Jozef Gecz

Professor Jozef Gecz

Head Neurogenetics

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

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


Jozef Gecz is Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Adelaide.

He is the founding head of the Neurogenetics Research Program located at the Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, at the University of Adelaide. The broad research aim of his group is to further understanding of brain function through the identification and characterisation of genes with naturally occurring mutations in patients with intellectual disability, autism, some, primarily monogenic, forms of epilepsy and cerebral palsy. His team discovered or contributed to the discovery of more than 350 different disease genes (e.g. AFF2, ARX, PHF6, CDKL5, PCDH19, TBC1D24, GOSR2, UPF3B, HCFC1, IQSEC2, RNF113A, STAG2, USP9X, THOC2, GPKOW, RLIM or ZSWIM6). Many of these genes pointed to new and unexpected biological pathways essential for normal brain development and function (e.g. non-sense mediated mRNA decay, NMD or transcription mRNA export complex, TREX). The current focus of his research is in the functional interpretation of genetic variation, coding and non-coding, identified with next generation genomic technologies, using various cell and molecular biology tools, including patient cell (and stem cell) and mouse models.

Prof Gecz is a basic scientist who has built his career at the interface between fundamental ‘breakthrough’ science and health care delivery, i.e. in medical schools and hospitals. His seminal discoveries are primarily in disease gene discovery (>350 disease genes identified) and understanding of their function with the aim of improved diagnosis and management plus development of mechanism based therapies.

Gene discovery in Intellectual disability (ID): Prof Gecz identified the first gene for non-syndromic ID, the FMR2 (or AFF2) gene in 1996 (Nature Genetics), which he followed with 12 other publications on the role of AFF2. AFF2 is the most frequently mutated gene in mild to borderline ID. Many other major ID gene discoveries followed, including ARX (Nature Genetics, 2002 and 27 other articles), PHF6 (Nature Genetics, 2002 and 8 other articles), UPF3B (Nature Genetics 2007 and 9 other articles), IQSEC2 (Nature Genetics 2010 and 2 other articles), HCFC1 (Am J Human Genet 2012), THOC2 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26166480/ and 3 other articles), USP9X (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24607389/ 2014 and 7 other publications), or ZSWIM6 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29198722/ in 2017).  

Gene discovery in Epilepsy: Prof Gecz began working on the genetics of epilepsy per se in 1994 as a postdoc in the laboratory of Profs John Mulley and Grant Sutherland in Adelaide and where the first epilepsy genes were discovered since 1995. His focus has been primarily on the X-chromosome and non-ion channel epilepsy gene identification. Among his seminal epilepsy gene discoveries are CDKL5 (Am J Human Genet 2004 and 6 other publications); PCDH19 (Nature Genetics 2008 and 2 other publications); TBC1D24 (Am J Human Genet 2010 and 3 other publications), which has now also been found in DOORS syndrome (Deafness-sensorineural, Onycho/Osteodystrophy and Seizures) and non-syndromic deafness; GOSR2 (Am J Human Genet 2011) and most recently USP9X, a doublecortin interacting protein (Plos One 2013 and Am J Human Genet 2013). Prof Gecz’s group was the first one to implement massively parallel sequencing to epilepsy gene discovery, which yielded, in addition to TBC1D24 (2010) and GOSR2 (2011) also other major epilepsy genes, i.e. PRRT2 (Am J Human Genet 2012), KCNT1 and DEPDC5 (Am J Human Genet 2012, Nature Genetics, 2013; Annals Neurology 2014).

PCDH19 Neuronal rosettes, Clare Homan

Gene discovery in Cerebral palsy (CP): CP is co-morbid with epilepsy, intellectual disability and speech and language disorders. Prof Gecz has engaged in gene discovery in CP since 2012. CP is a disorder thought to be primarily due to environmental risk factors including perinatal trauma, prematurity, asphyxia or injury. He directed the first, large whole exome sequencing study of 183 CP patients and their parents (500 exomes) with Prof Alastair MacLennan and colleagues from Baylor COllege of Medicine, Houston USA (Prof Richard Gibbs and his team). This study (Mol Psych 2015 showed that at least 14% of individuals had genetic etiology of their CP. This was a major paradigm shift in the field with broad implications for medicine. More recent studies of Prof Gecz demonstrate the extensive genetic etiology of unselected CP to the extent of 30-33% (Nat Rev Neurol 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37537278/ or Npj Gen Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34531397/ ).

