A world class medical research institute in Auckland, New Zealand focused on research for a healthy start to life

News and events

20 November 2009
Liggins professor wins prestigious medal
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman FRS, a leading investigator at the Liggins Institute, has received the prestigious David Barker Medal at the Sixth World Congress on the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease held in Santiago, Chile this week.
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20 November 2009
Institute wins award for research that improves welfare of sheep used in animal testing
A senior researcher at the Liggins Institute has been selected as the recipient of the 2009 National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Three Rs award.
Dr Mark Oliver receives the award in recognition of his long-term work on the refinement of indoor physiological studies of sheep, which has improved animal welfare.
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03 November 2009
Evolution essential knowledge for medical students
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, former Director of The University of Auckland's Liggins Institute is one of a number of eminent international medical scientists and educators calling for evolutionary biology to be a core subject in medical schools.
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28 October 2009
Fetal and neonatal physiology workshop announced
The 24th Fetal and Neonatal Physiology Workshop of Australia & New Zealand will be held on 26 and 27 March 2010 in Wellington New Zealand immediately before the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand annual conference.
Further information: Workshop flyer (133kB)

Seasons of Life lecture series 2009: Darwin's legacy
The Liggins Institute holds an annual public lecture series.The aim is to share with our community not only our research but to look broadly at what is happening in science and beyond - to explain, question and debate.This year's series has now concluded. It took an eclectic look at evolution: five distinguished speakers discussed aspects of Man’s evolution - from the origins of the human body plan to our instinctive love of art. More>>

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About the Liggins Institute

The Liggins Institute was the first large-scale research institute established by The University of Auckland. It is committed to world-class biomedical and clinical research in areas of major health importance.

It is one of the world’s leading centres for research on fetal and child health, growth and development, breast cancer, epigenetics and evolutionary medicine.

The research approaches problems of children’s and women’s health from a number of angles designed to rapidly translate discoveries in basic science into clinical applications, strategies to improve public health and knowledge-based enterprises in the biotechnology sector.

Liggins research has shown that early life events leading to a poor start to life have far reaching consequences for the health and life prospects of the individuals who are affected and for the communities they live in.

Internationally recognised scientists, clinicians and research staff work at the Institute.

The Institute has cutting edge research facilities including clinical research space and specialist laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment.

The Institute has important national and international collaborations. It is host partner of the National Research Centre for Growth and Development, one of New Zealand’s Centres of Research Excellence. It has research partnerships with the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, the National University of Singapore and leading universities and research centres in Europe and USA.

The Liggins Institute’s world class postgraduate research programme is based on multidisciplinary approaches, drawing on Institute expertise in molecular biology, epigenetics, physiology, endocrinology, clinical, evolutionary and public health medicine.

The Liggins promotes community awareness and understanding of science through public seminars and events and outreach to schools through the Liggins Education Network for Science.

Our people

Professor Wayne Cutfield
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, FRS
Researchers
Professor Sir Graham Liggins, FRS

Our goals

• To advance human health
• To celebrate scientific discovery and achievement
• To produce and disseminate research of the highest international standard
• To attract, develop and retain quality staff and value their contribution
• To promote the knowledge society, technology transfer and to advance healthcare
• To foster an innovative, intellectual, collegial and multidisciplinary culture
• To support the mission of The University of Auckland
• To demonstrate a strong commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi