptors, and researchers with the University’s globally renowned research institutes.
In two fascinating information sessions, our researchers – Professor Mark Vickers, Associate Professor Fiona Lithander, Research Fellow Dr Theo Portlock and doctoral students Jillian Hildreth and Minah Kim – gave the Year 12 students an insight into the Institute and its work.
Theo Portlock presenting 
Minah Kim presenting |
Jillian Hildreth presenting 
Theo, Mark, Jillian and Minah |
WHAKAMIHI | CONGRATULATIONS
Four Liggins Institute students graduated in May ceremony
Zahlee Buckley, BBiomedSc(Hons), at her graduation ceremony 
Georgia Wansink, BMedImag(Hons), with her partner at the graduation ceremony |
Amy Barker, BMedImag(Hons), with her supervisor, Dr Amber Milan (left) 
Metua Daniel-Atutolu, MHSc, with her supervisor, Professor Mark Vickers |
Congratulations to the latest Liggins Institute graduates:
- Zahlee Buckley, Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons)
- Amy Barker, Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Hons)
- Georgia Wansink, Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Hons)
- Metuamaru Daniel-Atutolu, Master of Health Sciences
Your hard work, dedication, and passion have paid off, and now you're ready to take on the world. We wish you every success with your next steps.
Liggins Institute Māori Research Advisory Group wins Public Health Association of New Zealand award
Left to right: Kerry Hiini, Haunui Royal, Justin O'Sullivan, Geremy Hema, Gregg Pardoe, Jen Rogers, Jaylene Wehipeihana, Michael Steedman, Kaumoana Steedman and Jane Duffy at PHANZ Awards Dinner
Congratulations to the Liggins Institute Māori Research Advisory Group—Jaylene Wehipeihana, Jen Rogers, Kimiora Henare, Tui Kaumoana Steedman, Hine Busby, Haunui Royal, Geremy Hema, Gregg Pardoe, Michael Steedman, Jane Duffy and Justin O'Sullivan—who recently won the Tu Rangatira Mo Te Ora Award from the Public Health Association of New Zealand.
The Tu Rangatira Mo Te Ora award recognises an individual, group or organisation, iwi/hapu, or marae that has shown leadership in hauora development, shown a true commitment to Hauora Māori, raised the profile of Māori in public health, and in turn, positively raised the profile of the Public Health Association of New Zealand.
Five Liggins Institute researchers win awards at the PSANZ 2024 Congress
Liggins Institute representatives at the PSANZ 2024 Congress
Earlier this month, the Annual Scientific Congress of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) was held in Christchurch. The Liggins Institute had a strong showing, with many staff and students presenting and several award winners.
Congratulations to the following Liggins Institute researchers who won awards:
- President's Award for best oral presentation, Simone Watkins
- New Investigator award for Allied Health, David Nyakotey
- Ritchie Centre Award for Translational Research, Esther Calje
- New Investigator award, Eamon Walsh
- Indigenous Research Award, Jen Rogers (Ngāi Tahu)
Congratulations to Dr Yue Wang and Associate Professor Jo Perry for winning a research grant of $80,000 for 2 years from the Cancer Research Trust NZ for the following research project:
J Perry, Y Wang, S Jamieson
Development of a novel growth hormone receptor antagonist and its application in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Congratulations to Minah Kim who has been awarded a travel grant from the European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) to present at the EACR 2024 Congress in Rotterdam, Netherlands in June.
NGĀ KAUPAPA NUI | EVENTS
Carosika Collaborative - Preterm Birth Update Your Practice
9.00am - 5.00pm, Friday, 24 May 2024
Ko Awatea, 100 Hospital Road #54 Auckland, Auckland 2025
The Carosika Collaborative Taonga Tuku Iho invites you to a one-day educational event about preterm birth and updating your practice. The event will be delivered through plenary sessions and smaller group interactive case-based workshops. It aims to meet the needs of midwives, general practitioners, obstetricians and whānau with lived experience.
