Chris Puli'uvea
Dr Chris Puli'uvea (Photo: Tim Hamilton/Vision Works Photography)
2024: Dr Chris Puli’uvea of Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau Auckland University of Technology will research genetic variants that affect the immune system and are unique to Māori and Pacific peoples
International clinical trials and genomic studies lack representation of Māori and Pacific peoples. This means that advancements in precision medicine may not benefit these groups. We know less about how genetics affect diseases for Māori and Pacific peoples compared to other ethnic groups, especially for immunology studies. Dr Puli’uvea hypothesises that Māori and Pacific-specific genetic variants play an important role in immune system function and variation. Dr Puli’uvea will engage with Māori and Pacific communities to develop culturally sensitive approaches to studying how genetic variation relates to immunological differences, which will address this important knowledge gap.
ʻE fakahoko ʻe Dr Chris Puliʻuvea ʻo e Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau ʻi he Auckland University of Technology ha fakatotolo ki ha ngaahi taʻau tukufakaholo fakatoto (genetic variant) ʻa ia ʻokú ne uesia e sōtia maluʻi ʻi he sinó pea ʻoku fakatefito ki he kakai Māori mo e Pasifika. ʻOku siʻi hono fakakau e kakai Māori mo e Pasifiká ʻi he ngaahi ʻahiʻahi fakafaitoʻo fakatuʻapuleʻangá mo e ngaahi ako fakasenōmiká (genomic). Ko hono ʻuhingá, ko e fakatupulaki ko ia ʻo e faitoʻo totonú, ʻe malava ke ʻikai hano lelei ʻoʻona ki he ongo kulupu ko ʻení. ʻOku siʻi ʻetau ʻilo fekauʻaki mo e kaunga ʻa e tukufakaholo fakatotó ki he ngaahi mahaki ʻi he kakai Māori mo e Pasifiká ʻi hono fakahoa ki he ngaahi kulupu matakali kehé, tautefito ki he ngaahi ako ki he maluʻi ʻi he sinó. ʻOku mahamahalo ʻa Dr Puliʻuvea ʻoku hoko e ngaahi taʻau tukufakaholo fakatoto ʻoku makatuʻunga ʻi he kakai Māori mo e Pasifiká, ko ha konga mahuʻinga ia ʻi he ngāue ʻa e sōtia maluʻi ʻi he sinó mo hono taʻaú. ʻE ngāue fakataha ʻa Dr Puliʻuvea mo e ngaahi kulupu Māori mo e Pasifiká ke nau faʻu ha ngaahi founga taau mo e ʻulungaanga fakafonuá, te nau ala fakaʻaongaʻi ke nau ako ʻaki e anga ʻo e fekauʻaki ʻa e taʻau tukufakaholo fakatotó mo e ngaahi fekehekeheʻaki ʻi he maluʻi fakasinó, ʻa ia ʻe lava ai ke nau maʻu e ʻilo mahuʻinga ko ʻeni ne teʻeki ke maʻú.
Dr Chris Puli'uvea (Photo: Tim Hamilton/Vision Works Photography)