Although long overdue, I am excited to announce that our research lab has moved across campus, and we are now fully operational at the world-renowned Liggins Institute, within the Grafton campus of the University of Auckland. Not only is this a change in scenery for me, but it marks the beginning of the next exciting phase of my research career, allowing us to grow our research programme and expand our focus on the impacts of infections on long-term health outcomes throughout our life course.

I am thrilled to have been offered such an incredible opportunity to forge new connections and collaborations and grow my team. It is a privilege to pursue my passion, but mostly, it is an honour to do this alongside a supportive network, both local and abroad, to provide hope and opportunities to the people of Aotearoa. I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support from my peers, team, colleagues, collaborators, and all our community networks. Your encouragement and generous contributions make this journey possible. I must also take this opportunity to thank my team (pictured) Anton Gibson (PhD student) and Weiran Jin (research assistant) for helping with the massive task of moving our lab from the city campus up the road to the Grafton campus  – especially the precarious task of safely transporting all of our precious patient samples! Moving locations is never a quick (or easy) task, but we are now more eager than ever to hit the ground running as we look forward to kicking off in the New Year.

Do stay tuned for updates on our research progress and upcoming projects. We look forward to sharing our journey with you!