CP and NDD gene discover, Clare van Eyk NRN 2023

Unusual Genetic Mechanisms: Prof Gecz has a major interest in unusual genetic mechanisms of disease, including fragile sites.  He discovered three fragile sites and five fragile site-associated genes (FMR2, FMR3, FRA10AC1, FAM11A or AFF3). He identified the gene for X-linked spondyloepiphyseal disaplasia tarda, SEDL (Nature Genetics 1999), discovery of which was featured in the 2001 International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium Nature paper as an example of how the availability of the human genome sequence would speed up human disease gene discovery (it took 3 months to progress from disease mapping to gene identification).

From gene discovery to gene function and therapy: Prof Gecz’s gene discovery work (and the makeup of his research group) has been increasingly and purposefully complemented with more in depth cellular and molecular biology functional studies and animal models. He has embarked on the application of stem cell technologies (mouse embryonic stem cells; adult neuronal stem cells, human iPS cells) to enhance understanding and modeling of human neurological disease. Successes in this area include expression studies suggesting HCFC1 is a potent regulator of embryonic neuronal development (Hum Mol Genet 2015), investigation of UPF3B-dependent nonsense mediated mRNA decay showing UPF3B regulates neural progenitor cell behaviour and neuronal outgrowth (Human Mol Genet 2013), using a conditional knockout mouse model to show USP9X plays an important role in cortical architecture (Plos One 2013). In collaboratiuon with Prof Paul Thomas they generated and characterised first mouse models of PCDH19 clustering epilepsy (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27240640/ in Scientific Reports 2016 and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29301106/ in Neuron 2018), PHF6 mouse model of BFLS syndrome with Prof Anne Voss and Tim Thomas from WEHI (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30755422/ in Blood 2018 or https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32994169/ in Development 2020 or https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39405291/ in Plos Genetics 2024), or the first THOC2 animal model (Nat Communications 2024: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38331934/ ).

 Molecular mechanism of THOC2 mutations.

Armed with this greater understanding of the functionality of disease genes, Prof Gecz is developing pre-clinical novel therapeutic treatments. Gecz’s work on TIMMDC1 has demonstrated that antisense oligonucleotides can restore function in vitro (NpjGenMed 2022 7:9). Other example is deficiency of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone contribution to PCDH19-clustering epilepsy (Hum Mol Genet 2015 24:5250-9, Epilepsia 2017 58:e91-95) and subsequent neurosteroid hormone replacement clinical trial (Mol Psychiatry 2015 20:176-82).

Image of iPS cell derived neurons.

Enabling and External Collaborations: Prof Gecz has been instrumental in establishing and contributing to a number of major international consortia to facilitate research and translation. These include the International Genetics of Learning Disability Consortium (IGOLD, with Prof Sir Michael Stratton, Director Welcome Trust Sanger Institute) and the EURO MRX Consortium to identify X-linked ID genes (with Prof Hilger Ropers). Locally, Prof Gecz established the Neurogenetics Research Program at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and The University of Adelaide in 2002 and has made significant contributions to the Genetics of Learning Disabilities services in South Australia and NSW. Since 2011 he is a major driver in gene discovery in Cerebral Palsy (CP group in South Australia with Prof. A MacLennan) and internationally (Prof. R Gibbs at Baylor College of Medicine). In 2014, Gecz established (alongside Prof. A MacLennan) the Australian Cerebral Palsy Biobank, which he now co-leads alongside Dr C van Eyk). The Australian Cerebral Palsy Biobank has genomic and clinical metadata from over 650 families and supports multiple national and international collaborations and major research efforts (e.g. MRFF GHFM CP Genomics grant 2024-27). Prof. Gecz is also a member of the ASID (Autism Spectrum/Intellectual Disability network) established in 2014 and led by Prof E Eichler (Uni Washington, Seattle, USA). In 2017 Profs Gecz and MacLennan founded the International Cerebral Palsy Genomics Consortium (ICPGC) in Adelaide (https://icpgc.org/ 2017) which continues to be the major international body advocating for genomiucs of CP for better and precision health.

