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)

61 - 80 of 360 works

2020

Journal Article

The impact of prematurity on postnatal growth of different renal compartments

Li, Joan, Guandalini, Michael, Mcinnes, Helena, Kandasamy, Yogavijayan, Trnka, Peter and Moritz, Karen (2020). The impact of prematurity on postnatal growth of different renal compartments. Nephrology, 25 (2) nep.13623, 116-124. doi: 10.1111/nep.13623

The impact of prematurity on postnatal growth of different renal compartments

2020

Journal Article

Moderate prenatal ethanol exposure in the rat promotes kidney cell apoptosis, nephron deficits, and sex‐specific kidney dysfunction in adult offspring

Akison, Lisa K., Probyn, Megan E., Gray, Stephen P., Cullen‐McEwen, Louise A., Tep, Karrona, Steane, Sarah E., Gobe, Glenda C., Wlodek, Mary E., Bertram, John F. and Moritz, Karen M. (2020). Moderate prenatal ethanol exposure in the rat promotes kidney cell apoptosis, nephron deficits, and sex‐specific kidney dysfunction in adult offspring. The Anatomical Record, 303 (10) ar.24370, 2632-2645. doi: 10.1002/ar.24370

Moderate prenatal ethanol exposure in the rat promotes kidney cell apoptosis, nephron deficits, and sex‐specific kidney dysfunction in adult offspring

2020

Journal Article

Exercise improves metabolic function and alters the microbiome in rats with gestational diabetes

Mahizir, Dayana, Briffa, Jessica F., Wood, Jennifer L., Anevska, Kristina, Hill-Yardin, Elisa L., Jefferies, Andrew J., Gravina, Sogand, Mazzarino, Gisella, Franks, Ashley E., Moritz, Karen M., Wadley, Glenn D. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2020). Exercise improves metabolic function and alters the microbiome in rats with gestational diabetes. The FASEB Journal, 34 (1), 1728-1744. doi: 10.1096/fj.201901424R

Exercise improves metabolic function and alters the microbiome in rats with gestational diabetes

2020

Conference Publication

Prenatal alcohol exposure programs offspring disease: sex-specific impacts on glucose metabolism in a rat model of moderate, acute exposure

Akison, L.K., Nguyen, T.M.T., Steane, S.E. and Moritz, K.M. (2020). Prenatal alcohol exposure programs offspring disease: sex-specific impacts on glucose metabolism in a rat model of moderate, acute exposure. Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) World Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 19-23 October 2019. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Prenatal alcohol exposure programs offspring disease: sex-specific impacts on glucose metabolism in a rat model of moderate, acute exposure

2020

Journal Article

Maternal hypoxia developmentally programs low podocyte endowment in male, but not female offspring

Gonçalves, Gessica D., Walton, Sarah L., Gazzard, Sarah E., van der Wolde, James, Mathias, Paulo C. F., Moritz, Karen M., Cullen-McEwen, Luise A. and Bertram, John F. (2020). Maternal hypoxia developmentally programs low podocyte endowment in male, but not female offspring. Anatomical Record, 303 (10) ar.24369, 1-11. doi: 10.1002/ar.24369

Maternal hypoxia developmentally programs low podocyte endowment in male, but not female offspring

2020

Conference Publication

Nutrient intake, physical activity levels, and metabolic status in Australian university biomedical students

Gallo, Linda, Moritz, Karen and Akison, Lisa (2020). Nutrient intake, physical activity levels, and metabolic status in Australian university biomedical students. Nutrition 2020 Live Online, Online, 1-4 June 2020. New York, NY United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa061_032

Nutrient intake, physical activity levels, and metabolic status in Australian university biomedical students

2020

Conference Publication

Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoform profile in the liver of adult offspring irrespective of fetal liver GR patterns

Kent, N.L., Cuffe, J.S.M., Akison, L.K., Saif, Z., Clifton, V.L. and Moritz, K.M. (2020). Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoform profile in the liver of adult offspring irrespective of fetal liver GR patterns. Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) World Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 19-23 October 2019. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters glucocorticoid receptor (GR) isoform profile in the liver of adult offspring irrespective of fetal liver GR patterns

