Ngā Motu Whakahī

Project description

Oncolytic viruses are an emerging class of therapeutics for cancer treatment. These viruses selectively infect and lyse cancerous cells. However, these therapies still suffer from certain limitations, perhaps the greatest of clearance of the virus prior to complete tumour destruction due to the patient’s immune system. To elicit maximal efficacy, these viruses can be used in combination with chemotherapeutics or radiotherapy.
The presence of viral infection provides new opportunities to develop selectively targeted chemotherapeutics.

This project seeks to develop a novel Virus-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy (VDEPT). Cytotoxic payloads will be developed and conjugated to an inactivating peptide sequence that is selectively cleaved by the protease of a promising oncolytic virus to release the active cytotoxin selectively in the tumour microenvironment. Thus, the project seeks to develop a novel prodrug and combination therapy. A key aspect of the research will be optimising the self-immolating cleavable linker system for a favourable rate of payload release.

A three-component prodrug to provide a novel VDEPT strategy.

The project is an active collaboration with the University of Otago. The successful candidate will develop skills in modern organic chemical synthesis, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS), reverse phase-HPLC and may also have the opportunity to conduct biological assays/enzyme assays.

Project description

Stapled peptides are an emerging class of therapeutics that bridge the gap between small molecule drugs and biologicals (e.g. monoclonal antibodies - Herceptin), allowing one to target protein-protein interactions (PPIs) once considered “undruggable”. Using modern organic synthesis techniques, linear peptides can be “stapled” to improve their α-helical secondary structure and biological activity properties. Stapled peptides benefit from enhanced receptor affinity and selectivity, improved membrane permeability (accessing intracellular targets) and increased half-lives in body.

This project will develop new stapling methods and an SAR study of stapled-antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to treat an NZ relevant bacterial pathogen, Group A Streptococcus. This pathogen internalises itself inside host epithelial cells and a defence mechanism, allowing it to hide from the immune system and antibiotics, most of which are not permeable to human cells. This results in treatment failure, recurring infection and severe complications such as rheumatic heart disease. Using novel peptide stapling approaches, you will develop cell permeable stapled antimicrobial peptides which will be tested for activity towards bacteria internalised by epithelial cells.

(upper) peptide stapling to induce helical conformation (lower) binding of a helical peptide to shallow pocket of a target protein

Successful candidates will use organic synthesis techniques and modern methods of solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Candidates will also have the opportunity to learn instrument skills with HPLC (analytical and preparative) and ESI-MS. Candidates have the opportunity to undertake and learn biological assays if they desire.

Project description

Positive links have been demonstrated between mental health literacy (MHL) and mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Evidence also suggests that measuring MHL is crucial to promoting mental health care, particularly for populations more vulnerable to mental health concerns. This is important given the overrepresentation of Pacific
peoples in mental health statistics. Therefore, this project aims to develop a culturally appropriate and relevant psychometric Pasifika MHL measurement tool in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand. A Pasifika MHL measure has the potential to offer an efficient and meaningful way to provide insight into the mental health beliefs, knowledge,
attitudes, and help-seeking behaviours of Pacific peoples. The Pasifika MHL measurement tool can be used to support Pacific mental health by providing a way to regularly monitor the MHL of our communities and by generating an evidence base to inform areas such as policy, health promotion, education, and the intervention and
prevention space.

The project
The project is a mixed methods Pacific research project involving survey and talanoa methodologies that explores Pasifika Mental Health Literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Scholar’s work
As a summer scholar, you will be guided by Pacific knowledges and methodologies to undertake a systematic literature review and data processing and analysis that will contribute to a published report on Pasifika Mental Health Literacy in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Required skills/pre-requisites
The ideal candidate will be of Pacific Island Descent, have a strong interest in Pacific health and wellbeing and/or Pacific research, have strong communication and writing skills, be highly organised and can work independently.

Timing
Starting at an agreed date after exams with weekly fono with the supervisor and a three-week break over the Christmas and New Year period.

