Jesia Berry

Research Interests

Early Origins of Health Biostatistics Database Management Epidemiology Neurogenetics People with disability

Dr Jesia Berry

Grant Funded Researcher (A)

School of Medicine

College of Health

Dr Jesia Berry is an epidemiologist with expertise in health data analysis, data linkage, biostatistics, and the coordination of large, multi-site research studies. Her research focuses on using clinical, genomic, and population data to better understand the causes of cerebral palsy (CP) and improve pathways to diagnosis and care.
 
Jesia is Project Manager for the national MRFF-funded study Genomic testing pathways for precision medicine in cerebral palsy, which is implementing genomic testing pathways for people with CP across South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia. The study is recruiting 500 families and integrates genomic testing with detailed clinical and neuroimaging data to investigate predictors of genetic aetiology and evaluate the clinical value of genomic diagnosis. Families recruited through the study contribute to the Australian Cerebral Palsy Biobank (ACPB), a nationally significant resource comprising over 700 families.
 
Jesia has extensive experience analysing large health and administrative datasets, including linked data, and national health surveys. She has contributed to research spanning vaccine safety, patient safety, injury epidemiology, and child health and development. Jesia completed a Master of Public Health in 2008 and a PhD in 2013. Her PhD, Postmarketing Vaccine Safety Surveillance Using Data Linkage: The Issue of Consent, formed part of the Australian Research Council-funded Vaccine Assessment Using Linked Data (VALiD) project and examined methodological and consent issues in population-based vaccine safety surveillance.

Date Position Institution name
2023 - ongoing Project Manager University of Adelaide
2016 - 2023 Data Manager Robinson Research Institute
2012 - 2014 Postdoctoral Researcher School of Public Health
2009 - 2012 Casual tutor, Introduction to Biostatistics (2012), Biostatistics II (2011-2012), Public Health 1A & 1B (2009-2012) The University of Adelaide
2004 - 2008 Research Associate Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) National Injury Surveillance Unit (NISU)
2004 - 2008 Casual tutor and lecturer, Epidemiology & Biostatistics (2004-2008), online course coordinator for Master of Clinical Rehabilitation (2007-2008) Flinders University
2001 - 2003 Project Officer Clinical Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Unit
1996 - 2000 Research Assistant Centre for Pharmaceutical Research

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2020 Achievement University of Adelaide Vice Chancellor’s Team Prize for Excellence in Research 2020 The University of Adelaide Australia -
2013 Distinction Dean’s commendation for doctoral thesis excellence The University of Adelaide Australia -
2012 Award Best PhD in 2012 in the School of Public Health The University of Adelaide - -
2011 Scholarship Student travel bursary Australasian Epidemiology Association (AEA) Australia -
1996 Research Award RF Whelan Prize - - -

Date Institution name Country Title
2009 - 2012 The University of Adelaide Australia PhD
2007 - 2008 The University of Adelaide Australia MPH
1992 - 1996 The University of Adelaide Australia BHSc(Hons)

Date Title Institution Country
2025 - 2025 PYTHON203: Data Manipulation and Visualisation in Python Intersect Australia
2025 - 2025 PYTHON101: Learn to Program: Python Intersect Australia
2019 - 2019 Short course in 'Mediation Analysis using Potential Outcome Framework' The University of Adelaide Australia
2008 - 2008 Introductory & Advanced Analysis of Linked Health Data University of Western Australia Singapore

