A small but high-quality field of PhD candidates took to the stage to compete in the Wellington heats of the 3 Minute Thesis competition on 28 June, speaking about their research in areas ranging from treatment for substance abuse to novel diagnostic opportunities for endometriosis.
 
The event was won by Yasmin Nouri, from the Department of Pathology, who talked about her research into a new type of cancer treatment, CAR T-cell therapy, where the patient’s own immune cells, their T-cells, are genetically modified with a new receptor that recognises cancer. Yasmin was awarded $500 in prize money donated by event sponsor, Research for Life.
 
She competed against Henry Fane De Salis, from the Departments of Medicine and Psychological Medicine, who presented his research on the ‘Love you back to life’ residential treatment programme for substance abuse; Emily Paterson, from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women’s Health, who talked about novel diagnostic opportunities for endometriosis; and Julie Artus from the Department of Psychological Medicine, who discussed inpatient psychiatric services for children and adolescents in New Zealand.

Their presentations were judged by Dean and Head of Campus Professor William Levack, Dr Claire Henry, a Research Fellow in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women's Health on the Wellington campus, and Carolyn Jenkins, the Graduate Wellbeing Coach at the Graduate Research School in Dunedin. The event was held in the Horne Lecture Theatre at Wellington Hospital and live streamed via Zoom.