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)

181 - 200 of 365 works

2014

Journal Article

Mid- to late term hypoxia in the mouse alters placental morphology, glucocorticoid regulatory pathways and nutrient transporters in a sex-specific manner

Cuffe, J. S. M., Walton, S. L, Singh, R. R, Spiers, J. G., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, H., Wilkinson, L., Little, M. H. and Moritz, K. M. (2014). Mid- to late term hypoxia in the mouse alters placental morphology, glucocorticoid regulatory pathways and nutrient transporters in a sex-specific manner. The Journal of Physiology, 592 (14), 1-15. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.272856

Mid- to late term hypoxia in the mouse alters placental morphology, glucocorticoid regulatory pathways and nutrient transporters in a sex-specific manner

2014

Journal Article

Adrenal steroidogenesis following prenatal dexamethasone exposure in the spiny mouse

Quinn, Tracey A., Ratnayake, Udani, Castillo-Melendez, Margie, Moritz, Karen M., Dickinson, Hayley and Walker, David W. (2014). Adrenal steroidogenesis following prenatal dexamethasone exposure in the spiny mouse. Journal of Endocrinology, 221 (2), 347-362. doi: 10.1530/JOE-13-0514

Adrenal steroidogenesis following prenatal dexamethasone exposure in the spiny mouse

2014

Journal Article

Embryo transfer cannot delineate between the maternal pregnancy environment and germ line effects in the transgenerational transmission of disease in rats

Tran, Melanie, Gallo, Linda A., Hanvey, Alanna N., Jefferies, Andrew J., Westcott, Kerryn T., Cullen-McEwen, Luise A., Gardner, David K., Moritz, Karen M. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2014). Embryo transfer cannot delineate between the maternal pregnancy environment and germ line effects in the transgenerational transmission of disease in rats. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 306 (8), R607-R618. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00523.2013

Embryo transfer cannot delineate between the maternal pregnancy environment and germ line effects in the transgenerational transmission of disease in rats

2014

Journal Article

Loss of a kidney during fetal life: long-term consequences and lessons learned

Lankadeva, Yugeesh R., Singh, Reetu R., Tare, Marianne, Moritz, Karen M. and Denton, Kate M. (2014). Loss of a kidney during fetal life: long-term consequences and lessons learned. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 306 (8), F791-F800. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00666.2013

Loss of a kidney during fetal life: long-term consequences and lessons learned

2014

Journal Article

Compensatory responses to nephron deficiency: adaptive or maladaptive?

Fong, Debra, Denton, Kate M., Moritz, Karen M., Evans, Roger and Singh, Reetu R. (2014). Compensatory responses to nephron deficiency: adaptive or maladaptive?. Nephrology, 19 (3), 119-128. doi: 10.1111/nep.12198

Compensatory responses to nephron deficiency: adaptive or maladaptive?

2014

Conference Publication

Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Programs Second Generation Male Cardio-Renal Dysfunction

Pre, A., I, Jefferies, A. J., Soeding, P., Gerace, E. L., Moritz, K. M. and Wlodek, M. E. (2014). Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Programs Second Generation Male Cardio-Renal Dysfunction. 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia (HBPRCA) / 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-Atherosclerosis-Society (AAS), Melbourne Australia, 05 - 07 December 2013. Philadelphia, PA United States: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. doi: 10.1161/HYP.0000000000000010

Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Programs Second Generation Male Cardio-Renal Dysfunction

2014

Journal Article

Transgenerational programming of fetal nephron deficits and sex-specific adult hypertension in rats

Gallo, Linda A., Tran, Melanie, Cullen-McEwen, Luise A., Denton, Kate M., Jefferies, Andrew J., Moritz, Karen M. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2014). Transgenerational programming of fetal nephron deficits and sex-specific adult hypertension in rats. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 26 (7), 1032-1043. doi: 10.1071/RD13133

Transgenerational programming of fetal nephron deficits and sex-specific adult hypertension in rats

2014

Conference Publication

Nitric Oxide Deficiency Promotes the Enhanced Age-Related Decline in Renal Function in 5-Year Old Female Sheep Following Fetal Uninephrectomy

