[5] Her work explores the fundamental biochemistry of free radicals, which can have both beneficial and harmful effects in the body.

At low levels, they are essential to life, and contribute to the body's defences against infection, as well as playing a critical role in intracellular signalling.

[6][7][8] Winterbourne was the first female recipient of the Rutherford Medal[1] and in 1988 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

[9] In the 1997 Queen's Birthday Honours, Winterbourn was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to medical research.

[10] She was promoted to Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, for services to science.