ICPGC timeline as of December 2023.

Prof Gecz’s research laboratory is strategically located within the Adelaide Biomedical Precinct, in immediate proximity to the Royal Adelaide Hospital's and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital's Diagnostic Molecular Genetics, Diagnostic Cytogenetics, Clinical Genetics (SA Pathology), Neurology and Pediatric departments. His research into genetics of human childhood neurological disorders is rapidly translated to improved patient care via provision of diagnostic genetic analysis reports (50-100 reports annually), expert advice regarding cytogenetic and molecular genetics enquiries or technology transfer from the research domain to use in clinical practice (e.g. arrayCGH in 2007 and since 2010 massively parallel sequencing for targeted and whole exome or genome sequencing or long read sequencing since 2018).

Prof Gecz sees the big picture challenges of his research as being i) a deeper understanding of the genetics and biology of neurological disorders (epilepsy, ID, autism and CP) and ii) the efficient and timely translation of research results to facilitate improved outcomes for those affected by these conditions. He is a passionate advocate of medical research and its importance in the future of our society, for our health, education and our economy.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2024 - ongoing Genomics Research Leader at the Robinson Research Institute University of Adelaide
    2019 - 2023 Senior Principal Research Fellow NHMRC
    2017 - 2020 Associate Editor American Journal of Human Genetics American Society of Human Genetics
    2017 - ongoing Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, AAS, May 2017-present Australian Academy of Science
    2016 - ongoing Non-executive Director Telethon Kids Institute
    2016 - ongoing Nox-executive director, Board Member Telethon Kids Institute
    2016 - 2020 Chair in the Prevention of Childhood Disability The University of Adelaide
    2015 - ongoing Fellow Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
    2014 - ongoing Co-Lead of The Australian Cerebral Palsy Biobank University of Adelaide
    2010 - ongoing Founding Fellow of the RCPA Faculty of Science (FFSc(RCPA)) Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
    2009 - ongoing Professor of Human Genetics The University of Adelaide
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2024 Award 2024 Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence The Clive & Vera Ramaciotti Foundation Australia -
    2019 Award 2019 South Australian Scientist of the Year Award SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards: Department of State Development Australia -
    2018 Award CURE Innovator Award CURE Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy United States -
  • Language Competencies

    Language Competency
    Czech Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    French Can read, speak and understand spoken
    Russian Can read, write and understand spoken
    Slovak Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    1993 Slovak Academy of Sciences Slovakia PhD
    1986 Comenius University in Bratislava Slovakia RNDr
    1986 Comenius University in Bratislava Slovakia Hons
  • Postgraduate Training

    Date Title Institution Country
    1991 - 1993 PhD INSERM France
  • Research Interests

Current Competitive Research Funding

Internationally Competitive Schemes

ID Start date End date Current? Investigators Funding scheme Title Total Awarded Amount amount (AUD)
417859 2/1/18 31/12/21 Yes MacLennan A, Gecz J, Corbett M, van Eyk C, Breen J, Barnett C, MacLennan S, Rice J, Russo R ORG3921: Cerebral Palsy Foundation Research Grant The genetic origins of cerebral palsy $900,000.00
469479 1/5/19 30/4/21 Yes van Eyk C, Gecz J, MacLennan A, Perez-Jurado L, Leventer R, Corbett M ORG121941: Research Foundation for Cerebral Palsy Alliance - Research Project Grant Uncovering the contribution of genetic mosaicism to cerebral palsy causation $140,000.00
417213 25/4/16 24/4/21 Yes Gecz J FND000039: Channel 7 CRF - Chair in Prevention of Childhood Disability Chair in the Prevention of Childhood Disability $1,625,000.00
476329 1/2/19 18/12/20 Yes Wilson Y, McIntyre S, Gecz J, Baynam G, Corbett M, Gunnewig B, Berry J, Harper K Cerebral Palsy Alliance (CPA) Research Foundation Using a sibling design approach to investigate genomics of CP and other neurodevelopmental disorders $75,610.00
434289 1/10/18 30/9/19 Yes Gecz J FND000473: CURE - Grant Exploring cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from post seizure liquid biopsies. $66,768.00

