
Overview
Background
Naomi Wray is the Michael Davys Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford. She holds an appointment at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) within the University of Queensland. She joined UQ Queensland Brain Institute in 2011 moving to the IMB in 2015. She was Head of the Centre for Population & Disease Genomics within IMB 2018-2023. Her Oxford appointment started in 2023.
Her research focuses on development and application of quantitative genetics and genomics methodologies across complex diseases, disorders and traits, but particularly psychiatric-related traits.
She is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Leadership Fellow, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science. In 2020 she was awarded the NHMRC Elizabeth Blackburn Award for Leadership in Basic Science and the 2021 International Society of Psychiatric Genetics Ming Tsuang Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a Clarivate Highly Cited researcher.
She was Director of the Program in Complex Trait Genomics (PCTG) funded as an NHMRC Program Grant 2017-2022. She plays a key role in the International Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and established the sporadic ALS Australia systems genomics consortium (SALSA) funded by the MND Research Australia IceBucket Challenge and FightMND. She is a co-investigator on the Australian Genetics of Depression Study (AGDS) and is currently launching the AGDS-Cello project focussed on establishing a cell line resource from participants with a detailed history of anti-depressant use and response measures. She is part of an NHMRC Synergy (2023-2027) "Rhythms and blues: Personalising care for body clock dysfunction in mood disorders".
She is secretary of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics, and is on the editorial advisory boards of JAMA Psychiatry, Neuron, Royal Society Open and Research Directions: Depression.
Availability
- Professor Naomi Wray is:
- Not available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Edinburgh
Research interests
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Genetics of complex genetic traits, disease and disorders
Quantitative genetics methodology Genetics of Psychiatric Disorder Genetics of Motor Neurone Disease Genetics of Cognitive Ageing Systems Genomics
Works
Search Professor Naomi Wray’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Journal Article
Common disease is more complex than implied by the core gene omnigenic model
Wray, Naomi R., Wijmenga, Cisca, Sullivan, Patrick F., Yang, Jian and Visscher, Peter M. (2018). Common disease is more complex than implied by the core gene omnigenic model. Cell, 173 (7), 1573-1580. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.051
2018
Journal Article
Trans-eQTLs identified in whole blood have limited influence on complex disease biology
Yap, Chloe X., Lloyd-Jones, Luke, Holloway, Alexander, Smartt, Peter, Wray, Naomi R., Gratten, Jacob and Powell, Joseph E. (2018). Trans-eQTLs identified in whole blood have limited influence on complex disease biology. European Journal of Human Genetics, 26 (9), 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41431-018-0174-7
2018
Journal Article
Identifying gene targets for brain-related traits using transcriptomic and methylomic data from blood
Qi, Ting, Wu, Yang, Zeng, Jian, Zhang, Futao, Xue, Angli, Jiang, Longda, Zhu, Zhihong, Kemper, Kathryn, Yengo, Loic, Zheng, Zhili, eQTLGen Consortium, Marioni, Riccardo E., Montgomery, Grant W., Deary, Ian J., Wray, Naomi R., Visscher, Peter M., McRae, Allan F. and Yang, Jian (2018). Identifying gene targets for brain-related traits using transcriptomic and methylomic data from blood. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 2282, 2282. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04558-1
2018
Journal Article
Estimation of genetic correlation via linkage disequilibrium score regression and genomic restricted maximum likelihood
Ni, Guiyan, Moser, Gerhard, Schizophrenia Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Wray, Naomi R. and Lee, S. Hong (2018). Estimation of genetic correlation via linkage disequilibrium score regression and genomic restricted maximum likelihood. American Journal of Human Genetics, 102 (6), 1185-1194. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2018.03.021
2018
Journal Article
Analysis of the influence of microRNAs in lithium response in bipolar disorder
