Inaugural Fellowships from the NZUK Link Foundation provide opportunities for Māori health researchers

Dr Nicole Edwards (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Taranaki) is a neuroscientist who lectures in the School of Biological Sciences at Waipapa Taumata Rau – the University of Auckland. In addition to her scientific expertise, Nicole has investigated Indigenous data sovereignty and data governance, to advance equity. 

“As a Māori neuroscientist working with Māori communities affected by inherited neurological diseases, my motivation is to accelerate a practical, equity-centred genomics pathway for neurological and rare diseases in Aotearoa New Zealand.” 

Nicole will tackle gaps in both data and implementation. Despite unprecedented growth in large-scale genomic resources, Indigenous populations remain underrepresented in reference data. In neurogenomics, this underrepresentation compounds underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis, delays access to targeted therapies, and entrenches bias in risk-prediction tools. 

Nicole will also investigate the barriers to delivering better health outcomes for Indigenous peoples through genomics and precision care. She will use implementation science, incorporating Indigenous data governance, to develop a testable model for genomics strategies and infrastructure at a national scale. 

Nicole will work with Professor Jane Kaye, who is the Director of the Centre for Health, Law, and Emerging Technologies at the University of Oxford. Together they will co-develop a governance-and-technology model, ready to pilot for joint NZ–UK dissemination and real-world adoption.

The second NZUK Link Foundation Fellowship will go to Vincent Lomas (Ngāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) a PhD student at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha – the University of Canterbury. Vincent’s PhD is titled ‘Modelling the interaction between ethnicity and infectious disease transmission dynamics’. 

“Mathematical models of how an epidemic spreads through a population are important to understand the likely effect of different public-health interventions and to inform policy decisions. Despite stark historical inequities in disease health outcomes since the founding of Aotearoa New Zealand, many models do not include important variables such as socioeconomic status and ethnicity.” 

“My research aims to create modelling methods that allow us to explicitly consider ethnic effects (and other sociodemographic effects) in disease spread […] With this information we can run simulations of disease-spread and target high-risk groups with intervention policies,” Vincent says. 

In the UK, Vincent will work with Professor Rosalind Eggo of the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her research group uses mathematical modelling and epidemiological methods to investigate socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities in infectious-disease transmission.

Sally Martin, Chair of the NZUK Link Foundation, says that the Foundation is delighted to be able to offer two Fellowships to mark its 35th anniversary. Since its establishment in 1990 as the Waitangi Foundation, under the patronage of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and The Princess Royal, the Foundation has fostered educational, cultural, and technological exchanges between New Zealand and the United Kingdom. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone by supporting two outstanding early-career researchers with this Fellowship in its first year,” she says.  

“The Fellowship is enabled through the generosity of Dr Elman Poole, a neurologist and philanthropist from New Zealand. The Foundation already administers the Elman Poole Scholarships, which have long empowered young New Zealanders to develop their talents internationally. Dr Poole’s own medical training and career make these new opportunities for health researchers a particularly fitting extension of his legacy.”

Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding DNZM FRACP FRSNZ, President of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, says that the Society is extremely pleased to partner with the NZUK Link Foundation to enable these Fellowships

“The two researchers are at different stages in their careers but are both clearly passionate about equity in healthcare. I have no doubt that they will gain skills and knowledge, and develop both productive research collaborations and life-long friendships. I myself thoroughly enjoyed my time at the University of Oxford.”

Professor Neil Pearce FRSNZ, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, sees great potential to establish links and develop collaborations which will benefit both Māori health researchers, and those they work with in the United Kingdom. “There is much that we can learn from each other,” he says. 

The Chair of Ngāti Rānana, the London Māori Club, Kerira Tapene, welcomes the researchers to the UK, saying: “Their work advances equity and upholds the principles we stand by as a community abroad: Kotahitanga in shared purpose, Whanaungatanga in connection, and Manaakitanga in care and respect. When Māori excellence travels, it carries community with it, mauri ora.”

The initiative also has strong support from the British High Commissioner to New Zealand and from New Zealand’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.  

Her Excellency Ms Iona Thomas OBE, says: “I am delighted Dr Edwards and Mr Lomas will be travelling to the UK to take up these inaugural Fellowships.  These Fellowships highlight the strength of the UK–New Zealand partnership in advancing research that delivers real-world impact. Supporting Māori researchers to collaborate with leading UK institutions deepens our shared commitment to health equity and also strengthens the long-standing links between our research communities. I look forward to the collaboration and insight their work will bring.” 

His Excellency Hamish Cooper, says: “It is inspiring to see two exceptional Māori researchers leading work that has the potential to transform health equities in New Zealand, the UK and around the world. These Fellowships embody the spirit of exchange and shared learning that has long contributed to our relationship with the United Kingdom. I look forward to meeting Dr Edwards and Mr Lomas when they are in the UK, and seeing the partnerships, innovations, and impact that will grow from their time here.” 

View information about the application process, the NZUK Link Foundation, and the European Educational Programme in Epidemiology.