Year Citation
2026 Thomas, J. T., Berry, A. S. F., Oetjens, M. T., Berry, J. G., MacLennan, A. H., Gordon, S. D., . . . Corbett, M. A. (2026). Testing the performance of polygenic scores for multiple traits to explain cerebral palsy in two independent cohorts. EBioMedicine, 126, 106208-1-106208-13.
DOI
2025 Berry, J. G., Taranath, A., Goetti, R., Farrar, M. A., Fiori, S., Pham, H. -D., . . . van Eyk, C. L. (2025). Genetic diagnostic yield by MRI pattern in children with cerebral palsy: a population-based study.. EBioMedicine, 122, 106013.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2023 van Eyk, C., Berry, J., & Gecz, J. (2023). Genetic diagnosis enabling precision medicine for cerebral palsy. INSPIRE Magazine, (030), 30-31.
2021 Gecz, J., & Berry, J. G. (2021). Cerebral palsy with autism and ADHD: time to pay attention. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 63(3), 247-248.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2021 Jin, S. C., Lewis, S. A., Bakhtiari, S., Zeng, X., Sierant, M. C., Shetty, S., . . . Kruer, M. C. (2021). Author Correction: Mutations disrupting neuritogenesis genes confer risk for cerebral palsy.. Nat Genet, 53(3), 412.
DOI Scopus2 WoS1 Europe PMC1
2021 van Eyk, C. L., Webber, D. L., Minoche, A. E., Pérez-Jurado, L. A., Corbett, M. A., Gardner, A. E., . . . Gecz, J. (2021). Yield of clinically reportable genetic variants in unselected cerebral palsy by whole genome sequencing. npj Genomic Medicine, 6(1), 74-1-74-11.
DOI Scopus43 WoS39 Europe PMC39
2021 Richard, E. M., Bakhtiari, S., Marsh, A. P. L., Kaiyrzhanov, R., Wagner, M., Shetty, S., . . . Kruer, M. C. (2021). Bi-allelic variants in SPATA5L1 lead to intellectual disability, spastic-dystonic cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and hearing loss. American Journal of Human Genetics, 108(10), 2006-2016.
DOI Scopus23 WoS19 Europe PMC26
2020 Pham, R., Mol, B. W., Gecz, J., MacLennan, A. H., MacLennan, S. C., Corbett, M. A., . . . Berry, J. G. (2020). Definition and diagnosis of cerebral palsy in genetic studies: a systematic review. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 62(9), 1024-1030.
DOI Scopus47 WoS41 Europe PMC39
2020 Jin, S. C., Lewis, S. A., Bakhtiari, S., Zeng, X., Sierant, M. C., Shetty, S., . . . Kruer, M. C. (2020). Mutations disrupting neuritogenesis genes confer risk for cerebral palsy. Nature Genetics, 52(10), 1046-1056.
DOI Scopus164 WoS143 Europe PMC135
2019 Duszynski, K. M., Pratt, N. L., Lynch, J. W., Berry, J. G., & Gold, M. S. (2019). Use of different combination diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccines does not increase risk of 30-day infant mortality. A population-based linkage cohort study using administrative data from the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and the National Death Index. Vaccine, 37(2), 280-288.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC3
2019 Corbett, M. A., van Eyk, C. L., Webber, D. L., Bent, S. J., Newman, M., Harper, K., . . . Gecz, J. (2019). Author Correction: Pathogenic copy number variants that affect gene expression contribute to genomic burden in cerebral palsy (npj Genomic Medicine, (2018), 3, 1, (33), 10.1038/s41525-018-0073-4). Npj Genomic Medicine, 4(1), 1 page.
DOI WoS2 Europe PMC3
2019 Duszynski, K. M., Pratt, N. L., Lynch, J. W., Braunack-Mayer, A., Taylor, L. K., Berry, J. G., . . . Gold, M. S. (2019). Process trumps potential public good: better vaccine safety through linked cross-jurisdictional immunisation data in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43(5), 496-503.
DOI Scopus11 WoS10 Europe PMC8
2019 van Eyk, C. L., Corbett, M. A., Frank, M. S. B., Webber, D. L., Newman, M., Berry, J. G., . . . Gecz, J. (2019). Targeted resequencing identifies genes with recurrent variation in cerebral palsy. npj Genomic Medicine, 4(1), 27-1-27-11.
DOI Scopus35 WoS30 Europe PMC32
2018 Corbett, M. A., van Eyk, C. L., Webber, D. L., Bent, S. J., Newman, M., Harper, K., . . . Gecz, J. (2018). Pathogenic copy number variants that affect gene expression contribute to genomic burden in cerebral palsy. npj Genomic Medicine, 3(1), 33-1-33-9.
DOI Scopus46 WoS40 Europe PMC35
2016 Gialamas, A., Pilkington, R., Berry, J., Scalzi, D., Gibson, O., Brown, A., & Lynch, J. (2016). Identification of Aboriginal children using linked administrative data: consequences for measuring inequalities. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 52(5), 534-540.
DOI Scopus22 WoS21 Europe PMC19
