Thursday, November 9, 2017
Photo Sharron Bennett
Sven Carlsson
A FORMER Opotiki College head boy who is studying the intricate mechanisms by which superbugs are winning against antibiotics, says he doesn’t want to be a doctor.
Now a scholarship-winning PhD student, Howard Maxwell is at the frontline battling a problem he says is frightening.
“Resistance mechanisms have been observed for nearly every antibiotic in our arsenal,” he said.
“We are approaching a post-antibiotic era where no treatment will exist against seemingly insignificant infections”.
Following his schooling years at Woodlands Primary School, Mr Maxwell attended Opotiki College from 2008 to 2012.
He said his interest in science was awakened early on at the college.
“A large part of that was the inspiration from teachers within the science division.”
Narrowing down the fields of science he was passionate about, Mr Maxwell eventually chose microbiology, because of the diversity of the topic and because “these bugs influence every aspect of our lives”.
Mr Maxwell said he didn’t want to be a doctor and that he’s not even interested in medical research.
“My research interests focus on fundamental biology, the nuts and bolts of how bugs like bacteria and viruses work,” he said.
“The offset is this type of research has a lot of medically relevant benefits.”
The researcher’s rural Maori background also factors into his motivation.
“Infectious diseases are a re-emerging global challenge, with a disproportionate burden among Maori compared to non-Maori,” Mr Maxwell said.
“In Opotiki, my predominantly Maori community is over-represented in poverty and poor health.”
If the superbugs were to win the battle against antibiotics, Maori would be particularly vulnerable.
“Maori have both increased susceptibility to infectious organisms and reliance on antibiotics.”
After spending some time in research, Mr Maxwell said his ultimate goal was to make his way into government ministries where he would be an “advocate for science and innovation in New Zealand, which I feel is under-represented at this present time”.
“An additional goal is to see more kids from Opotiki pursuing tertiary education,” he said.
“We have a lot of talent in Opotiki and I’d love to see more of them heading to university.”
Mr Maxwell began his studies at the Otago University in 2013 and he has just completed a bachelor of science with honours.
“I am transitioning into my PhD with this scholarship,” he said.
“The Haupoto Trust has been very helpful in supporting me through my studies here.”
Mr Maxwell said he took every chance he gets to come home to Opotiki.
“I still love to come home, especially for summer,” he said.
“My family still live in Opotiki and many of my mates are pretty close to home, too.”
Scholarship boosts microbiology study
Howard Maxwell from Opotiki has been awarded a Maori Health Research PhD Scholarship as part of the Health Research Council’s 2018 career development awards.
His research is centred around microbiology and his passion lies in limiting and reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance – one of the fastest growing health crises in the world.
“Preventing the spread of antibiotic resistance will reduce the threat of infectious disease in Maori and result in better health outcomes,” Mr Maxwell said.
The researcher plans to examine the communication processes within bacteria that control the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.
He’s particularly interested in the mechanisms by which bacteria communicate and how these relate to the way in which bacteria arm themselves against invading genetic material.
“Before anyone can begin to manipulate these systems, it’s important to understand how their components co-ordinate and communicate with one another.”
The Fineran Lab student has been granted a $129,900 scholarship to support the three-year study of antibiotic resistance mechanisms.
Mr Maxwell said he was curious and excited about the way organisms functioned and interacted with each other, people and the environment.
“This grant is giving me the opportunity to pursue that passion.”
“It’s also a good thing for my community.
“I don’t think many people from Opotiki get this sort of opportunity and I’d like to be one of many to pursue postgraduate education and academia as a way to benefit our community.”
Health Research Council senior manager Stacey Pene said it was encouraging to see young researchers driven by the need to benefit their communities.
“Especially in areas of rising urgency, such as antibiotic resistance,” he said.
Mr Maxwell’s grant is one of 17 Maori career development awards announced in the HRC’s latest funding round.