IRANZ Independent Research Association of New Zealand

🎄✨ 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗔’𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱-𝗼𝗳-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲! 🎄✨ As the year winds down, our team is taking some well-earned time off to rest and recharge for an exciting 2025 ahead! Our office will close at 12 noon, Friday 20 December and reopen on Monday 13 January 2025. 🎁🎅 A big thank you to everyone who’s been part of our mahi this year—whether you’ve connected with us through events, projects, or kōrero, we’ve loved working alongside you! We wish you all a safe and joyful holiday season—however you celebrate—and look forward to working with you again in the new year. Meri Kirihimete me te Tau Hou (Merry Christmas and New Year) from all of us at HERA! 🎉🎄🎅🎁✨ - #HERA #ThankYou #EndOfYearBreak #MahiTahi #Engineering #Construction

New research from the Malaghan Institute's Dr Kerry Hilligan in collaboration with colleagues at the US-based The National Institutes of Health is changing what we know about how our bodies fight off infections. It’s well-known getting sick can make you more vulnerable to other illnesses: a bad viral infection, for instance, can leave you more likely to develop pneumonia. But Dr Hilligan’s research also shows the reverse can happen: a mild infection might actually help protect you from other bugs. "What our research shows is that it is also possible to generate ‘broad-acting’ or ‘non-specific’ immunity by delivering immune stimulants – things that mimic a viral or bacterial particle – directly into the lung. “This opens up the possibility of designing next-generation vaccines that are administered directly to the lung and generate both specific and non-specific protection, giving a much more robust defence.” Read more from Jamie Morton in the NZ Herald: https://lnkd.in/g3xaC2s5 #immunology #immunotherapy #vaccines #researchsaveslives

🎉 𝗪𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲! 🎉 It’s had a serious glow-up, and we’re pretty stoked with the fresh look and feel that better reflects who we are and what we do for our members and the industry we support. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄: 🌟 𝗔 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸: Clean, modern, and designed to showcase our mahi in Industry 4.0, sustainability, and beyond. 🚀 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲: Find what you need faster – research, technical support, tools, and resources are now right at your fingertips. 💡 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲: We’ve flipped the script to make it all about what matters most to our members – practical tools, industry insights, and opportunities to engage with HERA’s mahi. 🤖 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀: Behind the scenes, our membership data has a new home, helping us better understand and deliver value for our members. This is just the start. We’re keen to hear what you think, so have a browse and flick us your feedback! 👉 Check it out here: www.hera.org.nz - #HERA #Industry40 #Sustainability #Innovation #HeavyEngineering #NewWebsite #WebsiteRefresh

Genetic variations in vineyards often go unnoticed, but they hold great potential for advancing grapevine research. Through its OddVine project, BRI is collecting material from these unique 'bud sports' (odd vines) to expand the industry’s growing collection of grapevine diversity, supporting future trials and research. We’re excited to announce that in addition to being able via oddvine.co.nz, the platform is now accessible via the Vure app. This makes it easier than ever to register a vine and contribute to the OddVine database for BRI’s Grapevine Improvement team to investigate. Read more about the importance of collecting odd vines to add to the industry's growing collection of grapevine diversity here: https://lnkd.in/giAr9Get #nzwine

With New Zealand’s high seismic risk, it’s often preferable to go beyond the minimum safety standards in building design. While the New Zealand Building Code ensures protection, focusing on low-damage design and considering site conditions can make a big difference in how quickly a building recovers after an earthquake. Here are a few things to think about: 💠 Know your earthquake zone and ground conditions 💠 Use low-damage design to reduce structural and content damage 💠 Choose the right foundations and bracing to boost seismic resilience Check out the full BRANZ Bulletin for more tips on designing earthquake-ready homes - https://lnkd.in/g7QNtAuZ #SeismicResilience #BuildingDesign 

Verum Group is back for 2025! We’re thrilled to support your Occupational Hygiene, Water Monitoring, and Contaminated Site needs this year. From dust and noise monitoring to comprehensive site assessments, our team is dedicated to providing expert service and tailored solutions to create a safer, healthier environment for you. Let’s make 2025 your best year yet—reach out today!