Reinbold, Céline S., Forstner, Andreas J., Hecker, Julian, Fullerton, Janice M., Hoffmann, Per, Hou, Liping, Heilbronner, Urs, Degenhardt, Franziska, Adli, Mazda, Akiyama, Kazufumi, Akula, Nirmala, Ardau, Raffaella, Arias, Bárbara, Backlund, Lena, Benabarre, Antonio, Bengesser, Susanne, Bhattacharjee, Abesh K., Biernacka, Joanna M., Birner, Armin, Marie-Claire, Cynthia, Cervantes, Pablo, Chen, Guo-Bo, Chen, Hsi-Chung, Chillotti, Caterina, Clark, Scott R., Colom, Francesc, Cousins, David A., Cruceanu, Cristiana, Czerski, Piotr M. ... Cichon, Sven (2018). Analysis of the influence of microRNAs in lithium response in bipolar disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9 (MAY) 207, 207. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00207
2018
Journal Article
Correction to: lifetime stress accelerates epigenetic aging in an urban, African American cohort: relevance of glucocorticoid signaling
Zannas, Anthony S., Arloth, Janine, Carrillo-Roa, Tania, Iurato, Stella, Röh, Simone, Ressler, Kerry J., Nemeroff, Charles B., Smith, Alicia K., Bradley, Bekh, Heim, Christine, Menke, Andreas, Lange, Jennifer F., Brückl, Tanja, Ising, Marcus, Wray, Naomi R., Erhardt, Angelika, Binder, Elisabeth B. and Mehta, Divya (2018). Correction to: lifetime stress accelerates epigenetic aging in an urban, African American cohort: relevance of glucocorticoid signaling. Genome Biology, 19 (1) 61, 61-61. doi: 10.1186/s13059-018-1441-1
2018
Journal Article
GWAS on family history of Alzheimer's disease
Marioni, Riccardo E., Harris, Sarah E., Zhang, Qian, McRae, Allan F., Hagenaars, Saskia P., Hill, W. David, Davies, Gail, Ritchie, Craig W., Gale, Catharine R., Starr, John M., Goate, Alison M., Porteous, David J., Yang, Jian, Evans, Kathryn L., Deary, Ian J., Wray, Naomi R. and Visscher, Peter M. (2018). GWAS on family history of Alzheimer's disease. Translational Psychiatry, 8 (1) 99, 99. doi: 10.1038/s41398-018-0150-6
2018
Journal Article
Comparison of genotypic and phenotypic correlations: Cheverud's conjecture in humans
Sodini, Sebastian M., Kemper, Kathryn E., Wray, Naomi R. and Trzaskowski, Maciej (2018). Comparison of genotypic and phenotypic correlations: Cheverud's conjecture in humans. Genetics, 209 (3), 941-948. doi: 10.1534/genetics.117.300630
2018
Journal Article
Familiality of psychiatric disorders and risk of postpartum psychiatric episodes: a population-based cohort study
Bauer, Anna E., Maegbaek, Merete L., Liu, Xiaoqin, Wray, Naomi R., Sullivan, Patrick F., Miller, William C., Meltzer-Brody, Samantha and Munk-Olsen, Trine (2018). Familiality of psychiatric disorders and risk of postpartum psychiatric episodes: a population-based cohort study. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 175 (8), appiajp201817111184-791. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2018.17111184
2018
Journal Article
Genome-wide association analyses identify 44 risk variants and refine the genetic architecture of major depression
Wray, Naomi R., Ripke, Stephan, Mattheisen, Manuel, Trzaskowski, Maciej, Byrne, Enda M., Abdellaoui, Abdel, Adams, Mark J., Agerbo, Esben, Air, Tracy M., Andlauer, Till M. F., Bacanu, Silviu-Alin, Baekvad-Hansen, Marie, Beekman, Aartjan F. T., Bigdeli, Tim B., Binder, Elisabeth B., Blackwood, Douglas R. H., Bryois, Julien, Buttenschon, Henriette N., Bybjerg-Grauholm, Jonas, Cai, Na, Castelao, Enrique, Christensen, Jane Hvarregaard, Clarke, Toni-Kim, Coleman, Jonathan I. R., Colodro-Conde, Lucia, Couvy-Duchesne, Baptiste, Craddock, Nick, Crawford, Gregory E., Crowley, Cheynna A. ... Sullivan, Patrick F. (2018). Genome-wide association analyses identify 44 risk variants and refine the genetic architecture of major depression. Nature Genetics, 50 (5), 668-+. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0090-3
2018
Journal Article
Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival
Steyn, Frederik J., Ioannides, Zara A., van Eijk, Ruben P. A., Heggie, Susan, Thorpe, Kathryn A., Ceslis, Amelia, Heshmat, Saman, Henders, Anjali K., Wray, Naomi R., van den Berg, Leonard H., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2018). Hypermetabolism in ALS is associated with greater functional decline and shorter survival. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 89 (10), jnnp-2017. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-317887
2018
Journal Article
Sizing up whole-genome sequencing studies of common diseases
