Jesse Kennedy

Jesse Kennedy

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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.

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.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2023 - ongoing MBS Practical Demonstrating University of Adelaide

  • Awards and Achievements
    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 Competencies
    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2019 - 2021 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Advanced)

  • 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 Outcomes

  • Preprint
    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

  • Memberships
    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

  • Presentation
    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
Connect With Me
External Profiles