Research Centres

The Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution is part of the New Zealand Government's Centres of Research Excellence initiative, and focuses on research in molecular biology,ecology and evolution, bringing together internationally recognised researchers.

Victoria University of Wellington is one of five universities participating in the Allan Wilson Centre, and hosts a research group focused on biodiversity. We use ecological and molecular techniques to investigate New Zealand’s biodiversity, particularly of reptiles. This research contributes to the overall goal of the Allan Wilson Centre: to produce an unprecedented level of understanding of New Zealand’s biota.

Dr Nicola Nelson
Sue Keall
Dr Hilary Miller
Dr Anne LaFlamme
Dr Peter Ritchie

The Centre for Biodiscovery is an interdisciplinary research centre. The major strengths are drawn from natural products and synthetic chemistry research in the School of Chemistry and Physics and mechanism of action studies and proteomics in the School of Biological Sciences. There are links to affiliated research in mathematics and computing science and in behavioral psychology. Major projects include natural products based discovery of pharmaceutical leads and proteomics based discovery of high value proteins and genes. Proteomics and chemical genetics are used for mechanism of action studies.

Dr Bill Jordan Director

The Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology (CBRE) is a new research
institution focusing on issues relating to ecological restoration and biodiversity.
Its focus is biodiversity research applied to the need to identify and restore depleted populations, species and communities in ecosystems that have been impacted by human activity.

Based in New Zealand, our research focus extends into adjacent areas of the Pacific and to collaborative initiatives elsewhere in the world.

CBRE aims for both excellence in scientific research, and delivery of the end product of that research in a form that directly benefits conservation management, the local community and the commercial sector.

Dr Ben Bell Director

The Centre for Marine Environmental and Economic Research (CMEER) is a research institution focusing pure and applied research in marine biology, including aquaculture, fisheries, environmental impacts, coastal protection, biodiversity and conservation.

Dr Jonathan Gardner Director

The Malaghan Institute of Medical Research (MIMR) is New Zealand’s leading medical research facility focused on finding cures for cancer, asthma, Multiple Sclerosis and infectious diseases.

The institute is located on Victoria University's Kelburn Campus, and works closely with the School of Biological Sciences, supervising PhD students and contributing to our teaching programmes in Biomedical Science and Cell and Molecular Biology.