Wray, Naomi R. and Gratten, Jacob (2018). Sizing up whole-genome sequencing studies of common diseases. Nature Genetics, 50 (5), 635-637. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0113-0
2018
Journal Article
Signatures of negative selection in the genetic architecture of human complex traits
Zeng, Jian, de Vlaming, Ronald, Wu, Yang, Robinson, Matthew R., Lloyd-Jones, Luke R., Yengo, Loic, Yap, Chloe X., Xue, Angli, Sidorenko, Julia, McRae, Allan F., Powell, Joseph E., Montgomery, Grant W., Metspalu, Andres, Esko, Tonu, Gibson, Greg, Wray, Naomi R., Visscher, Peter M. and Yang, Jian (2018). Signatures of negative selection in the genetic architecture of human complex traits. Nature Genetics, 50 (5), 746-753. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0101-4
2018
Other Outputs
Epigenetic prediction of complex traits and death
McCartney, Daniel L, Stevenson, Anna J, Ritchie, Stuart J, Walker, Rosie M, Zhang, Qian, Morris, Stewart W, Campbell, Archie, Murray, Alison D, Whalley, Heather C, Gale, Catharine R, Porteous, David J, Haley, Chris S, McRae, Allan F, Wray, Naomi R, Visscher, Peter M, McIntosh, Andrew M, Evans, Kathryn L, Deary, Ian J and Marioni, Riccardo E (2018). Epigenetic prediction of complex traits and death. doi: 10.1101/294116
2018
Journal Article
Improving genetic prediction by leveraging genetic correlations among human diseases and traits
Maier, Robert M, Zhu, Zhihong, Lee, Sang Hong, Trzaskowski, Maciej, Ruderfer, Douglas M, Stahl, Eli A, Ripke, Stephan, Wray, Naomi R, Yang, Jian, Visscher, Peter M and Robinson, Matthew R (2018). Improving genetic prediction by leveraging genetic correlations among human diseases and traits. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 989, 989. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02769-6
2018
Journal Article
Integrative analysis of omics summary data reveals putative mechanisms underlying complex traits
Wu, Yang, Zeng, Jian, Zhang, Futao, Zhu, Zhihong, Qi, Ting, Zheng, Zhili, Lloyd-Jones, Luke R., Marioni, Riccardo E., Martin, Nicholas G., Montgomery, Grant W., Deary, Ian J., Wray, Naomi R., Visscher, Peter M., McRae, Allan F. and Yang, Jian (2018). Integrative analysis of omics summary data reveals putative mechanisms underlying complex traits. Nature Communications, 9 (918) 918, 918. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03371-0
2018
Journal Article
Common schizophrenia alleles are enriched in mutation-intolerant genes and in regions under strong background selection
Pardiñas, Antonio F, Holmans, Peter, Pocklington, Andrew J, Escott-Price, Valentina, Ripke, Stephan, Carrera, Noa, Legge, Sophie E, Bishop, Sophie, Cameron, Darren, Hamshere, Marian L, Han, Jun, Hubbard, Leon, Lynham, Amy, Mantripragada, Kiran, Rees, Elliott, MacCabe, James H, McCarroll, Steven A, Baune, Bernhard T, Breen, Gerome, Byrne, Enda M., Dannlowski, Udo, Eley, Thalia C, Hayward, Caroline, Martin, Nicholas G., McIntosh, Andrew M, Plomin, Robert, Porteous, David J, Wray, Naomi R, Caballero, Armando ... CRESTAR Consortium (2018). Common schizophrenia alleles are enriched in mutation-intolerant genes and in regions under strong background selection. Nature Genetics, 50 (3), 381-389. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0059-2
2018
Journal Article
Reply to Kardos et al.: estimation of inbreeding depression from SNP data
Yengo, Loic, Zhu, Zhihong, Wray, Naomi R., Weir, Bruce S., Yang, Jian, Robinson, Matthew R. and Visscher, Peter M. (2018). Reply to Kardos et al.: estimation of inbreeding depression from SNP data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115 (11), E2494-E2495. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1718598115
2018
Journal Article
The value of polygenic analyses in psychiatry
Middeldorp, Christel M. and Wray, Naomi R. (2018). The value of polygenic analyses in psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 17 (1), 26-28. doi: 10.1002/wps.20480
2018
Journal Article
GWAS of epigenetic aging rates in blood reveals a critical role for TERT
Lu, Ake T., Xue, Luting, Salfati, Elias L., Chen, Brian H., Ferrucci, Luigi, Levy, Daniel, Joehanes, Roby, Murabito, Joanne M., Kiel, Douglas P., Tsai, Pei-Chien, Yet, Idil, Bell, Jordana T., Mangino, Massimo, Tanaka, Toshiko, McRae, Allan F., Marioni, Riccardo E., Visscher, Peter M., Wray, Naomi R., Deary, Ian J., Levine, Morgan E., Quach, Austin, Assimes, Themistocles, Tsao, Philip S., Absher, Devin, Stewart, James D., Li, Yun, Reiner, Alex P., Hou, Lifang, Baccarelli, Andrea A. ... Horvath, Steve (2018). GWAS of epigenetic aging rates in blood reveals a critical role for TERT. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 387, 387. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-02697-5
