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Associate Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo
Associate Professor

Aideen McInerney-Leo

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 33735

Overview

Background

I am a clinician-academic whose interactions with patients have shaped my research questions and fuelled my enthusiasm for the importance of clinical research. I trained as a genetic counsellor and my research now focuses on the integration of genomics into clinical care. My research program has had three primary themes: evaluating the psychosocial impact of genetic conditions and/or genetic testing; evaluating genetics education preferences for patients and healthcare providers; and using next-generation sequencing to increase diagnostic yield for rare disorders.

Current research projects include:

  1. Exploring whether genetic fatalism affects sun-related health behaviours in high-risk individuals following genetic testing.
  2. Exploring the referral journey to genetic services for individuals with rare diseases
  3. Assessing Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) members’ confidence in reviewing genomic research applications.
  4. Mainstreaming Genetic Testing for Melanoma into Dermatology Practice.
  5. Using Exome sequencing to identify new genes in families with inherited melanoma, negative for mutations in known genes.

Availability

Associate Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, The University of Manchester
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Integrating genetic testing for melanoma into dermatology practice

    Our study explores whether upskilling dermatologists to offer genetic testing for melanoma is acceptable to dermatologists and whether patient outcomes, as compared to when genetic testing is offered by a genetic counsellor.

Works

Search Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo’s works on UQ eSpace

120 works between 2000 and 2024

41 - 60 of 120 works

2022

Journal Article

Evaluation of a genetics education program for health interpreters: A pilot study

Vidgen, Miranda E., Fowles, Lindsay F., Istiko, Satrio Nindyo, Evans, Erin, Cutler, Katrina, Sullivan, Kate, Bean, Jessica, Healy, Louise, Hondow, Gary, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Pratt, Gregory, Robins, Deborah, Best, Stephanie, Finlay, Keri, Ramarao-Milne, Priya and Waddell, Nicola (2022). Evaluation of a genetics education program for health interpreters: A pilot study. Frontiers in Genetics, 12 771892, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.771892

Evaluation of a genetics education program for health interpreters: A pilot study

2022

Journal Article

The future of precision prevention for advanced melanoma

Lee, Katie J., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Stark, Mitchell S., Janda, Monika, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Caffery, Liam J., Gillespie, Nicole, Yanes, Tatiane and Soyer, H. Peter (2022). The future of precision prevention for advanced melanoma. Frontiers in Medicine, 8 818096, 818096. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.818096

The future of precision prevention for advanced melanoma

2022

Journal Article

Models of communication for polygenic scores and associated psychosocial and behavioral effects on recipients: a systematic review

Wallingford, Courtney K., Kovilpillai, Hannah, Jacobs, Chris, Turbitt, Erin, Primiero, Clare A., Young, Mary-Anne, Brockman, Deanna G., Soyer, H. Peter, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. and Yanes, Tatiane (2022). Models of communication for polygenic scores and associated psychosocial and behavioral effects on recipients: a systematic review. Genetics in Medicine, 25 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2022.09.008

Models of communication for polygenic scores and associated psychosocial and behavioral effects on recipients: a systematic review

2021

Journal Article

Germline ERBB3 mutation in familial non-small cell lung carcinoma: expanding ErbB’s role in oncogenesis

McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Chew, Hui Yi, Inglis, Po-Ling, Leo, Paul J., Joseph, Shannon R., Cooper, Caroline L., Okano, Satomi, Hassall, Tim, Anderson, Lisa, Bowman, Rayleen V., Gattas, Michael, Harris, Jessica E., Marshall, Mhairi S., Shaw, Janet G., Wheeler, Lawrie, Yang, Ian A., Brown, Matthew A., Fong, Kwun M., Simpson, Fiona and Duncan, Emma L. (2021). Germline ERBB3 mutation in familial non-small cell lung carcinoma: expanding ErbB’s role in oncogenesis. Human Molecular Genetics, 30 (24), 2393-2401. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddab172

Germline ERBB3 mutation in familial non-small cell lung carcinoma: expanding ErbB’s role in oncogenesis

2021

Journal Article

The ethical protection of genetic information: procedure analysis for psychologists

