
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
-
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
2011
Journal Article
Underestimated Effect Sizes in GWAS: Fundamental Limitations of Single SNP Analysis for Dichotomous Phenotypes
Stringer, Sven, Wray, Naomi R, Kahn, Rene S and Derks, Eske M (2011). Underestimated Effect Sizes in GWAS: Fundamental Limitations of Single SNP Analysis for Dichotomous Phenotypes. PLoS One, 6 (11) e27964, e27964. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027964
2011
Journal Article
GWA study data mining and independent replication identify cardiomyopathy-associated 5 (CMYA5) as a risk gene for schizophrenia
Chen, X., Lee, G., Maher, B. S., Fanous, A. H., Chen, J., Zhao, Z., Guo, A., van den Oord, E., Sullivan, P. F., Shi, J., Levinson, D. F., Gejman, P. V., Sanders, A., Duan, J., Owen, M. J., Craddock, N. J., O'Donovan, M. C., Blackman, J., Lewis, D., Kirov, G. K., Qin, W., Schwab, S., Wildenauer, D., Chowdari, K., Nimgaonkar, V., Straub, R. E., Weinberger, D. R., O'Neill, F. A., Walsh, D. ... Visscher, Peter M. (2011). GWA study data mining and independent replication identify cardiomyopathy-associated 5 (CMYA5) as a risk gene for schizophrenia. Molecular Psychiatry, 16 (11), 1117-1129. doi: 10.1038/mp.2010.96
2011
Journal Article
Two non-synonymous markers in PTPN21, identified by genome-wide association study data-mining and replication, are associated with schizophrenia
Chen, Jingchun, Lee, Grace, Fanous, Ayman H., Zhao, Zhongming, Jia, Peilin, O'neill, Anthony, Walsh, Dermot, Kendler, Kenneth S., Chen, Xiangning, O’Donovan, Michael C., Kirov, George K, Craddock, Nick J, Holmans, Peter A, Williams, Nigel M, Georgieva, Lyudmila, Nikolov, Ivan, Norton, N., Williams, H., Toncheva, Draga, Milanova, Vihra, Owen, Michael J, Hultman, Christina M, Lichtenstein, Paul, Thelander, Emma F, Sullivan, Patrick, Morris, Derek W, O’Dushlaine, Colm T., Kenny, Elaine, Quinn, Emma M ... Scolnick, Edward M (2011). Two non-synonymous markers in PTPN21, identified by genome-wide association study data-mining and replication, are associated with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 131 (1-3), 43-51. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2011.06.023
2011
Journal Article
Genome-wide association analysis of coffee drinking suggests association with CYP1A1/CYP1A2 and NRCAM
Amin, N., Byrne, E., Johnson, J., Chenevix-Trench, G., Walter, S., Nolte, I. M., kConFab Investigators, Vink, J.M., Rawal, R., Mangino, M., Teumer, A., Keers, J. C., Verwoert, G., Baumeister, S., Biffar, R., Petersmann, A., Dahmen, N., Doering, A., Isaacs, A., Broer, L., Wray, N. R., Montgomery, G. W., Levy, D., Psaty, B. M., Gudnason, V., Chakravarti, A., Sulem, P., Gudbjartsson, D. F., Kiemeney, L. A. ... van Duijn, C. M. (2011). Genome-wide association analysis of coffee drinking suggests association with CYP1A1/CYP1A2 and NRCAM. Molecular Psychiatry, 17 (11), 1116-1129. doi: 10.1038/mp.2011.101
2011
Journal Article
Response to Browning and Browning
Goddard, Michael E., Lee, Hong, Yang, Jian, Wray, Naomi R. and Visscher, Peter M. (2011). Response to Browning and Browning. American Journal of Human Genetics, 89 (1), 193-195. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.05.022
2011
Journal Article
Association between ORMDL3, IL1RL1 and a deletion on chromosome 17q21 with asthma risk in Australia
Ferreira, Manuel A. R., McRae, Allan F., Medland, Sarah E., Nyholt, Dale R., Gordon, Scott D., Wright, Margaret J., Henders, Anjali K., Madden, Pamela A., Visscher, Peter M., Wray, Naomi R., Heath, Andrew C., Montgomery, Grant W., Duffy, David L. and Martin, Nicholas G. (2011). Association between ORMDL3, IL1RL1 and a deletion on chromosome 17q21 with asthma risk in Australia. European Journal of Human Genetics, 19 (4), 458-464. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2010.191
2011
Journal Article
Molecular pathways involved in neuronal cell adhesion and membrane scaffolding contribute to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder susceptibility
