Wishbone Orthopaedic Research Foundation Grants

There are two funding rounds for Orthopaedic research grants each year.  The second funding round for 2026 is now closed.  All applications are considered by the Wishbone Orthopaedic Research Committee and applicants will be advised of the committee's decision following their meeting in November.

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. 

All applications will be acknowledged.  Applicants should ensure they have read the supporting information requirements before sending the completed application form.  They should also note the information about funding caps and that funding is generally not available for post-research expenses.  

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

Completed Research

Project lead:

Jacob Coltman

Working with:
Wendy He, Nichola Wilson, Alexandra Sorhage. Sue Stott (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Surgical services provided for children living with Cerebral Palsy in the first 15 years of life
Project lead:

Ruikang Guo

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:

Atua Fuimaono Asafo

Working with:
Teuila Percival, Vili Nosa, Jamie Lee, Cherelle Ormsby, Margaret Pohl (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
A qualitative study exploring Pacific people’s perspectives and experience in accessing publicly funded elective hip and knee replacements in Aotearoa New Zealand
Project lead:

Tahlia Kerridge

Working with:
Harsh Sharma, David Bartle (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Valuing Culture: Translating Patient-Reported Outcome Measures into Te Reo Māori
Project lead:

Sarah Hunter

Working with:
Braden Te Ao, Paula Lorgelly, Haemish Crawford (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Indirect Cost and Productivity Loss in Childhood Bone and Joint Infection
Project lead:

Rokaya Islam

Working with:
Jillian Lee (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Pyrocarbon versus Metal prosthesis in Radial Head Replacements: A Retrospective Study
Project lead:

Richard Lloyd

Working with:
Zohreh Jafarian Tangrood
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Comparing Nail versus locking plate in displaced three-part proximal humerus fractures
Project lead:

Blair Mason

Working with:
Rowan McComish, Zohreh Jafarian Tangrood, Jonathan Sharr, Andrew Powell (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Comparing immediate weightbearing versus delayed weightbearing after ankle open reduction and internal fixation
Project lead:

Rushi Penumarthy

Working with:
Angus Jennings (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: Influence of Obesity on functional outcomes and re-revisions
Project lead:

Jillian Lee

Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Fertility in Female Doctors – the impact of career choice on fertility and pregnancy complications
Project lead:

Ampz Matthews Jain

Working with:
Mark Zhu, Carissa Murugesh, Carrie Lobb (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Imposter Syndrome in New Zealand Orthopaedic Non-Trainee Registrars
Project lead:

Kong Koh

Working with:
Tom Ward, George Grammatopoulus, Paul Monk (Supervisor)
Research base:
Not Specified
Topic:
Which proximal femur total hip replacement periprosthetic fracture should we fix and which one should we revise?