Megan Mitchell

Dr Megan Mitchell

NHMRC Grant-Funded Researcher (C)

School of Medicine

College of Health

Following post-doctoral positions at The Robinson Institute, University of Adelaide investigating peri-conception nutrition and obesity, and the consequences for fertility, pregnancy and the health of offspring (2006-2010), Dr Mitchell spent a decade in Germany. There she continued her research at the Frauenklinik des Uniklinikums, Erlangen, examining how paternal obesity influences epigenetic modifications in the embryo and placenta (2011-2012) before leaving research for a number of years to pursue a health consulting role and a MSc Psychology. Dr Mitchell effectively translated her research skills to provide evidence-based, weight-neutral nutrition and health strategy consulting (2014-2019) before relocating back to Adelaide. Since 2021, she has worked alongside Professor Jodie Dodd at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital as a Clinical Research Manager, actively involved in managing clinical research and randomised controlled trials for women before and during pregnancy. She continues to build on this role and expand her research interest in nutrition and lifestyle around the time of conception and the programing of lifelong health and disease, as a Grant Funded Clinical Researcher C.

Year Citation
2025 Poprzeczny, A. J., Deussen, A. R., Mitchell, M., Slade, L., Louise, J., & Dodd, J. M. (2025). Antenatal Physical Activity Interventions and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With a Focus on Trial Quality.. BJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 132(6), 709-723.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2025 Poprzeczny, A. J., Mitchell, M., Deussen, A. R., Habibi, N., Cheung, T. O., & Grieger, J. A. (2025). Pre-Pregnancy Diet and/or Physical Activity Interventions for the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 10 pages.
DOI
2025 Mitchell, M., Deussen, A. R., Louise, J., Poprzeczny, A. J., Keir, A. K., Briley, A. L., . . . Dodd, J. M. (2025). Pre-conception lifestyle intervention to optimise maternal health for a better start to life: the BEGIN BETTER prospective randomised controlled trial protocol. BMJ Open, 15(10), e105478-1-e105478-7.
DOI
2025 Kornerup, N., Mitchell, M., Grunnet, L. G., Vilsbøll, T., Torekov, S. S., Kunnel, A., . . . Dodd, J. M. (2025). Mental health and body mass index in early pregnancy: a secondary analysis of three randomised controlled trials.. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth.
DOI
2024 Dodd, J. M., Louise, J., Deussen, A. R., Mitchell, M., & Poston, L. (2024). Rethinking causal assumptions about maternal BMI, gestational weight gain, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. BMC Medicine, 22(1), 197-1-197-12.
DOI Scopus14 WoS14 Europe PMC8
2024 Dodd, J. M., Deussen, A. R., Mitchell, M., & Louise, J. (2024). Regular weighing of pregnant women: a relic from a bygone era. Obesity, 32(9), 1611-1612.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2024 Dodd, J. M., Deussen, A. R., Poprzeczny, A. J., Slade, L. J., Mitchell, M., & Louise, J. (2024). Investigating discrepancies in findings between rigorous randomized trials and meta-analyses evaluating pregnancy interventions to limit gestational weight gain. Obesity Reviews, 25(12), e13826-1-e13826-24.
DOI Scopus10 WoS9 Europe PMC8
2023 Dodd, J. M., Deussen, A. R., Peña, A. S., Mitchell, M., & Louise, J. (2023). Effects of an antenatal dietary intervention in women with obesity or overweight on child outcomes at 8–10 years of age: LIMIT randomised trial follow-up. BMC Pediatrics, 23(1), 1-11.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC6
2022 Dodd, J. M., Deussen, A. R., Mitchell, M., Poprzeczny, A. J., & Louise, J. (2022). Maternal overweight and obesity during pregnancy: strategies to improve outcomes for women, babies, and children. Expert Review of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 17(4), 343-349.
DOI Scopus10 WoS8 Europe PMC10
2021 Bernhardt, L., Dittrich, M., El-Merahbi, R., Saliba, A. E., Müller, T., Sumara, G., . . . El Hajj, N. (2021). A genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of embryos fathered by obese males in a murine model of diet-induced obesity. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1979-1-1979-7.