O'Dushlaine, C., Kenny, Elaine, Heron, E., Donohoe, G., Gill, Michael, Morris, Derek W., Corvin, Aiden, O'Dushlaine, Colm T., Quinn, Emma M., O'Donovan, Michael C., Kirov, George K., Craddock, Nick J., Holmans, Peter A., Williams, Nigel M., Georgieva, Lucy, Nikolov, Ivan, Norton, N., Williams, H., Toncheva, Draga, Milanova, Vihra, Owen, Michael J., Hultman, Christina M., Lichtenstein, Paul, Thelander, Emma F., Sullivan, Patrick, McQuillin, Andrew, Choudhury, Khalid, Datta, Susmita, Pimm, Jonathan ... The International Schizophrenia Consortium (2011). Molecular pathways involved in neuronal cell adhesion and membrane scaffolding contribute to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder susceptibility. Molecular Psychiatry, 16 (3), 286-292. doi: 10.1038/mp.2010.7
2011
Journal Article
Estimating missing heritability for disease from genome-wide association studies
Lee, Sang Hong, Wray, Naomi R., Goddard, Michael E. and Visscher, Peter M. (2011). Estimating missing heritability for disease from genome-wide association studies. American Journal of Human Genetics, 88 (3), 294-305. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.02.002
2011
Journal Article
Genetic risk profiles for depression and anxiety in adult and elderly cohorts
Demirkan, A., Phenninx, B. W. J. H., Hek, K., Wray, N. R., Amin, N., Aulchenko, Y. S., van Dyck, R., de Geus, E. J. C., Hofman, A., Uitterlanden, A. G., Hottenga, J.-J., Nolen, W. A., Oostra, B. A., Sullivan, P. F., Willemsen, G., Zitman, F. G., Tiemeier, H., Janssens, A. C. J. W., Boomsma, D. I., van Duijn, C. M. and Middeldorp, C. M. (2011). Genetic risk profiles for depression and anxiety in adult and elderly cohorts. Molecular Psychiatry, 16 (7), 773-783. doi: 10.1038/mp.2010.65
2011
Conference Publication
Evidence for the involvement of the RSG2 gene in risk for anxiety and related phenotypes in an elderly population not selected for this trait
Lendon, Corinne, Handoko, Herlina, Pritchard, Antonia, Lind, Penelope, Bentham, Peter, Montgomery, Grant, Wray, Naomi, Khoo, Soo-Keat, Pachana, Nancy and Byrne, Gerard (2011). Evidence for the involvement of the RSG2 gene in risk for anxiety and related phenotypes in an elderly population not selected for this trait. Alzheimer's Imaging Consortium, Paris, France, July 16-21, 2011. Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2011.09.153
2011
Journal Article
The genetic association between personality and major depression or bipolar disorder. A polygenic score analysis using genome-wide association data
Middeldorp, C. M., de Moor, M. H. M., McGrath, L. M., Gordon, S. D., Blackwood, D. H., Costa, P. T., Terracciano, A., Krueger, R. F., de Geus, E. J. C., Nyholt, D. R., Tanaka, T., Esko, T., Madden, P. A. F., Derringer, J., Amin, N., Willemsen, G., Hottenga, J-J., Distel, M. A., Uda, M., Sanna, S., Spinhoven, P., Hartman, C. A, Ripke, S., Sullivan, P. F., Realo, A., Allik, J., Heath, A. C., Pergadia, M. L., Agrawal, A. ... Boomsma, D. I. (2011). The genetic association between personality and major depression or bipolar disorder. A polygenic score analysis using genome-wide association data. Translational Psychiatry, 1 (10) e50, e50.1-e50.8. doi: 10.1038/tp.2011.45
2011
Journal Article
Glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) and self reported depression: an association study from the HUNT
Berk, Michael, Johansson, Stefan, Wray, Naomi R., Williams, Lana, Olsson, Craig, Haavik, Jan and Bjerkeset, Ottar (2011). Glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL) and self reported depression: an association study from the HUNT. Journal of Affective Disorders, 131 (1-3), 207-213. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2010.12.019
2011
Journal Article
Identification of tag haplotypes for 5HTTLPR for different genome-wide SNP platforms
Vinkhuyzen, A. A. E., Dumenil, T., Ryan, L., Gordon, S. D., Henders, A. K., Madden, P. A. F., Heath, A. C., Montgomery, G. W., Martin, N. G. and Wray, N. R. (2011). Identification of tag haplotypes for 5HTTLPR for different genome-wide SNP platforms. Molecular Psychiatry, 16 (11), 1073-1075. doi: 10.1038/mp.2011.68
2011
Journal Article
A 3p26-3p25 genetic linkage finding for DSM-IV major depression in heavy smoking families
Pergadia, Michele L., Glowinski, Anne L., Wray, Naomi, Agrawal, Arpana, Saccone, Scott F., Loukola, Anu, Broms, Ulla, Koronen, Tellervo, Penninx, Brenda W. J. H., Grant, Julia D., Nelson, Elliot C., Henders, Anjali K., Schrage, Andrew J., Chou, Yi-Ling, Keskitalo-Vuokko, Kaisu, Zhu, Qin, Gordon, Scott D., Vink, Jacqueline M., de Geus, Eco J. C., MacGregor, Stuart, Liu, Jimmy Z., Willemsen, Gonneke, Medland, Sarah E., Boomsma, Dorret I., Montgomery, Grant W., Rice, John P., Goate, Alison M., Heath, Andrew, C, Martin, Nicholas G. and Madden, Pamela A. F. (2011). A 3p26-3p25 genetic linkage finding for DSM-IV major depression in heavy smoking families. American Journal Psychiatry, 168 (8), 848-852. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2011.10091319
