Rebecca Grainger

Rebecca Grainger
Academic background
EducationUniversity of Otago
Theses
  • B cells as antigen-presenting cells (1994)
  • Systemic soluble and cellular mediators of gouty arthritis: a comparative observational study (2009)
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Otago

Rebecca Grainger is a New Zealand academic rheumatologist, and is a full professor at the University of Otago, specialising in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and gout. She is also interested in the use of technology for medical education and digital health.

Academic career

Grainger completed a Bachelor of Medicine and a PhD titled Systemic soluble and cellular mediators of gouty arthritis: a comparative observational study at the University of Otago, based in the Malaghan Institute. She received further rheumatology training in Melbourne. Grainger practised as a rheumatologist, and joined the faculty of the University of Otago in Wellington 2008, rising to full professor in 2022. She is a consultant rheumatologist at Hutt District Health Board.

Grainger's research focuses on arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, but she is also interested in digital health and medical education using technology. She is on the steering committee of the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance, which delivers accurate and evidence-based information for rheumatology providers and patients. Grainger has held leadership roles in Arthritis New Zealand (2014–2018), the New Zealand Rheumatology Association, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and the American College of Rheumatology. She has been a member of the Research Advisory Committee for Research for Life, also known as the Wellington Medical Research Foundation, since 2012, and was appointed chair in 2018. Grainger has been an associate editor of Focus on Health Professional Education since 2023.

Honours and awards

Grainger was elected a Fellow of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics in 2018/19, and as a Fellow of Health Informatics New Zealand in 2021.

Selected works