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)

41 - 60 of 360 works

2021

Journal Article

The effect of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure on adolescent body mass index and waist-to-height ratio at 12–13 years

Hayes, N., Reid, N., Akison, L. K. and Moritz, K. M. (2021). The effect of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure on adolescent body mass index and waist-to-height ratio at 12–13 years. International Journal of Obesity, 45 (9), 2118-2125. doi: 10.1038/s41366-021-00884-5

The effect of heavy prenatal alcohol exposure on adolescent body mass index and waist-to-height ratio at 12–13 years

2021

Conference Publication

The role of the glucocorticoid receptor in the programming of adult disease due to prenatal alcohol exposure

Moritz, Karen M., Young, Sophia and Akison, Lisa K. (2021). The role of the glucocorticoid receptor in the programming of adult disease due to prenatal alcohol exposure. 44th Annual Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) Meeting, Online, 19-23 June 2021. Malden, MA United States: Wiley-Blackwell.

The role of the glucocorticoid receptor in the programming of adult disease due to prenatal alcohol exposure

2021

Journal Article

Queensland Family Cohort: a study protocol

Borg, Danielle, Rae, Kym, Fiveash, Corrine, Schagen, Johanna, James-McAlpine, Janelle, Friedlander, Frances, Thurston, Claire, Oliveri, Maria, Harmey, Theresa, Cavanagh, Erika, Edwards, Christopher, Fontanarosa, Davide, Perkins, Tony, de Zubicaray, Greig, Moritz, Karen, Kumar, Sailesh, Clifton, Vicki, Queensland Family Cohort Research Collaborative, Hamilton-Williams, Emma and Bora, Samudragupta (2021). Queensland Family Cohort: a study protocol. BMJ Open, 11 (6) e044463, 1-13. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044463

Queensland Family Cohort: a study protocol

2021

Journal Article

Prenatal alcohol consumption and placental outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies

Steane, Sarah E., Young, Sophia L., Clifton, Vicki L., Gallo, Linda A., Akison, Lisa K. and Moritz, Karen M. (2021). Prenatal alcohol consumption and placental outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 225 (6), 607.e1-607.e22. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.06.078

Prenatal alcohol consumption and placental outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies

2021

Journal Article

Advanced glycation end products as predictors of renal function in youth with type 1 diabetes

Forbes, Josephine M., Le Bagge, Selena, Righi, Samuel, Fotheringham, Amelia K., Gallo, Linda A., McCarthy, Domenica A., Leung, Sherman, Baskerville, Tracey, Nisbett, Janelle, Morton, Adam, Teasdale, Stephanie, D'Silva, Neisha, Barrett, Helen, Jones, Timothy, Couper, Jennifer, Donaghue, Kim, Isbel, Nicole, Johnson, David W., Donnellan, Leigh, Deo, Permal, Akison, Lisa K., Moritz, Karen M. and O'Moore-Sullivan, Trisha (2021). Advanced glycation end products as predictors of renal function in youth with type 1 diabetes. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 9422, 9422. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88786-4

Advanced glycation end products as predictors of renal function in youth with type 1 diabetes

2021

Journal Article

Exercise alters cardiovascular and renal pregnancy adaptations in female rats born small on a high-fat diet

Mahizir, Dayana, Briffa, Jessica F., Anevska, Kristina, Wadley, Glenn D., Moritz, Karen M. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2021). Exercise alters cardiovascular and renal pregnancy adaptations in female rats born small on a high-fat diet. AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 320 (4), R404-R416. doi: 10.1152/AJPREGU.00260.2020

Exercise alters cardiovascular and renal pregnancy adaptations in female rats born small on a high-fat diet

2021

Journal Article

“The Problem Is that We Hear a Bit of Everything…”: A qualitative systematic review of factors associated with alcohol use, reduction, and abstinence in pregnancy

Lyall, Vivian, Wolfson, Lindsay, Reid, Natasha, Poole, Nancy, Moritz, Karen M., Egert, Sonya, Browne, Annette J. and Askew, Deborah A. (2021). “The Problem Is that We Hear a Bit of Everything…”: A qualitative systematic review of factors associated with alcohol use, reduction, and abstinence in pregnancy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (7) 3445, 1-24. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073445

“The Problem Is that We Hear a Bit of Everything…”: A qualitative systematic review of factors associated with alcohol use, reduction, and abstinence in pregnancy

2021

Journal Article

Alterations to placental glucocorticoid receptor expression with alcohol consumption

Young, S. L., Saif, Z., Meakin, A. S., McMaster, E. S., Hayes, N., Gallo, L. A., Reid, N., Moritz, K. M. and Clifton, V. L. (2021). Alterations to placental glucocorticoid receptor expression with alcohol consumption. Reproductive Sciences, 28 (5), 1390-1402. doi: 10.1007/s43032-020-00413-1

Alterations to placental glucocorticoid receptor expression with alcohol consumption

2021

Journal Article

Increase in bioavailability of nitric oxide after renal denervation improves kidney function in sheep with hypertensive kidney disease

