Ageing Well researchers win Prime Minister's Science Prize

In an official ceremony at Te Wharewaka, Wellington, on 1 May, Ageing Well researchers Professor Valery Feigin, Professor Rita Krishnamurthi, and their team received the nation’s most prestigious science award: the Prime Minister’s Science Prize.

The discoveries made by Professor Feigin and Professor Krishnamurthi, along with their team at Auckland University of Technology’s National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences (NISAN), have significantly influenced collaborative work to raise awareness of stroke and cardiovascular disease for New Zealanders, seeking equitable solutions, particularly for Māori and Pacific peoples. Among other key research, they have developed world-first and internationally recognised digital tools – the first, a free digital tool called Stroke Riskometer that can assess our inherent stroke risk, and the second being PreventS-MD, which is specialist medical information software for healthcare professionals.

This collective research has had an incredible impact and long term contribution to health, medical, and social outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Director of Ageing Well, Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie, was effusive in her praise for the team.

“The mahi of Professor Feigin, Professor Krishnamurthi, and the research team has been both innovative and practical, and has made a significant impact on a global level in reducing the stroke burden,” said Professor Parr-Brownlie.

“For their mahi to be acknowledged in this way is wonderful and we are very proud to stand beside them on this journey,” she said.

Professors Feigin and Krishnamurthi were the principal investigators for the Ageing Well National Science Challenge Phase 1 funded project Stroke and CVD Prevention. With 80% of strokes being preventable, the team sought to advocate for population-wide prevention strategies, for people at all risk levels for stroke. Professor Feigin and Professor Krishnamurthi’s Ageing Well research focused on health and wellness coaching, a new, patient-centred strategy aimed at motivating participants to stick to their recommended medical and lifestyle changes to reduce their risk for stroke or cardiovascular disease.

Stemming from that research, Professor Krishnamurthi was awarded a further grant co-funded by Ageing Well and Brain Research New Zealand to continue with this investigation to see how the participants in the health and wellness coaching study tracked over a longer period of time.

Ageing Well Co-Director Professor David Baxter was thrilled to hear of the accolade.

“Professor Feigin, Professor Krishnamurthi, and the team have been a valuable part of the Ageing Well whānau since the first phase of funding. We are delighted to see their hard work recognized with this prestigious award,” said Professor Baxter.

Read the NZ Herald article to learn what prompted Professor Feigin’s interest in stroke research.

Read more about the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes.