Director’s Report

The MRINZ was established as an independent medical research organisation in December 2001 and formally launched in April 2002.

It is a pleasure to look back over these last 21 years, from modest beginnings, and a core dedicated staff of five, working from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians offices on The Terrace in Wellington — to our current committed MRINZ team of over 80, working throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from our base at Wellington Regional Hospital.

During this period, the Institute has been strongly committed to its mission to investigate the causes of important public health problems, using this knowledge to improve the prevention and treatment of diseases, and actively supporting and mentoring the next generation of health research leaders at undergraduate, post-graduate and professional levels. Our particular focus is on innovative research which has the potential to lead to improvements in clinical management globally, and specifically to reduce inequities in health outcomes in New Zealand.

There have been many significant achievements that can be celebrated in this the 21st anniversary year.

The most important are the significant advances in knowledge that have been made through our research, which have led to major changes in clinical practice, across a wide range of conditions, in New Zealand and internationally.

Our collective efforts have yielded extraordinary research productivity in terms of the quality and quantity of research undertaken during our twodecade history. The commitment to scientific quality, together with the depth and breadth of the innovative research programmes, have been features of this research effort.

The MRINZ has developed the unique capability to act autonomously as the trial coordinating centre for large-scale pivotal, clinical trials in intensive care, respiratory medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, neurology and complementary and alternative medicine. This has led to the MRINZ having a coordinating role in some of the largest randomised controlled trials ever undertaken in a range of medical disciplines, with many using novel study designs and technologies.

Supporting the emerging New Zealand biotechnology industry, including companies researching natural health products and rongoā unique to Aotearoa represents an important priority.

We are dedicated to the training of medical, nursing and biological science graduates in clinical research, nurturing and fostering young researchers. This has been primarily based on the PhD programme in partnership with Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, and our unique MD degree programme at the MRINZ.

Many of our postgraduate alumni have gone on to develop distinguished researchbased careers here at home and abroad.

Commitment to Māori and Pacific health research has been a fundamental priority. Our mahi in this space has taken many forms, from research training and career development, to randomised controlled trials of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions in Māori and Pacific populations. Through this approach, specific management strategies for the treatment of common conditions in Māori and Pacific peoples have been identified. Through collaboration and consultation, we continue to embed Te Tiriti and Te Ao Māori worldview into the design of all our research systems, working steadfastly towards becoming a Tiriti-based organisation, with health equity as a leading goal.

The translation of research findings into changes in clinical practice and incorporation into guidelines has been a priority from our inception. Through publication of the research findings in high impact international journals, and senior membership of MRINZ staff on local and international guidelines groups, the research findings have been taken up by health professionals both in New Zealand and globally, resulting in improved health outcomes and reduced health inequities. I wish to gratefully acknowledge the vital contributions that MRINZ staff, the Trust Board, collaborative partners, and patient volunteers have made throughout the last 21 years. I would also like to express sincere appreciation to our funding partners, in particular the Health Research Council of New Zealand, which has provided substantial long-term programme, project, and fellowship funding, and most recently core Independent Research Organisation support crucial to our ongoing operation.

The MRINZ is in a strong position to build on the last 21 years in the years that will follow because we have had, and continue to have, magnificent people at every level of our organisation. Together our MRINZ research community will continue to conduct research that improves clinical practice into the future.

Richard Beasley

CNZM, DSc (Otago), DM (Southampton), MBChB, FRCP (London), FRACP, FAAAAI, FFOM (Hon), FAPSR (New Zealand), FERS, FThorSoc, FRSNZ