Athol Mann Lecture Series 2008

This public lecture was held on Wednesday,
5th November, 2008 at 5.30pm, Great Hall,
Christchurch Arts Centre

Photo: The Guest Speaker - Professor Ian Town
“Asthma In New Zealand – The Infant Cohort Study”

45 people attended the 2008 Athol Mann Lecture in
the Great Hall at the Art Centre, Christchurch.
Professor Ian Town spoke about the burden of Asthma in New Zealand as recently updated by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand. He outlined some of the theories about the causes of Asthma in New Zealand and discussed some of the results from the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study, a project undertaken jointly by the Canterbury Respiratory Research Group and the Wellington Asthma Research Group (Both part of University of Otago - Christchurch).

This project has confirmed the high prevalence of Asthma in New Zealand and explores areas of interest such as the protective role of breast feeding in infancy. Professor Town informed those present of the large amount of data which has been collected using volunteers, from birth to 6 years old and pointed out the work still to be completed to analyse the data collected by the Repsiratory Group.

Photo: CMRF Chairman Mike Stenhouse welcomed everyone to the Athol Mann Lecture and acknowledged the presence of Athol Mann who came from Wellington to attend the lecture.
Athol Mann was one of 4 members on the Steering Committee of Canterbury Medcial Research Foundation back in 1959, along with Professor Don Beaven, Ray Newton and Dr Leslie Averill . CMRF was formed as a Charitable Society in 1960.

Athol Mann presented a cheque to Dr Michael Epton, Director of the Canterbury Respiratory Research Group for $47,000 which was raised at the CMRF 2008 Wine & Art Auction held in March.
A cheque for $20,000 was also presented to the Canterbury Respiratory Research Group by Julie Battesby from FORE J Productions who run the annual Charity Casino Golf Tournament. This Charity was originally set up to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis and have since been able to assist various charitable groups in the community.

Photo: Julie Battesby from FORE J Productions presents a cheque to Dr Michael Epton, Director, Canterbury Respiratory Research Group

Light refreshments were served after the Lecture.

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