About our research

Overall, the University of Auckland has been ranked 65th in the 2024 QS World University Rankings and is the only New Zealand university in the top 100. The University of Auckland ranks #54 worldwide for Pharmacy and Pharmacology. ​We have world-class postgraduate programmes offering Research Masters and PhD students the opportunity to be supervised by experts in their field.

Our research is supported by national and international funding sources and leverages significant research collaborations across the globe. We are fortunate to be in a University and a Faculty that wholeheartedly embraces research. Our research is organised into clusters:

Pharmacy law, ethics and policy informing practice plays a critical role in ensuring safe and effective medication management. This cluster aims to research the legal determinants of health exploring the impact of complex legal regulations on pharmacy practice and the pivotal role of pharmacy ethics in navigating the opportunities and challenges in practice.

Researchers:

Sanya Ram, Lun Shen Wong, Shane Scahill, Joanna Hikaka, Mariana Hudson, Sara Hanning.

This cluster undertakes health services research in the context of hospital and community pharmacy. The group aims to understand health services delivery in pharmacy and how this impacts on patients, pharmacists and their support staff. The group applies organisational theory to pharmacy practice research including topics such as: organisational culture, performance, implementation science, entrepreneurship and innovation, sustainability, human resource management and workforce development.

Researchers:

Shane Scahill, Trudi Aspden, Sanya Ram, Nataly Martini, Lun Shen Wong, Maryam Pirouzi, Emma Lydon, Mariana Hudson, Sara Hanning.

Our cluster specialises in the use of big data from routinely collected health data and other large datasets and applying sophisticated statistical methods to generate real-world evidence (RWE) on the safe, effective, and cost-effective use of medicines and /or health outcomes. We employ a range of observational study designs, including cohort, case-, and self-controlled designs, as well as clinical trials and health service research. By incorporating behavioural science and collaborating in health economics, we generate actionable insights that directly inform clinical practice and health policy, and promote behaviour change.

Researchers:

Amy Chan, Jay Gong, Jeff Harrison, Ian Wong, Andy Tomlin, William Harrison, Mohammed Mohammed.

This cluster aims to improve the therapeutic effectiveness of bioactives through the development of fit-for-purpose formulations and novel delivery systems. With expertise in a broad range of delivery platforms, from nanocarriers to implantables and microneedles, designed for various routes of administration, we are able to develop solutions to wide-ranging applications improving the efficacy and reducing the side effects of medicines.

Researchers:

Mahima Bansal, Sara Hanning, Marvin Liu, Patrick Pan, Manisha Sharma, Darren Svirskis, Sachin Thakur, Jingjing Wang, Jingyuan Wen, Zimei Wu.

This cluster focus is on improving paediatric medicines, drug delivery technologies and medicine use to ensure safety and efficacy of treatments for our children, tamariki. The cluster recognises that children have uniqueness in their developmental and physiological characteristics and thus should be contemplated when designing medications and delivery systems.

Researchers:

Sara Hanning, Manisha Sharma, Elizabeth Oliphant.

Spinal cord injury is devastating, resulting in permanent loss of sensation, motor and autonomic functions. This cluster seeks to investigate and give voice to the experience of those with a spinal cord injury. In addition, we develop treatments for spinal cord injury aimed at improving functional outcomes.

Researchers:

Darren Svirskis, Brad Raos, Bruce Harland, Mahima Bansal, Salvador Lopez, Sachin Thakur, Trudi Aspden.

This cluster aims to advance the teaching, assessment and practice of pharmacy through rigorous inquiry into high-quality teaching and student learning experiences and assessment practices that are documented and disseminated and can be elaborated upon.

Researchers:

Trudi Aspden, Angelene van der Westhuizen, Sanya Ram, Shane Scahill, Sara Hanning, Louise Curley, Lynne Bye, Nataly Martini, Emma Batey.

The use of natural health products is a popular healthcare choice in Aotearoa. This cluster explores the regulation, use, effectiveness, safety and pharmacovigilance of NHPs, and develops methods to examine their safety profile and other health outcomes in real-world use. We use a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including interviews, cross-sectional surveys and systematic reviews.

Researchers:

Jo Barnes.

Poor mental health, neurological health and problematic substance use account for a substantial portion of health loss in Aotearoa. This research cluster investigates how novel treatments for these issues work and how they are utilised in society. A variety of neuroimaging methods and blood analyses, alongside qualitative methodologies, are used in clinical trial designs to measure the effects of these treatments.

Researchers:

Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Joanne Lin, Rhys Ponton, Rachael Sumner, Anna Forsyth.

The group investigates the integration of digital tools in clinical practice, patient management, and healthcare systems and includes telemedicine, health informatics, electronic health records, digital therapeutics and wearable health devices. Through interdisciplinary approaches, the cluster aims to enhance patient care, improve health data management and foster innovation in health services.

Researchers:

Nataly Martini, Amy Chan, Mohammed Mohammed, Shane Scahill.