Department of Physiology, Otago

14/07/2026

HeartOtago is putting on many events for this week's NZ Science Festival, including this sold out heart dissection! Lots of work from members of our Department (who are also affiliated with HeartOtago) in putting these events together.

Be sure to check out the other events run by HeartOtago for the NZ Science Festival this week!

Join the HeartOtago crew to dissect a lamb's heart

06/07/2026

Congratulations to Micky Nguyen (2nd picture) on receiving an A.H. Couch Trust Heart Foundation Scholarship to continue her study with the Department of Physiology. Mickey's work, supervised by Professor Rajesh Katare, looks into non-invasive markers of cardiovascular disease in saliva.

Read more about Mickey's work and the other recipients here:
https://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/about-us/news/stories/saliva-tests-rare-heart-diseases-and-icu-tech-trio-of-a-h-couch-grants-target-heart-disease

23/04/2026

Congratulations Phoebe on your well deserved prize 👏🏆

Congratulations to Phoebe Adler, who won the 2026 Neuroendocrinology | Te Pokapū Mātai Tauwhiti Io Tōpū-Taiaki (CNE) PhD Prize competition recently.

A record number of students this year entered the annual competition, with CNE director Associate Professor Karl Iremonger saying the presenters were outstanding.

“The students’ performance made us incredibly proud, particularly as they were presenting in front of our international visitor Dr Julie Bakker from the University of Liège.”

Three finalists presented in front of a Faculty of Biomedical Sciences audience:
- Phoebe Adler talked about evaluating TRPV channel mechanical activation and the implications for osmotic activation of vasopressin neurons.

- Caitlin MacRae talked about research investigating the androgen receptor as a node in the pathogenesis of polycystic o***y syndrome.

- Andy Stewart presented research investigating the mechanisms underlying the suppression of fever in late pregnancy.
Phoebe says she’s delighted to receive the CNE PhD Prize for her research, which aims to advance our understanding of the cellular mechanisms regulating body water balance.

In broad terms, Phoebe is investigating how the neurons in the brain which control our body’s water balance can sense changes of water content in our body and respond to it by releasing a hormone which regulates kidney function.

Karl says that Phoebe’s research highlights the importance of understanding the biological mechanisms by which the brain senses water and salt balance which is critical in order to better treat health conditions where this is disrupted.

12/04/2026