Nationally Competitive Schemes

ID Start date End date Current? Investigators Funding scheme Title Total Awarded Amount amount (AUD)
434045 1/1/19 31/12/23 Yes Gecz J 51301003: NHMRC - Research Fellowships Genetics and Biology of Neurodevelopmental Disability. $963,270.00
450500 1/1/19 31/12/22 Yes Gecz J, Sharma R, Thomas P, Baune B, Palmer E, Ule J, Jolly L, Corbett M, Field M 51301001: NHMRC - Project Grants TREX nuclear mRNA export and healthy development. $870,024.00
417425 1/11/16 31/10/21 Yes Roscioli T, Gecz J, Field M, Schofield D, Buckley M, North K, Dinger M, Christodoulou J, Amor D, , Boddy A, Colley A, Schenck A, Barnett C, Goodnow C, Dudding T, Groza T, Mowat D, McGaughran J, Caulfield M 51301007: NHMRC - Centres of Research Excellence 1117394 - Transforming the Diagnosis and Management of Severe Neurocognitive Disorders through Genomics $199,197.00
408482 1/1/16 31/12/20 Yes Gecz J, Berkovic S, Jackson G, Connelly A, Scheffer I, O'Brien T, Petrou S, Calamante F, Reid C 51301002: NHMRC - Program Grants 1091593 - Human epilepsy: Understanding biology to improve outcomes $1,784,872.00
417149 11/8/17 11/8/20 Yes Gecz J, Sharma R, Jolly L 51715001: ARC - Discovery Projects TREX-mediated nuclear mRNA export in neuronal differentiation and function $234,000.00
417107 1/1/17 31/12/19 Yes Thomas P, Heng J, Honig B, Gecz J, Petrou S 51301001: NHMRC - Project Grants 1129679 - Identifying the pathological mechanism of PDCH19-Girls Clustering Epilepsy $523,988.00
416785 1/1/16 31/12/19 Yes MacLennan A, van Eyk C, Corbett M, Newman M, Barnett C, Gecz J, Geschwind D, Kruer M, Lardelli M, Russo R, MacLennan S, Bent S, Smith N, Broadbent J 51301001: NHMRC - Project Grants 1099163 - Genetic pathways to cerebral palsy $1,314,158.00

 