2019

Journal Article

Prenatal alcohol exposure programs offspring disease: insulin resistance in adult males in a rat model of acute exposure

Nguyen, Tam M. T., Steane, Sarah E., Moritz, Karen M. and Akison, Lisa K. (2019). Prenatal alcohol exposure programs offspring disease: insulin resistance in adult males in a rat model of acute exposure. The Journal of Physiology, 597 (23) JP278531, 5619-5637. doi: 10.1113/jp278531

Prenatal alcohol exposure programs offspring disease: insulin resistance in adult males in a rat model of acute exposure

2019

Journal Article

Periconceptional ethanol exposure induces a sex specific diuresis and increase in AQP2 and AVPR2 in the kidneys of aged rat offspring

Dorey, Emily S., Walton, Sarah L., Kalisch‐Smith, Jacinta I., Paravicini, Tamara M., Gardebjer, Emelie M., Weir, Kristy A., Singh, Reetu R., Bielefeldt‐Ohmann, Helle, Anderson, Stephen T., Wlodek, Mary E. and Moritz, Karen M. (2019). Periconceptional ethanol exposure induces a sex specific diuresis and increase in AQP2 and AVPR2 in the kidneys of aged rat offspring. Physiological Reports, 7 (21) e14273, e14273. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14273

Periconceptional ethanol exposure induces a sex specific diuresis and increase in AQP2 and AVPR2 in the kidneys of aged rat offspring

2019

Journal Article

Caregiver and family quality of life for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Reid, N. and Moritz, K. M. (2019). Caregiver and family quality of life for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 94 103478, 103478. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103478

Caregiver and family quality of life for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

2019

Journal Article

Protocol for the Yapatjarrathati project: a mixed-method implementation trial of a tiered assessment process for identifying fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in a remote Australian community

Shanley, Dianne C., Hawkins, Erinn, Page, Marjad, Shelton, Doug, Liu, Wei, Webster, Heidi, Moritz, Karen M., Barry, Linda, Ziviani, Jenny, Morrissey, Shirley, O'Callaghan, Frances, Wood, Andrew, Katsikitis, Mary and Reid, Natasha (2019). Protocol for the Yapatjarrathati project: a mixed-method implementation trial of a tiered assessment process for identifying fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in a remote Australian community. BMC Health Services Research, 19 (1) 649, 649. doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4378-5

Protocol for the Yapatjarrathati project: a mixed-method implementation trial of a tiered assessment process for identifying fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in a remote Australian community

2019

Journal Article

Adverse health outcomes associated with fetal alcohol exposure: a systematic review focused on cardio-renal outcomes

Reid, Natasha, Akison, Lisa K., Hoy, Wendy and Moritz, Karen M. (2019). Adverse health outcomes associated with fetal alcohol exposure: a systematic review focused on cardio-renal outcomes. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 80 (5), 515-523. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2019.80.515

Adverse health outcomes associated with fetal alcohol exposure: a systematic review focused on cardio-renal outcomes

2019

Journal Article

Can fetal alcohol exposure increase the risk of hypertension? A new study in children and adolescents diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder suggests it can

Moritz, K M, Reid, N and Akison, L K (2019). Can fetal alcohol exposure increase the risk of hypertension? A new study in children and adolescents diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder suggests it can. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 43 (10) acer.14175, 2057-2059. doi: 10.1111/acer.14175

Can fetal alcohol exposure increase the risk of hypertension? A new study in children and adolescents diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder suggests it can

2019

Journal Article

Adverse health outcomes associated with fetal alcohol exposure: a systematic review focused on immune-related outcomes

Reid, N., Moritz, K. M. and Akison, L. K. (2019). Adverse health outcomes associated with fetal alcohol exposure: a systematic review focused on immune-related outcomes. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 30 (7) pai.13099, 698-707. doi: 10.1111/pai.13099

Adverse health outcomes associated with fetal alcohol exposure: a systematic review focused on immune-related outcomes

