Research

The Society encourages and supports research in gastroenterology and hepatology in Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes research into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Research activities fall into three main types: Basic Science (laboratory-based), Clinical Research (involving patients and doctors), and Clinical Trials (usually new drug treatments).

Advantages of conducting clinical trials in New Zealand include:

  • A single national ethics committee process with no cost attached. The committee meets monthly.
  • A rapid regulatory approval process via the SCOTT committee, which acts under the auspices of the HRC. SCOTT committee turnaround time is usually less than 4 weeks.
  • There are large numbers of patients with IBD in New Zealand, which has one of the highest incidence rates in the world.
  • New Zealand has limited access to new biological therapies in normal clinical practice.

Organisation Links

Current links to organisations which may assist your research in Aotearoa New Zealand include: 

In Bowel Cancer

In Hepatitis

In IBD

Endoscopy Units across the motu who conduct clinical trials in inflammatory bowel disease and are currently participating in trials of new treatments in New Zealand. They include:

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Auckland Hospital 

Investigator: Dr David Rowbotham
Research Manager: Dee Yang
DeeY@adhb.govt.nz
Tel: +64 9 3074949 ext 25581

Department of Gastroenterology Wellington Hospital

Investigator: Dr Ben Griffiths & Dr Rees Cameron
Research Nurse: Jonathan Barrett 
Tel: +64 4 9185136

Department of Gastroenterology Waikato Hospital

Investigator: Dr Frank Weilert
Clinical Trial Coordinators / Research Nurses: Chris Tuffery, Nancy Sullivan, Sherryl Hayett 
Tel: +64 7 839 8899 ext 23017
Fax: +64 7 858 0984

Department of Gastroenterology Hawke's Bay Hospital

Investigator: Dr Malcolm Arnold
Research Coordinator: Diana Schmid
Tel: +64 6 8788109 ext 6628
Fax: +64 6 8781328 

North Shore Hospital

Investigator: Dr Nathan Atkinson & Dr Ratna Pandey 
Study Coordinator: Kathy Love
Kathy.Love@waitematadhb.govt.nz
Tel: +64 9 486 8920 ext 3309 or 027 2752578

Department of Gastroenterology Christchurch Hospital

Investigator: Prof Richard Gearry
Trial Manager: Katherine Denton
Katherine.denton@cdhb.health.nz  
Coordinators/Research Nurses: Rhondda Brown and Tracy Noonan
Rhondda.Brown@cdhb.health.nz, Tracy.noonan@cdhb.health.nz
Tel: +64 3 3640135
Fax: +64 3 3641624

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Middlemore Hospital

Investigator: Dr Tien Huey Lim
TienHuey.Lim@middlemore.co.nz
Tel: +64 9 2760044 ext 8749

Department of Gastroenterology Dunedin Public Hospital

Investigator: Dr Michael Schultz
Research Nurse: Aroha Bolton and Dawn France
gastrotrials@southerndhb.govt.nz
Tel: +64 3 474 0009 ext. 58054
Fax: +64 3 470 9358