Dr Rebecca Grainger appointed chairwoman of Research For Life’s research advisory committee

This is a supplied media release.

Dr Rebecca Grainger has been appointed chairwoman of Research For Life’s research advisory committee. The committee evaluates applications for funding in terms of their scientific merit, methodology, likely outcomes and outputs.

Dr Grainger has been a member of the committee since 2012 and is an academic rheumatologist and senior lecturer at the University of Otago, Wellington, and a consultant rheumatologist at the Hutt District Health Board.

She is very well-qualified to lead the research advisory committee. During her undergraduate training Dr Grainger completed a BMedSci in immunology that was awarded with distinction in 1995. Following the subsequent award of her qualifying medical degree with distinction Rebecca undertook a PhD examining inflammatory pathways in gout that was awarded by the University of Otago in 2010. Her research interests are varied and include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, outcome measures and the use of technology in solving problems in rheumatic disease.

In addition to her involvement with Research For Life, Rebecca served on the governing body of Arthritis New Zealand from 2014-2018, is on the adult medicine division committee of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and is on the national executive of the New Zealand Rheumatology Association.

Dr Grainger succeeds former chairman Professor Brett Delahunt who remains a member of the research advisory committee. The committee’s other members are Dr David Ackerley, Dr Peter Bethwaite, Professor Anne La Flamme, Associate Professor Peter Larsen, Professor John H Miller and Dr Robert Weinkove.

Research For Life’s chairman Professor John Nacey said, “Rebecca is a highly respected medical researcher and clinician, and we welcome her appointment as chair of the Research Advisory Committee.”