Māori Health Fellowship Launch: Join Us for the Launch at UCL
- nzuklink
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Health inequalities remain a pressing challenge in New Zealand, especially within Māori communities. Addressing these disparities requires focused research, collaboration, and innovative approaches that respect cultural values and community needs. The new Māori Health Fellowship aims to do just that by connecting experts from New Zealand and the UK to work together on improving health outcomes for Māori people. You are invited to join the launch event at University College London (UCL) to learn more about this important initiative and meet the inaugural Fellows leading the way.
Event Details
Date and Time
Thursday 16 July 2026 | 6.00 – 9.00pm
Lecture Location
Wilkins Gustave Tuck Theatre
University College London
2nd Floor, South Junction Wilkins Building, Gower St, WC1E 6BT
Reception Location
The Jeremy Bentham Pub Private Room
1st Floor, 31 University St, London WC1E 6JL
This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with researchers dedicated to tackling health inequalities through collaborative efforts.
Introducing the Māori Health Fellowship
The Māori Health Fellowship was created to address the persistent health disparities faced by Māori communities in New Zealand. By partnering with leading UK universities and research institutes, the Fellowship supports research that combines scientific rigor with cultural understanding. This approach aims to develop practical solutions that can be adopted both in New Zealand and internationally.
At the launch, Professor Neil Pearce, a Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and co-founder of the Fellowship, will introduce the program and its goals. He will also present the two inaugural Fellows who bring diverse expertise and a strong commitment to equity-centred research.
Meet the Inaugural Fellows
Dr Nicole Edwards
Dr Edwards is a neuroscientist and lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences, Waipapa Taumata Rau – the University of Auckland. Her work focuses on Māori communities affected by inherited neurological diseases. She aims to develop a genomics pathway that is practical and centred on equity, ensuring that Māori people receive appropriate care and support for neurological and rare diseases.
Currently, Nicole is collaborating with the Centre for Health, Law, and Emerging Technologies at the University of Oxford. Together, they are co-developing a governance and technology model designed for joint New Zealand–UK dissemination and real-world adoption. This model will help guide ethical and effective use of genomics in healthcare, respecting Māori values and rights.
Vincent Lomas
Vincent is a PhD student at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha – the University of Canterbury. His research focuses on modelling how ethnicity interacts with infectious disease transmission dynamics. By creating methods that explicitly consider ethnic and sociodemographic factors, Vincent’s work aims to improve understanding of how diseases spread differently across communities.
He is currently working with the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at LSHTM. This group uses mathematical and epidemiological methods to investigate socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities in infectious disease transmission, providing valuable insights that can inform public health strategies.
Why This Fellowship Matters
Health disparities among Māori communities are well documented, with higher rates of chronic diseases, lower access to healthcare, and poorer health outcomes compared to non-Māori populations. Addressing these issues requires research that is culturally informed and community-driven.
The Māori Health Fellowship supports this by:
Building strong partnerships between New Zealand and UK institutions
Supporting researchers who understand the cultural context of Māori health
Developing practical tools and models that can be applied in real-world settings
Promoting equity-centred approaches in health research and policy
This event offers a chance to hear directly from the researchers shaping this work and to understand how international collaboration can help reduce health inequalities.
What to Expect at the Launch
The evening will begin with a lecture at the Wilkins Gustave Tuck Theatre, where Professor Pearce and the Fellows will present their work and the vision for the Fellowship. This will be followed by a reception at The Jeremy Bentham Pub Private Room, providing an informal setting to network with researchers, health professionals, and community members interested in Māori health.
Ngāti Rānana will perform a special welcome for the Fellows at the reception, followed by informal conversation and drinks.
How to Join
This event is open to anyone interested in health equity, Māori health, epidemiology, and international research partnerships. Whether you are a student, researcher, healthcare professional, or community advocate, your participation will contribute to a richer dialogue about improving health outcomes.
Location details:
Lecture: Wilkins Gustave Tuck Theatre, UCL, 2nd Floor, South Junction Wilkins Building, Gower St, WC1E 6BT
Reception: The Jeremy Bentham Pub Private Room, 1st Floor, 31 University St, London WC1E 6JL
Mark your calendar for Thursday 16 July 2026, from 6.00 to 9.00pm, and be part of this important conversation.
