Genetics at Otago

Are you a postgraduate student looking to boost your research funding? Check out these grants from the Genetics Society of AustralAsia (GSA), open now.

Two grants are available, generously supported by Illumina, AgResearch (Aotearoa New Zealand), along with GenomNZ from AgResearch and Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics, UNSW (Australia), worth over $15,000 each!

Applications for the grant are due by 5pm AEDT on 30th September 2024.

The application form and further information can be found here:

Student grants – Genetics Society of AustralAsia Student grants The Genetics Society of Australasia coordinates an annual Student Research Grant scheme in support of the GSA postgraduate student community. In 2024, we are delighted to partner once again with Illumina, the Ramaciotti Centre for Genomics and AgResearch to provide two exciting prizes...

Congratulations to Genetics Otago co-Director A/Prof Louise Bicknell on this grant!

Congratulations to Associate Professor Louise Bicknell who has won a grant in the latest funding round from the Neurological Foundation. She will use advanced molecular sequencing to study specific genetic processes that affect both neurodevelopment and neurological ageing diseases. This research will improve understanding of their roles in brain functioning and pave the way for potential therapeutic strategies for common ageing conditions such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.
https://neurological.org.nz/research/funded-projects/

We are excited to announce that Genetics Otago has secured funding through 2028 as one of 14 University of Otago Research Themes!

We look forward to continuing support of our genetics community and bringing in some new initiatives too!

Research Themes funding announced | University of Otago The depth of research excellence at the University of Otago is set to be further enhanced thanks to the latest round of Research Themes funding.

All set up for another Tertiary Open Day!

Genetics had another successful booth at the HSFY evening last night.
Thanks to all the Staff & Students who volunteered to help!

Congratulations to all our Genetics Mātai Ira students who graduated at the weekend!

Congratulations to all our Genetics Mātai Ira students who graduated last weekend & to all those graduating this weekend!

Thanks to Tessa Cloutman & team of genetics students who have signed up for the Cancer Society Relay For Life.

Please support them if you can!

Team Genetics Mātai Ira - Relay for Life Relay for Life - Do something remarkable and get involved today!

Congratulations to our Senior Teaching Fellow Dr Gillian MacKay who has won a University of Otago Excellence in Teaching Award!

The Genetics Mātai Ira Teaching Programme held a function last night for our GENE majors and REGD majors. Our students enjoyed getting to know each other with icebreaker games including the ‘PCR Mixer’ game and winning chocolate fish by firing the pipette tip into the beakers. This event was very kindly sponsored by Mediscope www.mediscope.co.nz who provided the students with non-alcoholic drinks. We thank Mediscope for sponsoring this event!

Today is Rare Disorders Day - check out the great work being done by Genetics Otago co-Director Louise Bicknell in the Rare Disease Genetics Lab: https://youtu.be/z347HbU_4lA?si=FepRlQ2Gl14Qhq5f

Rare Disorder Lab Tour Visit the Rare Disorder Genetics Lab run by Associate Professor Louise Bicknell in the Department of Biochemistry at The University of Otago. Hear about what...

Tomorrow, 29th Feb is the rarest of days and is also Rare Disorders Day, kicking off Rare Disorders month (March). The of Otago Clocktower will “Glow Up" from 4 pm and researchers from Genetics Otago and Brain Health Research Centre - Otago will "Show Up" in support of the Rare community, feel free to join them!

Tell us your rare stories and support our mission - fighting for rare.

Congratulations to Daisy Power who was our top-performing GENE400 level student in 2023.

Daisy has been nominated for the 400 level Ann Wylie Prize in Genetics!

Congratulations to Ashleigh Iwikau who was our top-performing GENE300 level student in 2023.

Ashleigh has been nominated for the 300 level Ann Wylie Prize in Genetics!

Congratulations to Gus Webster who was our top-performing GENE200 level student in 2023.

Gus has been nominated for the 200-level Ronson Prize in Genetics!

Passing on a message from Karla, a researcher in the Macknight lab, who just had a baby:
Two weeks ago, our wee baby girl came into the world.

Currently, she is a wee happy and healthy baby. However, she was diagnosed with scaphocephaly, a 1/2000 birth condition, which means that her skull sagittal suture is fused, and it shouldn’t be this early. This has a significant impact in the short term, increasing the risk of high intracranial pressure and permanent neuronal damage; thereby, she requires surgery as soon as possible.