Completed Funding Schemes

ID Start date End date Current? Investigators Funding scheme Title Total Awarded Amount amount (AUD)
417332 1/3/17 28/2/19 No Gecz J, Craig J, MacLennan A, van Eyk C, Corbett M ORG121941: Research Foundation for Cerebral Palsy Alliance - Research Project Grant Multi-omics investigations of cerebral palsy causation in discordant monozygotic twins and singletons $261,442.00
415706 1/3/13 28/2/19 No Gecz J 51301003: NHMRC - Research Fellowships 1041920 - Genetics and Biology of Neurological Disorders $883,375.00
416046 1/3/14 31/3/18 No MacLennan A, Gecz J, MacLennan S, Haan E, Adelson D, Russo R, Goldwater P, Priest K, O'Callaghan M, Khong T ORG3921: Cerebral Palsy Foundation Research Grant IRG 3313 Infrastructure grant for the Australian Collaborative Cerebral Palsy research group to facilitate research into the genomics of cerebral palsey $800,000.00
416527 1/1/16 31/12/17 No Pham D, Gecz J, Sharma R 1010G: WCH Foundation Research Grant Genotype phenotype investigations in PCDH19-Female Epilepsy (PCHDH19-FE) $74,920.00
416528 1/1/16 31/12/17 No Corbett M, Sharma R, Gecz J 1010G: WCH Foundation Research Grant Deciphering the non-coding code: Finding the genetic basis for neurological disorders in large, well-studied families $75,000.00
416214 1/1/14 31/3/17 No Gecz J, Jolly L, Wilkinson M, Bardoni B, Voineagu I, Verma P, Barry S 51301001: NHMRC - Project Grants 1063808 - The role of UPF3B and nonsense mediated mRNA decay surveillance in the pathology of intellectual disability $763,953.00
416197 1/1/14 31/3/17 No Shoubridge C, Friocourt G, Gecz J 51301001: NHMRC - Project Grants 1063025 - Investigating the role of mutations in the ARX homeobox transcription factor contributing to intellectual disability $576,174.00
414827 1/1/15 31/12/16 No Jolly L, Gecz J, Whitelaw M, Bersten D 900321: Channel 7 CRF - Research Grant Identifying pathological mechanisms underlying intellectual disability $75,000.00
417035 1/9/15 31/8/16 No Thomas P, Gecz J ORG120981: PCDH19 Alliance Research Grant In vivo investigation of the cellular interference model using unique Pcdh19 mouse models and brain tissue from a PCDH19-GCE affected female $52,134.00
415926 1/1/11 31/12/15 No Gecz J, Thomas P 51301002: NHMRC - Program Grants 628952 - Neurobiology of Human Epilepsy: Genes, cellular mechanisms, networks and whole brain $3,520,180.00
411761 1/1/11 28/2/14 No Gecz J, Ropers H, Becker T, Haan E 51301001: NHMRC - Project Grants Identification of genes for X-linked mental retardation $653,390.00
410043 1/1/13 31/12/13 No Jolly L, Gecz J, Barry S 1010G: WCH Foundation Research Grant Molecular pathology of HCFC1, a novel modifier of embryonic neural cell behaviour involved in intellectual disability $75,000.00
415941 1/1/13 31/12/13 No Shoubridge C, Gecz J 51301006: NHMRC - Equipment Grants Axio Vent Flourescent Phase Contrast Microscope STOPNE PLUS 96WELL RT PCR SYSTEM with laprop and other laboratory equipment $165,029.00
415406 1/1/12 31/12/12 No McMichael G, Gecz J, Haan E, MacLennan A ORG102991: WCH Foundation - Project Grant The genetic determinants of cerebral palsy.  Gene discovery in familial and isolated cases of cerebral palsy using massively parallel sequencing $49,913.00
413280 1/1/08 31/12/12 No Gecz J 51301003: NHMRC - Research Fellowships NHMRC Senior research Fellowship Level B - A/Prof J Gecz $651,250.00
413057 1/1/06 31/12/10 No Berkovic S, Jackson G, Mulley J, Reutens D, Petrou S, Scheffer I, Gecz J, Connelly A, Briellmann R 51301002: NHMRC - Program Grants Epilepsy: Molecular basis and mechanisms in the era of functional genomics (administered by the University of Melbourne) $11,361,890.00
413123 1/1/07 31/12/09 No Gecz J, Thomas P, Geschwind D, Schwartz C, Brooks D 51301001: NHMRC - Project Grants Investigating the role of the UPF3B gene and nonsense mediated RNA decay (NMD) process in mental retardation $551,500.00
413961 17/12/07 17/11/08 No Mulley J, Gecz J, Shoubridge C, Dibbens L, Friend K, Bain S 51301006: NHMRC - Equipment Grants Tomy seiko portable autoclave (part #SX-300E) and tomy stainless basket (part #ACA-315B) $11,571.00
413949 17/12/07 17/11/08 No Ferrante A, Hii J, Gecz J, Barry S 51301006: NHMRC - Equipment Grants Maxwell 16 integrated DNA processing platform, std elution volume hardware, low elution hardware and 2 extraction kits $19,094.00
410819 1/3/03 28/2/08 No Gecz J 51301003: NHMRC - Research Fellowships NHMRC Research Fellowship - Dr J Gecz $548,750.00
412606 1/1/04 31/12/06 No Gecz J 51301001: NHMRC - Project Grants Identification and characterisation of novel genes for congenital cataract $90,000.00
410277 1/1/02 31/12/06 No Sutherland G, Callen D, Mulley J, Gecz J, Wallace R, Kremmidiotis G 51301002: NHMRC - Program Grants Understanding the human genome: molecular mechanisms of genetic disease (WCH Portion) $6,067,760.00
412066 1/1/02 31/12/06 No Callen D, Sutherland G, Mulley J, Gecz J, Wallace R, Kremmidiotis G 51301002: NHMRC - Program Grants Understanding the human genome: molecular mechanisms of genetic disease (UofA Portion) $1,439,739.00
412493 13/6/05 30/6/06 No Gecz J 51301006: NHMRC - Equipment Grants Transgenomics 3500 Wave Dhpic System $55,251.00