DOI Scopus10 WoS10 Europe PMC8
2017 Mitchell, M., Strick, R., Strissel, P., Dittrich, R., McPherson, N., Lane, M., . . . El Hajj, N. (2017). Gene expression and epigenetic aberrations in F1-placentas fathered by obese males. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 84(4), 316-328.
DOI Scopus27 WoS28 Europe PMC22
2017 Van Wettere, W. H. E. J., Mitchell, M., Revell, D. K., & Hughes, P. E. (2017). Pre- and peri-pubertal feed intake: effects on age at puberty and potential litter size of replacement gilts. Animal Production Science, 57(6), 1040-1046.
DOI
2015 Henke, C., Strissel, P. L., Schubert, M. T., Mitchell, M., Stolt, C. C., Faschingbauer, F., . . . Strick, R. (2015). Selective expression of sense and antisense transcripts of the sushi-ichi-related retrotransposon - derived family during mouse placentogenesis. Retrovirology, 12(1), 17 pages.
DOI Scopus32 WoS32 Europe PMC32
2013 Fullston, T., Ohlsson Teague, E., Mc Pherson, N., De Blasio, M., Mitchell, M., Corbett, M., . . . Lane, M. (2013). Paternal obesity initiates metablic disturbances in two generations of mice with incomplete penetrance to the F₂ generation and alters the transcriptional profile of testis and sperm microRNA content. FASEB Journal, 27(10), 4226-4243.
DOI Scopus517 WoS461 Europe PMC408
2013 Smits, R., Luxford, B., Mitchell, M., & Nottle, M. (2013). Embryo survival, but not first-parity litter size, is increased when gilts are fed diets supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil. Animal Production Science, 53(1), 57-66.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2012 Campbell, J., Nottle, M., Vassiliev, I., Mitchell, M., & Lane, M. (2012). Insulin increases epiblast cell number of in vitro cultured mouse embryos via the PI3K/GSK3/p53 pathway. Stem Cells and Development, 21(13), 2430-2441.
DOI Scopus21 WoS21 Europe PMC20
2012 Binder, N., Mitchell, M., & Gardner, D. (2012). Parental diet-induced obesity leads to retarded early mouse embryo development and altered carbohydrate utilisation by the blastocyst. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 24(6), 804-812.
DOI Scopus65 WoS67 Europe PMC57
2012 Fullston, T., Mc Pherson, N., Owens, J., Mitchell, M., Bakos, H., & Lane, M. (2012). Diet-induced paternal obesity in the absence of diabetes diminishes the reproductive health of two subsequent generations of mice. Human Reproduction, 27(5), 1391-1400.
DOI Scopus177 WoS162 Europe PMC147
2011 Smits, R., Luxford, B., Mitchell, M., & Nottle, M. (2011). Sow litter size is increased in the subsequent parity when lactating sows are fed diets containing n-3 fatty acids from fish oil. Journal of Animal Science, 89(9), 2731-2738.
DOI Scopus47 WoS43 Europe PMC30
2011 Mc Pherson, N., Fullston, T., Mitchell, M., Setchell, B., & Lane, M. (2011). SIRT6 in mouse spermatogenesis is modulated by diet-induced obesity. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 23(7), 929-939.
DOI Scopus91 WoS77 Europe PMC69
2011 Campbell, J., Mitchell, M., Nottle, M., & Lane, M. (2011). Development of a mouse model for studying the effect of embryo culture on embryonic stem cell derivation. Stem Cells and Development, 20(9), 1578-1587.
DOI Scopus5 WoS4 Europe PMC4
2011 Fullston, T., Mitchell, M., Wakefield, S., & Lane, M. (2011). Mitochondrial inhibition during preimplantation embryogenesis shifts the transcriptional profile of fetal mouse brain. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 23(5), 691-701.
DOI Scopus9 WoS8 Europe PMC8
2011 Mitchell, M., Bakos, H., & Lane, M. (2011). Paternal diet-induced obesity impairs embryo development and implantation in the mouse. Fertility and Sterility, 95(4), 1349-1353.
DOI Scopus138 WoS131 Europe PMC112
2011 Bakos, H., Henshaw, R., Mitchell, M., & Lane, M. (2011). Paternal body mass index is associated with decreased blastocyst development and reduced live birth rates following assisted reproductive technology. Fertility and Sterility, 95(5), 1700-1704.
DOI Scopus204 WoS176 Europe PMC147
