Dr. Tony MERRIMAN (New Zealand)

Tony Merriman was awarded a PhD from the University of Otago in 1993, whereupon he undertook postdoctoral research on the genetics of type 1 diabetes at the University of Oxford (UK) under the supervision of Professor John Todd. In 1998 he returned to the University of Otago where he now leads a research group focusing on the genetic risk factors of gout in New Zealand's unique Maaori and Pacific population. He is a member of the NZ Rheumatology Research Network, Mapnet (a NZ cross-discipline gene mapping organisation) and the Middlemore Maaori Gout Action Group. Major collaboraters are Ngati Porou Hauora and Counties Manukau DHB."