NZ research funding fuels life-changing medical breakthroughs.
This content was prepared by Auckland Medical Research Foundation and is being published by NZME as advertorial.
Kiwi ingenuity, and the ability to be curious and creative, is renowned. And Dr Richard Frith is the epitome of that.
As a trainee neurologist and clinical neurophysiologist Frith was instrumental in introducing CPAP machines in New Zealand. CPAP – continuous positive airway pressure – is a highly effective way to help people with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), used by approximately 4% of men and 2% of women in New Zealand.
“CPAP initially resembled a large vacuum cleaner in reverse, blowing air like a tornado, more noisy than snoring – but saving the lives of those with severe heart failure,” Frith explains.
Frith will look back at how research funding from Auckland Medical Research Foundation helped his team develop what is now a common machine for many people globally, at an event being held in Auckland on February 27.
He will be joined by other world-renowned researchers – Dr Diana Sarfati NZ Director-General of Health and Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding, to illustrate advances in medical treatment – including how a $2 treatment is saving babies around the world and the cutting-edge breakthroughs in cancer research.
This is the first of three public speaker series, presented by Auckland Medical Research Foundation and marking 70 years of funding medical research, being held in partnership with JMI Wealth, Auckland University of Technology and the University of Auckland.
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He had read about an Australian trial of a CPAP machine, and sourced instructions on how to replicate it. His team built their own polysomnogram to record how bad the patient’s obstructive sleep apnoea was.
However, the key piece they needed was to measure oxygen saturation. So AMRF granted $50,000 to buy an ear oximeter.
Kiwi ingenuity came to the fore. The team created a nose mask from dental acrylic, attached to the home-built CPAP machine. “These CPAPs were lifesavers. Without the ear oximeter, we would have been lost, so AMRF was there at the start.”
Frith’s team built approximately 20 machines. He shared their findings with the Mayo Clinic and within weeks, it was building CPAPs and treating patients, and Fisher and Paykel Healthcare went on to develop commercial models.
“Without a doubt, we would not be here today without the AMRF funding. We’ve saved lives, and you feel good about that.”
Curious about Kiwi medical breakthroughs? Register here for the AMRF free in-person live speaker session (online options available).