Research Interests
Gene and Molecular Therapy Genetically Modified Animals Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Medical Molecular Engineering of Nucleic Acids and Proteins Innovative Therapeutics Biochemistry and Cell Biology Biomedical Engineering Medical and Health Sciences Medical Genetics Translational Health OutcomesMiss Jesse Kennedy
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science
College of Health
Jesse is a PhD candidate at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), working under the supervision of Professor Paul Thomas, Dr. Fatwa Adikusuma and Professor Robert Casson, in the Gene Editing Lab. The primary focus of her research is to improve a CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, termed Prime Integrase, for programmable and efficient whole-gene sized DNA insertions. This would benefit a wide array of applications including fluorescent tagging of endogenous DNA sequences and genetic therapeutics, amongst many others.
Current project: Taking aim at targeted, “whole-gene” insertion: a CRISPR Prime Editing and BxbI Integrase duet
The ability to efficiently insert whole-gene sized DNA fragments at specific loci has been a long-standing but elusive goal of molecular biology. Jesse’s work primarily focuses on optimising and improving Prime Integrase - a technology that may bring this vision to light. This approach couples CRISPR/Cas9 Prime Editing to specifically insert a landing pad site. This is then recognised by BxbI integrase to insert the large DNA fragment of interest.
Through Jesse’s research she aims to explore further optimisations to the Prime Editing step. In addition, she is developing a novel assay for quantifying Prime Integrase whole-gene insertion via fluorescent outputs. Together, this work aspires to make targeted, large DNA insertion more efficient - an invaluable tool for the genome editor, with many exciting applications both for scientific discovery and medical research.
Current members of the Gene Editing Lab (2022): Jesse Kennedy, Ashleigh Geiger, Sandra Piltz, Dr Gelshan Godahewa, Melissa White, Dr Mark Bunting, Jayshen Arudkumar, Dr Fatwa Adikusuma, Michaela Scherer, Joshua Chey, Luke Gierus, Caleb Lushington, Dr Stefka Tasheva (absent), Professor Paul Thomas, Suraiya Onnesha and Lachlan Staker.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 - ongoing | MBS Practical Demonstrating | University of Adelaide |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Award | Adelaide Protein Group (APG) UniSA Poster Prize | APG and UniSA | Australia | - |
| 2024 | Award | ASBMB Student Bursary Award | ASBMB | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | SAHMRI Research Showcase Poster Prize | SAHMRI | Australia | - |
| 2022 | Scholarship | Master of Philosophy (No Honours) Scholarship | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2021 | Award | Outstanding Academic Achievement | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2021 | Award | School of Biological Sciences Level III Biochemistry Prize | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2021 | Award | School of Biological Sciences Level III Prize in Microbiology and Immunology | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2020 | Scholarship | Summer Research Scholarship | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2020 | Award | Outstanding Academic Achievement | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2020 | Award | School of Biological Sciences Level II Biochemistry Prize | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2020 | Award | School of Biological Sciences Level II Microbiology and Immunology Prize | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2020 | Award | Sir Ronald Fisher Prize for Genetics II | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2019 | Award | Outstanding Academic Achievement | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2019 | Scholarship | The University of Adelaide Principals' Scholarship | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2019 | Scholarship | The University of Adelaide Undergraduate Scholarship | The University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2021 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Bachelor of Science (Advanced) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Chey, Y., Gierus, L., Lushington, C., Arudkumar, J., Geiger, A., Staker, L., . . . Adikusuma, F. (2024). Enhancing gRNA Transcript levels by Reducing the Scaffold Poly-T Tract for Optimal SpCas9- and SaCas9-mediated Gene Editing. DOI |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - ongoing | Member | Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Member | Genetics Society of Australia (GSA) | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Member | Australia and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology (ANZSCDB) | Australia |
| 2020 - ongoing | Member | Golden Key International Honour Society | Australia |
| Date | Topic | Presented at | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - ongoing | Oral Presentation | Biomolecular Horizons 2024 | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2024 - ongoing | Poster Presentation | Adelaide Protein Group Awards Fest | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Oral Presentation | International Congress of Genetics (ICG) | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Poster Presentation | Florey Postgraduate Research Conference | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Oral Presentation | Australian and New Zealand Society for Cell and Developmental Biology (ANZSCDB) Adelaide meeting | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Poster Presentation | SAHMRI Research Showcase | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
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