Dr Hannah Brown

Postdoctoral Fellow

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr. Hannah Brown is a Robinson Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellow and is under the mentorship of Associate Professor Jeremy Thompson and Professor Sarah Robertson. She gained her PhD from the University of Adelaide and took up international postdoctoral posts in both France (INRA) and the United States (Baylor College of Medicine). Her interests lay in the fields of epigenetics and metabolism, and in particular the changing epigenetic landscape of the early embryo. She is particularly interested in how the embryo responds to physiological and pathological environmental cues, including in vitro culture, hyperglycaemia (diabetes) and inflammation (infection). Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which these cues are translated into an altered epigenetic backdrop is the key question her growing team are addressing. She is passionate about science communication and is currently a SA Young Tall Poppy.

My Research
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Dr Hannah Brown is an early career researcher establishing herself in the field of reproductive metabolism, oxygen biology and epigenetics following two international postdoctoral posts. During two international post-doctoral positions, she honed her skills in the fields of metabolism and genetics/genomics and is establishing herself in the Reproductive Epigenetics field since returning to Australia. Her research focuses on mechanisms by which the pre-implantation embryo alters its internal dialogue in response to environmental changes (diabetes, infection, culture, oxygen), altering the transcriptional and epigenetic landscapes to establish the trajectory of the embryo, and the resultant offspring. This research provides critical understanding into the mechanisms for the intergenerational transmission of disease (diabetes and obesity), and has direct implications for understanding the stress associated with generating embryos in vitro, as well as for providing the basis for emerging developments to assisted reproductive technologies (in vitro culture, oxygen, haemoglobin).

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Appointments

Date	Position	Institution name
2012	Postdoctoral Fellow	University of Adelaide
2010 - 2012	Postdoctoral Associate	Baylor College of Medicine
2009 - 2010	Postdoctoral Associate	Postdoctoral Associate, L’Institut National de la Recherché Agronomique (INRA)

Awards and Achievements

Date	Type	Title	Institution Name	Country	Amount
2016	Invitation	Global Young Scientist Summit	National Research Foundation	Singapore	—
2015	Award	Executive Dean's ECR Research Excellence Award	University of Adelaide Faculty of Health Sciences	Australia	1000
2015	Award	South Australian Young Investigator Award	Women's and Children's Hospital	—	5000
2015	Award	South Australian Young Investigator Award (People’s Choice)	Women's and Children's Hospital	Australia	1000
2015	Award	ECR Collaborative Travel Award	Society for Reproductive Biology	Australia	1500
2014	Recognition	South Australia Young Tall Poppy	Australian Institute of Policy and Science	Australia	—
2012	Award	I’m A Scientist! Get me out of here, Australia	—	Australia	1000

Education

Date	Institution name	Country	Title
2005 - 2009	University of Adelaide, Discipline of Medicine	Australia	Docor of Philosophy
2004 - 2004	University of Adelaide	Australia	Bachelor of Science, Honours (First Class; 1A)
2001 - 2003	University of Adelaide	Australia	Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science)

