Dr Kimiora Hēnare says genomic-based testing isn’t easily accessible for Māori. Photo / Christopher Loufte
Dr Kimiora Hēnare says genomic-based testing isn’t easily accessible for Māori. Photo / Christopher Loufte
Genomic-based cancer treatment, or precision oncology, is still a topic in need of discussion for Māori, says Faculty of Medical Health Sciences research fellow Dr Kimiora Hēnare.
Hēnare (Ngāti Haua, Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri) has received a Health Research Council Māori Emerging Research Leader grant, worth almost $650,000 over 48 months.
Genomic-based testing isn’t easily accessible for Māori, and Hēnare attributes this to systemic inequities in the New Zealand health system and the negative experiences of indigenous peoples who have engaged in genetic and genomic research globally.
His research focuses on addressing potential workforce challenges related to the delivery of precision oncology, an approach where doctors and patients choose treatments based on the DNA signature of an individual patient’s tumour.
Precision oncology involves treatments that are tailored to the genetic make-up of a patient’s tumor. By analysing the genetic changes of a patient’s cancer, doctors can identify specific medicines that offer the best responses.
However, Hēnare says introducing this groundbreaking approach to decision-making requires a skilled workforce capable of navigating complex genetic data and clinical evidence, and doing so in a timely and culturally safe way.
“The ultimate goal is to eliminate health inequities for Māori before they can even start,” Hēnare says.
“But a problem we face is that by introducing cool and new technology, we’re implementing it into a system that already under-delivers in terms of good Māori health outcomes.
“So, a large focus is not only learning about what capabilities are needed, but also to understand what capacity needs to be protected, and what needs to be resourced and supported to make sure that this is sustainable.
“There are still crucial gaps in our knowledge that can be addressed through research. But research also creates an opportunity to build expertise and leadership.
Kimiora Hēnare: "The ultimate goal is to eliminate health inequities for Māori before they can even start.”
He says it’s crucial to build Māori expertise and leadership among oncology services as well as the research community supporting those services.
“We have an opportunity to create environments where Māori brilliance can shine, allowing them to share their whakaaro with a diverse range of experts, whether in clinical settings or the community. This approach is instrumental in fostering leadership.”
He says that also includes tangata Tiriti.
“We’re integrating Māori health perspectives and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles into health research, recognising their absence in traditional biomedical training pathways,” Hēnare says.
“I’m fortunate to work in a team that understands their role within a Tiriti context. For tangata Tiriti, our obligation to te Tiriti is defined in Article 1. For tangata whenua, our rights to make decisions over our taonga, are enshrined in Article 2. So in the delivery of precision oncology, it’s about understanding our individual roles in teams that best reflect our society, and together ensuring equitable outcomes.”
Hēnare’s project will also explore the pathway to the Molecular Tumor Board (MTB) and develop strategies to sustain a culturally competent workforce. He will create a roadmap for growing the expertise necessary in this cutting-edge field.
The ultimate goal is to eliminate health iniquities for Māori before they can even start.
His passion for research and improving health outcomes stems from his upbringing. He credits his parents, Dr Mānuka Henare, a renowned associate professor specialising in Māori business development, and Diane, an occupational therapist, for instilling in him a love for learning and a deep interest in genetics and health.
Hēnare says since high school he has liked the idea of coming up with new treatments to treat disease and help people. This motivation was reinforced during his biomedical science degree where he learned about the biological basis of disease and how the body responds to those challenges, with cancer grabbing his attention. His academic journey continued with a Master of Health Science in cancer research followed by a PhD, funded by a HRC scholarship, and the prestigious HRC Eru Pomare Postdoctoral Fellowship.
“Since my postdoctoral fellowship, I’ve had the privilege of learning from the best about Māori health research and cancer genomics at the University of Auckland.
“Part of growing up for me, as a Māori biomedical scientist, was recognising my place in a complex research ecosystem and reflecting on how I could apply my skills to make a difference for whānau with cancer, much sooner than the pathway of a single new medicine from discovery in a lab to approval and delivery in the clinic.