Allen, Kelly-Ann, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M, Gamble, Nicholas, Wurf, Gerald and Boyle, Christopher (2021). The ethical protection of genetic information: procedure analysis for psychologists. Clinical Psychologist, 26 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/13284207.2021.1985376

The ethical protection of genetic information: procedure analysis for psychologists

2021

Journal Article

A step forward, but still inadequate: Australian health professionals’ views on the genetics and life insurance moratorium

Tiller, Jane M., Keogh, Louise A., McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Belcher, Andrea, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Boughtwood, Tiffany, Gleeson, Penny, Dowling, Grace, Prince, Anya, Bombard, Yvonne, Joly, Yann, Delatycki, Martin, Winship, Ingrid M., Otlowski, Margaret and Lacaze, Paul (2021). A step forward, but still inadequate: Australian health professionals’ views on the genetics and life insurance moratorium. Journal of Medical Genetics, 1-10. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2021-107989

A step forward, but still inadequate: Australian health professionals’ views on the genetics and life insurance moratorium

2021

Journal Article

Australian human research ethics committee members’ confidence in reviewing genomic research applications

Pysar, Ryan, Wallingford, Courtney K., Boyle, Jackie, Campbell, Scott B., Eckstein, Lisa, McWhirter, Rebekah, Terrill, Bronwyn, Jacobs, Chris and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2021). Australian human research ethics committee members’ confidence in reviewing genomic research applications. European Journal of Human Genetics, 29 (12), 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41431-021-00951-5

Australian human research ethics committee members’ confidence in reviewing genomic research applications

2021

Journal Article

Anatomic distribution of cherry angiomas in the general population

Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Koh, Uyen, Edwards, Harrison A., McInerney-Leo, Aideen, Janda, Monika and Soyer, H. Peter (2021). Anatomic distribution of cherry angiomas in the general population. Dermatology, 238 (1), 1-9. doi: 10.1159/000517172

Anatomic distribution of cherry angiomas in the general population

2021

Journal Article

A KCNK16 mutation causing TALK-1 gain of function is associated with maturity-onset diabetes of the young

Graff, Sarah M., Johnson, Stephanie R., Leo, Paul J., Dadi, Prasanna K., Dickerson, Matthew T., Nakhe, Arya Y., McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Marshall, Mhairi, Zaborska, Karolina E., Schaub, Charles M., Brown, Matthew A., Jacobson, David A. and Duncan, Emma L. (2021). A KCNK16 mutation causing TALK-1 gain of function is associated with maturity-onset diabetes of the young. JCI Insight, 6 (13) 138057, 1-13. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.138057

A KCNK16 mutation causing TALK-1 gain of function is associated with maturity-onset diabetes of the young

2021

Journal Article

Study protocol: the Australian genetics and life insurance moratorium-monitoring the effectiveness and response (A-GLIMMER) project

Tiller, Jane, McInerney-Leo, Aideen, Belcher, Andrea, Boughtwood, Tiffany, Gleeson, Penny, Delatycki, Martin, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Winship, Ingrid, Otlowski, Margaret, Keogh, Louise and Lacaze, Paul (2021). Study protocol: the Australian genetics and life insurance moratorium-monitoring the effectiveness and response (A-GLIMMER) project. BMC Medical Ethics, 22 (1) 63, 1-14. doi: 10.1186/s12910-021-00634-2

Study protocol: the Australian genetics and life insurance moratorium-monitoring the effectiveness and response (A-GLIMMER) project

2021

Journal Article

A family with partially penetrant multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis due to gonadal mosaicism: first reported case

Närhi, Anu, Fernandes, Andrea, Toiviainen‐Salo, Sanna, Harris, Jessica, McInerney‐Leo, Aideen, Lazarus, Syndia, Avela, Kristiina and Duncan, Emma L. (2021). A family with partially penetrant multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis due to gonadal mosaicism: first reported case. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 185 (8), 2477-2481. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62257

A family with partially penetrant multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis due to gonadal mosaicism: first reported case

