Centres of Research Excellence Fund

2006 Expressions of Interest

National Research Centre for Growth and Development

(Existing CoRE)

Director:  Prof. P. Gluckman
Host:        The University of Auckland

Partners:   University of Otago
                 Massey University
                 AgResearch Limited
                 University of Canterbury
                 Landcorp Farming Ltd

Abstract:

The National Research Centre for Growth and Development, established in 2002, is internationally recognised for research into the biological, medical and agricultural aspects of growth and development. The proposed work programme evolves from and greatly extends our studies of fundamental processes of developmental plasticity and developmental programming in mammals, studies of environmental cues and particularly nutrition, stress and toxins influencing developmental plasticity, epigenetic and other underlying mechanisms, studies of how adverse outcomes might be prevented or reversed, and studies of both the short-term and longer-term outcomes of altered early development. Our work extends to applied and translational perspectives for animal productivity and human health. The planned research aims to improve on human health through an understanding that events early in life can impact on the risks of prematurity and being born small, on the risks of obesity and cognitive impairment in childhood and of later complications including diabetes and on the processes of aging. The research can be applied to improving the productivity of pastoral agriculture. The work is based on epigenetic biology, by which environmental influences in early life can change how genes are controlled not only through the life course but possibly into the next generations.

The Centre integrates over 50 researchers and many trainees across the University of Auckland (host partner), Massey University, University of Otago, and AgResearch.  It involves Landcorp and Canterbury University as new partners and has over 15 major international collaborations. The disciplines range from theoretical and molecular to clinical and public health. It builds on a strong record of innovative research, publication and international profile and a strong commitment to training and to the public communication of its results. Additionally it has strong links to end-users. It tackles important scientific problems with direct social and economic application in and for New Zealand.