Professor Karen Moritz
Professor

Karen Moritz

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 65305

Background

Prof Karen Moritz is internationally renowned for her work in understanding how early life perturbations contribute to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disease in adulthood. Over the last 5-7 years, her research has focused on determining how prenatal alcohol can result in “developmental programming” of disease. Her research has identified critical windows of susceptibility to alcohol, including the period around conception and prior to implantation. In addition, her work has identified the placenta as playing a key role in the sex-specific offspring outcomes following maternal perturbations. Her research spans both preclinical and clinical domains, highlighted by her appointment as the Director of the Child Health Research Centre in 2016.

Current projects are:

  • Periconceptional alcohol exposure: Programming long-term health in offspring (with Dr Lisa Akison and Dr James Cuffe)

  • Emerging therapies for diabetes and complications: Effects on metabolic, cardiovascular and renal function (with Dr Linda Gallo)

  • Effect of prenatal insults on the developing placenta (with Dr Marloes Nitert Dekker, Prof Vicki Clifton [Mater], Dr David Simmons and Dr James Cuffe)

  • Effect of prenatal insults on the developing kidney and implications for adult disease (with Dr Peter Trnka [QLD Children's Hospital])

  • Impact of maternal cannabis and alcohol around conception on development and long-term health of offspring (with Dr David Simmons and Dr Lisa Akison)

Prof Moritz maintains a strong commitment to teaching of students, including lectures and research student supervision in undergraduate programs, supervision of Honours students and supervision of higher degree research students.

Availability

Professor Karen Moritz is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Clinical sciences Zoology

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne

Search Professor Karen Moritz’s works on UQ eSpace

360 works between 1990 and 2025
All (360) Journal Article (253) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (99) Book (1) Other Outputs (2)

21 - 40 of 360 works

2023

Book Chapter

Cardiometabolic and renal DOHaD outcomes in offspring of complicated pregnancy

Giussani, Dino A., Reynolds, Rebecca M., Leeson, Paul, Moritz, Karen M., Bertram, John F. and Ozanne, Susan E. (2023). Cardiometabolic and renal DOHaD outcomes in offspring of complicated pregnancy. Developmental origins of health and disease. (pp. 85-99) edited by Lucilla Poston, Keith M. Godfrey, Peter D. Gluckman and Mark A. Hanson. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781009272254.011

Cardiometabolic and renal DOHaD outcomes in offspring of complicated pregnancy

2023

Conference Publication

Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with sex specific alterations to the placenta and reduced cerebroplacental ratio

Steane, Sarah E., Edwards, Christopher, Kubler, Jade, Akison, Lisa K., Cuffe, James S. M., Gallo, Linda A., Moritz, Karen M. and Clifton, Vicki L. (2023). Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with sex specific alterations to the placenta and reduced cerebroplacental ratio. 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 21-25 March 2023. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/s43032-023-01211-1

Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with sex specific alterations to the placenta and reduced cerebroplacental ratio

2022

Journal Article

Altered bone and body composition in children and adolescents with confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure

Young, Sophia L., Gallo, Linda A., Brookes, Denise S. K., Hayes, Nicole, Maloney, Maree, Liddle, Karen, James, Amanda, Moritz, Karen M. and Reid, Natasha (2022). Altered bone and body composition in children and adolescents with confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure. Bone, 164 116510, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2022.116510

Altered bone and body composition in children and adolescents with confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure

2022

Journal Article

Associations of maternal and foetoplacental factors with prehypertension/hypertension in early childhood

Michael, Navin, Sadananthan, Suresh Anand, Yuan, Wen Lun, Ong, Yi Ying, Loy, See Ling, Huang, Jonathan Y., Tint, Mya-Thway, Padmapriya, Natarajan, Choo, Jonathan, Ling, Lieng Hsi, Kramer, Michael S., Godfrey, Keith M., Gluckman, Peter D., Tan, Kok Hian, Eriksson, Johan G., Chong, Yap-Seng, Lee, Yung Seng, Karnani, Neerja, Yap, Fabian, Shek, Lynette Pei-Chi, Fortier, Marielle V., Moritz, Karen M., Chan, Shiao-Yng, Velan, S Sendhil and Wlodek, Mary E. (2022). Associations of maternal and foetoplacental factors with prehypertension/hypertension in early childhood. Journal of Hypertension, 40 (11), 2171-2179. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000003241

Associations of maternal and foetoplacental factors with prehypertension/hypertension in early childhood

