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)

121 - 140 of 365 works

2017

Journal Article

Dexamethasone and sex regulate placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in mice

Cuffe, James S. M., Saif, Zarqa, Perkins, Anthony V., Moritz, Karen M. and Clifton, Vicki L. (2017). Dexamethasone and sex regulate placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in mice. Journal of Endocrinology, 234 (2), 89-100. doi: 10.1530/JOE-17-0171

Dexamethasone and sex regulate placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in mice

2017

Journal Article

Maternal hypomagnesemia alters hippocampal NMDAR subunit expression and programs anxiety-like behaviour in adult offspring

Schlegel, R. N., Spiers, J. G., Moritz, K. M., Cullen, C. L., Bjorkman, S. T. and Paravicini, T. M. (2017). Maternal hypomagnesemia alters hippocampal NMDAR subunit expression and programs anxiety-like behaviour in adult offspring. Behavioural Brain Research, 328, 39-47. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.04.009

Maternal hypomagnesemia alters hippocampal NMDAR subunit expression and programs anxiety-like behaviour in adult offspring

2017

Journal Article

Review: The role of multiple placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in adapting to the maternal environment and regulating fetal growth

Clifton, V. L., Cuffe, J., Moritz, K. M., Cole, T. J., Fuller, P. J., Lu, N. Z., Kumar, S., Chong, S. and Saif, Z. (2017). Review: The role of multiple placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in adapting to the maternal environment and regulating fetal growth. Placenta, 54, 24-29. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2016.12.017

Review: The role of multiple placental glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in adapting to the maternal environment and regulating fetal growth

2017

Journal Article

Placental O-GlcNAc-transferase expression and interactions with the glucocorticoid receptor are sex specific and regulated by maternal corticosterone exposure in mice

Pantaleon, Marie, Steane, Sarah E., McMahon, Kathryn, Cuffe, James S. M. and Moritz, Karen M. (2017). Placental O-GlcNAc-transferase expression and interactions with the glucocorticoid receptor are sex specific and regulated by maternal corticosterone exposure in mice. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 2017, 2017. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01666-8

Placental O-GlcNAc-transferase expression and interactions with the glucocorticoid receptor are sex specific and regulated by maternal corticosterone exposure in mice

2017

Journal Article

Sex differences in rat placental development: from pre-implantation to late gestation

Kalisch-Smith, J. I., Simmons, D. G., Pantaleon, M. and Moritz, K. M. (2017). Sex differences in rat placental development: from pre-implantation to late gestation. Biology of Sex Differences, 8 (1) 17, 17. doi: 10.1186/s13293-017-0138-6

Sex differences in rat placental development: from pre-implantation to late gestation

2017

Journal Article

Uteroplacental insufficiency reduces rat plasma leptin concentrations and alters placental leptin transporters: ameliorated with enhanced milk intake and nutrition

Briffa, Jessica F., O'Dowd, Rachael, Moritz, Karen M., Romano, Tania, Jedwab, Lisa R., Mcainch, Andrew J., Hryciw, Deanne H. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2017). Uteroplacental insufficiency reduces rat plasma leptin concentrations and alters placental leptin transporters: ameliorated with enhanced milk intake and nutrition. Journal of Physiology, 595 (11), 3389-3407. doi: 10.1113/JP273825

Uteroplacental insufficiency reduces rat plasma leptin concentrations and alters placental leptin transporters: ameliorated with enhanced milk intake and nutrition

2017

Journal Article

Catheter-based renal denervation exacerbates blood pressure fall during hemorrhage

Singh, Reetu R. , Sajeesh, Varsha, Booth, Lindsea C., McArdle, Zoe , May, Clive N., Head, Geoffrey A., Moritz, Karen M., Schlaich, Markus P. and Denton, Kate M. (2017). Catheter-based renal denervation exacerbates blood pressure fall during hemorrhage. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 69 (8), 951-964. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2016.12.014

Catheter-based renal denervation exacerbates blood pressure fall during hemorrhage

2017

Journal Article

Review: Alterations in placental glycogen deposition in complicated pregnancies: current preclinical and clinical evidence

Akison, Lisa K., Nitert, Marloes Dekker, Clifton, Vicki L., Moritz, Karen M. and Simmons, David G. (2017). Review: Alterations in placental glycogen deposition in complicated pregnancies: current preclinical and clinical evidence. Placenta, 54, 52-58. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.01.114

Review: Alterations in placental glycogen deposition in complicated pregnancies: current preclinical and clinical evidence

2017

Conference Publication

Australian Indigenous Women’s smokeless tobacco use: effect on pregnancy outcomes

Bogossian, Fiona, Ratsch, Angela, Moritz, Karen and Steadman, Kathryn (2017). Australian Indigenous Women’s smokeless tobacco use: effect on pregnancy outcomes. Seminar Series, UBC Vancouver, 11 Jan 2017.

