Chatterjee Laboratory

Very thankful and pleased to see this story highlighting our recent marae kōrero connecting research and community. For me, this kaupapa resonates strongly. Over the past few years, our lab has increasingly engaged with mana whenua to ensure that our research, particularly in cancer epigenetics, is not only scientifically rigorous but also culturally grounded and meaningful.

Initiatives like this reinforce the importance of kanohi ki te kanohi engagement, where trust, respect, and shared understanding underpin the research journey.
I think what stands out is the emphasis on two-way dialogue. Research should not simply be communicated to communities but it should be shaped alongside them. As we continue to develop stronger translational research programmes at the University of Otago, this approach is critical. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that our epigenetics research delivers real benefit to communities in ways that are inclusive, respectful, and enduring. I am proud of this example to show how meaningful engagement can bridge research and community in Aotearoa.

Marae kōrero connects research and community Talking about health research should be a two-way conversation with the community, say members of Otago’s Epigenetics, Disease and Phenotype Laboratory (the Chatterjee Laboratory).

DNA methylation mapping of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a promising clinical tool. Choosing the right analytical method is crucial for working with limited amount of sample, ensuring cost-effectiveness, and supporting clinical translation. Here we compare key technology in liquid biopsy epigenetics in terms of cost, accuracy, and reproducibility to guide transnational research in this space. This is an active focus of my lab. . Check it out:

Frontiers | Comparison of enzymatic and bisulfite-based methods for sequencing-based cell-free DNA methylation profiling Epigenetic analysis, especially DNA methylation profiling of plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA), has recently emerged as a promising clinical tool. Choosing the ri...

Wonderful to be involved in this fantastic collaboration from NZ with team. This work described a Novel Hypoxia-driven transcriptomic and epigenetic landscapes in meningioma. This work was developed with support and direct involvement of the New Zealand Centre at IIT Delhi (URL: https://international.iitd.ac.in/new-zealand-center-at-iitd/). Students from both the countries were involved, they worked together and co-authored this paper. It is wonderful and very pleased with this excellent output. Published now in: Journal of Translational Medicine

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12967-025-07606-9

Novel insights into hypoxia-driven transcriptomic and epigenetic landscapes in grade 3 meningioma - Journal of Translational Medicine Meningiomas are among the most prevalent central nervous system (CNS) tumors, with up to 20% of cases exhibiting recurrence or aggressive behavior. Hypoxia

The Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (Dunedin) came alive this week with vibrant colours, light, and laughter as we celebrated Diwali — the Festival of Lights. ✨
Our corridors glowed with diyas and rangoli, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Colleagues from across the department joined in to share sweets, stories, and smiles and this is a wonderful reminder of the diversity and warmth that enriches our workplace/University.
Festivals like Diwali remind us of the power of community — of coming together beyond labs, microscopes, and reports to celebrate the values that bind us all: joy, gratitude, and renewal.
A big thank you to everyone who helped organise and participate — you brought light not only to our space but to our hearts. 🌸
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Thanks so much for the funding and support to India in New Zealand (High Commission of India, Wellington) and Little India and Dosa etc.

Department of Pathology, University of Otago

Commision of India and .

Come and study Genomic Health and Medicine with us in a flexible way. Our Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences endorsed in Genomic Health and Medicine offers the first opportunity in Aotearoa New Zealand to complete a postgraduate qualification in the emerging field of genomics. The paper is open to students of any qualification with interest in health and genomics. The papers are distance-taught and therefore highly flexible for working professionals as well.
https://www.otago.ac.nz/courses/subjects/gehm

Our student cohort consisted of GPs, Oncology specialists, Research Nurse, Genetic councillors and health professional working in different parts of New Zealand and also Genetics students.

As part of this, the Introduction to Clinical Bioinformatics paper is also now open for enrolment for 2026 (semester 1): https://www.otago.ac.nz/courses/papers?papercode=BINF701 -2025

Please message or email Dr Aaron Stevens ([email protected]) or myself ([email protected]) if you have any query. Ka pai.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD or ENCOURAGE anyone you think might who might be interested.

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I’ve just returned from an inspiring visit to Europe, where I had the opportunity to strengthen collaborations with leading researchers and institutions working at the forefront of epigenetics and disease.
This visit was an excellent chance to exchange ideas on translational epigenetics, biomarker discovery, and liquid biopsy innovations — areas that have the potential to transform cancer diagnostics and precision medicine and topics that our research group is playing a lead role in Aotearoa New Zealand
I’m grateful for the warm welcome and engaging discussions with old and new friends and colleagues across multiple countries and labs in Europe, whose work continues to push boundaries in our field. These connections are crucial as we work towards building robust international networks that will accelerate impactful research and deliver real benefits for patients. I also believe that in today's interconnected world and constrained environment, collaboration is more important than ever to maximise the potential of our research and achieve better outcomes.
Looking forward to continued collaboration and hopefully many exciting joint projects ahead! (including hopefully Horizon EU projects).
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