Lankadeva, Y. R., Singh, R. R., Tare, M., Moritz, K. M. and Denton, K. M. (2014). Nitric Oxide Deficiency Promotes the Enhanced Age-Related Decline in Renal Function in 5-Year Old Female Sheep Following Fetal Uninephrectomy. 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the High-Blood-Pressure-Research-Council-of-Australia (HBPRCA) / 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-Atherosclerosis-Society (AAS), Melbourne Australia, 05 - 07 December 2013. Philadelphia, PA United States: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. doi: 10.1161/HYP.0000000000000010

Nitric Oxide Deficiency Promotes the Enhanced Age-Related Decline in Renal Function in 5-Year Old Female Sheep Following Fetal Uninephrectomy

2014

Conference Publication

Chronic Mid-Late Gestational Hypoxia Leads to Hypertension in Male and Female Mouse Offspring

Walton, S. L., Singh, R. R., Paravicini, T. M., Wilkinson, L., Little, M. H. and Moritz, K. M. (2014). Chronic Mid-Late Gestational Hypoxia Leads to Hypertension in Male and Female Mouse Offspring. 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia (HBPRCA) / 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-Atherosclerosis-Society (AAS), Melbourne Australia, 05 - 07 December 2013. Philadelphia, PA United States: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. doi: 10.1161/HYP.0000000000000010

Chronic Mid-Late Gestational Hypoxia Leads to Hypertension in Male and Female Mouse Offspring

2014

Journal Article

Impaired ability to modulate glomerular filtration rate in aged female sheep following fetal uninephrectomy

Lankadeva, Yugeesh R., Singh, Reetu R., Hilliard, Lucinda M., Moritz, Karen M. and Denton, Kate M. (2014). Impaired ability to modulate glomerular filtration rate in aged female sheep following fetal uninephrectomy. Physiological Reports, 2 (1) e00208, e00208. doi: 10.1002/phy2.208

Impaired ability to modulate glomerular filtration rate in aged female sheep following fetal uninephrectomy

2014

Conference Publication

Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Programs Nephron Deficits and Gender Specific Hypertension in Second Generation Offspring

Vickneswaran, C., Jefferies, A. J., Anevska, K., Cheong, J. N., Hanvey, A., Singh, R. R., Moritz, K. M. and Wlodek, M. E. (2014). Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Programs Nephron Deficits and Gender Specific Hypertension in Second Generation Offspring. 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia (HBPRCA) / 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-Atherosclerosis-Society (AAS), Melbourne Australia, 05 - 07 December 2013. Philadelphia, PA United States: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. doi: 10.1161/HYP.0000000000000010

Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Programs Nephron Deficits and Gender Specific Hypertension in Second Generation Offspring

2014

Journal Article

Low-dose maternal alcohol consumption: Effects in the hearts of offspring in early life and adulthood

Nguyen, Vivian B., Probyn, Megan E., Campbell, Fiona, Yin, Kom V., Samuel, Chrishan S., Zimanyi, Monika A., Bertram, John F., Black, Mary Jane and Moritz, Karen M. (2014). Low-dose maternal alcohol consumption: Effects in the hearts of offspring in early life and adulthood. Physiological Reports, 2 (7) e12087, e12087. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12087

Low-dose maternal alcohol consumption: Effects in the hearts of offspring in early life and adulthood

2014

Journal Article

Periconceptional alcohol consumption causes fetal growth restriction and increases glycogen accumulation in the late gestation rat placenta

Gardebjer E.M., Cuffe J.S.M., Pantaleon M., Wlodek M.E. and Moritz K.M. (2014). Periconceptional alcohol consumption causes fetal growth restriction and increases glycogen accumulation in the late gestation rat placenta. Placenta, 35 (1), 50-57. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.10.008

Periconceptional alcohol consumption causes fetal growth restriction and increases glycogen accumulation in the late gestation rat placenta

2014

Conference Publication

Alterations in Renal Function Occur Prior to the Increase in Arterial Pressure in Rat Offspring Following Short-Term Exposure to Maternal Corticosterone