Australian Indigenous Women’s smokeless tobacco use: effect on pregnancy outcomes

2017

Conference Publication

Maternal glucocorticoid exposure in the mouse alters placental oxidative stress, mitochondrial content and antioxidant capacity in a sexually dimorphic manner

Cuffe, S. M. James, Bartho, Lucy A., Holland, Olivia J., Moritz, Karen M. and Perkins, Anthony V. (2017). Maternal glucocorticoid exposure in the mouse alters placental oxidative stress, mitochondrial content and antioxidant capacity in a sexually dimorphic manner. Meeting of the International-Federation-of-Placenta-Associations (IFPA), Manchester England, Aug 30-Sep 2 2017. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.07.261

Maternal glucocorticoid exposure in the mouse alters placental oxidative stress, mitochondrial content and antioxidant capacity in a sexually dimorphic manner

2017

Conference Publication

Exercise initiated during pregnancy reduces blood spaces in males, despite increasing placental angiogenic markers

Mangwiro, Yeukai, Cuffe, James, Briffa, Jessica, Hosseini, Sogand, Mahizir, Dayana, Anevska, Kristina, Romano, Tania, Moritz, Karen and Wlodek, Mary (2017). Exercise initiated during pregnancy reduces blood spaces in males, despite increasing placental angiogenic markers. Meeting of the International-Federation-of-Placenta-Associations (IFPA), Manchester England, Aug 30-Sep 2 2017. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.07.327

Exercise initiated during pregnancy reduces blood spaces in males, despite increasing placental angiogenic markers

2017

Conference Publication

Maternal corticosterone exposure in the mouse induces placental oxidative stress and dysregulates expression of antioxidant and apoptotic genes in a sex specific manner

Cuffe, James S. M., Bartho, Lucy A., Moritz, Karen M. and Perkins, Tony V. (2017). Maternal corticosterone exposure in the mouse induces placental oxidative stress and dysregulates expression of antioxidant and apoptotic genes in a sex specific manner. The Endocrine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 21-24 August 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/cen.13259

Maternal corticosterone exposure in the mouse induces placental oxidative stress and dysregulates expression of antioxidant and apoptotic genes in a sex specific manner

2017

Conference Publication

Periconceptional alcohol exposure alters heart function and left ventricular estrogen receptor alpha expression in a sex-specific manner

Dorey, Emily S., Campbell, Fiona, Wlodek, Mary E. and Moritz, Karen M. (2017). Periconceptional alcohol exposure alters heart function and left ventricular estrogen receptor alpha expression in a sex-specific manner. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Periconceptional alcohol exposure alters heart function and left ventricular estrogen receptor alpha expression in a sex-specific manner

2017

Journal Article

Prenatal corticosterone exposure programs sex-specific adrenal adaptations in mouse offspring

Cuffe, J. S. M., Turton, E. L., Akison, L. K., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, H. and Moritz, K. M. (2017). Prenatal corticosterone exposure programs sex-specific adrenal adaptations in mouse offspring. Journal of Endocrinology, 232 (1), 37-48. doi: 10.1530/JOE-16-0417

Prenatal corticosterone exposure programs sex-specific adrenal adaptations in mouse offspring

2017

Conference Publication

Sex-specific placental IGF-system adaptations to maternal exercise in growth restricted mothers

Mangwiro, Yeukai, Cuffe, James, Briffa, Jessica, Mahizir, Dayana, Anevska, Kristina, Romano, Tania, Moritz, Karen and Wlodek, Mary (2017). Sex-specific placental IGF-system adaptations to maternal exercise in growth restricted mothers. Meeting of the International-Federation-of-Placenta-Associations (IFPA), Manchester England, Aug 30-Sep 2 2017. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2017.07.073

Sex-specific placental IGF-system adaptations to maternal exercise in growth restricted mothers

2017

Conference Publication

The Impact of Prematurity on Postnatal Renal Medulla Development

Li, Joan, Guandalini, Michael, Kandasamy, Joga, Moritz, Karen M. and Trnka, Peter (2017). The Impact of Prematurity on Postnatal Renal Medulla Development. Kidney Week, American Society of Nephrology, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, October 31 - November 5 2017. United States: American Society of Nephrology.

The Impact of Prematurity on Postnatal Renal Medulla Development

2017

Conference Publication

Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters maternal adrenal steroidogenesis and corticosterone levels

Burgess, Danielle, Cuffe, James and Moritz, Karen (2017). Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters maternal adrenal steroidogenesis and corticosterone levels. The Endocrine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 21-24 August 2016. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing . doi: 10.1111/cen.13259

Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters maternal adrenal steroidogenesis and corticosterone levels

2017

Conference Publication

Exercise before and during pregnancy is more effective in preventing metabolic disease in females born small fed a high fat diet than exercise during pregnancy only

Mahizir, Dayana, Anevska, Kristina, Jefferies, Andrew J., Hryciw, Deanne H., Moritz, Karen M., Wadley, Glenn D. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2017). Exercise before and during pregnancy is more effective in preventing metabolic disease in females born small fed a high fat diet than exercise during pregnancy only. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

Exercise before and during pregnancy is more effective in preventing metabolic disease in females born small fed a high fat diet than exercise during pregnancy only

2016

Journal Article

Review: sexual dimorphism in the formation, function and adaptation of the placenta

Kalisch-Smith, J. I., Simmons, D. G., Dickinson, H. and Moritz, K. M. (2016). Review: sexual dimorphism in the formation, function and adaptation of the placenta. Placenta, 54, 10-16. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2016.12.008

Review: sexual dimorphism in the formation, function and adaptation of the placenta

2016

Journal Article

IFPA meeting 2015 workshop report I: Placental mitochondrial function, transport systems and epigenetics

Bianco-Miotto, T., Blundell, C., Buckberry, S., Chamley, L., Chong, S., Cottrell, E., Dawson, P., Hanna, C., Holland, O., Lewis, R.M., Moritz, K., Myatt, L., Perkins, A.V., Powell, T., Saffery, R., Sferruzzi-Perri, A., Sibley, C., Simmons, D. and O'Tierney-Ginn, P. F. (2016). IFPA meeting 2015 workshop report I: Placental mitochondrial function, transport systems and epigenetics. Placenta, 48, S3-S6. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2015.11.014

IFPA meeting 2015 workshop report I: Placental mitochondrial function, transport systems and epigenetics

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

  • 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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