CHDS Advisory Board
The Advisory board was established in 2021 to provide high-level oversight of the CHDS programme. The board brings together a variety of expertise from across the academic spectrum, business community, and cohort members. The board meets quarterly to review both research activities of CHDS and to review strategic planning and ensure CHDS policies are fit for purpose.
Professor Logan Walker
Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine & Associate Dean Research, University of Otago, Christchurch (UOC)
Research field: Molecular genetics, with a focus on breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers
Role on Board: Chair of Advisory Board
Associate Professor James Foulds
Department of Psychological Medicine, UOC
Research field: Using longitudinal data to study the causes of adult mental health, substance use problems and criminal offending.
Role on Board: CHDS Director
Dr Toni Pitcher
Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Medicine, UOC
Research Field: Epidemiology and progression of neurodegenerative disorders, especially of Parkinson’s disease.
Role on Board: CHDS Co-Director, Māori Health Advancement, biosample coordination.
Professor Joe Boden
Department of Psychological Medicine, UOC
Research Field: Lifecourse research with a focus on the psychosocial causes and consequences of substance use, abuse, and dependence. Epidemiology of mental health disorders.
Role on Board: CHDS Principal Scientist with 20 years’ experience with CHDS.
Associate Professor Christina McKerchar
Department of Population Health UOC & Associate Dean Māori, UOC
Research field: Food environments, especially food availability and marketing, food security and food sovereignty. She is also involved in research related to hauora Māori, including alcohol, transport, and housing.
Role on Board: Māori health, Māori Health Advancement
Professor Martin Kennedy
Head of Department, Pathology & Molecular Medicine, UOC
Research field: Psychiatric genetics, pharmacogenomics, and the genetics of complex disease.
Role on Board: CHDS genetics collaborator
Dr Ally Calder
School of Physiotherapy
Research field: Participatory action research, co-design, qualitative, mixed methods, and systematic review methodologies.
Role on board: Advocacy for disability and men’s health
Professor Anthony Butler
Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, UOC.
Research field: The interface of clinical medicine and the technical sciences of physics and computing. His current focus is the development of MARS imaging and its translation from high energy physics to clinical medicine.
Role on board: Research funding strategy and imaging technologies
Professor Richard Porter
Head of Department, Psychological Medicine, UOC
Research field: Mood disorders, including clinical trials, service delivery, psychological treatments and electroconvulsive therapy.
Role in Board: Psychological Medicine is the host department for the study.
Dr Marie Squire
Role on Board: CHDS Cohort Representative
Vicki Hubble
Role on Board: CHDS Cohort Representative
Peter Townsend
Chair Te Papa Hauora: Health Precinct Christchurch
Role on Board: Canterbury Business Community Representative