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Journals

Year	Citation
2019	Frank, L., Rose, R., Anastasi, M., Tan, T., Barry, M., Thompson, J., & Brown, H. (2019). Artificial blastocyst collapse prior to vitrification significantly improves Na+/K+-ATPase-dependent post-warming blastocoel re-expansion kinetics without inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress gene expression in the mouse. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 31(2), 294-305. DOI
2019	Lim, M., Brown, H., Kind, K., Breen, J., Anastasi, M., Ritter, L., . . . Dunning, K. (2019). Haemoglobin expression in in vivo murine preimplantation embryos suggests a role in oxygen-regulated gene expression. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 31(4), 724-734. DOI
2018	Robertson, S., Chin, P. -Y., Femia, J., & Brown, H. (2018). Embryotoxic cytokines-Potential roles in embryo loss and fetal programming. Journal of reproductive immunology, 125, 80-88. DOI Scopus11 WoS8 Europe PMC6
2018	Brown, H., Green, E., Tan, T., Gonzalez, M., Rumbold, A., Hull, M., . . . Thompson, J. (2018). Periconception onset diabetes is associated with embryopathy and fetal growth retardation, reproductive tract hyperglycosylation and impaired immune adaptation to pregnancy. Scientific reports, 8(1), 2114-1-2114-13. DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC2
2017	Zohora, N., Kandjani, A., Orth, A., Brown, H., Hutchinson, M., & Gibson, B. (2017). Fluorescence brightness and photostability of individual copper (I) oxide nanocubes. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 16905-1-16905-8. DOI
2017	Brown, H., Dunning, K., Sutton-McDowall, M., Gilchrist, R., Thompson, J., & Russell, D. (2017). Failure to launch: aberrant cumulus gene expression during oocyte in vitro maturation. Reproduction, 153(3), R109-R120. DOI Scopus14 WoS13 Europe PMC4
2017	Akison, L., Andraweera, P., Bertoldo, M., Brown, H., Cuffe, J., Fullston, T., . . . Schjenken, J. (2017). The current state of reproductive biology research in Australia and New Zealand: core themes from the Society for Reproductive Biology Annual Meeting, 2016. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 29(10), 1883-1889. DOI
2017	Brown, H., Cruz, M., & Mol, B. (2017). Social media is essential for research engagement: FOR: Facilitating stakeholder engagement is key!. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 124(6), 902. DOI
2016	Thompson, J., Brown, H., & Sutton-McDowall, M. (2016). Measuring embryo metabolism to predict embryo quality. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 28(2), 41-50. DOI Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC6
2016	Moran, L., Spencer, L., Russell, D., Hull, M., Robertson, S., Varcoe, T., . . . Rodgers, R. (2016). Research priorities for fertility and conception research as identified by multidisciplinary health care practitioners and researchers. Nutrients, 8(1), 35-1-35-8. DOI Scopus1
2016	Fernandez, R., Marino, J., Varcoe, T., Davis, S., Moran, L., Rumbold, A., . . . Moore, V. (2016). Fixed or rotating night shift work undertaken by women: implications for fertility and miscarriage. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 34(2), 74-82. DOI Scopus15 WoS11 Europe PMC6
2016	Ross, M. D., Dunning, K. R., Ritter, L. A., Thompson, J. G., & Brown, H. M. (2016). Insulin impacts cumulus oocyte complex maturation and early embryo development in vitro. CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, 84, 48.