2022

Journal Article

Prevalence and patterns of prenatal alcohol exposure in Australian cohort and cross-sectional studies: a systematic review of data collection approaches

Young, Sophia L., Steane, Sarah E., Kent, Nykola L., Reid, Natasha, Gallo, Linda A. and Moritz, Karen M. (2022). Prevalence and patterns of prenatal alcohol exposure in Australian cohort and cross-sectional studies: a systematic review of data collection approaches. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (20) 13144, 1-20. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013144

Prevalence and patterns of prenatal alcohol exposure in Australian cohort and cross-sectional studies: a systematic review of data collection approaches

2022

Journal Article

Expression of TRPM6 and TRPM7 in the preterm piglet heart

Forbes, Elizabeth M., Bakrania, Bhavisha A., Steane, Sarah E., Moritz, Karen M., Lingwood, Barbara E. and Eiby, Yvonne A. (2022). Expression of TRPM6 and TRPM7 in the preterm piglet heart. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10 891722, 1-11. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.891722

Expression of TRPM6 and TRPM7 in the preterm piglet heart

2022

Journal Article

The social predictors of paternal antenatal mental health and their associations with maternal mental health in the Queensland Family Cohort prospective study

Dixson, Barnaby J.W., Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym M., Whittingha, Koa, Gannon, Brenda, McPhail, Steven M., Carter, Hannah E., Moritz, Karen M., Boyd, Roslyn N., Bora, Samudragupta, Kumar, Sailesh, Frater, Julanne, Schweitzer, Daniel, Miller, Paul, Mehter, Divya and Clifton, Vicki L. (2022). The social predictors of paternal antenatal mental health and their associations with maternal mental health in the Queensland Family Cohort prospective study. Archives of Women's Mental Health, 26 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s00737-022-01257-1

The social predictors of paternal antenatal mental health and their associations with maternal mental health in the Queensland Family Cohort prospective study

2022

Journal Article

Brief early life angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition offers renoprotection in sheep with a solitary functioning kidney at 8 months of age

McArdle, Zoe, Singh, Reetu R., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Moritz, Karen M., Schreuder, Michiel F. and Denton, Kate M. (2022). Brief early life angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition offers renoprotection in sheep with a solitary functioning kidney at 8 months of age. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 33 (7), 1341-1356. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2021111534

Brief early life angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition offers renoprotection in sheep with a solitary functioning kidney at 8 months of age

2022

Journal Article

Associations between COVID-19 lockdown and post-lockdown on the mental health of pregnant women, postpartum women and their partners from the Queensland family cohort prospective study

Clifton, Vicki L., Kumar, Sailesh, Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym M., Boyd, Roslyn N., Whittingham, Koa, Moritz, Karen M., Carter, Hannah E., McPhail, Steven M., Gannon, Brenda, Ware, Robert, Dixson, Barnaby J. W., Bora, Samudragupta and Hurst, Cameron (2022). Associations between COVID-19 lockdown and post-lockdown on the mental health of pregnant women, postpartum women and their partners from the Queensland family cohort prospective study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22 (1) 468, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-04795-9

Associations between COVID-19 lockdown and post-lockdown on the mental health of pregnant women, postpartum women and their partners from the Queensland family cohort prospective study

2022

Journal Article

Associations of maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption with offspring prehypertension/hypertension at age 6 years: the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes prospective mother-offspring cohort study

Sadananthan, Suresh Anand, Michael, Navin, Tint, Mya Thway, Thirumurugan, Kashthuri, Yuan, Wen Lun, Ong, Yi Ying, Law, Evelyn, Choo, Jonathan, Ling, Lieng Hsi, Shek, Lynette, Fabian, Yap, Tan, Kok Hian, Vickers, Mark, Godfrey, Keith M., Gluckman, Peter D., Chong, Yap Seng, Fortier, Marielle, Lee, Yung Seng, Eriksson, Johan G., Chan, Shiao-Yng, Moritz, Karen, Velan, S Sendhil and Wlodek, Mary E. (2022). Associations of maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption with offspring prehypertension/hypertension at age 6 years: the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes prospective mother-offspring cohort study. Journal of Hypertension, 40 (6), 1212-1222. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000003134

Associations of maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption with offspring prehypertension/hypertension at age 6 years: the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes prospective mother-offspring cohort study

2022

Journal Article

Key Stakeholder Priorities for the Review and Update of the Australian Guide to Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

