
Overview
Background
I am a molecular biologist and postdoctoral research fellow in Prof. Alexander Khromykh's laboratory. I specialise in non-coding RNA response to viral infections, virus genomics, RNA structure, and viral neuropathogenesis.
I began my journey with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology, graduating in 2012. I then completed a master’s degree where I conducted research under Prof. Keith Chappell in viral protein structure (2015). I then pursued my PhD (2016-2020) at UQ's School of Biology under Prof. Sassan Asgari, where I studied the role of miRNAs in Aedes aegypti biology and viral infection as well as the use of small RNAs to induce gene expression in insects.
From 2020 to 2023 I worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Robert Harvey’s laboratory at the University of the Sunshine Coast. I conducted research into the genomics and molecular function of congenital neurodevelopmental disorders where our multi discipline team through the Centre for Research Excellence Neurocognitive Disorder identified and characterised new genes linked to developmental disorders.
Since 2023, I have been a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Alexander Khromykh's RNA Virology lab. Here, I have contributed to work focusing on the role of flavivirus sfRNA in interferon signalling inhibition, as well as using single-cell sequencing and human brain organoids to study the pathogenesis of encephalitic flaviviruses. I have also been working on mosquito single-cell projects and insect-specific viruses for their role in preventing the transmission of pathogenic flaviviruses with Dr. Andrii Slonchak. In late 2024 as a Chief investigator, my team was awarded an NHMRC ideas grant for $1.4mil over four years to study a new class of small RNAs called tRNA-half, for their role in flavivirus infection and their potential use for therapeutics.
Availability
- Dr Lachlan De Hayr is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Queensland
- Masters (Coursework) of Molecular Biology, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Molecular Biology, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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non-coding RNA responses during viral infection
Investigating the role of non-coding RNAs during flavivirus infection. Using cutting edge RNA sequencing methods and human organoid models to investigate the involvement of host derived miRNAs, tiRNAs and other non-coding RNAs in viral infection.
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Neuropathology of flavivirus infections
Using human Brain organoid models to study the effects of neurotropic flavivirus infection. Analysis of gene expression and development using cutting single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics.
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Mosquitoes as vectors of flavivirus infection
Investigating the mosquito's response to viral infections, targeting non-coding RNA pathways. Also investigating the effects of host switching on viral evolution and structure.
Works
Search Professor Lachlan De Hayr’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Biallelic SLC13A1 loss-of-function variants result in impaired sulfate transport and skeletal phenotypes including short stature, scoliosis, and skeletal dysplasia
Tise, Christina G., Ashton, Katie, de Hayr, Lachlan, Lee, Kun-Di, Patkar, Omkar L., Krzesinski, Emma, Bassetti, Jennifer A., Carter, Erin M., Raggio, Cathleen, Zankl, Andreas, Khanshour, Anas M., Atala, Kristhen N., Rios, Jonathan J., Wise, Carol A., Zhu, Ying, Zhang, Futao, Roscioli, Tony, Buckley, Michael, Harvey, Robert J. and Dawson, Paul A. (2025). Biallelic SLC13A1 loss-of-function variants result in impaired sulfate transport and skeletal phenotypes including short stature, scoliosis, and skeletal dysplasia. Genetics in Medicine Open, 3 101958, 101958. doi: 10.1016/j.gimo.2024.101958
2024
Journal Article
Biallelic variants in GTF3C3 result in an autosomal recessive disorder with intellectual disability