2016	Russell, D., Gilchrist, R., Brown, H., & Thompson, J. (2016). Bidirectional communication between cumulus cells and the oocyte: old hands and new players?. Theriogenology, 86(1), 62-68. DOI Scopus43 WoS42 Europe PMC22
2016	Kyle, S., Saha, P., Brown, H., Chan, L., & Justice, M. (2016). MeCP2 co-ordinates liver lipid metabolism with the NCoR1/HDAC3 corepressor complex. Human Molecular Genetics, 25(14), 3029-3041. DOI Scopus20 WoS17 Europe PMC13
2016	Tan, T., Ritter, L., Whitty, A., Fernandez, R., Moran, L., Robertson, S., . . . Brown, H. (2016). Gray level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM) to assess microstructural and textural changes in pre-implantation embryos. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 83(8), 701-713. DOI Scopus7 WoS7 Europe PMC3
2015	Sutton-McDowall, M., Purdey, M., Brown, H., Abell, A., Mottershead, D., Cetica, P., . . . Thompson, J. (2015). Redox and anti-oxidant state within cattle oocytes following in vitro maturation with bone morphogenetic protein 15 and follicle stimulating hormone. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 82(4), 281-294. DOI Scopus25 WoS22 Europe PMC13
2015	Russell, D., Brown, H., & Dunning, K. (2015). ADAMTS proteases in fertility. Matrix Biology, 44-46, 54-63. DOI Scopus15 WoS14 Europe PMC10
2015	Dunning, K., Watson, L., Zhang, V., Brown, H., Kaczmarek, A., Robker, R., & Russell, D. (2015). Activation of mouse cumulus-oocyte complex maturation in vitro through EGF-like activity of versican. Biology of Reproduction, 92(5), 116-1-116-10. DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2015	Thompson, J., Brown, H., Kind, K., & Russell, D. (2015). The ovarian antral follicle: living on the edge of hypoxia or not?. Biology of Reproduction, 92(6), 153-1-153-6. DOI Scopus18 WoS15 Europe PMC12
2015	Brown, H., Anastasi, M., Frank, L., Kind, K., Richani, D., Robker, R., . . . Thompson, J. (2015). Hemoglobin: a gas transport molecule that is hormonally regulated in the ovarian follicle in mice and humans. Biology of reproduction, 92(1), 26-1-26-10. DOI Scopus13 WoS10 Europe PMC5
2015	Kind, K., Tam, K., Banwell, K., Gauld, A., Russell, D., Macpherson, A., . . . Thompson, J. (2015). Oxygen-regulated gene expression in murine cumulus cells. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 27(2), 407-418. DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2014	Sen, P., Dharmadhikari, A., Majewski, T., Mohammad, M., Kalin, T., Zabielska, J., . . . Stankiewicz, P. (2014). Comparative analyses of lung transcriptomes in patients with alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins and in foxf1 heterozygous knockout mice. PLoS One, 9(4), e94390-1-e94390-10. DOI Scopus11 WoS9 Europe PMC8
2014	Brown, H., Fabre Nys, C., Cognié, J., & Scaramuzzi, R. (2014). Short oestrous cycles in sheep during anoestrus involve defects in progesterone biosynthesis and luteal neovascularisation. Reproduction, 147(3), 357-367. DOI Scopus10 Europe PMC5
2014	Frank, L., Sutton-McDowall, M., Brown, H., Russell, D., Gilchrist, R., & Thompson, J. (2014). Hyperglycaemic conditions perturb mouse oocyte in vitro developmental competence via beta-O-linked glycosylation of Heat shock protein 90. Human Reproduction, 29(6), 1292-1303. DOI Scopus13 WoS11 Europe PMC10
