Moana Theodore. Photo: supplied
The University of Otago has appointed Associate Professor Moana Theodore (Ngāpuhi) as the new director of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study (Dunedin Study).
It followed the illness, retirement and then recent death of Emeritus Distinguished Professor Richie Poulton (CNZM, FRSNZ).
Associate Professor Theodore, who is the Dunedin Study's third director in 51 years, and said she recognised the honour and responsibility of leading a study that was world-famous and a national taonga.
"The Dunedin Study would not be possible without the study members who are the centre of the study and who freely give the gift of information about their lives for the benefit of all," Theodore said.
"Without that ongoing generosity of the study members and their families, the study would not have the long-term impact that it does."
She said they saw the study members as the real heroes of the study because they were spending about eight hours to be assessed with interviews and health check-ups including dental, cardiovascular, and heart.
"Also in the last phase as well, there's actually even more than just one day of interviews because we also do MRI, so that's brain scans and other things as well."
They did so in the hopes of helping others around the world, she said.
"I think that's ... how we think about it's impacting [lives] both internationally, in terms of the way that we think about how children develop and what happens to them, and also nationally as well.
"And ... dental care is a good example of how it's impacted on our policies here to help improve people's lives."
Background
The Dunedin Study was founded by Dr Phil Silva (OBE) with the support of Dr Patricia Buckfield in 1972-73.
Silva directed the study until 2000, when Poulton became the director.
Theodore's first involvement with the Dunedin Study was in 1998, when Dr Silva employed her as an interviewer on the age 26 assessment phase.
Richie Poulton. Photo: Supplied
She then returned in 2010 for a post-doctoral fellowship mentored by Poulton, alongside whom she co-directed the National Centre for Lifecourse Research since 2016.
"Both Phil and Richie were amazing mentors and supported me from the very start of my career, reinforcing key study values. That we treat the study members the way that we would want to be treated ourselves, because they are the true heroes of the study," Theodore said.
"I also recognise that the Dunedin Study has at its heart the people of Dunedin, who from the earliest stages provided interviewers, encouraged their children to attend assessments, and have stood by the study for 51 years.
"It has been overwhelming for myself and the team to feel the outpouring of aroha from the Dunedin community for Richie and the Dunedin Study as we have grieved for our friend and mentor."
Support for new director
Laura Black, chair of the Dunedin Study Governance Group, said that while it was still mourning Poulton, the group was grateful to Theodore for her willingness to take on the role.
"As is traditional for directors of the study, Moana is a passionate, thoughtful, and able researcher with a track record of strong contribution to the life sciences," Black said.
"The Governance Group is confident that Moana's leadership of and vision for the study as it enters its next phase will enable the study's contribution to the body of lifecourse knowledge and development of public policy to become even more significant."
Professor Richard Barker, pro vice-chancellor sciences, said Theodore's appointment would build on Poulton's valuable legacy.
"Moana has clearly demonstrated the vision and skills required to lead the Dunedin Study as it moves into its next phase and beyond and continue the legacy of research that informs and improves the health and wellbeing of current and future generations."
Theodore said the small team of committed long-serving Dunedin Study staff would preserve the legacy laid down by Poulton, Silva and all past researchers.
"The 1000 study members will tell us how and why humans age the way that they do, and that can help us to change lives both here, in New Zealand, and overseas," Theodore said.
The University of Otago, which has housed the study since its inception, had also been incredibly supportive, she said.
"In 2016, as an example of their support, they built us a new research facility, purpose built for our assessments."
Assessment phase 52 (when study members are 52 years old) begins in April 2024.
