Rate My Professor Carrie Innes

Dr. Carrie Innes serves as Senior Research Fellow in gynaecological cancer within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Otago, Christchurch campus. She earned a Master of Science with Distinction in Neuroscience and a PhD in Medicine from the University of Otago. Prior to her current role, Dr. Innes worked for ten years as a Research Scientist at the New Zealand Brain Research Institute, focusing on the impacts of brain injury, neurological diseases, and sleep disorders on brain function and structure, with extensive experience in multi-centre clinical trial data analysis and modelling. In 2013, she joined the University of Otago, leveraging her expertise in gynaecological oncology research.

Dr. Innes's research emphasizes health equity in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of gynaecological cancers, particularly for Māori, Pacific peoples, and rural communities. She contributes to key projects such as the Ngā Haerenga – Journeys study on inequities in gynaecological cancer pathways, the Let’s Test for HPV implementation trial on self-testing for cervical screening, evaluations of HPV vaccination effects on cervical abnormalities, and the National Cervical Cancer Review. Notable publications include Sykes et al. (2025) "Human papillomavirus (HPV) screening with universal access to vaginal self-testing: Outcomes of an implementation trial" in BJOG; Sykes et al. (2025) "Realising the promise of HPV vaccination" in the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand; Te Whaiti et al. (2025) "Mana motuhake - I am in charge and have control over my body" in the Journal of Racial & Ethnic Health Disparities; and Rose et al. (2025) "Experience of HPV primary screening utilising self-testing" in the Journal of Primary Health Care. Her work informs policies to enhance cervical cancer prevention and reduce disparities in Aotearoa New Zealand.