2014	Scaramuzzi, R. J., Oujagir, L., Menassol, J. B., Freret, S., Piezel, A., Brown, H. M., . . . Fabre Nys, C. (2014). The pattern of LH secretion and the ovarian response to the ‘ram effect’ in the anoestrous ewe is influenced by body condition but not by short-term nutritional supplementation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 26(8), 1154-1165. DOI
2014	Brown, H., & Russell, D. (2014). Blood and lymphatic vasculature in the ovary: development, function and disease. Human Reproduction Update, 20(1), 29-39. DOI Scopus16 WoS17 Europe PMC14
2013	Buchovecky, C., Turley, S., Brown, H., Kyle, S., McDonald, J., Liu, B., . . . Justice, M. (2013). A suppressor screen in Mecp2 mutant mice implicates cholesterol metabolism in Rett syndrome. Nature Genetics, 45(9), 1013-1022. DOI Scopus84 Europe PMC70
2013	Care, A., Diener, K., Jasper, M., Brown, H., Ingman, W., & Robertson, S. (2013). Macrophages regulate corpus luteum development during embryo implantation in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 123(8), 3472-3487. DOI Scopus66 WoS62 Europe PMC44
2012	Dunning, K., Watson, L., Sharkey, D., Brown, H., Norman, R., Thompson, J., . . . Russell, D. (2012). Molecular filtration properties of the mouse expanded cumulus matrix: controlled supply of metabolites and extracellular signals to cumulus cells and the oocyte. Biology of Reproduction, 87(4), 1-10. DOI Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC10
2011	Johnson, L., Fabre Nys, C., Chanvallon, A., François, D., Fassier, T., Menassol, J. B., . . . Scaramuzzi, R. J. (2011). The effect of short-term nutritional supplementation and body condition on the pituitary and ovarian responses of anoestrous ewes to the “ram effect”. Journal of Veterinary Science & Technology, S2(001), 1-10. DOI
2010	Everaert, N., Willemsen, H., Hulikova, A., Brown, H., Decuypere, E., Swietach, P., & Bruggeman, V. (2010). The importance of carbonic anhydrase II in red blood cells during exposure of chicken embryos to CO2. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 172(3), 154-161. DOI
2010	Brown, H., Robker, R., & Russell, D. (2010). Development and hormonal regulation of the ovarian lymphatic vasculature. Endocrinology, 151(11), 5446-5455. DOI Scopus24 WoS23 Europe PMC20
2010	Brown, H., Dunning, K., Robker, R., Boerboom, D., Pritchard, M., Lane, M., & Russell, D. (2010). ADAMTS1 cleavage of versican mediates essential structural remodeling of the ovarian follicle and cumulus-oocyte matrix during ovulation in mice. Biology of Reproduction, 83(4), 549-557. DOI Scopus77 WoS71 Europe PMC56
2010	Scaramuzzi, R., Brown, H., & Dupont, J. (2010). Nutritional and Metabolic Mechanisms in the Ovary and Their Role in Mediating the Effects of Diet on Folliculogenesis: A Perspective. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 45, 32-41. DOI
2007	Dunning, K., Lane, M., Brown, H., Yeo, C., Robker, R., & Russell, D. (2007). Altered composition of the cumulus-oocyte complex matrix during in vitro maturation of oocytes. Human Reproduction, 22(11), 2842-2850. DOI Scopus49 WoS44 Europe PMC34
2006	Brown, H., Dunning, K., Robker, R., Pritchard, M., & Russell, D. (2006). Requirement for ADAMTS-1 in extracellular matrix remodeling during ovarian folliculogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Developmental Biology, 300(2), 699-709. DOI Scopus65 WoS64 Europe PMC47
2005	Brown, H., Pritchard, M., & Russell, D. (2005). Early ovarian follicle dysgenesis in a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs type 1 (ADAMTS-1) null mice. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 17(9), 87. DOI

