Rebecca Grainger

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'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.

Selected works