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Naomi Wray is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Multi-Omic Analyses of a Clinical Trial Cohort of Young People at Ultra-High Risk for Psychosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Enda Byrne, Dr Allan McRae
-
Doctor Philosophy
ELUCIDATING LIFESTYLE AND GENETIC FACTORS UNDERLYING DEPRESSION HETEROGENEITY AND TREATMENT RESPONSE
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Enda Byrne
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetics of childhood onset psychiatric symptoms, their persistence and comorbidity with other traits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Enda Byrne
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding cellular and molecular heterogeneity in endometriosis using multi-omics data
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sally Mortlock, Dr Allan McRae
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic architecture and evolution of complex traits across populations in humans
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Visscher, Dr Fleur Garton, Dr Jian Zeng
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Studying the effects of DNA methylation variation across neurodegenerative disorders
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Allan McRae
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic analyses of complex traits using biobank data
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Visscher
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
A Complex Trait Genomics Approach to Investigating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Allan McRae
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The Genetic Architecture of Psychiatric Disorders
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Visscher
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Cytokines and Inflammatory Markers in Depression in Adolescents
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gerard Byrne, Professor James Scott, Professor Nick Martin
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Using genomic data to advance understanding of heart failure aetiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Shah
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Development and application of statistical methods to identify genes and cell types associated with complex traits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jian Zeng
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Complement Modulation of Peripheral Immunity in Motor Neurone Disease and Huntington's Disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Lee, Professor Trent Woodruff
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
The Genomics of Perinatal Depression
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Enda Byrne
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the influence of genetics and heritability on the heterogeneity of ADHD presentations
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Sarah Medland
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Systems biology of motor neurone disease
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shyuan Ngo, Dr Allan McRae
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Multi-omics data offer systemic insights into autism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gerald Holtmann, Honorary Professor Jake Gratten
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Genetic influences on substance use behaviour, substance use disorders and psychiatric disorders
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Sarah Medland, Professor Nick Martin, Dr Lucia Colodro-Conde
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Improving fine-mapping methodology using DNA methylation as a model trait
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Visscher, Dr Allan McRae
-
2018
Master Philosophy
Integrating genome-wide association study data with gene expression to understand complex traits and common diseases
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Allan McRae, Honorary Professor Jake Gratten
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