Benefits
The project will have academic, intellectual, and practical benefits for the summer scholar.

Project description

A Core-Collapse Supernova (CCSN) is a spectacular explosion marking the death of a massive star. Traditional observations using light can't reveal
what happens at the star's core, but Gravitational Waves (GWs) can let us look inside. Our project aims to help search for GWs from supernovae, using
an AI GW model made by Matt. The search algorithm works like the “Shazam” app, but instead of songs, we search for GWs from stars.
Skills required:
● Python
● Interest in astronomy :)

Project description

We are offering up to four projects, funded through Beyond Prediction, an MBIE funded data science platform based at the University of Auckland, but with many collaborators.

These internships give students an opportunity to build skills across different areas of interest. Our programme includes a weekly reading group, attendance on a course/courses of interest, and opportunities to see how a number of projects work.

Students will be matched with a supervisor and topic based on their skills and interests. Indicative topics include (but are not limited to):

•    Continuing work finding, digitizing and displaying historical Māori cancer data, and other Māori health equity data. Continuing work to develop a data visualization tool for these data and creating a teaching resource.

•    Applying tikanga and mātauranga Māori to data science, including in the genomics space. A previous project included conceptualizing the use of whakapapa data in data science.

•    Political data and voting data. Working with researchers from the New Zealand Election study to analyse survey data in distrust and populism. Helping to find data, and analyse and display data on voting patterns for Māori, Pasifika, and migrant groups. Exploring the use of algorithms in selections of Citizens’ Assemblies including how we could apply them in NZ to gain fair Māori representation.

•    Documenting the difference between population projections, census rates, and population estimates – a historic comparison. Have the populations projections come to pass? How inaccurate have they been?

•    (i) creating trusted explanations from research literature using AI or (ii) building a ‘live’ research article—one that refreshes itself as new data and methods become available. (For students with a strong computer science or computer engineering skills)  

Project description

Te maramataka is an indigenous system of attuning with the environment. By observing signs, rhythms, and cycles in the environment people can reconnect their health with the natural world. There is increasing interest in new applications of te maramataka to health and wellbeing – this project will explore increasing interest in traditional practices based on te maramataka.

Project description

Most population statistics are about whole populations or age groups at particular time points. A birth cohort approach is seldom done routinely but is very informative when populations are rapidly changing in size, or when social contexts differ markedly over time.
This project involves examining historic and contemporary sources of Māori and Pacific population statistics and creating methods for producing population for age cohorts across time.
Students should have completed undergraduate statistics papers and have some experience in coding in R and preferably Shiny. Experience with social statistics and/or demography is preferred but not essential.
 

Project description

Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) is a relatively new technology that involves the chemical analysis of wastewater for biomarkers of interest to gain information on the habits of a population.

This project will involve analysing wastewater samples collected from around Aotearoa to identify and quantify human biomarkers of interest.
Examples of human biomarkers that may be analysed include alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug consumption. Newer human biomarkers that are currently being investigated include biomarkers of human cancer.

It is hoped that this analysis will be able to provide insights into population health and habits and provide organisations with knowledge to direct resources and provide positive change to our communities.

Skills preferred (but can be taught during the summer scholarship):
Analytical chemistry skills, including Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and wet laboratory skills.
 

Project description

This project would involve the synthesis of analogues of a biologically active natural product with potential as a treatment for cancer. The student would be trained in a range of synthetic organic chemistry techniques and advanced spectroscopic methods. The student should have completed undergraduate organic chemistry courses to have a basic understanding of the reactions completed.  

Project description

Maaori wellbeing and mental health has long been impacted upon by the on going effects of colonization. Rangatahi Maaori are disproportionately represented within the sphere of service users compared to their non-Maaori counterparts.
Through a Tikanga led approach interviews with Rangatahi Maaori studying within Tertiary education have been conducted. This project would focus on qualitative analysis of 5-10 interviews and the write up of a Journal length report investigating the experiences of Rangatahi Maaori within these institutions.