2021

Journal Article

Genomic risk score for melanoma in a prospective study of older individuals

Bakshi, Andrew, Yan, Mabel, Riaz, Moeen, Polekhina, Galina, Orchard, Suzanne G., Tiller, Jane, Wolfe, Rory, Joshi, Amit, Cao, Yin, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Yanes, Tatiane, Janda, Monika, Soyer, H. Peter, Cust, Anne E., Law, Matthew H., Gibbs, Peter, McLean, Catriona, Chan, Andrew T., McNeil, John J., Mar, Victoria J. and Lacaze, Paul (2021). Genomic risk score for melanoma in a prospective study of older individuals. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 113 (10) ARTN djab076, 1379-1385. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djab076

Genomic risk score for melanoma in a prospective study of older individuals

2021

Journal Article

Communicating polygenic risk scores in the familial breast cancer clinic

Das Gupta, Kuheli, Gregory, Gillian, Meiser, Bettina, Kaur, Rajneesh, Scheepers-Joynt, Maatje, McInerny, Simone, Taylor, Shelby, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Antill, Yoland, Salmon, Lucinda, Smyth, Courtney, McInerney-Leo, Aideen, Young, Mary-Anne, James, Paul A. and Yanes, Tatiane (2021). Communicating polygenic risk scores in the familial breast cancer clinic. Patient Education and Counseling, 104 (10), 2512-2521. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.02.046

Communicating polygenic risk scores in the familial breast cancer clinic

2021

Journal Article

Massively parallel sequencing for rare genetic disorders: potential and pitfalls

McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. and Duncan, Emma L. (2021). Massively parallel sequencing for rare genetic disorders: potential and pitfalls. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 11 628946, 628946. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.628946

Massively parallel sequencing for rare genetic disorders: potential and pitfalls

2021

Journal Article

A systematic review on the impact of genetic testing for familial melanoma I: primary and secondary preventative behaviours

Primiero, Clare A., Yanes, Tatiane, Finnane, Anna, Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2021). A systematic review on the impact of genetic testing for familial melanoma I: primary and secondary preventative behaviours. Dermatology , 237 (5), 1-10. doi: 10.1159/000513919

A systematic review on the impact of genetic testing for familial melanoma I: primary and secondary preventative behaviours

2021

Journal Article

A systematic review on the impact of genetic testing for familial melanoma II: psychosocial outcomes and attitudes

Primiero, Clare A., Yanes, Tatiane, Finnane, Anna, Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2021). A systematic review on the impact of genetic testing for familial melanoma II: psychosocial outcomes and attitudes. Dermatology, 237 (5), 1-11. doi: 10.1159/000513576

A systematic review on the impact of genetic testing for familial melanoma II: psychosocial outcomes and attitudes

2020

Journal Article

Multiple endocrine tumors associated with germline MAX mutations: multiple endocrine neoplasia type 5?

Seabrook, Amanda J., Harris, Jessica E., Velosa, Sofia B., Kim, Edward, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Dwight, Trisha, Hockings, Jason I., Hockings, Nicholas G., Kirk, Judy, Leo, Paul J., Love, Amanda J., Luxford, Catherine, Marshall, Mhairi, Mete, Ozgur, Pennisi, David J., Brown, Matthew A., Gill, Anthony J., Hockings, Gregory I., Clifton-Bligh, Roderick J. and Duncan, Emma L. (2020). Multiple endocrine tumors associated with germline MAX mutations: multiple endocrine neoplasia type 5?. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 106 (4), 1163-1182. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa957

Multiple endocrine tumors associated with germline MAX mutations: multiple endocrine neoplasia type 5?

