Inspires curiosity and a love for knowledge.
Dr. Edwin Meijerink is the Research Adviser for Health Research South in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago, where he supports researchers in securing funding and navigating research enterprise opportunities in areas such as medicine, pathology, and surgical sciences. Contactable via the Research and Enterprise Office, he offers advice on grant applications and funding sources during business hours from 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Meijerink earned his PhD from ETH Zurich, receiving the Hans Vontobel Prize for his dissertation on polymorphisms in alpha(1,2)fucosyltransferase genes determining susceptibility to oedema disease in pigs. His research focuses on animal genomics, vaccine technologies, and immunology, with significant work on genetic markers for disease resistance in livestock, particularly Escherichia coli F18 adhesion in porcine epithelium and post-weaning diarrhoea susceptibility. Key publications include "A DNA polymorphism influencing α(1,2)fucosyltransferase activity of the pig FUT1 enzyme determines susceptibility of small intestinal epithelium to Escherichia coli F18 adhesion" (2000), "Picogram cloning and direct in situ sequencing of DNA from gel pieces" (2001), "Genomic methods for identification of traits and inherited disorders in farm animals" (2002), "Efficient homologous prime-boost strategies for T cell vaccination based on virus-like particles" (2005), "Suppression of reproductive cyclicity by active immunization against GnRH in the adult ewe" (2009), and "Versatile Virus-Like Particle Carrier for Epitope Based Vaccines" (2010). His 30 publications have garnered approximately 985 citations, demonstrating impact in veterinary genetics and biotechnology. Previously, he was affiliated with Cytos Biotechnology AG in Zurich.
