Unpredictable Stories Unveiled
In August 2025, Professor Richard Beasley, the 2024 Rutherford Medal winner and founder of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ), will embark on a captivating national lecture tour titled "Tales of the Unexpected." This tour, organised by the Royal Society Te Apārangi and the Nelson Branch, promises to shed light on ten ground-breaking research programmes that have challenged clinical assumptions and transformed patient care[1][2].
The tour will kick off in Wellington on 13th August, with subsequent stops in Napier (12th August), Manawatū (19th August), Nelson (26th August), and Christchurch (27th August)[1][2]. The lectures will be delivered by Professor Beasley, who is renowned for his commitment to challenging medical dogma and increasing knowledge through high-quality clinical research[3].
Key topics to be covered in the lectures include:
1. Whether fever should be treated 2. Optimal oxygen levels for critically ill patients 3. Safety and driving effects of party pills 4. Links between smoking cannabis and lung cancer 5. Risks of prolonged sitting for blood clots 6. Use of preservatives in asthma nebuliser solutions 7. Comparing ‘watchful waiting’ vs. surgery for collapsed lung 8. Underlying disease mechanisms of asthma 9. Cause of the epidemic of asthma deaths in New Zealand 10. Suitability of adult asthma treatments for children
These findings not only advance medical knowledge but also raise important regulatory and legal issues, exposing significant gaps in evidence, particularly regarding children’s clinical care[1][2].
Professor Beasley's research has the potential to change clinical practice and reduce the burden of disease not only in Aotearoa New Zealand but globally[4]. A video of Professor Beasley discussing his work can be found on the Royal Society Te Apārangi YouTube channel[5].
The tour aims to illustrate how research can unpredictably reshape understanding in medicine and affect healthcare practices nationwide. Further information about the lecture tour can be found at https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/tales[6]. Don't miss this opportunity to witness first-hand the transformative power of research in the medical field.
[1] Royal Society Te Apārangi. (2025). Tales of the Unexpected. https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/tales [2] Beasley, R. (2025). Tales of the Unexpected Lecture Tour. Personal interview. [3] Medical Research Institute of New Zealand. (n.d.). About Us. https://www.mrinz.org.nz/about-us [4] Ministry of Health. (2022). Burden of Disease. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/population/diseases-and-disorders/burden-disease [5] Royal Society Te Apārangi. (n.d.). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/user/RoyalSocietyNZ [6] Royal Society Te Apārangi. (2025). Tales of the Unexpected. https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/tales
- During his nationwide lecture tour, "Tales of the Unexpected," Professor Richard Beasley, renowned for his research on respiratory conditions and asthma, will discuss various medical-conditions, including the links between smoking cannabis and lung cancer, the use of preservatives in asthma nebulizer solutions, and the underlying disease mechanisms of asthma.
- Beyond just advancing medical knowledge, Professor Beasley's research on health-and-wellness touches on crucial topics such as mental-health, examining the suitability of adult asthma treatments for children and the cause of the epidemic of asthma deaths in New Zealand, highlighting the need for improved understanding and care in these areas.
