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)

101 - 120 of 365 works

2018

Journal Article

Prolonged prenatal hypoxia selectively disrupts collecting duct patterning and postnatal function in male mouse offspring

Walton, Sarah L., Singh, Reetu R., Little, Melissa H., Bowles, Josephine, Li, Joan and Moritz, Karen M. (2018). Prolonged prenatal hypoxia selectively disrupts collecting duct patterning and postnatal function in male mouse offspring. The Journal of Physiology, 596 (23), 5873-5889. doi: 10.1113/JP275918

Prolonged prenatal hypoxia selectively disrupts collecting duct patterning and postnatal function in male mouse offspring

2018

Conference Publication

F2 Fetal Nephron Number Benefits of Endurance Exercise Training for Females Born Small on a High Fat Diet

Wlodek, Mary E., Briffa, Jessica, Hosseini, Sogand S., Richter, Viktoria, Mahizir, Dayana, Anevska, Kristina, Wadley, Glenn D., Hryciw, Deanne H. and Moritz, Karen M. (2018). F2 Fetal Nephron Number Benefits of Endurance Exercise Training for Females Born Small on a High Fat Diet. 65th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society-for-Reproductive-Investigation (SRI), San Diego Ca, Mar 06-10, 2018. THOUSAND OAKS: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC.

F2 Fetal Nephron Number Benefits of Endurance Exercise Training for Females Born Small on a High Fat Diet

2018

Journal Article

Haploinsufficiency for the Six2 gene increases nephron progenitor proliferation promoting branching and nephron number

Combes, Alexander N., Wilson, Sean, Phipson, Belinda, Binnie, Brandon B., Ju, Adler, Lawlor, Kynan T., Cebrian, Cristina, Walton, Sarah L., Smyth, Ian M., Moritz, Karen M., Kopan, Raphael, Oshlack, Alicia and Little, Melissa H. (2018). Haploinsufficiency for the Six2 gene increases nephron progenitor proliferation promoting branching and nephron number. Kidney International, 93 (3), 589-598. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2017.09.015

Haploinsufficiency for the Six2 gene increases nephron progenitor proliferation promoting branching and nephron number

2018

Journal Article

Modeling heart failure risk in diabetes and kidney disease: limitations and potential applications of transverse aortic constriction in high fat fed mice

Tan, Wei Sheng, Mullins, Thomas P., Flint, Melanie, Walton, Sarah L., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Carter, David A., Gandhi, Meera R., McDonald, Hayley R., Li, Joan, Moritz, Karen M., Reichelt, Melissa E. and Gallo, Linda A (2018). Modeling heart failure risk in diabetes and kidney disease: limitations and potential applications of transverse aortic constriction in high fat fed mice. American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative and comparative physiology, 314 (6), R858-R869. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00357.2017

Modeling heart failure risk in diabetes and kidney disease: limitations and potential applications of transverse aortic constriction in high fat fed mice

2018

Conference Publication

Glucocorticoid receptor isoform expression profile in the rat placenta and fetal liver in pregnancies exposed to periconceptional alcohol

Akison, L. K., Andersen, I. S. G., Kent, N. L., Steane, S. E., Saif, Z., Clifton, V. L. and Moritz, K. M. (2018). Glucocorticoid receptor isoform expression profile in the rat placenta and fetal liver in pregnancies exposed to periconceptional alcohol. 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, California, 16-20 June 2018. Malden, MA, United States: Wiley-Blackwell.

Glucocorticoid receptor isoform expression profile in the rat placenta and fetal liver in pregnancies exposed to periconceptional alcohol

2018

Conference Publication

Periconceptional ethanol alters the social and depressive-like phenotypes in rat offspring

Burgess, D. J., Lucia, D., Cuffe, J. S. M. and Moritz, K. M. (2018). Periconceptional ethanol alters the social and depressive-like phenotypes in rat offspring. 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, California, 16-20 June 2018 . Malden, MA, United States: Wiley-Blackwell.