2013 Berry, J., Ryan, P., Duszynski, K., Braunack-Mayer, A., Carlson, J., Xafis, V., & Gold, M. (2013). Parent perspectives on consent for the linkage of data to evaluate vaccine safety: A randomised trial of opt-in and opt-out consent. Clinical Trials, 10(3), 483-494.
DOI Scopus14 WoS13 Europe PMC11
2012 Berry, J., Ryan, P., Gold, M., Braunack-Mayer, A., & Duszynski, K. (2012). A randomised controlled trial to compare opt-in and opt-out parental consent for childhood vaccine safety surveillance using data linkage. Journal of Medical Ethics, 38(10), 619-625.
DOI Scopus22 WoS23 Europe PMC21
2012 Harrison, J., Berry, J., & Jamieson, L. (2012). Head and traumatic brain injuries among Australian youth and young adults, July 2000-June 2006. Brain Injury, 26(7-8), 996-1004.
DOI Scopus16 WoS16 Europe PMC11
2012 Berry, J., Gold, M., Ryan, P., Duszynski, K., & Braunack-Mayer, A. (2012). Public perspectives on consent for the linkage of data to evaluate vaccine safety. Vaccine, 30(28), 4167-4174.
DOI Scopus11 WoS10 Europe PMC7
2011 Berry, J., Ryan, P., Braunack-Mayer, A., Duszynski, K., Xafis, V., & Gold, M. (2011). A randomised controlled trial to compare opt-in and opt-out parental consent for childhood vaccine safety surveillance using data linkage: study protocol. Trials, 12(1), 1-10.
DOI Scopus12 WoS14 Europe PMC18
2010 Berry, J., Jamieson, L., & Harrison, J. (2010). Head and traumatic brain injuries among Australian children, July 2000-June 2006. Injury Prevention, 16(3), 198-202.
DOI Scopus20 WoS15 Europe PMC15
2009 Berry, J., Harrison, J., & Ryan, P. (2009). Hospital admissions of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians due to interpersonal violence, July 1999 to June 2004. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 33(3), 215-222.
DOI Scopus25 WoS20 Europe PMC12
2008 Roche, A., Pidd, K., Berry, J., & Harrison, J. (2008). Workers' drinking patterns: the impact of absenteeism in the Australian workplace. Addiction, 103(5), 738-748.
DOI Scopus82 WoS71 Europe PMC51
2008 Jamieson, L., Harrison, J., & Berry, J. (2008). Hospitalisation for head injury due to assault among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, July 1999 - June 2005. Medical Journal of Australia, 188(10), 576-579.
DOI Scopus58 WoS56 Europe PMC39
2007 Berry, J., Pidd, K., Roche, A., & Harrison, J. (2007). Prevalence and patterns of alcohol use in the Australian workforce: findings from the 2001 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Addiction, 102(9), 1399-1410.
DOI Scopus75 WoS69 Europe PMC42
2006 Evans, S., Berry, J., Smith, B., & Esterman, A. (2006). Consumer perceptions of safety in hospitals. BMC Public Health, 6(1), 41-48.
DOI Scopus36 WoS32 Europe PMC25
2006 Evans, S., Berry, J., Smith, B., Esterman, A., Selim, P., O'Shaughnessy, L., & DeWitt, D. (2006). Attitudes and barriers to incident reporting: a collaborative hospital study. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 15(1), 39-43.
DOI Scopus506 WoS434 Europe PMC358
2006 Pidd, K., Berry, J. G., Roche, A. M., & Harrison, J. E. (2006). Estimating the cost of alcohol-related absenteeism in the Australian workforce: the importance of consumption patterns. Medical Journal of Australia, 185(11-12), 637-641.
DOI Scopus46 WoS38 Europe PMC30
2006 Berry, J. G., Harrison, J. E., Yeo, J. D., Cripps, R. A., & Stephenson, S. (2006). Cervical spinal cord injury in rugby union and rugby league: are incidence rates declining in New South Wales?. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 30(3), 268-274.
DOI Scopus23 WoS19 Europe PMC16
2005 Berry, J. G., Harrison, J. E., Cripps, R. A., & Marshall, R. (2005). Spinal cord injury register for football: already tackled?. Medical Journal of Australia, 183(10), 550.
DOI
2004 Kingston, M., Evans, S., Smith, B., & Berry, J. (2004). Attitudes of doctors and nurses towards incident reporting: a qualitative analysis. Medical Journal of Australia, 181(1), 36-39.
DOI Scopus249 WoS224 Europe PMC171
2004 Evans, S., Berry, J., Smith, B., & Esterman, A. (2004). Anonymity or transparency in reporting of medial error: a community-based survey in South Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 180(11), 577-580.
DOI Scopus27 WoS20 Europe PMC11
2004 Smith, B. J., Laslett, L. L., Pile, K. D., Phillips, P. J., Phillipov, G., Evans, S. M., . . . Berry, J. G. (2004). Randomized controlled trial of alendronate in airways disease and low bone mineral density. Chronic Respiratory Disease, 1(3), 131-137.
DOI Scopus39 Europe PMC25