Fong, D., Brown, R. D., Singh, R. R., Flower, R. L., Evans, R. G., Moritz, K. M. and Denton, K. M. (2014). Alterations in Renal Function Occur Prior to the Increase in Arterial Pressure in Rat Offspring Following Short-Term Exposure to Maternal Corticosterone. 35th Annual Scientific Meeting of the High-Blood-Pressure-Research-Council-of-Australia (HBPRCA) / 39th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-Atherosclerosis-Society (AAS), Melbourne Australia, 05 - 07 December 2013. Philadelphia, PA United States: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. doi: 10.1161/HYP.0000000000000010

Alterations in Renal Function Occur Prior to the Increase in Arterial Pressure in Rat Offspring Following Short-Term Exposure to Maternal Corticosterone

2013

Journal Article

Developmental programming: variations in early growth and adult disease

Gallo, Linda A., Tran, Melanie, Moritz, Karen M. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2013). Developmental programming: variations in early growth and adult disease. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 40 (11), 795-802. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.12092

Developmental programming: variations in early growth and adult disease

2013

Journal Article

The effects of low-moderate dose prenatal ethanol exposure on the fetal and postnatal rat lung

Probyn, M. E., Cuffe, J. S. M., Zanini, S. and Moritz, K. M. (2013). The effects of low-moderate dose prenatal ethanol exposure on the fetal and postnatal rat lung. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 4 (5), 358-367. doi: 10.1017/S2040174413000305

The effects of low-moderate dose prenatal ethanol exposure on the fetal and postnatal rat lung

2013

Journal Article

Prenatal exposure to Dexamethasone in the mouse alters cardiac growth patterns and increases pulse pressure in aged male offspring

O'Sullivan, Lee, Cuffe, James S. M., Paravicini, Tamara M., Campbell, Sally, Dickinson, Hayley, Singh, Reetu R., Gezmish, Oksan, Black, M. Jane and Moritz, Karen M. (2013). Prenatal exposure to Dexamethasone in the mouse alters cardiac growth patterns and increases pulse pressure in aged male offspring. PLoS One, 8 (7) e69149, e69149.1-e69149.11. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069149

Prenatal exposure to Dexamethasone in the mouse alters cardiac growth patterns and increases pulse pressure in aged male offspring

2013

Journal Article

Improvement in renal hemodynamics following combined angiotensin II infusion and AT1R blockade in aged female sheep following fetal unilateral nephrectomy

Singh, Reetu R., Lankadeva, Yugeesh R., Denton, Kate M. and Moritz, Karen M. (2013). Improvement in renal hemodynamics following combined angiotensin II infusion and AT1R blockade in aged female sheep following fetal unilateral nephrectomy. PLoS ONE, 8 (7) e68036, e68036.1-e68036.10. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068036

Improvement in renal hemodynamics following combined angiotensin II infusion and AT1R blockade in aged female sheep following fetal unilateral nephrectomy

2013

Journal Article

Expression, Regulation and Putative Nutrient-Sensing Function of Taste GPCRs in the Heart

Foster, Simon R., Porrello, Enzo R., Purdue, Brooke, Chan, Hsiu-Wen, Voigt, Anja, Frenzel, Sabine, Hannan, Ross D., Moritz, Karen M., Simmons, David G., Molenaar, Peter, Roura, Eugeni, Boehm, Ulrich, Meyerhof, Wolfgang and Thomas, Walter G. (2013). Expression, Regulation and Putative Nutrient-Sensing Function of Taste GPCRs in the Heart. PLoS ONE, 8 (5) e64579, e64579-1-e64579-10. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064579

Expression, Regulation and Putative Nutrient-Sensing Function of Taste GPCRs in the Heart

2013

Journal Article

The effect of low-to-moderate-dose ethanol consumption on rat mammary gland structure and function and early postnatal growth of offspring

Probyn, Megan E., Lock, Emma-Kate, Anderson, Stephen T., Walton, Sarah, Bertram, John F., Wlodek, Mary E. and Moritz, Karen M. (2013). The effect of low-to-moderate-dose ethanol consumption on rat mammary gland structure and function and early postnatal growth of offspring. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 304 (10), R791-R798. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00574.2012

The effect of low-to-moderate-dose ethanol consumption on rat mammary gland structure and function and early postnatal growth of offspring

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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