De Hayr, Lachlan, Blok, Laura E.R., Dias, Kerith-Rae, Long, Jingyi, Begemann, Anaïs, Moir, Robyn D., Willis, Ian M., Mocera, Martina, Siegel, Gabriele, Steindl, Katharina, Evans, Carey-Anne, Zhu, Ying, Zhang, Futao, Field, Michael, Ma, Alan, Adès, Lesley, Josephi-Taylor, Sarah, Pfundt, Rolph, Zaki, Maha S., Tomoum, Hoda, Gregor, Anne, Laube, Julia, Reis, André, Maddirevula, Sateesh, Hashem, Mais O., Zweier, Markus, Alkuraya, Fowzan S., Maroofian, Reza, Buckley, Michael F. ... Harvey, Robert J. (2024). Biallelic variants in GTF3C3 result in an autosomal recessive disorder with intellectual disability. Genetics in Medicine, 27 (1) 101253, 101253. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2024.101253
2024
Journal Article
The flavivirus Non-Structural Protein 5 (NS5): structure, functions, and targeting for development of vaccines and therapeutics
Goh, Jarvis Z. H., De Hayr, Lachlan, Khromykh, Alexander A. and Slonchak, Andrii (2024). The flavivirus Non-Structural Protein 5 (NS5): structure, functions, and targeting for development of vaccines and therapeutics. Vaccines, 12 (8) 865, 865. doi: 10.3390/vaccines12080865
2023
Journal Article
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations for treating sarcoptic mange with cross-relevance to Australian wildlife
Takano, Kotaro, de Hayr, Lachlan, Carver, Scott, Harvey, Robert J. and Mounsey, Kate E. (2023). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations for treating sarcoptic mange with cross-relevance to Australian wildlife. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 21, 97-113. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2023.02.004
2022
Journal Article
De Novo ZMYND8 variants result in an autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder with cardiac malformations
Dias, Kerith-Rae, Carlston, Colleen M., Blok, Laura E. R., De Hayr, Lachlan, Nawaz, Urwah, Evans, Carey-Anne, Bayrak-Toydemir, Pinar, Htun, Stephanie, Zhu, Ying, Ma, Alan, Lynch, Sally Ann, Moorwood, Catherine, Stals, Karen, Ellard, Sian, Bainbridge, Matthew N., Friedman, Jennifer, Pappas, John G., Rabin, Rachel, Nowak, Catherine B., Douglas, Jessica, Wilson, Theodore E., Guillen Sacoto, Maria J., Mullegama, Sureni V., Palculict, Timothy Blake, Kirk, Edwin P., Pinner, Jason R., Edwards, Matthew, Montanari, Francesca, Graziano, Claudio ... Roscioli, Tony (2022). De Novo ZMYND8 variants result in an autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder with cardiac malformations. Genetics in Medicine, 24 (9), 1952-1966. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2022.06.001
2022
Journal Article
Loss, gain and altered function of GlyR α2 subunit mutations in neurodevelopmental disorders
Chen, Xiumin, Wilson, Katie A., Schaefer, Natascha, De Hayr, Lachlan, Windsor, Mark, Scalais, Emmanuel, van Rijckevorsel, Germaine, Stouffs, Katrien, Villmann, Carmen, O’Mara, Megan L., Lynch, Joseph W. and Harvey, Robert J. (2022). Loss, gain and altered function of GlyR α2 subunit mutations in neurodevelopmental disorders. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 15 886729. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.886729
2020
Other Outputs
Investigating the role of non-coding RNAs in Aedes aegypti biology
De Hayr, Lachlan (2020). Investigating the role of non-coding RNAs in Aedes aegypti biology. PhD Thesis, School of Biological Sciences , The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2020.702
2020
Journal Article
RNA activation in insects: the targeted activation of endogenous and exogenous genes
De Hayr, Lachlan, Asad, Sultan, Hussain, Mazhar and Asgari, Sassan (2020). RNA activation in insects: the targeted activation of endogenous and exogenous genes. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 119 103325, 103325. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103325
2019
Journal Article
Density-dependent enhanced replication of a densovirus in Wolbachia-infected Aedes cells is associated with production of piRNAs and higher virus-derived siRNAs
Parry, Rhys, Bishop, Cameron, De Hayr, Lachlan and Asgari, Sassan (2019). Density-dependent enhanced replication of a densovirus in Wolbachia-infected Aedes cells is associated with production of piRNAs and higher virus-derived siRNAs. Virology, 528, 89-100. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.12.006
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Lachlan De Hayr is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Lachlan De Hayr directly for media enquiries about:
- non-coding RNA
- vector biology
- virology
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