Year Citation
2022 van Eyk, C. L., Webber, D. L., Minoche, A., Perez-Jurado, L., Corbett, M., Gardner, A., . . . Gecz, J. (2022). Yield of clinically reportable genetic variants in cerebral palsy by whole genome sequencing. In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS Vol. 30 (pp. 59). SPRINGERNATURE.

2026-2029. Patient-derived cellular models of white matter injury in cerebral palsy. CIs: van Eyk C, Rowitch D; AIs: Gecz, J, Corbett MC, Berry JG,  Jolly L, Fripp J, Pagnozzi A. NHMRC Ideas Grant: $1,496,610. 

2023-2027. CIA-CIO; Gecz, J, van Eyk C, Fahey M, Novak I, Morgan C, Boyd R, Dale, R, Rice J, Poulton C, McIntyre S, Garrirty M, Comans T, Valentine J, Badawi N, Friend K. AIs: Sadikovic B, Baynam G, Scott H, Corbett M, Tantsis E, Berry J, Wilson Y, Amor D, Hardy T, Kassahn K. 2022 MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission, Stream 1: Genomic testing pathways for precision health in cerebral palsy: $2,956,614.23

2022-2024. Novel linkage to study cerebral palsy, chronic conditions, and developmental delays at school age. CIs: Berry JG, Rice J, Gibson C, Mittinty M, Gecz J, Lynch J. Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation Fellowship: $98,678. 

2021-2023 Berry JG, van Eyk CL, Gibson CS, Pilkington R, Corbett MA, Rice JE, Mittinty MN, Gecz J, MacLennan AH, Lynch JW. Novel linkage to study childhood disability and the genetic and non-genetic causes of cerebral palsy. Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation project grant: $96,480.

2019 Wilson Y, McIntyre S, Gecz J, Baynam G, Corbett M, Gunnewig B, Berry J, Harper K. Using a sibling design approach to investigate genomics of CP and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) Research Foundation project grant: $75,610.

2006 Evans SM, Berry JG, Smith BJ. Incident Reporting to Improve Systems (IRIS) project South Australian Hospitals Safety and Quality Council: $400,000.

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor A project investigating the role of genetics in cerebral palsy patients with comparison to MRI scans The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Honours in the School of Public Health Honours Full Time Huy-Dat Pham
2018 - 2018 Co-Supervisor The role of genetic variants in cerebral palsy: A systematic review University of Adelaide Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Honours) Honours Full Time Ryan Pham

Date Role Membership Country
2023 - ongoing Member Genomics Research Coordinator Network (formerly Australian Genomics Coordination Network) Australia
2003 - 2014 Member Public Health Association of Australia Australia
2003 - ongoing Member Australasian Epidemiological Association Australia

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