2011 Van Wettere, W., Mitchell, M., Revell, D., & Hughes, P. (2011). Nutritional restriction of pre-pubertal liveweight gain impairs ovarian follicle growth and oocyte developmental competence of replacement gilts. Theriogenology, 75(7), 1301-1310.
DOI Scopus12 WoS10 Europe PMC5
2011 Wakefield, S., Lane, M., & Mitchell, M. (2011). Impaired mitochondrial function in the preimplantation embryo perturbs fetal and placental development in the mouse. Biology of Reproduction, 84(3), 572-580.
DOI Scopus96 WoS84 Europe PMC75
2011 Bakos, H., Mitchell, M., Setchell, B., & Lane, M. (2011). The effect of paternal diet-induced obesity on sperm function and fertilization in a mouse model. International Journal of Andrology, 34(5), 402-410.
DOI Scopus237 WoS207 Europe PMC176
2010 Zander, D., Mitchell, M., Thompson, J., & Lane, M. (2010). Alterations in mouse embryo intracellular pH by DMO during culture impair implantation and fetal growth. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 21(2), 219-229.
DOI Scopus33 WoS28 Europe PMC22
2009 Mitchell, M., Schulz, S., Armstrong, D., & Lane, M. (2009). Metabolic and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Early Mouse Embryos Following Maternal Dietary Protein Intervention. Biology of Reproduction, 80(4), 622-630.
DOI Scopus74 WoS69 Europe PMC61
2009 Mitchell, M., Cashman, K., Gardner, D., Thompson, J., & Lane, M. (2009). Disruption of Mitochondrial Malate-Aspartate Shuttle Activity in Mouse Blastocysts Impairs Viability and Fetal Growth. Biology of Reproduction, 80(2), 295-301.
DOI Scopus67 WoS57 Europe PMC52
2008 Lane, M., Mitchell, M., Cashman, K., Inglis, D., Wakefield, S., & Zander, D. (2008). To QC or not to QC: the key to a consistent laboratory?. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 20(1), 23-32.
DOI Scopus59 WoS47 Europe PMC38
2008 Wakefield, S., Lane, M., Schulz, S., Hebart, M., Thompson, J., & Mitchell, M. (2008). Maternal supply of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alter mechanisms involved in oocyte and early embryo development in the mouse. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 294(2), E425-E434.
DOI Scopus140 WoS131 Europe PMC101
2007 Thompson, J., Mitchell, M., & Kind, K. (2007). Embryo culture and long-term consequences. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 19(1), 43-52.
DOI Scopus64 WoS58 Europe PMC44
2006 Van Wettere, W., Revell, D., Mitchell, M., & Hughes, P. (2006). Increasing the age of gilts at first boar contact improves the timing and synchrony of the pubertal response but does not affect potential litter size. Animal Reproduction Science, 95(1-2), 97-106.
DOI Scopus34 WoS32 Europe PMC15
2006 McDowall, M., Mitchell, M., Cetica, P., Dalvit, G., Pantaleon, M., Lane, M., . . . Thompson, J. (2006). Glucosamine supplementation during in vitro maturation inhibits subsequent embryo development: Possible role of the hexosamine pathway as a regulator of developmental competence.. Biology of Reproduction, 74(5), 881-888.
DOI Scopus45 WoS43 Europe PMC35
2005 Mitchell, M., & Lane, M. (2005). Dietary protein does not influence mitochondrial distribution in the 2-cell mouse embryo. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 17(Suppl.), 126.
DOI
2005 Mitchell, M., Armstrong, D., Robker, R., & Norman, R. (2005). Adipokines: implications for female fertility and obesity. Reproduction, 130(5), 583-597.
DOI Scopus248 WoS213 Europe PMC167
2005 Mitchell, M., Revell, D., Bawden, C., & Hynd, P. (2005). Keratin gene expression in Merino sheep with divergent wool growth. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 56(3), 203-210.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2004 Mitchell, M., O'Leary, S., Brooke, G., Maddocks, S., & Armstrong, D. (2004). Novel immune modulation to improve reproductive outcomes in pigs. Reproduction Fertility and Development, 16(Suppl.), 230.
DOI
2002 Mitchell, M., Revell, D., Bawden, C., & Hynd, P. (2002). Merino sheep selected for divergent fleece weight do not differ in the proportion of sulphur-containing keratin wool proteins. Animal Production, 24, 276.
2000 Mitchell, M., Revell, D., Ingham, V., & Hynd, P. (2000). Nutrient partitioning between wool and meat production in merino phenotypes. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 13, 162.