2011
Journal Article
Synthetic Associations Created by Rare Variants Do Not Explain Most GWAS Results
Wray, Naomi, Purcell, Shaun M. and Visscher, Peter (2011). Synthetic Associations Created by Rare Variants Do Not Explain Most GWAS Results. PLoS Biology, 9 (1) e1000579, e1000579.1-e1000579.11. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1000579
2010
Journal Article
A genome-wide association study of Cloninger’s temperament scales: Implications for the evolutionary genetics of personality
Verweij, Kjh, Zietsch, BP, Medland, SE, Gordon, SD, Benyamin, B, Nyholt, DR, McEvoy, BP, Sullivan, PF, Heath, AC, Madden, PAF, Henders, AK, Montgomery, GW, Martin, NG and Wray, NR (2010). A genome-wide association study of Cloninger’s temperament scales: Implications for the evolutionary genetics of personality. Biological Psychology, 85 (2), 306-317. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.07.018
2010
Journal Article
Accurately assessing the risk of schizophrenia conferred by rare copy-number variation affecting genes with brain function
Raychaudhuri, Soumya, Korn, Joshua M., McCarroll, Steven A., Altshuler, David, Sklar, Pamela, Purcell, Shaun, Purcell, Shaun, Purcell, Shaun, Stone, Jennifer, Bergen, Sarah, O'Dushlaine, Colm, Ruderfer, Douglas, Sklar, Pamela, Scolnick, Edward, Chambert, Kimberly, O'Donovan, Michael, Kirov, George, Craddock, Nick, Holmans, Peter, Williams, Nigel, Georgieva, Lucy, Nikolov, Ivan, Norton, Nadine, Williams, H., Toncheva, Draga, Milanova, Vihra, Owen, Michael, Hultman, Christina, Lichtenstein, Paul ... Pato, Carlos N. (2010). Accurately assessing the risk of schizophrenia conferred by rare copy-number variation affecting genes with brain function. PLoS Genetics, 6 (9) e1001097, e1001097. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001097
2010
Journal Article
Sporadic cases are the norm for complex disease
Yang, Jian, Visscher, Peter M. and Wray, Naomi R. (2010). Sporadic cases are the norm for complex disease. European Journal of Human Genetics, 18 (9), 1039-1043. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2009.177
2010
Journal Article
Corrigendum to: Sporadic cases are the norm for complex disease (European Journal of Human Genetics (2010) 18 (1039-1043) DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2009.177)
Yang, Jian, Visscher, Peter M. and Wray, Naomi R. (2010). Corrigendum to: Sporadic cases are the norm for complex disease (European Journal of Human Genetics (2010) 18 (1039-1043) DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2009.177). European Journal of Human Genetics, 18 (9), 1044-1044. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2009.233
2010
Journal Article
A versatile gene-based test for genome-wide association studies
Liu, Jimmy Z., McRae, Allan F., Nyholt, Dale R., Medland, Sarah E., Wray, Naomi R., Brown, Kevin M., AMFS Investigators, Hayward, Nicholas K., Montgomery, Grant W., Visscher, Peter M., Martin, Nicholas G. and Macgregor, Stuart (2010). A versatile gene-based test for genome-wide association studies. American Journal of Human Genetics, 87 (1), 139-145. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.06.009
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Naomi Wray is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
ELUCIDATING LIFESTYLE AND GENETIC FACTORS UNDERLYING DEPRESSION HETEROGENEITY AND TREATMENT RESPONSE
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Enda Byrne
-
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
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Genetics of childhood onset psychiatric symptoms, their persistence and comorbidity with other traits
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Enda Byrne
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Multi-omics data offer systemic insights into autism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Gerald Holtmann, Honorary Professor Jake Gratten
-
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
-
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
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Professor Naomi Wray's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: