>

Summer Student Award 2025

The 273rd Scientific Meeting of OMSRS, the 2025 Pat Cragg Summer Student Awards, were held on 16th April at the Barnett Lecture Theatre. Ten students presented the findings from their recent summer research studentship, including two presenters online. The standard of presentations was very high, with the 10 presenters being successfully selected by the Editorial Panel from 28 abstract submissions.

The meeting was convened by Dr Emily Gray, President of OMSRS. Emeritus Professor Pat Cragg was in attendance and provided the closing remarks and presented the winner and runner-up with their awards. The judges for the meeting were Dr Matthias Fellner (Department of Biochemistry), Dr Olivia Galea (School of Physiotherapy) and Dr Cornwall (Otago Medical School). The event was generously sponsored by the Otago Medical Research Foundation and the School of Biomedical Sciences.

Summer student speakers pictured with Dr Emily Gray and Professor Pat Cragg

The winner was Kai Shira Woolf from the Department of Physiology (Abstract: KS Woolf, IT Tripp, KJ Iremonger, JS Kim. Selective activation of hypothalamic stress neurons is sufficient to induce physiological dysfunctions associated with chronic stress). Kai received a certificate and $500 prize money)

Winner Kai Shira Woolf pictured with Professor Pat Cragg

The runner-up was Shivannee Ganeshan from the Department of Microbiology & Immunology (Abstract: S Ganeshan, J Ussher, S Baleivanualala. Identifying novel treatment options for carbapenemase-producing WHO critical pathogens in Fiji). Shinvannee received a certificate and $250 in prize money.

Runner-up Shivannee Ganeshan from the Department of Microbiology & Immunology pictured with Professor Pat Cragg

Congratulations to Kai and Shivannee, and to all the student speakers!