Periconceptional ethanol alters the social and depressive-like phenotypes in rat offspring

2018

Conference Publication

Body composition to estimate percentage fat mass: comparisons between common clinical methods and gold-standard air displacement plethysmography (BODPOD) in a cohort of university students

Akison, Lisa K., Gallo, Linda A., Barclay, Johanna L., Burgess, Danielle, Keshvari, Sahar, Fotheringham, Amelia K. and Moritz, Karen M. (2018). Body composition to estimate percentage fat mass: comparisons between common clinical methods and gold-standard air displacement plethysmography (BODPOD) in a cohort of university students. Joint Annual Scientific Meetings of Endocrine Society of Australia (ESA) and Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB), Perth, Australia, 27-30 August 2017. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Body composition to estimate percentage fat mass: comparisons between common clinical methods and gold-standard air displacement plethysmography (BODPOD) in a cohort of university students

2018

Conference Publication

Periconceptional ethanol programs a decrease in plasma corticosterone and altered hippocampal gene regulation of stress pathways in rat offspring

Burgess, D. J., Lucia, D., Cuffe, J. S. M. and Moritz, K. M. (2018). Periconceptional ethanol programs a decrease in plasma corticosterone and altered hippocampal gene regulation of stress pathways in rat offspring. 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, CA, United States, 16-20 June 2018. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley.

Periconceptional ethanol programs a decrease in plasma corticosterone and altered hippocampal gene regulation of stress pathways in rat offspring

2018

Conference Publication

Placental changes due to periconceptional alcohol exposure and the potential for mid-gestational choline supplementation to ameliorate these effects

Akison, L. K., Fielding, A. M., Browne, D. J., Steane, S. E. and Moritz, K. M. (2018). Placental changes due to periconceptional alcohol exposure and the potential for mid-gestational choline supplementation to ameliorate these effects. 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, California, 16-20 June 2018. Malden, MA, United States: Wiley-Blackwell.

Placental changes due to periconceptional alcohol exposure and the potential for mid-gestational choline supplementation to ameliorate these effects

2018

Conference Publication

Maternal alcohol consumption around conception leads to sex specific behavioural changes in rat offspring

Lucia, D., Burgess, D. J., Cullen, C. L., Rawashdeh, O. and Moritz, K. M. (2018). Maternal alcohol consumption around conception leads to sex specific behavioural changes in rat offspring. 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, CA, United States, 16-20 June 2018. Malden, MA, United States: Wiley-Blackwell.

Maternal alcohol consumption around conception leads to sex specific behavioural changes in rat offspring

2018

Conference Publication

Partial reinnervation of efferent renal sympathetic nerves 30 months after radiofrequency catheter-based renal denervation in sheep with hypertensive chronic kidney disease

McArdle, Zoe, Singh, Reetu, Iudica, Michael, Booth, Lindsea, May, Clive, Head, Geoffrey, Moritz, Karen, Schlaich, Markus and Denton, Kate (2018). Partial reinnervation of efferent renal sympathetic nerves 30 months after radiofrequency catheter-based renal denervation in sheep with hypertensive chronic kidney disease. 27th Scientific Meeting of the International-Society-of-Hypertension, Beijing, Peoples R China, 20-23 September 2018. London, United Kingdom: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000548175.84844.9d

Partial reinnervation of efferent renal sympathetic nerves 30 months after radiofrequency catheter-based renal denervation in sheep with hypertensive chronic kidney disease

2018

Conference Publication

Alterations to circadian rhythms of blood glucose and plasma corticosterone in rat offspring following exposure to alcohol around conception

Wing, M. J., Burgess, Di., Lucia, D., Rawashdeh, O. and Moritz, K. M. (2018). Alterations to circadian rhythms of blood glucose and plasma corticosterone in rat offspring following exposure to alcohol around conception. 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, California, 16-20 June 2018 . Malden, MA, United States: Wiley-Blackwell .

Alterations to circadian rhythms of blood glucose and plasma corticosterone in rat offspring following exposure to alcohol around conception

2018

Conference Publication

Periconceptional alcohol exposure results in sex-specific alterations to circadian rhythms of blood glucose and plasma corticosterone in rat offspring

Wing, Michael J. E., Burgess, Danielle, Zanfirache, Diana, Rawashdeh, Oliver and Moritz, Karen (2018). Periconceptional alcohol exposure results in sex-specific alterations to circadian rhythms of blood glucose and plasma corticosterone in rat offspring. Joint Annual Scientific Meetings of the Endocrine Society of Australia and the Society for Reproductive Biology 2017, Perth, WA, Australia, 27-30 August 2017. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/cen.13727

Periconceptional alcohol exposure results in sex-specific alterations to circadian rhythms of blood glucose and plasma corticosterone in rat offspring

2018

Conference Publication

Glucose and insulin profiles during an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) are similar between fed and fasted states in a cohort of university students

Akison, Lisa K., Gallo, Linda A., Barclay, Johanna L., Zhuang, Aowen, Chen, Cortina, Fotheringham, Amelia K. and Moritz, Karen M. (2018). Glucose and insulin profiles during an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) are similar between fed and fasted states in a cohort of university students. Joint Annual Scientific Meetings of Endocrine Society of Australia (ESA) and Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB), Perth, Australia, 27-30 August 2017. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.

