Dr Hannah Brown
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.
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).
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 | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Global Young Scientist Summit | National Research Foundation | ||
| 2015 | South Australian Young Investigator Award (People’s Choice) | Women's and Children's Hospital | ||
| 2015 | Executive Dean's ECR Research Excellence Award | University of Adelaide Faculty of Health Sciences | ||
| 2015 | South Australian Young Investigator Award | Women's and Children's Hospital | ||
| 2015 | ECR Collaborative Travel Award | Society for Reproductive Biology | ||
| 2014 | South Australia Young Tall Poppy | Australian Institute of Policy and Science | ||
| 2012 | I’m A Scientist! Get me out of here, Australia |
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) |
Journals
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 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. 10.1530/REP-16-0426 |
| 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-. 10.1111/1471-0528.14531 |
| 2016 | Akison, L., Andraweera, P., Bertoldo, M., Brown, H., Cuffe, J., Fullston, T. ... Schjenken, J. (2016). 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, OnlinePubl, 10, A-G. 10.1071/RD16382 |
| 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. 10.1055/s-0036-1571354 |
| 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. 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.04.019 |
| 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. 10.1002/mrd.22680 |
| 2016 | Thompson, J., Brown, H. & Sutton-McDowall, M. (2016). Measuring embryo metabolism to predict embryo quality. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 28, 2, 41-50. 10.1071/RD15340 |
| 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, 48-48. |
| 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. 10.1093/hmg/ddw156 |
| 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. 10.3390/nu8010035 |
| 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. 10.1071/RD13249 |
| 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. 10.1095/biolreprod.115.128660 |
| 2015 | Russell, D., Brown, H. & Dunning, K. (2015). ADAMTS proteases in fertility. Matrix Biology, 44-46, 54-63. 10.1016/j.matbio.2015.03.007 |
| 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. 10.1002/mrd.22470 |
| 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. 10.1095/biolreprod.114.127274 |
| 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. 10.1095/biolreprod.114.124594 |
| 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. M. Koval (Ed.). PLoS One, 9, 4, e94390-1-e94390-10. 10.1371/journal.pone.0094390 |
| 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. 10.1530/REP-13-0400 |
| 2014 | Brown, H. & Russell, D. (2014). Blood and lymphatic vasculature in the ovary: development, function and disease. Human Reproduction Update, 20, 1, 29-39. 10.1093/humupd/dmt049 |
| 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. 10.1071/RD13139 |
| 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. 10.1093/humrep/deu066 |
| 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. 10.1038/ng.2714 |
| 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. 10.1172/JCI60561 |
| 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. 10.1095/biolreprod.111.096271 |
| 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. 10.4172/2157-7579.S2-001 |
| 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. 10.1095/biolreprod.110.084434 |
| 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. 10.1016/j.resp.2010.05.007 |
| 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. 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2010.01662.x |
| 2010 | Brown, H., Robker, R. & Russell, D. (2010). Development and hormonal regulation of the ovarian lymphatic vasculature. Endocrinology, 151, 11, 5446-5455. 10.1210/en.2010-0629 |
| 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. 10.1093/humrep/dem277 |
| 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. 10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.10.012 |
| 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, 87-87. 10.1071/SRB05Abs225 |
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. 29th Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Embryo Technology Society (SBTE). Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. |
| 2008 | Russell, D., Brown, H., Alvino, E. & Robker, R. (2008). Involvement of blood and lymphatic angiogenesis in folliculogenesis and ovulation. 41st Annual Meeting of the Society-for-the-Study-of-Reproduction. Kona, HI. 10.1093/biolreprod/78.s1.79b |
| 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.. 39th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-the-Study-of-Reproduction. Univ Nebraska Med Ctr, Omaha, NE. |
Conference Items
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Brown, H., Frank, L. & Thompson, J. (2014). Hyperglycaemia: A new player in oocyte epigenetics. 4th Mammalian Embryo Genomics Meeting. Quebec, CANADA. 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2014.06.017 |
| 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; 1st and 2nd Year Medical Course, BCM, USA |
PhD Students
| Date | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 - present | Megan Lim | Co-supervisor |
| 2016-present | Thao (Doan) Dinh | Co-supervisor |
| 2016 - present | Avi Saini | Co-supervisor |
| 2015 - present | Shaz Abdulrahman | Co-supervisor |
| 2014 - present | Ryan Rose | Co-supervisor |
Masters Students
| Date | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 - present | Lakshmi Chandrapaty | Co-supervisor |
Honours Student
| Date | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Sophie Kenzior | Primary Supervisor |
| 2016 | Joseph Femia | Primary Supervisor |
| 2015 | Emma Tregoweth | Primary Supervisor |
| 2015 | Mitchell Ross | Primary Supervisor |
| 2015 | Thao Doan | Co-supervisor |
| 2015 | Megan Lim | Co-supervisor |
| 2015 | Alexandra Samantha | Co-supervisor |
| 2014 - 2015 | Tiffany Tan | Primary Supervisor |
Various Supervision
| Date | Name | Program | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Freya Proeve | Bachelor Health Science Advanced (3rd Year) | Supervisor |
| 2016 | Vidhiya Somasundaram | Bachelor Health Science Advanced (3rd Year) | Supervisor |
| 2016 | Anmol Saini | Research Project in Reproduction (3rd Year) | Supervisor |
| 2016 | Darren Chow | Research Project in Reproduction (3rd Year) | Supervisor |
| 2015 - 2016 | Anmol Saini | Summer student | Supervisor |
| 2015 - 2016 | Darren Chow | Summer student | Supervisor |
| 2015 - 2016 | Sophie Kedzior | Summer student | Supervisor |
| 2015 - 2016 | Edward Gore | Summer student | Supervisor |
| 2015 | Masuma Bashiri | Research Project in Reproduction (3rd Year) | Supervisor |
| 2015 | Thira Rattanakosit | Research Project in Reproduction (3rd Year) | Supervisor |
| 2015 | Oscar Yarankunze | Research Project in Reproduction (3rd Year) | Supervisor |
| 2013 - 2014 | Karagh Lioing | Summer student | Supervisor |
Mentoring
| Date | Name | Program | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Mark Limongelli | Bachelor Health Science Advanced | Mentor |
| 2016 | Sean Mangion | Bachelor Health Science Advanced | Mentor |
| 2015 | Edward Gore | Bachelor Health Science Advanced | Mentor |
| 2015 | Mark Limongelli | Bachelor Health Science Advanced | Mentor |
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 | Co-Chair | Epigenetics Consortium of South Australia (EpiCSA) Inc | Australia | |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | Society for Reproductive Biology | Australia | |
| 2014 - ongoing | Member | New Frontiers in Reproduction Conference | ||
| 2014 - ongoing | Member | Discipline of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Honours Committee | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2014 - ongoing | Member | NHMRC | Australia | |
| 2014 - ongoing | Representative | Society for the Study of Reproduction | United States | |
| 2013 - 2015 | Member | School of Pediatrics & Reproductive Health Research Committee | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | Young Investigator Award | Women's & children's Hospital | Australia |
| 2013 - ongoing | Representative | School of Paediatrics & Reproductive Health | University of Adelaide | Australia |
Position
Postdoctoral Fellow
Phone
83138183
Fax
8313 4099
Campus
North Terrace
Building
Medical School South
Room Number
2 22
Org Unit
Paediatrics and Reproductive Health