Rate My Professor Pritika Goulstone

Dr. Pritika Goulstone (Pritika Narayan) serves as a Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia at the University of Otago, Wellington, part of the Faculty of Medicine within the Health Sciences Division. Holding the Heart Foundation of New Zealand Research Fellowship, she leads the pioneering Fiji Heart Study, the first genetic investigation into premature coronary artery disease among Peoples of Fiji. This population, comprising over 2% of Aotearoa New Zealand's residents, faces a disproportionately high rate of heart attacks under age 40, with evidence suggesting heritability across generations independent of traditional risk factors. The study is divided into two phases: first, collaborating with the community to establish a culturally sensitive research data management and governance framework; second, pinpointing genetic signatures prevalent in individuals from Fiji experiencing severe premature coronary events. Her overarching goals include enabling early risk stratification, targeted interventions for high-risk families, and advancing equitable access to genome-informed therapies designed for underrepresented ethnic groups.

A molecular biologist with a strong commitment to health equity, particularly for Fijian communities, Pritika completed her doctoral studies in 2011 at the University of Auckland, where she examined genetic and epigenetic modifications associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington’s Disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Transitioning her expertise to cardiovascular research, she has authored several impactful publications. Notable works include "Towards achieving a more accurate population count for peoples of Fiji living in Aotearoa" (Populations, 2025, with Vakalalabure et al.), addressing census underrepresentation; "Subsisting on boiled rice and pulse: Understanding histories of famine, feast and migrant health, through the lens of Girmit-descendants" (Kōtuitui, 2025, with Deo et al.), exploring migrant health histories; and conference contributions like "Building the androgen clock: An epigenetic predictor of long-term male hormone exposure" (Genetics Otago Symposium, 2025, Sugrue et al.), alongside presentations on androgen-dependent epigenetic aging (NZ Medical Sciences Congress, 2024) and culturally informed participant safety in genomic studies of coronary artery disease (GeneMappers Conference, 2024).