Glucose and insulin profiles during an oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) are similar between fed and fasted states in a cohort of university students

2017

Journal Article

Review: Detrimental effects of alcohol exposure around conception: putative mechanisms

Kalisch-Smith, Jacinta I and Moritz, Karen M (2017). Review: Detrimental effects of alcohol exposure around conception: putative mechanisms. Biochemistry and cell biology = Biochimie et biologie cellulaire, 96 (2), 1-10. doi: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0133

Review: Detrimental effects of alcohol exposure around conception: putative mechanisms

2017

Journal Article

Uteroplacental insufficiency in rats induces renal apoptosis and delays nephrogenesis completion

Cuffe, James Sm, Briffa, Jessica F., Rosser, Shannyn, Siebel, Andrew L., Romano, Tania, Hryciw, Deanne H., Wlodek, Mary E. and Moritz, Karen M. (2017). Uteroplacental insufficiency in rats induces renal apoptosis and delays nephrogenesis completion. Acta Physiologica, 222 (3) e12982, e12982. doi: 10.1111/apha.12982

Uteroplacental insufficiency in rats induces renal apoptosis and delays nephrogenesis completion

2017

Journal Article

The effects of periconceptional maternal alcohol intake and a postnatal high-fat diet on obesity and liver disease in male and female rat offspring

Gardebjer, Emelie M., Cuffe, James S. M., Ward, Leigh C., Steane, Sarah, Anderson, Stephen T., Dorey, Emily S., Kalisch-Smith, Jacinta I., Pantaleon, Marie, Chong, Suyinn, Yamada, Lisa, Wlodek, Mary E., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle and Moritz, Karen M. (2017). The effects of periconceptional maternal alcohol intake and a postnatal high-fat diet on obesity and liver disease in male and female rat offspring. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, 315 (4), ajpendo.00251.2-E704. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00251.2017

The effects of periconceptional maternal alcohol intake and a postnatal high-fat diet on obesity and liver disease in male and female rat offspring

2017

Journal Article

The impact of periconceptional alcohol exposure on fat preference and gene expression in the mesolimbic reward pathway in adult rat offspring

Dorey, E. S., Cullen, C. L., Lucia, D., Mah, K. M., Manchadi, M.-L. Roy, Muhlhausler, B. S. and Moritz, K. M. (2017). The impact of periconceptional alcohol exposure on fat preference and gene expression in the mesolimbic reward pathway in adult rat offspring. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 9 (2), 223-231. doi: 10.1017/S2040174417000824

The impact of periconceptional alcohol exposure on fat preference and gene expression in the mesolimbic reward pathway in adult rat offspring

2017

Journal Article

Maternal growth restriction and stress exposure in rats differentially alters expression of components of the placental glucocorticoid barrier and nutrient transporters

Briffa, Jessica F, Hosseini, Sogand S, Tran, Melanie, Moritz, Karen M, Cuffe, James S M and Wlodek, Mary E (2017). Maternal growth restriction and stress exposure in rats differentially alters expression of components of the placental glucocorticoid barrier and nutrient transporters. Placenta, 59, 30-38. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.09.006

Maternal growth restriction and stress exposure in rats differentially alters expression of components of the placental glucocorticoid barrier and nutrient transporters

2017

Journal Article

Prenatal hypoxia leads to hypertension, renal renin-angiotensin system activation and exacerbates salt-induced pathology in a sex-specific manner

Walton, S. L., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, H., Singh, R. R., Li, J., Paravicini, T. M., Little, M. H. and Moritz, K. M. (2017). Prenatal hypoxia leads to hypertension, renal renin-angiotensin system activation and exacerbates salt-induced pathology in a sex-specific manner. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 8241, 8241. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08365-4

Prenatal hypoxia leads to hypertension, renal renin-angiotensin system activation and exacerbates salt-induced pathology in a sex-specific manner

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

    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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