News

January 2022: Saline, a 200-year-old medical therapy given to millions of patients around the world each day, appears to increase the risk of death in patients who are acutely ill.

A landmark intravenous (IV) fluid study, and a comprehensive systematic review paper, both published on 19 January in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), are of major significance for global public health, and set to change clinical practice worldwide.

Together the ‘PLUS Study’ and the ‘The choice between balanced crystalloids and normal saline: a systematic review and meta-analysis’ evidence paper provide compelling proof that for most people who are critically ill, using balanced crystalloids for intravenous fluid therapy rather than saline saves lives.

Saline, a 200-year-old medical therapy given to millions of patients around the world each day, appears to increase the risk of death in patients who are acutely ill. Photo: Anna Shvets, Pexels.

December 2021 The latest IRANZ newsletter is out now. It's a bumper issue full of the latest independent science research news from around Aotearoa NZ.

Read all about:

• IRANZ meets with Minister to discuss Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways

• Motu: Govt failing human rights promises for housing, health care, etc.

• WSP: 20-Minute cities and future transport

• Lincoln Agritech ground-penetrating radar licensed to Israeli company

• Cawthron leads study on global phenomenon of ‘coastal hardening’

• Dragonfly Data Science: Antipodean albatross population model

• Brain Research Institute collaborating on stuttering study

• MRINZ: NZ data adds more pieces to the COVID puzzle

• NZIMMR: West Coast’s black sands yielding encouraging levels of REEs

• Bragato research to improve Sauv Blanc

• Xerra: Speaker's Science Forum

• . . . And much more.

December 2021: Follow the link for more details on the December 2021 news briefs from our Independent Research Organisations.

• Mātai’s Samantha Holdsworth promoted to Associate Professor
• Parkinson’s New Zealand recognises Brain Research Clinical Director Tim Anderson
• Malaghan’s Dr Kerry Hilligan recipient of Rutherford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Professor Mike Berridge wins the Shorland Medal
• Dr Charles Berde keynote speaker for 78th Annual Thomas Cawthron Memorial Lecture
• Matai research intern Erana Hogarth awarded a Māori Entrance Scholarship for academic excellence from the University of Otago
• . . . and more.

Melanie Mark-Shadbolt, Deputy Secretary Māori Rights & Interests at the Ministry for the Environment and founder of Te Tira Whakamātaki, has been nominated as a 'Women of Influence' finalist in the Public Policy category for 2021.

December 2021: After IRANZ’s regular meeting in Wellington on 8 December, 11 members met with the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation, the Hon. Dr Megan Woods in the Beehive to discuss Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways Green Paper. Other IRANZ members joined the meeting via Zoom.

Dr Woods recognised IROs as a key part of New Zealand’s science ecosystem, with their strong links to industry and other users. She reiterated that the Future Pathways paper is about genuine consultation on how to restructure the public science system to address issues of fragmentation, unproductive competition, and inability to adapt to changing national needs. She said that the system suited the 1990s when it was created, but now is no longer reflective of the needs of the 'Team of Five Million'.

IRANZ members from around Aotearoa New Zealand gathered in Wellington on 8 December to discuss the Government’s recently released Future Pathways Green Paper with the Hon. Dr Megan Woods, Minister for Science. Photo: Louise Thomas.