412145 1/7/04 31/10/04 No Anson D, Byers S, Xian C, Gecz J 51301006: NHMRC - Equipment Grants Polymerase chain reaction thermal cycler for normal and quantitative PCR $67,000.00
  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor Modelling THOC2 neurodevelopmental syndrome using patient-derived 3D brain organoids Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Ms Shreya Agarwala
    2024 Co-Supervisor Assessing the inaccessible: Application of direct cellular reprogramming and genome editing techniques to address current diagnostic limitations in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Olivia Robinson
    2024 Co-Supervisor The Pathological Mechanisms Underpinning USP9X Syndrome Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Charlotte Yu
    2024 Principal Supervisor Identification and Characterization of Genetic Determinants of Neurodevelopment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Saadia Maryam Saadi
    2019 Principal Supervisor Investigating gene regulatory networks in neurodevelopmental disorders during embryonic development and adulthood. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Urwah Nawaz
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2020 - 2024 Co-Supervisor A Mouse Model of Transcription and mRNA Export (TREX) Complex Scaffold Protein THOC2- Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Rudrarup Bhattacharjee
    2020 - 2024 Principal Supervisor Assessment of Post-Zygotic Mosaic Mutations in Cohorts with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Nandini Govindasamy Sandran
    2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Protocadherin 19 Clustering Epilepsy: Epigenomic, Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Rebekah Taylor de Nys
    2017 - 2023 Co-Supervisor The role of CTNNB1 and WNT signaling in the Causation of Cerebral Palsy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Sayaka Kayumi
    2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Variable Clinical and Molecular Expressivity of PCDH19 Variants and Girls Clustering Epilepsy A Disorder of Cellular "Mosaics" Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Kristy Louise Kolc
    2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor A Study of Nonsense Mediated mRNA Decay using Naturally Occurring Genetic Variants and Through the Development of a Synthetic Transgene Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Deepti Dianna Domingo
    2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor The Genetic Basis of Malformation of Cortical Development Syndromes: Primary Focus on Aicardi Syndrome Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Thuong Thi Ha
    2014 - 2020 Principal Supervisor The Role of UPF3A and UPF3B in Early Development and Neural Differentiation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Debrah Sadie Sebolai
    2013 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Investigating the Pathogenic Mechanism of Expanded Polyalanine Tract Mutations in the ARX Homeobox Transcription Factor Causing Intellectual Disability Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Tessa Renee Mattiske
    2013 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Disruption of Cell-Cell Adhesion Codes Underlies The unique X-Linked Inheritance Pattern of Protocadherin 19 Girls Clustering Epilepsy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Daniel Tyler Pederick
    2012 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Neurobiology of PCDHI9-Female Epilepsy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Claire Homan
    2012 - 2016 Principal Supervisor The Genetic Determinants of Cerebral Palsy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Gai McMichael
    2011 - 2013 Principal Supervisor The Role of UPF3B and the Nonsense-Mediated mRNA Decay Pathway in Pathology of Intellectual Disability Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Sonny Nguyen
    2007 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Molecular Mechanisms in the Epilepsies of Infancy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Sarah Heron
    2006 - 2009 Co-Supervisor Ascertainment, Diagnostic Evaluation and Gene Mapping of South Australian Families with Possible X-Linked Mental Retardation Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Dr Zahiya Abdulhameed Ahmed Al Raisi
    2006 - 2010 Principal Supervisor Molecular Genetics of Epilepsy and Mental Retardation Limited to Females (EFMR) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Kim Hynes
    2005 - 2012 Principal Supervisor The Role of Aristaless Related Homeobox (ARX) Gene Mutations in Intellectual Disability Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Tod Fullston
    2002 - 2006 Principal Supervisor Molecular Basis for Intellectual Disability and Epilepsy: Role of the Human Homeobox Gene ARX Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Desiree Cloosterman
    2000 - 2003 Principal Supervisor Identification and Characterisation of the Gene for Borjeson-Forssman-Lehmann Syndrome Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Karen Lower
    2000 - 2003 Principal Supervisor Identification of Novel Genes for X-linked Mental Retardation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Marie Mangelsdorf
  • Other Supervision Activities

