Top researcher dies

Sir Graham Liggins. Photo / Paul Estcourt

One of New Zealand's greatest scientists, Sir Graham Liggins, 84, died yesterday after a long illness.

Sir Graham proved that the pituitary gland in the fetus controlled the timing of birth, and that the hormone responsible was cortisol.

With a paediatrician, Professor Ross Howie, Sir Graham conducted a controlled trial of pre-natal corticosteroids and showed a big reduction in respiratory distress syndrome in pre-term babies - a landmark study published in 1972.

The research changed medical practice and saved hundreds of thousands of lives, by halving the death rate of babies with the problem.

Auckland University's Liggins Institute was named in his honour.