2019

Journal Article

Maternal corticosterone in the mouse alters oxidative stress markers, antioxidant function and mitochondrial content in placentas of female fetuses

Bartho, Lucy A., Holland, Olivia, Moritz, Karen M., Perkins, Anthony V. and Cuffe, James S. M. (2019). Maternal corticosterone in the mouse alters oxidative stress markers, antioxidant function and mitochondrial content in placentas of female fetuses. The Journal of Physiology, 597 (12) JP277815, 3053-3067. doi: 10.1113/jp277815

Maternal corticosterone in the mouse alters oxidative stress markers, antioxidant function and mitochondrial content in placentas of female fetuses

2019

Journal Article

Periconceptional alcohol exposure causes female-specific perturbations to trophoblast differentiation and placental formation in the rat

Kalisch-Smith, Jacinta I., Steane, Sarah E., Simmons, David G., Pantaleon, Marie, Anderson, Stephen T., Akison, Lisa K., Wlodek, Mary E. and Moritz, Karen M. (2019). Periconceptional alcohol exposure causes female-specific perturbations to trophoblast differentiation and placental formation in the rat. Development, 146 (11) dev172205, dev172205. doi: 10.1242/dev.172205

Periconceptional alcohol exposure causes female-specific perturbations to trophoblast differentiation and placental formation in the rat

2019

Journal Article

Adverse Health Outcomes in Offspring Associated With Fetal Alcohol Exposure: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies With a Focus on Metabolic and Body Composition Outcomes

Akison, Lisa K., Reid, Natasha, Wyllie, Melissa and Moritz, Karen M. (2019). Adverse Health Outcomes in Offspring Associated With Fetal Alcohol Exposure: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies With a Focus on Metabolic and Body Composition Outcomes. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 43 (7) acer.14078, 1324-1343. doi: 10.1111/acer.14078

Adverse Health Outcomes in Offspring Associated With Fetal Alcohol Exposure: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Preclinical Studies With a Focus on Metabolic and Body Composition Outcomes

2019

Journal Article

Chronic low alcohol intake during pregnancy programs sex-specific cardiovascular deficits in rats

Walton, Sarah L., Tjongue, Melissa, Tare, Marianne, Kwok, Edmund, Probyn, Megan, Parkington, Helena C., Bertram, John F., Moritz, Karen M. and Denton, Kate M. (2019). Chronic low alcohol intake during pregnancy programs sex-specific cardiovascular deficits in rats. Biology of Sex Differences, 10 (1) 21, 21. doi: 10.1186/s13293-019-0235-9

Chronic low alcohol intake during pregnancy programs sex-specific cardiovascular deficits in rats

2019

Journal Article

Periconceptional maternal alcohol consumption leads to behavioural changes in adult and aged offspring and alters the expression of hippocampal genes associated with learning and memory and regulators of the epigenome

Lucia, D., Burgess, D., Cullen, C. L., Dorey, E. S., Rawashdeh, O. and Moritz, K. M. (2019). Periconceptional maternal alcohol consumption leads to behavioural changes in adult and aged offspring and alters the expression of hippocampal genes associated with learning and memory and regulators of the epigenome. Behavioural Brain Research, 362, 249-257. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.01.009

Periconceptional maternal alcohol consumption leads to behavioural changes in adult and aged offspring and alters the expression of hippocampal genes associated with learning and memory and regulators of the epigenome

2019

Journal Article

Impact of prenatal and postnatal maternal environment on nephron endowment, renal function and blood pressure in the Lewis polycystic kidney rat

Ding, A., Walton, S. L., Moritz, K. M. and Phillips, J. K. (2019). Impact of prenatal and postnatal maternal environment on nephron endowment, renal function and blood pressure in the Lewis polycystic kidney rat. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 10 (2) PII S2040174418000673, 154-163. doi: 10.1017/S2040174418000673

Impact of prenatal and postnatal maternal environment on nephron endowment, renal function and blood pressure in the Lewis polycystic kidney rat

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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

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

For media enquiries about Professor Karen Moritz's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au