2020

Journal Article

Heterozygous loss of WBP11 function causes multiple congenital defects in humans and mice

Martin, Ella M. M. A., Enriquez, Annabelle, Sparrow, Duncan B., Humphreys, David T., McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Leo, Paul J., Duncan, Emma L., Iyer, Kavitha R., Greasby, Joelene A., Ip, Eddie, Giannoulatou, Eleni, Sheng, Delicia, Wohler, Elizabeth, Dimartino, Clémantine, Amiel, Jeanne, Capri, Yline, Lehalle, Daphné, Mory, Adi, Wilnai, Yael, Lebenthal, Yael, Gharavi, Ali G., Krzemień, Grażyna G., Miklaszewska, Monika, Steiner, Robert D., Raggio, Cathy, Blank, Robert, Baris Feldman, Hagit, Milo Rasouly, Hila, Sobreira, Nara L. M. ... Chapman, Gavin (2020). Heterozygous loss of WBP11 function causes multiple congenital defects in humans and mice. Human Molecular Genetics, 29 (22), 3662-3678. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa258

Heterozygous loss of WBP11 function causes multiple congenital defects in humans and mice

2020

Journal Article

CDKN2A testing threshold in a high-risk Australian melanoma cohort: number of primaries, family history and young age of onset impact risk

McMeniman, E. K., McInerney-Leo, A. M., Peach, E., Lee, K. J., Yanes, T., Jagirdar, K., Stark, M. S., Soyer, H. P., Duffy, D. L. and Sturm, R. A. (2020). CDKN2A testing threshold in a high-risk Australian melanoma cohort: number of primaries, family history and young age of onset impact risk. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 34 (12) jdv.16627, e797-e798. doi: 10.1111/jdv.16627

CDKN2A testing threshold in a high-risk Australian melanoma cohort: number of primaries, family history and young age of onset impact risk

2020

Journal Article

Factors influencing cancer genetic somatic mutation test ordering by cancer physician

Demeshko, Anastassia, Pennisi, David J., Narayan, Sushil, Gray, Stacy W., Brown, Matthew A. and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2020). Factors influencing cancer genetic somatic mutation test ordering by cancer physician. Journal of Translational Medicine, 18 (1) 431, 1-7. doi: 10.1186/s12967-020-02610-7

Factors influencing cancer genetic somatic mutation test ordering by cancer physician

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Embedding Genomics in the Childhood Hearing Clinic
    Illumina Australia Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Genomics of paediatric inborn errors of immunity
    TRI Leading Innovations through New Collaborations Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Melanoma Population Screening: Using Genomics to Facilitate Risk Stratification
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2029
    Genetics: The key to a future without macular degeneration
    Estate of Marie June Collins via Research Donations
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Intelligent total body scanner for early detection of melanoma
    NHMRC European Union Collaborative Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    iToBoS: Intelligent Total Body Scanner for Early Detection of Melanoma (EU H2020 application led by Universitat de Girona)
    Universitat de Girona
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    To determine whether provider type affects psychosocial and behavioural outcomes in genetic testing for melanoma.
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Assessing behavioural impacts of receiving personalised risk scores for melanoma (Australia Melanoma Research Foundation Early Career Scientist Grant)
    Australian Melanoma Research Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Empowering Human Research Ethics Committee Members to Evaluate Genomics Applications
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Establishing Australia's First Familial Melanoma Clinic (MSH RSS SERTA Program Grant led by Metro South Hospital and Health Service)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    'We need to talk' : Genomics and disability
    MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission, Project Grant administered by AusIndustry
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Moratorium on Genetic Testing and Life Insurance: Monitoring the impact (MRFF Genomics Project administered by Monash)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Identifying genes causing melanoma and modifying the phenotype and exploring whether genetic fatalism affects sun-related health behaviours in high-risk individuals.
    NHMRC Early Career Fellowships
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Unusual suspects in hereditary melanoma: phenotype-genotype characterisation of POT1, POLE, BAP1 and CDKN2A carriers

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Soyer, Dr Brigid Betz-Stablein

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Integrating genomics and deep phenotyping to optimise care for paediatric hearing loss

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mainstreaming polygenic risk testing for common cancers into clinical practice

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Tatiane Yanes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Artificial Intelligence Tools for Automated Melanoma Risk Assessment: Potential Utility and Validation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Brigid Betz-Stablein, Professor Peter Soyer

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Translating polygenic and personalised risk scores: Acceptability and impact of providing polygenic and personalised risk information for melanoma

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Soyer, Dr Tatiane Yanes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development and evaluation of model of care for implementation of genomic testing for paediatric healthcare

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Tatiane Yanes

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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communications@uq.edu.au