Rate My Professor Katrina Sharples

Professor Katrina Sharples is the Professor of Biostatistics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Otago. She earned her MSc in Statistics and PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Washington, Seattle. As a distinguished biostatistician, her academic interests encompass a wide range of statistical methods applied to clinical and epidemiological research. She has particular expertise in clinical trials, infectious diseases, and pharmacoepidemiology. Professor Sharples contributes significantly to health research through her leadership roles, serving as the lead statistician for Cancer Trials New Zealand, the Centre for International Health, and the Pharmacoepidemiology Research Network. She is also a member of the Centre for Translational Research in Cancer and part of the Pharmacoepidemiology Research Network Core Academic Group. Her affiliations extend to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Otago, where she supports research outputs in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine within the Health Sciences Division.

Professor Sharples' career at the University of Otago includes teaching advanced statistics courses such as STAT424 Research Design and Methods and supervising postgraduate students. Her influential publications demonstrate her impact on the field. Key works include 'Adherence to metformin monotherapy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in New Zealand' (2019, with Simon Horsburgh and others), 'Antidepressant dispensing before, during, and after pregnancy in New Zealand, 2005-2014' (2021, with Sarah Donald and others), 'Media reporting of health interventions in New Zealand: a retrospective analysis' (2018, with Christian Robinson and others), 'Dual versus single long-acting bronchodilator use could raise acute coronary syndrome risk by over 50%: Authors' reply' (2022, with Lianne Parkin), and 'Proton pump inhibition to prevent delayed chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting: Authors' reply' (2025, with N Wewala and others). Additional contributions cover topics like HIV diagnoses trends, tuberculosis case management, and micronutrient status in tuberculosis infection risk. Promoted to full professor in 2022, her methodological advancements enhance the rigor of clinical studies in New Zealand and beyond, including proposals for improving access to clinical trials.