Hayes, Nicole, Akison, Lisa K., Goldsbury, Sarah, Hewlett, Nicole, Elliott, Elizabeth J., Finlay-Jones, Amy, Shanley, Dianne C., Bagley, Kerryn, Crawford, Andi, Till, Haydn, Crichton, Alison, Friend, Rowena, Moritz, Karen M., Mutch, Raewyn, Harrington, Sophie, Webster, Andrew and Reid, Natasha (2022). Key Stakeholder Priorities for the Review and Update of the Australian Guide to Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Descriptive Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (10) 5823, 1-22. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19105823

Key Stakeholder Priorities for the Review and Update of the Australian Guide to Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

2022

Journal Article

Prenatal choline supplementation alters one carbon metabolites in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure

Steane, Sarah E., Kumar, Vinod, Cuffe, James S. M., Moritz, Karen M. and Akison, Lisa K. (2022). Prenatal choline supplementation alters one carbon metabolites in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure. Nutrients, 14 (9) 1874, 1874. doi: 10.3390/nu14091874

Prenatal choline supplementation alters one carbon metabolites in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure

2022

Journal Article

Serum and urinary biomarkers to predict acute kidney injury in premature infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy

Kuo, Jenny, Akison, Lisa K., Chatfield, Mark D., Trnka, Peter and Moritz, Karen M. (2022). Serum and urinary biomarkers to predict acute kidney injury in premature infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy. Journal of Nephrology, 35 (8), 2001-2014. doi: 10.1007/s40620-022-01307-y

Serum and urinary biomarkers to predict acute kidney injury in premature infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy

2022

Other Outputs

Cardiac TRPM6 and 7 piglets

Forbes, Elizabeth, Bakrania, Bhavisha, Steans, Sarah, Moritz, Karen, Lingwood, Barbara and Eiby, Yvonne (2022). Cardiac TRPM6 and 7 piglets. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/0dac82b

Cardiac TRPM6 and 7 piglets

2022

Journal Article

Integrating cultural considerations and developmental screening into an Australian First Nations child health check

Reid, Natasha, Page, Marjad, McDonald, Theresa, Hawkins, Erinn, Liu, Wei, Webster, Heidi, White, Codi, Shelton, Doug, Katsikitis, Mary, Wood, Andrew, Draper, Bronwyn, Moritz, Karen and Shanley, Dianne C. (2022). Integrating cultural considerations and developmental screening into an Australian First Nations child health check. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 28 (3), 207-214. doi: 10.1071/py20300

Integrating cultural considerations and developmental screening into an Australian First Nations child health check

2021

Journal Article

Blunted natriuretic response to saline loading in sheep with hypertensive kidney disease following radiofrequency catheter-based renal denervation

Singh, Reetu R., McArdle, Zoe, Singh, Harshil, Booth, Lindsea C., May, Clive N., Head, Geoffrey A., Moritz, Karen M., Schlaich, Markus P. and Denton, Kate M. (2021). Blunted natriuretic response to saline loading in sheep with hypertensive kidney disease following radiofrequency catheter-based renal denervation. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 14795, 14795. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-94221-5

Blunted natriuretic response to saline loading in sheep with hypertensive kidney disease following radiofrequency catheter-based renal denervation

2021

Journal Article

Renal denervation in combination with angiotensin receptor blockade prolongs blood pressure trough during hemorrhage

Singh, Reetu R., McArdle, Zoe, Booth, Lindsea C., May, Clive N., Head, Geoff A., Moritz, Karen M., Schlaich, Markus P. and Denton, Kate M. (2021). Renal denervation in combination with angiotensin receptor blockade prolongs blood pressure trough during hemorrhage. Hypertension, 79 (1), 261-270. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.18354

Renal denervation in combination with angiotensin receptor blockade prolongs blood pressure trough during hemorrhage

2021

Journal Article

Adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines in Australian undergraduate biomedical students and associations with body composition and metabolic health: a cross-sectional study

Gallo, Linda A., Gallo, Tania F., Young, Sophia L., Fotheringham, Amelia K., Barclay, Johanna L., Walker, Jacqueline L., Moritz, Karen M. and Akison, Lisa K. (2021). Adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines in Australian undergraduate biomedical students and associations with body composition and metabolic health: a cross-sectional study. Nutrients, 13 (10) 3500, 3500. doi: 10.3390/nu13103500

Adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines in Australian undergraduate biomedical students and associations with body composition and metabolic health: a cross-sectional study