Year Citation
2010 Fullston, T., Mitchell, M., Owens, J., Palmer, N., Bakos, H., & Lane, M. (2010). Paternal Obesity Affects Male Offspring's Health and Sperm Function. In AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY Vol. 50 (pp. 22). WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.
WoS2
2009 Fullston, T., Mitchell, M., Wakefield, S., Filby, A., & Lane, M. (2009). Micro-Array Analysis of Fetal Mouse Brain Following Induction of Mitochondrial Dysfunction During Pre-Implantation Embryo Development.. In BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION (pp. 102). Pittsburgh, PA: SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION.
2008 Wakefield, S., Lane, M., & Mitchell, M. (2008). Mitochondrial dysfunction of the early mouse embryo increases expression of SNF2 family genes. In BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION Vol. 78 (pp. 132-133). Kona, HI: SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION.
DOI
2008 Mitchell, M., Georgiou, A., Cashman, K., Stump, A., & Lane, M. (2008). Do sirtuin proteins function in the developing mammalian embryo?. In BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION Vol. 78 (pp. 134). Kona, HI: SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION.
DOI WoS2
2006 Van Wettere, W., Revell, D., Mitchell, M., & Hughes, P. (2006). The influence of growth rate on ovarian characteristics of pre-pubertal gilts. In Proceedings of the VIIth International Conference on Pig Reproduction (pp. 0 pages). Kerkrade, The Netherlands: Nottingham University Press.
2006 Van Wettere, W., Revell, D., Mitchell, M., & Hughes, P. (2006). Gilt age at first boar contact affects the pubertal response but not potential litter size. In Proceedings of the VIIth International Conference on Pig Reproduction (pp. 0 pages). Kerkrade, The Netherlands: Nottingham University Press.
2006 Mitchell, M., Schulz, S., Hickey, T., Armstrong, D., & Grupen, C. (2006). Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) differentially influences nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of pig oocytes from different sized follicles. In Proceedings of the VIIth International Conference on Pig Reproduction (pp. 0 pages). United Kingdom: Nottingham University Press.
2005 Van Wettere, W., Mitchell, M., Revell, D., & Hughes, P. (2005). Live weight gain affects gilt reproductive performance. In J. Paterson (Ed.), Manipulating pig production X : proceedings of the Tenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (Inc.) (pp. Unknown). New Zealand: Australasian Pig Science Association.
2005 Van Wettere, W., Mitchell, M., Revell, D., & Hughes, P. (2005). Management and nutritional factors affecting puberty attainment and first litter size in replacement gilts. In J. Paterson (Ed.), Proceedings of the Tenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (Inc.) (pp. 180-187). Werribee, Victoria, Australia: Australasian Pig Science Association (INC.).
2005 Van Wettere, W., Mitchell, M., Schulz, S., Revell, D., & Hughes, P. (2005). The effect of growth characteristics on the ovarian follicle population of pre-pubertal gilts. In J. Paterson (Ed.), Proceedings of the Tenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (Inc.) (pp. 201). Werribee, Victoria, Australia: Australasian Pig Science Association (INC.).
2004 Ferres, V., Nattrass, G., Mitchell, M., Penno, N., & Hynd, P. (2004). Expression of SPARC (secreted protein acidic rich in cysteine) throughout the hair cycle in rats. In Fourth Intercontinental Meeting of Hair Research Societies : Abstracts, 17-19 June, 2004: 1p.. Berlin, Germany.

Year Citation
2011 Owens, J. A., Fullston, T., Mitchell, M., Palmer, N., Bakos, H., & Lane, M. (2011). Diet Induced Paternal Obesity Impairs the Metabolic and Reproductive Health of Two Subsequent Generations. Poster session presented at the meeting of JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE. CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS.
2006 Mitchell, M., Schulz, S. J., Hamon, R., Armstrong, D. T., & Lane, M. (2006). The influence of maternal dietary protein supply on oocyte quality and mitochondrial homeostasis of in vivo and in vitro produced mouse embryos.. Poster session presented at the meeting of BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION. Univ Nebraska Med Ctr, Omaha, NE: SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION.

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2009 - 2012 Co-Supervisor The Functional Role and Requirement for Long-Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Breeding Gilts and Sows Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Robert John Christian Smits
2005 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Management and Nutrition of the Replacement Gilt Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time APrf William Van Wettere

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