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

365 works between 1990 and 2025
All (365) Journal Article (254) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (99) Book (1) Other Outputs (6)

301 - 320 of 365 works

2007

Conference Publication

Blood pressure and renal function in adult sheep treated prenatally with glucocorticoids: effects of a high salt diet

Moritz, K. M., Evans, R. G., Jefferies, A. J., Wintour, E. M., Dodic, M., Probyn, M., Arena, D. and De Matteo, R. (2007). Blood pressure and renal function in adult sheep treated prenatally with glucocorticoids: effects of a high salt diet. 5th International Congress on Developmental Origins of Health & Disease, Perth, Western Australia, 6-10 November, 2007. Amsterdam: Elsevier/North Holland. doi: 10.1016/S0378-3782(07)70257-8

Blood pressure and renal function in adult sheep treated prenatally with glucocorticoids: effects of a high salt diet

2007

Journal Article

Effects of dietary protein restriction on nephron number in the mouse.

Hoppe, CC, Evans, RG, Bertram, JF and Moritz, KM (2007). Effects of dietary protein restriction on nephron number in the mouse.. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 292 (5), R1768-R1774. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00442.2006

Effects of dietary protein restriction on nephron number in the mouse.

2007

Conference Publication

The effect of chronic hypertension on placental renin-angiotenisn system and 11 beta-hydroxysteriod dehydrogenase type 2 gene expressions during mid and late-gestation in rabbits

McArdle, A. M., Mortiz, K., Maduwegedera, D., Roberts, C. T., Flower, R. L., Wintour, E. M. and Denton, K. M. (2007). The effect of chronic hypertension on placental renin-angiotenisn system and 11 beta-hydroxysteriod dehydrogenase type 2 gene expressions during mid and late-gestation in rabbits. 5th International Congress on Developmental Origins of Health & Disease, Perth, Western Australia, 6-10 November, 2007. Amsterdam: Elsevier/North Holland. doi: 10.1016/S0378-3782(07)70392-4

The effect of chronic hypertension on placental renin-angiotenisn system and 11 beta-hydroxysteriod dehydrogenase type 2 gene expressions during mid and late-gestation in rabbits

2007

Journal Article

A comparative study of renal function in the desert-adapted spiny mouse and the laboratory-adapted C57BL/6 mouse: response to dietary salt load.

Dickinson, H, Moritz, K, Wintour, EM, Walker, DW and Kett, MM (2007). A comparative study of renal function in the desert-adapted spiny mouse and the laboratory-adapted C57BL/6 mouse: response to dietary salt load.. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 293 (4), F1093-F1098. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00202.2007

A comparative study of renal function in the desert-adapted spiny mouse and the laboratory-adapted C57BL/6 mouse: response to dietary salt load.

2007

Journal Article

Normal lactational environment restores nephron endowment and prevents hypertension after placental restriction in the rat.

Wlodek, ME, Mibus, A, Tan, A, Siebel, AL, Owens, JA and Moritz, KM (2007). Normal lactational environment restores nephron endowment and prevents hypertension after placental restriction in the rat.. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 18 (6), 1688-1696. doi: 10.1681/ASN.2007010015

Normal lactational environment restores nephron endowment and prevents hypertension after placental restriction in the rat.

2007

Conference Publication

Ethanol exposure during late gestation reduces nephron number in fetal sheep

Gray, S. P., Dougas-Denton, R., Hoy, W., Kenna, K., Yan, E., Walker, D., Harding, R., Bertram, J. F. and Moritz, K. M. (2007). Ethanol exposure during late gestation reduces nephron number in fetal sheep. 5th International Congress on Developmental Origins of Health & Disease, Perth, WA, Australia, 6-10 November 2007. Shannon, Clare Ireland: Elsevier Ireland Ltd. doi: 10.1016/S0378-3782(07)70094-4

Ethanol exposure during late gestation reduces nephron number in fetal sheep

2006

Journal Article

Differential effects of prenatal exposure to dexamethasone or cortisol on circulatory control mechanisms mediated by angiotensin II in the central nervous system of adult sheep

Dodic, M., McAlinden, A. T., Jefferies, A. J., Wintour, E. M., Cock, M. L., May, C. N., Evans, R. G. and Moritz, K. M. (2006). Differential effects of prenatal exposure to dexamethasone or cortisol on circulatory control mechanisms mediated by angiotensin II in the central nervous system of adult sheep. Journal of Physiology, 571 (3), 651-660. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2005.102186

Differential effects of prenatal exposure to dexamethasone or cortisol on circulatory control mechanisms mediated by angiotensin II in the central nervous system of adult sheep

2006

Book Chapter

The developmental environment, renal function and disease

Moritz, Karen M., Wintour, E. Marelyn and Dodic, Miodrag (2006). The developmental environment, renal function and disease. Developmental Origins of Health and Disease. (pp. 310-322) edited by Gluckman, Peter and Hanson, Mark. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9780511544699.024

The developmental environment, renal function and disease

2005

Journal Article

The spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) completes nephrogenesis before birth (vol 289, pg 273, 2005)

Dickinson, H, Walker, DW, Cullen-McEwen, L, Wintour, EM and Moritz, K (2005). The spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) completes nephrogenesis before birth (vol 289, pg 273, 2005). American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 289 (6), F1386-F1386. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00375.2005

The spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) completes nephrogenesis before birth (vol 289, pg 273, 2005)

2005

Journal Article

Glucocorticoid programming of adult disease

Moritz, KM, Boon, WM and Wintour, EM (2005). Glucocorticoid programming of adult disease. Cell and Tissue Research, 322 (1), 81-88. doi: 10.1007/s00441-005-1096-6

Glucocorticoid programming of adult disease

2005

Journal Article

The spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) completes nephrogenesis before birth

Dickinson, Hayley, Walker, David W., Cullen-Walker, Luise, Wintour, E. Marelyn and Moritz, Karen (2005). The spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) completes nephrogenesis before birth. American Journal of Physiology: Renal Physiology, 289 (2), F273-F279. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00400.2004

The spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) completes nephrogenesis before birth

2005

Journal Article

Uteroplacental restriction in the rat impairs fetal growth in association with alterations in placental growth factors including PTHrP

Wlodek, Mary E., Westcott, Kerryn T., O’Dowd, Rachael, Serruto, Anne, Wassef, Lesley, Moritz, Karen M. and Moseley, Jane M. (2005). Uteroplacental restriction in the rat impairs fetal growth in association with alterations in placental growth factors including PTHrP. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 288 (6), R1620-R1627. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00789.2004

Uteroplacental restriction in the rat impairs fetal growth in association with alterations in placental growth factors including PTHrP

2005

Journal Article

Reduced renal reserve and increased cardiac output in adult female sheep uninephrectomized as fetuses

Moritz, Karen M., Jefferies, Andrew, Wong, James, Wintour, E. Marelyn and Dodic, Miodrag (2005). Reduced renal reserve and increased cardiac output in adult female sheep uninephrectomized as fetuses. Kidney International, 67 (3), 822-828. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00147.x

Reduced renal reserve and increased cardiac output in adult female sheep uninephrectomized as fetuses

2005

Journal Article

Fetal renal and blood pressure responses to steroid infusion after early prenatal treatment with dexamethasone

Moritz, Karen M., Jefferies, Andrew, Wintour, E. Marilyn and Dodic, Miodrag (2005). Fetal renal and blood pressure responses to steroid infusion after early prenatal treatment with dexamethasone. American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative, and comparative physiology, 288 (1), R62-R66. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00282.2004

Fetal renal and blood pressure responses to steroid infusion after early prenatal treatment with dexamethasone

2003

Journal Article

Reduced Nephron Number in Adult Sheep, Hypertensive as a Result of Prenatal Glucocorticoid Treatment

Wintour, E. M., Moritz, K. M., Johnson, K., Ricardo, S., Samuel, C. S. and Dodic, M (2003). Reduced Nephron Number in Adult Sheep, Hypertensive as a Result of Prenatal Glucocorticoid Treatment. Journal of physiology, 549 (3), 929-935. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2003.042408

Reduced Nephron Number in Adult Sheep, Hypertensive as a Result of Prenatal Glucocorticoid Treatment

2003

Journal Article

Programming the cardiovascular system, kidney and the brain - A review

Wintour, EM, Johnson, K, Koukoulas, I, Moritz, K, Tersteeg, M and Dodic, M (2003). Programming the cardiovascular system, kidney and the brain - A review. Placenta, 24 (SUPPL. A), S65-S71. doi: 10.1053/plac.2002.0927

Programming the cardiovascular system, kidney and the brain - A review

2003

Journal Article

Kidney development and the fetal programming of adult disease

Moritz, KM, Dodic, M and Wintour, EM (2003). Kidney development and the fetal programming of adult disease. Bioessays, 25 (3), 212-220. doi: 10.1002/bies.10240

Kidney development and the fetal programming of adult disease

2003

Journal Article

Prolonged low-dose dexamethasone treatment, in early gestation, does not alter blood pressure or renal function in adult sheep

Dodic, M., Tersteeg, M., Jefferies, A., Wintour, E. M. and Moritz, K. (2003). Prolonged low-dose dexamethasone treatment, in early gestation, does not alter blood pressure or renal function in adult sheep. Journal of endocrinology, 179 (2), 275-280. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1790275

Prolonged low-dose dexamethasone treatment, in early gestation, does not alter blood pressure or renal function in adult sheep

2003

Journal Article

Vasopressin Receptor Expression in the Placenta

Koukoulas, Irene, Risvanis, John, Douglas-Denton, Rebecca, Burrell, Louise M., Moritz, Karen M. and Wintour, E. Marelyn (2003). Vasopressin Receptor Expression in the Placenta. Biology of Reproduction, 69 (2), 679-686. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.102.013458

Vasopressin Receptor Expression in the Placenta

2002

Journal Article

Programmed hypertension: Kidney, brain or both?

Dodic, M, Moritz, K, Koukoulas, I and Wintour, EM (2002). Programmed hypertension: Kidney, brain or both?. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 13 (9), 403-408. doi: 10.1016/S1043-2760(02)00693-8

Programmed hypertension: Kidney, brain or both?

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

  • Master Philosophy

    Biomarkers of acute kidney injury in infants

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

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

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Natasha Reid

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Advancing facial dysmorphology diagnostic practices for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Lisa Akison, Dr Natasha Reid

Completed supervision

Enquiries

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