2021

Journal Article

Maternal choline supplementation in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure: Impacts on the fetus and placenta

Steane, Sarah E., Fielding, Arree M., Kent, Nykola L., Andersen, Isabella, Browne, Daniel J., Tejo, Ellen N., Gårdebjer, Emelie M., Kalisch‐Smith, Jacinta I., Sullivan, Mitchell A., Moritz, Karen M. and Akison, Lisa K. (2021). Maternal choline supplementation in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure: Impacts on the fetus and placenta. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 45 (10) acer.14685, 2130-2146. doi: 10.1111/acer.14685

Maternal choline supplementation in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure: Impacts on the fetus and placenta

2021

Journal Article

A decline in planned, but not spontaneous, preterm birth rates in a large Australian tertiary maternity centre during COVID‐19 mitigation measures

Gallo, Linda A., Gallo, Tania F., Borg, Danielle J., Moritz, Karen M., Clifton, Vicki L. and Kumar, Sailesh (2021). A decline in planned, but not spontaneous, preterm birth rates in a large Australian tertiary maternity centre during COVID‐19 mitigation measures. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 62 (1) ajo.13406, 62-70. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13406

A decline in planned, but not spontaneous, preterm birth rates in a large Australian tertiary maternity centre during COVID‐19 mitigation measures

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Understanding how binge drinking affects kidney development (NHMRC 2023 Ideas Grant administed by Monash)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Expansion of FASD Diagnostic Services in Southern Queensland with Support for regional and remote settings
    Drug and Alcohol Program
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    A tiered approach to the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in remote Indigenous primary care settings (NHMRC Partnership Project administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Gene Expression to Predict Long-Term Outcome in Infants After Heart Surgery
    MRFF Accelerated Research - Congenital Heart Disease administered by AusIndustry
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Host Gene Expression Signatures to Diagnose Sepsis in Children
    MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission, Project Grant administered by AusIndustry
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2024
    The Drug and Alcohol Program: Review and Dissemination of the Australian Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Diagnostic Tool GO2647
    Commonwealth Department of Health
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Vevo 3100 Imaging System for ultrahigh resolution and frame rate echocardiographic assessment of small animals.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    The Best I can Be: Screening and assessing for FASD in the foster care system
    Key Assets the Children's Services Provider (Australia) Limited
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Sakzewski Core Translational Research Group
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Chronic health outcomes following early life exposure to alcohol
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Diagnostic Services and Models of Care (Led by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Sakzewski Core Translational Research Group
    The Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A state-of-the-art spinning disc confocal microscope for high speed imaging of live cells and super resolution microscopy
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2020
    NHMRC Research Fellowship: Developmental programming: mechanisms and interventions
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Mitochondrial analysis suite
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Establishment of an Integrated Facility for Single Cell Analysis
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Mechanisms and consequences of renal denervation in chronic kidney disease (NHMRC Project Grant administered by Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute)
    Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Periconceptional alcohol exposure: effects on the embryo and fetus and disease risk in adulthood
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Consequences of elevated maternal glucocorticoids for early childhood renal development and function (NHMRC Project administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Establishment of Integrated Small Animal Metabolic and Physiology Assessment Facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Examining vascular structure and function using pressurised myography
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Placental clock gene expression in the Spiny Mouse
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Stress-induced disease risk for pregnant mothers born small (NHMRC project lead by University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Modelling the regulation of nephron number by the renal stem cell niche
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Real time regional tissue analysis suite
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    ResTeach 2011 0.2 FTE School of Biomedical Sciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    The role of hypoxia in the developmental programming of the kidney
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Establishment of a digital Scanscope system for virtual microscopy
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010
    In Situ Hybridization Suite for Biomedical Science Researchers
    NHMRC Equipment Grant
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2014
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    NHMRC Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    How do prenatal perturbations influence kidney development and result in adult onset diseases
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009
    "Real Time PCR Facility for Biomedical Researchers"
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Does moderate prenatal alcohol exposure cause metabolic disease
    Diabetes Australia Research Trust
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Poor kidney development resulting in kidney disease and high blood pressure
    National Heart Foundation of Australia
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Quantitative Histological Core Facility
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Karen Moritz is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Advancing facial dysmorphology diagnostic practices for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Lisa Akison, Dr Natasha Reid

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Delphi Study of Pregnancy Alcohol Risk Perceptions: Application for Health Educational Resources

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Natasha Reid

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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