Christopher Jackson, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Otago and National Clinical Lead for Cancer Services in New Zealand, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“To me, the whole point of academic research has been to solve problems that matter for our community. Tonight I was very humbled and honoured to be awarded the HRC’s Beaven medal, which is NZ’s top health research award for exactly that – impact.
Receiving a personal award feels awkward, because the only things you achieve of substance are always done as part of a team.
And I have had the privilege of being a part of some mighty teams. From the PIPER group with Mike Findlay, the National Bowel Cancer Group (measures and standards) with Ian Bissett, epi and inequities with Jason Gurney, advocacy and comms with the amazing Cancer Society team (Helga, Mike, Shayne, Andrew Young , many others), nearly a decade beside the most amazing Diana Sarfati , NZSO, Health NZ / Te Whatu Ora (and the Network), the global connection with Chris Booth and the Common Sense Oncology team, and of course the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). In the clinic I have worked with the most dedicated doctors, nurses and allied health teams you could ever hope to meet.
I am truly blessed.
The people and whānau affected by cancer have always been the touchstone, anchor, and compass. Missy and Blair Vining epitomise that community and connection, and they and their family forever changed my life.
Over the last 20 years, together, we have made more treatments available, improved standards, made outcomes reporting more transparent, treatment more accessible, reduced inequities and variations in care, and that means that fewer people get cancer, and more people survive it, or live longer as a result.
To me, that’s what research is for. Turning evidence into policy, policy into action, and action into better outcomes for people today, and tomorrow.
Thank you to everyone who has been there collaborating, connecting, colluding, planning, improving, trying, sometimes failing, and always getting up again.
You all make this country a better place.”
You can also read: Christopher Jackson Named Candidate for UICC Board of Directors 2026–2028