    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 - ongoing 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
  • Board Memberships

    Date Role Board name Institution name Country
    2018 - 2023 Board Member Board of Representatives European Society of Human Genetics Austria
    2018 - ongoing Advisory Board Member PCDH19 Alliance USA PCDH19 Alliance United States
    2015 - ongoing Director Telethon Kids Board of Directors Telethon Kids Australia
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2024 - ongoing Member International Cerebral Palsy Genomics Consortium International Cerebral Palsy Genomics Consortium Australia
    2021 - ongoing Board Member Telethon Kids Board of Directors Telethon Kids Medical Research Institute Australia
    2021 - 2024 Chair International Cerebral Palsy Genomics Consortium International Cerebral Palsy Genomics Consortium Australia
    2019 - ongoing Member Australian Academy of Science Ruth Gani Medal Award Committee Australian Academy of Science Australia
    2019 - ongoing Member Australian Academy of Science Sectional Committee Australian Academy of Science Australia
    2018 - 2020 Member Human Genome 2020 Meeting Human Genome Organisation Australia
    2018 - 2018 Member MRFF - Genomics Health Futures Mission Scientific Strategic Committee Medical Research Future Fund Australia
    2017 - 2019 Member World Congress of Psychiatric Genetics 2019 - -
    2017 - ongoing Co-Founder International Cerebral Palsy Genomics Consortium International Cerebral Palsy Genomics Consortium Australia
    2017 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Australian Functional Genomics National Steering Comittee Australian Functional Genomics Network Australia
    2017 - 2019 Member Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Sectional Committee Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Australia
    2016 - ongoing Member Australian Genomics National Steering Committee Australian Genomics Health Alliance Australia
    2015 - ongoing Member Telethon Kids Scientific Advisory Council Telethon Kids Institute Australia
    2014 - 2014 Co-Founder The Australian Cerebral Palsy Biobank The Australian Cerebral Palsy Biobank Australia
    2010 - ongoing Member Lorne Genome ASN Australia
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2017 - ongoing Member Australian Academy of Science Australia
    2015 - ongoing Member Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Australia
    2010 - ongoing Member Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) Australia
    2003 - ongoing Member National Association of Research Fellows Australia
    2001 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Australia
    1995 - ongoing Member American Society of Human Genetics United States
    1994 - ongoing Member Human Genetics Society of Australasia Australia
    1994 - ongoing Member European Society of Human Genetics -
    1992 - ongoing Member Human Genome Organisation -
  • Consulting/Advisories

    Date Institution Department Organisation Type Country
    2015 - ongoing Marinus Pharmacetuticals Inc - Business and professional United States
  • Editorial Boards

    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2017 - ongoing Associate Editor American Journal of Human Genetics - United States
    2016 - ongoing Associate Editor Genomic Medicine - Canada
    2015 - ongoing Board Member Twin Research and Human Genetics - Australia
    2012 - ongoing Board Member Molecular Autism - Australia
    2011 - ongoing Board Member Medical Genomics Faculty 1000 - Australia
    2009 - ongoing Board Member Clinical Genetics: an international journal of genetics and molecular medicine - Australia
    2006 - 2012 Board Member Annals of Human Genetics - Australia
  • Position: Head Neurogenetics
  • Phone: 83132453
  • Email: jozef.gecz@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences, floor 8
  • Org Unit: Women's and Children's Health

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