Liggins Institute
Media diary
Media mentions, interviews and stories about our research and researchers
Liggins in the media 2014
December 2014
15 December
Article profiles National Science Challenge - High Value Nutrition
Idealog - Food as the cure
11 December
Professor Jane Harding announced a finalist for NZ Herald New Zealander of the Year
New Zealander of the Year: $2 gel massage keeps newborns' brains safe
03 December
Dr Justin O'Sullivan's research on the organisation of DNA in cells profiled in
NZ Herald: Kiwi scientists shed new light on disease
November 2014
14 November
Recent research at the Liggins Institute suggesting possible effects of parental age on offspring's metabolism was published in the American Journal of Human Biology.
Media release
It received international media coverage:
Chicago Chronicle
Business Standard (India)
Daily Mail (UK)
10 November
Article profiles progress in developing National Science Challenge: High Value Nutrition
National Business Review - Decisions on controversial High Value Nutrition funding to be made by year end
07 November
Philip Baker, Professor of Fetal and Maternal Health and Director of Gravida: National Centre for Growth and Development was awarded a Grand Challenges Exploration Grant, an initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for an innovative global health and development research project, titled “Prediction of fetal neurodevelopmental outcome through the maternal hair metabolome”.
20 November Radio NZ "Nine to Noon" interview Major research into brain development in the womb
07 November New Zealand Herald Hair sample offers vital data on foetus
07 November TVNZ ONE News Mother's hair could hold key to preventing under-developed babies
01 November
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman is Co-chair of the WHO Commission on ending childhood obesity. He discussed obesity, its origins and impact on health in an interview with Kim Hill.
Radio NZ National: Saturday Morning - Sir Peter Gluckman: obesity and health
October 2014
18 October
Dr Justin O’Sullivan talks about his research on how the organisation of DNA determines the characteristics of cells and regulates the way cells operate – and how this might affect our health.
Interview on Radio NZ National: Saturday Morning
September 2014
30 September
Professor Wayne Cutfield comments on potential links between antibiotics, gut bacterial and weight gain in childhood.
NZ Herald: Antibiotics link to child obesity
August 2014
16-26 August
The first-ever meeting of international science advice practitioners took place in Auckland 28-29 August, chaired and hosted by Liggins Institute Founding Director and Chief Science Advisor to the NZ Prime Minister, Sir Peter Gluckman on behalf of the International Council for Science. Conference website
26 August TV3 News: Interview - Top science advisors to meet in Auckland
25 August Radio NZ Morning Report: Interview - Two thousand international scientists in NZ for World Science Week
16 August NZ Herald: Interview - Helping to muster best brains for NZ
14 August
Article about severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) discusses nutritional and health aspects of the condition, including reference to the Liggins Institute’s findings.
NZ Listener: A mother of a sickness
August-September
Research on childhood obesity by Taranaki-based Liggins Institute Senior Clinical Research Fellow and Doctoral Candidate Dr Yvonne Anderson, reported in
Live Magazine Taranaki (August-September issue): The fat issue
July 2014
31 July
Professor Paul Hofman discusses problems associated with childhood obesity and its role in perpetuating intergenerational cycles of obesity.
Radio NZ Our Changing World: Interview - Childhood obesity
June 2014
17 June
Professor Paul Hofman discusses potential for trained “diabetic dogs” to help care for owners
TV3 News: Diabetic woman’s dog a true lifesaver
08 June
Sir Peter Gluckman interviewed on childhood obesity
TVNZ: Q and A programme
May 2014
30 May
Professor Wayne Cutfield interviewed on origins of obesity
TVNZ Breakfast
19 - 22 May
Media coverage: Professor Sir Peter Gluckman appointed co-chair WHO commission on ending childhood obesity
22 May TV3 News
20 May NZ Herald/Bay of Plenty Times: Ryall congratulates comrade on fight against obesity
19 May TVNZ ONE News
February 2014
10 February
Lead article about LENScience programme
NZ Education Gazette Getting science out there
07 February
Liggins Institute study on health risks associated with first born children led by Professor Wayne Cutfield reported in
NZ Herald: Firstborns lead middle age spread
Liggins in the media 2013
November 2013
23 November
Liggins Institute follow-up study on adults who were born preterm
NZ Herald: Premature birth links to obesity, say researchers
19 November
Report on Parliamentary Health Committee enquiry refers to Liggins Institute research
NZ Herald: Children's Health: Shift focus to care of young – MPs
NZ Herald: Revealed: official plan to health check mums
07 November
Dr Deborah Harris receives Young Investigator Award in the Neonatal Update 2013 Symposium at Imperial College London
NZ Herald: Nursing research wins top award
October 2013
10 October
Article about LENScience Healthy Start to Life Education for Adolescents Project
NZ Listener You become what you eat
September 2013
26 September
Liggins Institute research on treatment of neonatal hypoglycaemia with oral dextrose gel
NZ Herald: Sweet gel treats sugar babies
NZ Herald: Cheap gel treats newborns with low blood-sugar – study
09 September
Liggins Institute research on health risks for first born children cited in article
New Scientist: Chance inheritance: the subtle power of birth order
22 September reprinted in
South China Morning Post : Birth control
August 2013
05 August
Industry blog/report on presentation by Professor David Cameron-Smith at The Red Meat Sector Conference
MeatExportNZ: Meating the needs of an ageing population
04 August
Associate Professor Paul Hofman talks about Liggins Institute research study
Sunday Star Times “Older fathers have skinnier kids”
July 2013
15 July
Feature story by Donna Chisholm about Liggins Institute research by Professor Wayne Cutfield et al. on effects of post-term birth on long-term health
North and South (August 2013) “Risky Baby Business”
June 2013
10 June
Online chat with Professor Philip Baker
NZ Herald: What I do: live chat with obstetrician scientist Phil Baker
05 June
Liggins Institute research on effects of maternal nutrition on child health contributes to government plan for reducing obesity
NZ Herald: Attack on obesity starts before life
May 2013
May-June
Professor David Cameron-Smith on “Surprising facts about protein”
Good magazine May-June 2013 issue
08 May
Article cites research by Professor Peter Gluckman, Liggins Institute and international collaborators
NZ Herald: The kiwi diet when is the right time to intervene?
April 2013
24 April
A clinical trial by researchers at the Liggins Institute has shown that an extract of fresh olive leaves reduces some risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.
NZ listener: A new leaf of life
March 2013
14 March
Liggins Institute researchers are undertaking a clinical trial to investigate potential for an oral dextrose gel to prevent neonatal hypoglycaemia
NZ Listener : Preventing neonatal hypoglycaemia
February 2013
12-15 February
Coverage of research study on long-term health risks for first-born children
15 February WTV/TV9: Professor Wayne Cutfield interview
14 February Science media Centre, Wellington Media coverage overview
12 February Stuff/DominionPost: Eldest children health risk
14 February
Dr Jane Alsweiler, paediatrician and researcher with LiFePATH group talks about breast feeding
TVNZ Breakfast: Is breast best?
January 2013
31 January
Liggins Institute research on nutrition and conception
NZ Listener: Conception enhancement: eating for baby