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 Bioimaging Competition! Scientists from across Wellington submitted stunning images showcasing scientific phenomena captured through powerful imaging technologies. Hosted by the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and powered by the Hugh Green Technology Centre and the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, the competition highlights the intersection of cutting-edge technology and human creativity. We are proud to have the support of our sponsors: Interlab New Zealand, Mediray NZ and Milton Adams. The winning images were selected based on a combination of their visual appeal, technological complexity and excellence in science communication. This year's winner, is @Kit Moloney-Geany (Malaghan Institute) with the image titled "A nebula of mucosal immunity". This stunning image vividly illustrates the battle against influenza A, showcasing immune cells gathering in yellow clusters known as tertiary lymphoid structures. Magenta blood vessels and cyan airways intertwine in a mesmerizing display, capturing the intricate choreography of the immune response as it works to heal and protect the body from viral invasion. Second place went to Sotaro Ochiai (Malaghan Institute) with the image "Spooky boo-rier". This spook-tacular image highlights the intricate defence of the skin barrier. Comprised of epithelial layers, immune cells, and sensory neurons, it acts as a sentinel against unwanted intruders. Myeloid cells (red) and T-cells (orange) reside within, collaborating with sensory neuron branches (white) to safeguard this complex network from foreign invaders. Third place was Jasmine White (Gillies McIndoe Research Institute) with the image titled "Ain't no stopping me now". This stunning image showcases the spread of glioblastoma, an aggressive and difficult-to-treat type of brain cancer. It vividly demonstrates the uncontrolled growth of glioblastoma into its surrounding culture, underlining the challenges researchers face in combating this disease. Congratulations to all the winners for a great 2024 competition – you can explore all the entries here https://lnkd.in/gJCyUH5B. #bioimaging #biotech #microscopy #researchsaveslives #scienceart #science #sciart #art

🌊 🔬 Five Years, 100 Papers, 20 New Biosecurity Tools and a Brighter Future for Our Oceans 🎥 Late last year we shared this wrap-up video summarising the incredible impact of the Cawthron-led #MarineBiosecurityToolbox research programme. Check it out to find out more about how the tools and knowledge produced through the programme can be applied to help our team of five million protect, manage and respond to marine biosecurity threats in Aotearoa NZ.

🎉✨ 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗔! ✨🎉 As we welcome 2025, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible people who have been part of our journey in 2024. Whether you joined us through projects, kōrero, or mahi, your support has made a difference! Of course, the New Year is a time to set fresh goals and look ahead to exciting opportunities. At HERA, we’re ready to continue driving innovation and making a positive impact in the heavy engineering industry across manufacturing and construction in Aotearoa. 🚀 Here’s to a bright and successful year ahead for us all! How will you make 2025 your best year yet? Meri Tau Hou (Happy New Year) from the team at HERA! 🥂🎉 #HERA #MeriTauHou #NewYear2025 #ThankYou #MahiTahi #Engineering #Construction ✨🎆

🎉✨ Happy New Year from all of us at Gillies McIndoe Research Institute! As we welcome 2025, we’re celebrating the incredible impact your support made in 2024: -Launch of Scholarships supporting emerging researchers -Advancement of the glioblastoma phase II clinical trial -Development of innovative treatments for strawberry birthmarks and keloid scars -Expansion of our summer student programme -Publication of groundbreaking research in prestigious international journals -Enhanced research capabilities through new equipment and technologies -Strengthened collaborations with leading institutions worldwide Looking ahead, we’re excited to: -Advance our clinical trials programme -Expand our research into novel treatment approaches -Support the next generation of scientific talent -Strengthen our international research partnerships -Develop innovative solutions for challenging medical conditions Together, let’s make 2025 a year of breakthroughs. 💡 #HappyNewYear #BioMedicalResearch #ThankYou