NZ Launches Healthier Lives Challenge

The New Zealand government recently launched the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge – a program that “will seek better prevention, diagnosis and treatment methods for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, with a burden reduction target of 25 percent by 2025”, as reported in Healthcare Innovations.

“These diseases have an impact on the wellbeing of many New Zealanders, particularly Maori and Pasifika, and place a huge strain on the health system. Diagnosis and treatment of cancer alone costs up to $1 billion a year,” said Steven Joyce, Science and Innovation Minister.

As part of the programme hosted by the University of Otago in collaboration with numerous partners, research will be conducted to establish a new type of genomic blood test to detect tumour-derived DNA as well as to improve risk assessment and patient-centered prevention and treatment programs.

The Challenge will also focus on translating its innovations into practical solutions and research for effective health policy and practice

Article Source: Healthcare Innovations, December 7, 2015.

Image Source: Twitter – Steven Joyce