Christine Winterbourn is a world-renowned biochemist and leading authority in the field of free radical biology and oxidative stress research. She currently holds a professorship in pathology at the University of Otago Christchurch, where she has established herself as a pioneering researcher for over five decades. After completing her undergraduate studies in chemistry at the University of Auckland, she earned her PhD in biochemistry from Massey University with research focused on lipid metabolism in mammalian erythrocytes. Following postdoctoral work at the University of British Columbia, she joined the University of Otago's Christchurch medical school in 1970, where she has spent her entire career building what would become the Centre for Free Radical Research.
Professor Winterbourn's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of free radicals in biological systems, demonstrating that these molecules play both essential and harmful roles in human physiology. She was among the first scientists to establish that human cells naturally produce free radicals as part of their normal function, with these compounds serving critical roles in cellular defense against infection and intracellular signaling at low concentrations. Her work has meticulously documented the chemical reactions of free radicals in various disease states including cancer, stroke, coronary heart disease, and arthritis, revealing how oxidative stress contributes to pathological processes. Her research has provided the foundation for numerous therapeutic approaches targeting oxidative damage while preserving the beneficial functions of free radicals in the body.
Beyond her research achievements, Professor Winterbourn has been instrumental in advancing the field through her leadership in establishing rigorous methodologies for studying free radical chemistry in biological systems. Her contributions to the understanding of thiol-based antioxidant defenses, peroxiredoxin biochemistry, and neutrophil-derived oxidants have shaped contemporary research directions in oxidative stress and inflammation. Recognized with New Zealand's highest scientific honors including the 2011 Rutherford Medal and Marsden Medal, she continues to influence the next generation of researchers through her mentorship and scholarly contributions. Her ongoing work explores the intricate balance between oxidative signaling and damage, with implications for developing targeted interventions in inflammatory diseases and other conditions involving oxidative stress.