Singh, Reetu R., McArdle, Zoe M., Booth, Lindsea C., May, Clive N., Head, Geoff A., Moritz, Karen M., Schlaich, Markus P. and Denton, Kate M. (2021). Increase in bioavailability of nitric oxide after renal denervation improves kidney function in sheep with hypertensive kidney disease. Hypertension, 77 (4), 1299-1310. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16718

Increase in bioavailability of nitric oxide after renal denervation improves kidney function in sheep with hypertensive kidney disease

2021

Conference Publication

Diverse outcomes arising from prenatal alcohol exposure exclusively around conception: Maternal, placental and offspring deficits from a rat model

Akison, Lisa K., Steane, Sarah and Moritz, Karen M. (2021). Diverse outcomes arising from prenatal alcohol exposure exclusively around conception: Maternal, placental and offspring deficits from a rat model. 44th Annual Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) Meeting, Online, June 19-23, 2021. Malden, MA United States: Wiley-Blackwell.

Diverse outcomes arising from prenatal alcohol exposure exclusively around conception: Maternal, placental and offspring deficits from a rat model

2020

Journal Article

Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, signalling elements and associated behaviours in a rodent model

Burgess, Danielle J., Lucia, Diana, Cuffe, James S. M. and Moritz, Karen M. (2020). Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, signalling elements and associated behaviours in a rodent model. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 122 104901, 104901. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104901

Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function, signalling elements and associated behaviours in a rodent model

2020

Other Outputs

Preterm birth rates in a large tertiary Australian 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 (2020). Preterm birth rates in a large tertiary Australian maternity centre during COVID-19 mitigation measures. doi: 10.1101/2020.11.24.20237529

Preterm birth rates in a large tertiary Australian maternity centre during COVID-19 mitigation measures

2020

Journal Article

Maternal exercise alters rat fetoplacental stress response: Minimal effects of maternal growth restriction and high-fat feeding

Mangwiro, Yeukai T.M., Cuffe, James S.M., Vickers, Mark H., Reynolds, Clare M., Mahizir, Dayana, Anevska, Kristina, Gravina, Sogand, Romano, Tania, Moritz, Karen M., Briffa, Jessica F. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2020). Maternal exercise alters rat fetoplacental stress response: Minimal effects of maternal growth restriction and high-fat feeding. Placenta, 104, 57-70. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2020.11.006

Maternal exercise alters rat fetoplacental stress response: Minimal effects of maternal growth restriction and high-fat feeding

2020

Conference Publication

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. (2020). Serum and urinary biomarkers to predict acute kidney injury in premature infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy. . 55th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN), Online, 28 November - 2 December 2020. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.

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

2020

Journal Article

Parent-reported sleep problems in school-aged children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: association with child behaviour, caregiver, and family functioning

Hayes, N., Moritz, K.M. and Reid, N. (2020). Parent-reported sleep problems in school-aged children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: association with child behaviour, caregiver, and family functioning. Sleep Medicine, 74, 307-314. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2020.07.022

Parent-reported sleep problems in school-aged children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: association with child behaviour, caregiver, and family functioning

2020

Journal Article

Physiology and pathophysiology of compensatory adaptations of a solitary functioning kidney

McArdle, Zoe, Schreuder, Michiel F., Moritz, Karen M., Denton, Kate M. and Singh, Reetu R. (2020). Physiology and pathophysiology of compensatory adaptations of a solitary functioning kidney. Frontiers in Physiology, 11 725, 1-15. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00725

Physiology and pathophysiology of compensatory adaptations of a solitary functioning kidney

2020

Journal Article

The impact of isolation measures due to COVID-19 on energy intake and physical activity levels in Australian university students

Gallo, Linda A., Gallo, Tania F., Young, Sophia L., Moritz, Karen M. and Akison, Lisa K. (2020). The impact of isolation measures due to COVID-19 on energy intake and physical activity levels in Australian university students. Nutrients, 12 (6) 1865, 1865-14. doi: 10.3390/nu12061865

The impact of isolation measures due to COVID-19 on energy intake and physical activity levels in Australian university students

2020

Journal Article

Caregiver-reported physical health status of children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Reid, N., Hayes, N., Young, S. B., Akison, L. K. and Moritz, K. M. (2020). Caregiver-reported physical health status of children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 12 (3) PII S2040174420000537, 1-8. doi: 10.1017/s2040174420000537

Caregiver-reported physical health status of children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

2020

Journal Article

Moderate episodic prenatal alcohol does not impact female offspring fertility in rats

McReight, Elizabeth K., Liew, Seng H., Steane, Sarah E., Hutt, Karla J., Moritz, Karen M. and Akison, Lisa K. (2020). Moderate episodic prenatal alcohol does not impact female offspring fertility in rats. Reproduction, 159 (5), 615-626. doi: 10.1530/rep-20-0039

Moderate episodic prenatal alcohol does not impact female offspring fertility in rats

2020

Journal Article

Prenatal alcohol exposure and developmental programming of mental illness

Burgess, Danielle J. and Moritz, Karen M. (2020). Prenatal alcohol exposure and developmental programming of mental illness. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 11 (3) PII S2040174420000082, 211-221. doi: 10.1017/s2040174420000082

Prenatal alcohol exposure and developmental programming of mental illness

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

    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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