Wishbone Orthopaedic Research Foundation Grants 

There are two funding rounds for research grants in 2025.  The second funding round is now open and the closing date has been extended to 22 September 2025.  Applications for funding should be made using the grant application form. 

Applicants for Wishbone funding are expected to be either Registrars or emerging new clinical researchers with an NZOA member as part of the project team. 

The Wishbone Foundation is supported by the NZOA and all applications are evaluated by the Wishbone Orthopaedic Research Committee.

While grants are mainly smaller in nature, they can lead to larger projects with potentially major benefits for patients.

Below are summaries of the recently completed and ongoing research funded by Wishbone. Log in first to view the individual research reports.

Further Enquiries
E: grants@nzoa.org.nz  P: NZOA +64 (4) 913 9891

Ongoing Research

Project lead:

Simon MacLean

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Working with:
Ali Mirjalili
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
The Role of the Interosseous Ligaments of the Forearm in Distal Radioulnar joint instability: Anatomical and Biomechanical Implications for Reconstruction Techniques
Project lead:

Laura Veenendaal

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Working with:
Gary Hooper, Max Yavitt, Theresa Konig and Tim Woodfield (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Advancing Cartilage Repair Strategies: Injectable Biomaterials for Cartilage Regeneration and Integration
Project lead:

Cindy Ou

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Working with:
Joe Baker (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Tibial Shaft Fractures at Te Whatu Ora Waikato 2010 – 2022
Project lead:

Patrick Wong

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Working with:
Mei Lin Tay, Jason Ryu, Mark Zhu, Lance Nicholson and Simon Young (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
VOLT ACL Study
Project lead:

Kat Sim

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Working with:
Ritwik Kejriwal (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Outcomes of Unicompartmental Knee Joint Arthroplasty in extreme BMI
Project lead:

Helen Ingoe

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Working with:
Blair Mason, Zohreh Jafarian Tangrood, Jonathan Sharr, Jonathan Williman, Andy Powell, Sanka Bambarawana, Simon MacLean, David Bartle, Rowan McComish, Ben Madsen, Hemanth Senthilnathan
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Immediate weight-bearing versus delayed weight-bearing following open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fractures; a multi-centre randomised control trial
Project lead:

Tangi Purea

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Working with:
Claudia Bloy, Joe Baker (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Influence of ethnicity and social deprivation on complications after spine surgery
Project lead:

Mark Zhu

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Working with:
Ryan Gao, Mike Van Niekerk, Marc Hirner, Peter Poon, Ashvin Thambyah (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Medial calcar support for proximal humerus fracture ORIF – biomechanical analysis and testing
Project lead:

Ruikang Guo

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Working with:
Mei Lin Tay, Mark Zhu, Simon Young (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Microbial resistance patterns in Periprosthetic Joint Infection of the knee – a 20-year longitudinal study
Project lead:

Erynne Scherf

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Working with:
Nikki Hooper, Jennifer Dunn, Jeremy Simcock, Debbie Snell (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Exploring Perceptions of Orthopedic Surery as a Career Choice for Medical Students
Project lead:

Kong Koh

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Working with:
Naji Ghamri, Mark Wright (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
An Analysis of Risk Factors for Post-operative Mortality in Hip Fractures Using the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry
Project lead:

Anneke Prankerd-Gough

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Working with:
Sally Roberts, Mark Wright and Chuan Kong Koh (Supervisors)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Reducing surgical site contamination with total knee arthroplasty prep and drape techniques