MRINZ-led Research to Improve Outcomes for People with Severe Pneumonia Receives Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) Support

Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ) Senior Clinical Research Fellow Dr Thomas Hills has received a prestigious 2024 Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship.

Influenza and severe pneumonia are major causes of death in Aotearoa, but the best treatments remain unclear. Dr Hills' fellowship-supported research looks to build on what he and his research team have learned about novel clinical trial design during the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding on the success of their HRC-funded REMAP-CAP study.

“I’m extremely grateful to the Health Research Council of New Zealand for this prestigious Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship, and the associated funding which offers me significant support as our research group seeks to improve outcomes for people with severe pneumonia.” says Dr Hills, MRINZ Infectious Diseases programme lead and New Zealand REMAP-CAP investigator.

“I am delighted that Dr Hills has received a 2024 Career Development Award from the HRC.” says Professor Richard Beasley, MRINZ director. “This distinction recognises Tom’s outstanding capability to lead world-class medical research, alongside his impressive research track record which includes a Rhodes scholarship.”

“We are fortunate that this Hercus Fellowship will give Tom the opportunity to lead the influenza component of the landmark international REMAP-CAP study that aims to identify the best way to treat severe pneumonia.” states Professor Beasley.

REMAP-CAP is a global adaptive platform trial investigating multiple treatments for hospitalised patients with respiratory tract infection. The REMAP-CAP study has identified novel treatments that improve short and long-term COVID-19 outcomes, and which are now used in routine clinical practice. The study will now pivot to the investigation of treatments of severe influenza.

Through this established REMAP-CAP trial framework, Tom will spend the next five years leading research to improve outcomes for patients hospitalised with severe pneumonia, including Influenza, globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Tom is one of 76 recipients of the HRC’s Career Development Awards announced today. This includes 35 recipients in the Māori health research category, 17 in the Pacific health research category, and 24 in the general category, awarded a combined total of more than $15M. These career development awards are essential to building health research capability in Aotearoa New Zealand and sustaining research careers, while also having a major impact on public health and reducing health inequities.