The surgeries offered showcase good results but are highly invasive for a newborn (with all the risks that this brings). However, there is a chance for a minimally invasive endoscopic approach that reduces most risks but must be done as soon as possible, as the window to perform this surgery is very short (1-5 months of age). This is done in the US (Texas, El Paso), but the bill to pay is enormous for us and the next available date for her urgent surgery is January 11th, 2024, which is just around the corner.

It is tough and challenging for us as a family, so we are reaching out for help through donations ( https://www.givesendgo.com/Amelia-neurosurgery ). No matter how little they may be, it will help Amelia’s journey. We, as a family, will be forever grateful for any help 😊

Have a fantastic Christmas, New Year, and a 2024 full of achievements!

Congratulations to all our Genetics students who are graduating today!
Some pictures from this morning's Graduation Brunch

Yesterday at our Genetics end-of-year function we said goodbye to some very special people who have all contributed so much to the programme over the years.
Elaine, Iain & Richard, you will be missed.

The Genetics Otago annual magazine 'On the GO' 2023 is now available. This is a great read and showcases a number of our researchers, the Genetics Mātai Ira Teaching Programme and the events we have hosted over the last 12 months!

https://indd.adobe.com/view/20829dae-bc4a-4ccd-a8b4-09149a57d218

Huge congratulations to Otago graduate Isaac Heron who has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford.
Isaac, 23, recently completed a BSc in Economics and Genetics at Otago and will also soon complete a Bachelor of Laws (Hons).

Rhodes Scholarship for excellence, leadership and commitment to community | University of Otago Huge congratulations to Otago graduate Isaac Heron who has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford.

Not sure what to do with your science degree?

Careers with a biochemistry, genetics or microbiology degree Unsure what you can do with a genetics, biochemistry or microbiology degree? We invited graduates and employers to tell us about their jobs and career storie...

To love, laughter, and happily ever after! Wishing Elaine all the best for her special day!

Our GENE312 students gave Iain a card yesterday to celebrate his last-ever lecture for Genetics as he is retiring at the end of the year.

If you haven't registered for our annual GENE/BIOC/MICR career evening yet, there is still time! Wednesday 20th September from 6pm, see full details and register here:

Events | Genetics Otago Upcoming events hosted by or involving Genetics Otago will be listed here. Please check back regularly for updates. A calendar of events that may be of interest to our members can be found at the bottom of this page and in the sidebar of other pages on this site, please note that this includes event...

Congratulations Dr Deeney!
Emma is our Genetics Teaching Programme Technician and the newest member of our team.
Well done & enjoy your graduation on Saturday 😀🎓

Congratulations Lauren!

Working towards a new treatment for breast cancer is the focus for student Lauren Over (pictured, left), who has been awarded a University of Otago Māori Master’s Research Scholarship.

Now based in the Department of Pathology, Lauren (Te Atiawa - Taranaki), is in her final year of a Master of Science in genetics. Her research area is cancer genetics – looking at mutations associated with cell growth.

“Some cancers affect Māori at higher rates so hopefully by doing this research I’m doing my part to help.”

Originally from Wellington, Lauren says she has really enjoyed her time at Otago, with this year “a game changer” in terms of how rewarding the research is and the level of support offered.

“I’m constantly surrounded by such a high level of expertise, with people so willing to help and share their knowledge.”

Lauren’s supervisor, Associate Professor Heather Cunliffe (pictured, right), says, “Lauren’s project and research hypothesis is multi-disciplinary, bringing together expert knowledge in medical genetics from Associate Professor Louise Bicknell (Biochemistry Department), and cancer genetics from our laboratory in the Pathology Department. Lauren is thriving as a postgraduate student, with her advanced genetics training at Otago strongly underpinning her success.”

Lauren was overwhelmed and “very grateful” to receive the scholarship. In terms of future plans, she hopes to get a job in research next year but intends to do a PhD at some point.

Department of Pathology, University of Otago

Congratulations Finn Dobbie!

And he did it!!!
Finn Dobbie of the Brown Lab won the MSc section of the 3-minute thesis Otago finals with his talk about his research into fungi genomics: The DNA behind being a ball, or being an umbrella.
He got a $500 grant for research & will be going on to the inter masters competition

Pop along on Thursday 3rd August if you are free to support our Genetics student Finn Dobbie who is in the Grand Final!

Otago University-led research delivers more certainty for genetic test diagnoses Findings from a new international study look set to improve rates of diagnosis for patients undergoing genetic testing in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.