Conference Papers

Year	Citation
2015	Brown, H., Tan, T., & Thompson, J. (2015). Metaboloepigenetics: providing alternative hypotheses for regulation of gene expression in the early embryo. In Animal Reproduction Vol. 12 (pp. 437-443). Brazil: Brazilian College of Animal Reproduction. WoS3
2008	Russell, D., Brown, H., Alvino, E., & Robker, R. (2008). Involvement of blood and lymphatic angiogenesis in folliculogenesis and ovulation. In BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION Vol. 78 (pp. 79). Kona, HI: SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION. DOI
2006	Russell, D. L., Brown, H. M., Dunning, K. R., Pritchard, M. A., & Robker, R. L. (2006). Ovarian folliculogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are dependent on ECM remodelling by the protease ADAMTS-1.. In BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION (pp. 109). Univ Nebraska Med Ctr, Omaha, NE: SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION.

Conference Items

Year	Citation
2014	Brown, H., Frank, L., & Thompson, J. (2014). Hyperglycaemia: A new player in oocyte epigenetics. Poster session presented at the meeting of ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE. Quebec, CANADA: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. DOI

Date	Project/ No.	Investigators	Funding Body	Amount
2016	How periconception hyperglycaemia disturbs early life events	Brown HM and Thompson JG	Robinson Research Institute Investment for Success	17,000
2015	Inflammatory cytokines as causal agents in peri-conception programming of offspring health	Robertson SA, Thompson JG and Brown HM	NHMRC Project Grant	585,000
2015	A multi-faceted approach to understanding the consequences of diabetes in early pregnancy	Brown HM, Breen J, Nottle M, Dunning KR, Gatford KA	Robinson Research Institute Innovation Seed Funding	25,000
2015	Do psychosocial attributes and lifestyle behaviors moderate associations of job-related stress and cardiometabolic risk factors among residents of South Australian farming communities	Dollman J, Smith A, Parfitt G, Fennell K, Dorian J, van Kessel G, Wheeler S, Turnbull D, Brown H, McDougall C	Sansom Institute, UNISA	10,000
2015	Concurrent validity and feasibility of ecological momentary assessment for characterising stress and depression among South Australian farmers	Dollman J, Smith A, Parfitt G, Wheeler S, Turnbull D, Brown H, McDougall C	Sansom Institute, UNISA	9,000
2014	Investigating new mechanisms regulating transcription in the pre-implantation embryo	Buckberry S, Searle I, Bent S, Thompson JG	Robinson Research Institute Innovation Seed Funding	25,000
2014	Novel mechanisms regulating placental dysfunction in pre-eclampsia	Andraweera P, Brown HM, Roberts C, Buckberry S	Robinson Research Institute Innovation Seed Funding	25,000
2014	Novel mechanisms regulating intergenerational transmission of diabetes	Brown HM and Thompson JG	Robinson Research Institute Investment for Success	30,000
2014		Brown HM	Robinson Research Institute Career Development Award	50,000
2011	Evaluating metabolic and endocrine abnormalities in Rett Syndrome: Neurology meets systems physiology	Brown HM and Justice MJ	Rett Syndrome Research Trust (RSRT)	15,000

Date	Role	Course
2014 - current	Lecturer	Research Project in Reproduction III (Health Sciences)
2014 - current	Lecturer	School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health Hons (Health Sciences)
2011 - 2012	Lecturer	Genetics; 1^st and 2^nd Year Medical Course, BCM, USA

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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Date	Role	Research Topic	Program	Degree Type	Student Load	Student Name
2017	Co-Supervisor	Examining the Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicines to Manage Pregestational and Gestational Diabetes	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Miss Cheow Yuen Tan
2016	Co-Supervisor	Functional Role of Haemoglobin in the Pre-Implantation Embryo	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Full Time	Ms Megan Lim

Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Date	Role	Research Topic	Program	Degree Type	Student Load	Student Name
2015 - 2017	Co-Supervisor	Novel Functions of Natriuretic Peptides in Mammalian Cumulus-Oocyte Complexes	Doctor of Philosophy	Doctorate	Part Time	Mr Ryan David Rose

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Committee Memberships

Date	Role	Committee	Institution	Country
2016 - ongoing	Chair	School of Medicine Early/Mid-Career Researcher Committee	University of Adelaide	Australia
2016 - ongoing	Member	School of Medicine Research Committee	University of Adelaide	Australia
2015 - ongoing	Chair	Epigenetics Consortium of South Australia (EpiCSA) Inc	—	Australia
2015 - ongoing	Member	Society for Reproductive Biology	—	Australia
2014 - ongoing	Member	Discipline of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Honours Committee	University of Adelaide	Australia
2014 - ongoing	Representative	Society for the Study of Reproduction	—	United States
2014 - ongoing	Member	NHMRC	—	Australia
2014 - ongoing	Member	New Frontiers in Reproduction Conference	—	—
2013 - 2015	Member	School of Pediatrics & Reproductive Health Research Committee	University of Adelaide	Australia
2013 - ongoing	Representative	School of Paediatrics & Reproductive Health	University of Adelaide	Australia
2013 - ongoing	Member	Young Investigator Award	Women's & children's Hospital	Australia

Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
Phone: 83138183
Email: hannah.brown@adelaide.edu.au
Fax: 8313 4099
Campus: North Terrace
Building: Helen Mayo South, floor 2
Room: 2 22
Org Unit: Paediatrics and Reproductive Health

Dr Hannah Brown

Appointments

Awards and Achievements

Education

Journals

Conference Papers

Conference Items

Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

Committee Memberships

Connect With Me

External Profiles