Amy Hanna

Dr Amy Hanna’s research expertise includes functional characterization of skeletal and cardiac muscle, and investigation of the mechanisms underlying muscle function in health and disease. Amy is a Research Fellow in the laboratory of Assoc Prof Nathan Palpant at the University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience. Amy obtained her PhD in 2014 at the John Curtin School of Medical Research under the supervision of Assoc Prof Nicole Beard and Professor Angela Dulhunty, investigating mechanisms of anthracycline-mediated cardiotoxicity using a combination of electrophysiology and calcium imaging in isolated cardiomyocytes. In 2014 Amy was awarded the Frank Fenner medal for most outstanding PhD thesis at JCSMR. Following completion of her PhD, Amy relocated to the United States to complete postdoctoral studies with Professor Susan Hamilton at Baylor College of Medicine. At BCM, Amy developed a strong interest in muscle diseases linked to calcium mishandling and protein quality control, including congenital myopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy. Amy has been an invited speaker at national and international conferences, and was co-chair of the 2019 Gordon Research Seminar of Muscle EC Coupling. Amy is currently funded by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Australian Functional Genomics Network.