AMRF 70th Anniversary Speaker Series 3: Live event

In 2025, AMRF proudly marks 70 years of funding groundbreaking medical research and the awarding of over $100,000,000 to dedicated medical and health science researchers.

In the third event of our 70th anniversary year, we host these two outstanding researchers. Register now to join us!

Be at the forefront of asthma care. A presentation for every New Zealander anyone who wants to breathe easier.

Associate Professor Amy Chan, a leader in respiratory health research using digital technology and big data

Register now!

Digital Markers in Asthma: harnessing technology for attack prediction

Asthma is a national crisis. It affects 1 in 8 New Zealanders, and for Māori and Pacifica, the rates are two-to-three times higher.

Despite best efforts, death rates have not improved for 20 years, and asthma attacks are on the rise. In the past decade alone, the rate of attacks has surged by over a third, meaning every two and a half minutes in New Zealander someone is having an asthma attack.

But what if we could change that? What if the technology already in our hands–smartphones and smartwatches–could predict an attack before it happens?

Join Dr Amy Chan for a presentation on her groundbreaking, AMRF-funded research. Discover how everyday digital devices can detect the subtle, early warning signs of an asthma attack, offering the potential to transform how we manage this chronic condition.

In this insightful session, Amy will share:

• The science behind using ”digital markers” to monitor and predict asthma attacks.

• How this technology is already empowering patients, from a 12-year-old who has regained control of his life to a 74-year-old embracing new tools for their health.

• The real-world impact of research that aims to prevent hospitalisations and save lives.

This is more than a discussion about technology – it's about a future where people’s lives  are no longer controlled by asthma. It’s about providing better health outcomes for our children, our partners, and our parents.

If you or someone you love is affected by asthma, this is a presentation you won’t want to miss.

Innovations in gastrointestinal diagnosis and treatment

Dr Tim Angeli-Gordon, expert in gastrointestinal physiology developing diagnostic devices and interventional therapeutics for GI disorders

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Innovations in gastrointestinal diagnosis and treatment

Did you know that just like your heart, your stomach has a natural electrical rhythm that coordinates its every function? For 40% of people who live with gastrointestinal disorders, from persistent reflux to debilitating pain, this vital rhythm can fall into chaos.

These conditions are difficult to diagnose and even harder to treat, leaving many, like vibrant 23-year-old New Zealander Ruby Hill – who tragically lost her life to stomach paralysis (gastroparesis) – without answers or effective treatment options.

Join Dr Tim Angeli-Gordon, an Auckland Medical Research Foundation-funded medical researcher, for a fascinating look into a new frontier of medicine that offers real hope. In this compelling presentation, Tim, from the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, will share how his team is pioneering world-first care, moving incredible innovations from the lab directly to a patient’s bedside at Auckland City Hospital.

Discover the breakthroughs set to revolutionise gut health:

• A new diagnostic tool: Learn about a minimally-invasive endoscopic device that, for the first time, can create a high-resolution map of the stomach’s electrical signals without the need for major surgery. It finally gives clinicians the tools to see what’s really going wrong.

• A ground-breaking therapy: Hear about "gastric ablation," a technique inspired by cardiology that can correct the faulty electrical circuits in the stomach, potentially fixing the cause of the problem.

Tim’s curiousity has led to solving one of medicine’s most challenging problems. If you or anyone in your life has been impacted by digestive health issues, this presentation will provide a powerful and inspiring glimpse into a brighter future.

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While the event is free of charge, we are a charitable foundation and ask you to consider making a donation to continue supporting us to empower researchers and transform lives.

We would be delighted if you would join us for the third in our 70th anniversary speaker series events.  

We have a total of 500 in-person seats available on a first come, first served basis—250 in the primary lecture theatre and 250 in an adjacent lecture theatre with live-stream presentations. With this limited seating in mind, please ensure all registrations are individual (not group bookings) for in-person attendance so we can keep a careful eye on numbers. If you are successful in your registration, we kindly ask you to consider those who may have missed out and honour your booking, arriving in time for a 6pm start.

RSVP to the other events in this AMRF 70th Anniversary speaker series: https://www.medicalresearch.org.nz/amrf-70th-anniversary-events 

• Speaker Series 1: Dr Diana Sarfati, NZ Director-General of Health, cancer epidemiologist, and eminent health services researcher; Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding, a world leader in neonatal research and clinical practice; and Dr Richard Frith, neurologist and clinical neurophysiologist who introduced the first CPAP machine in New Zealand.

• Speaker Series 2: Professor John Windsor, an acclaimed pancreatic surgeon, researcher and entrepreneur; and A/Prof Gary Cheung & Dr Rosemary Frey, experts in the End-of-Life Choice Act 2019 and improving palliative care.