Overview
Background
Dr Julie Wixey is a Senior Research Fellow at the Perinatal Research Centre and Group Leader in fetal growth restriction research at The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research (UQCCR). She currently holds an NHMRC Investigator grant (2023-2027). Her research focusses on mechanisms, detection, and treatment of brain injury in fetally growth restricted babies.
Fetal growth restriction (FGR), where a fetus fails to grow normally in utero, is a leading cause of death and long-term disability with around 32 million babies born FGR globally each year. The fetal brain is particularly vulnerable to FGR conditions, and adverse outcomes cause life-long difficulties ranging from schooling and behavioural issues to cerebral palsy. These disabilities occur in up to 50% of FGR infants and have significant impacts on their lives. There is no treatment to protect the FGR newborn brain.
Dr Wixey is investigating how inflammation is associated with brain injury in the growth restricted newborn. She is examining novel detection methods of brain injury and applying different treatments to the clinically relevant growth restriction animal model, targeting both inflammation and blood brain barrier integrity to protect the vulnerable newborn brain.
Research Projects
• Mechanisms of brain injury in growth restriction
• Novel detection methods of brain injury in the growth restricted newborn using blood biomarkers
• Treatments to protect the growth restricted newborn from adverse brain outcomes
Availability
- Dr Julie Wixey is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), James Cook University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Neonatal brain injury
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Neuroinflammation
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Neuroprotection
Research impacts
My research, using the clinically relevant animal model of fetal growth restriction (FGR), has:
1) provided new evidence that brain injury persists even after the FGR baby is born, and
2) demonstrated treating after birth protects the FGR brain.
My work exposed a novel opportunity to treat FGR newborns after birth by targeting inflammation to protect the FGR newborn brain. This attracted significant media attention with 16 national and international media outlets citing these publications. My ABC interview resulted in online and radio releases. Articles reporting on this research include Medical Xpress (United Kingdom), Readers Digest (Canada), Sydney Morning Herald, and The Age reflect interest extending from scientists to clinicians and general public.
Works
Search Professor Julie Wixey’s works on UQ eSpace
2004
Conference Publication
Gender differences in the expression of myelin related proteins in human alcoholic
Lewohl, J. M., Wixey, J.A. and Dodd, P. R. (2004). Gender differences in the expression of myelin related proteins in human alcoholic. 27th Annual Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Vancouver, B.C. Canada, 26-30 June, 2004. Maryland, M.O., U.S.A.: Blackwell.
2003
Journal Article
Role of MC1R variants in uveal melanoma
Hearle, N., Humphreys, J., Damato, B. E., Wort, R., Talaban, R., Wixey, J., Green, H., Easton, D. F. and Houlston, R. S. (2003). Role of MC1R variants in uveal melanoma. British Journal of Cancer, 89 (10), 1961-1965. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601358
2003
Journal Article
Contribution of germline mutations in BRCA2, P16INK4A, P14ARF and P15 to uveal melanoma
Hearle, Nicholas, Damato, Bertil E., Humphreys, Jane, Wixey, Julie, Green, Helen, Stone, Joanne, Easton, Douglas F. and Houlston, Richard S. (2003). Contribution of germline mutations in BRCA2, P16INK4A, P14ARF and P15 to uveal melanoma. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 44 (2), 458-462. doi: 10.1167/iovs.02-0026
2002
Conference Publication
Myeline gene expression in human alcoholics
Wixey, J.A., Dodd, P. R. and Lewohl, J. M. (2002). Myeline gene expression in human alcoholics. Australian Neuroscience Society 22nd Annual Meeting, Sydney, 4-6 February, 2002.
2002
Journal Article
Analysis of the CTLA4 gene in Swedish coeliac disease patients
Popat, S., Hearle, N., Wixey, J., Hogberg, L., Bevan, S., Lim, W., Stenhammar, L. and Houlston, R. S. (2002). Analysis of the CTLA4 gene in Swedish coeliac disease patients. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 37 (1), 28-31. doi: 10.1080/003655202753387310
2002
Conference Publication
Differences in RGS, myelin and synaptic protein expression in human alcoholics
Wixey, J.A., Kuo, S., Watkins, T. V., Dodd, P. R. and Lewohl, J. M. (2002). Differences in RGS, myelin and synaptic protein expression in human alcoholics. RSA & ISBRA Joint Meeting, San Francisco, 28 June - 3 July, 2002.
2001
Journal Article
Increased expression of neuronal glucose transporter 3 but not glial glucose transporter 1 following severe diffuse traumatic brain injury in rats
Hamlin, Gary P., Cernak, Ibolja, Wixey, Julie A. and Vink, Robert (2001). Increased expression of neuronal glucose transporter 3 but not glial glucose transporter 1 following severe diffuse traumatic brain injury in rats. Journal of Neurotrauma, 18 (10), 1011-1018. doi: 10.1089/08977150152693700
2001
Journal Article
A comprehensive analysis of MNG1, TCO1, fPTC, PTEN, TSHR, and TRKA in familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer: confirmation of linkage to TCO1
Bevan, S., Pal, T., Greenberg, C. R., Green, H. and Wixey, J. (2001). A comprehensive analysis of MNG1, TCO1, fPTC, PTEN, TSHR, and TRKA in familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer: confirmation of linkage to TCO1. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 86 (8), 3701-3704. doi: 10.1210/jc.86.8.3701
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Julie Wixey is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Long-term neuroprotection in the growth restricted newborn
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Blood biomarkers to detect adverse brain outcomes in fetal growth restriction
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Novel targeted therapies to improve brain outcomes in growth restricted newborns
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Blood biomarkers to detect brain injury in the growth restricted newborn
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kirat Chand
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Doctor Philosophy
Examining long-term neuroprotection in the growth restricted newborn
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kirat Chand
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
A novel stem cell therapy for the treatment of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy of the newborn
Associate Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Blood-brain barrier disruption in a model of neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Julie Wixey directly for media enquiries about:
- Biomarkers to detect newborn brain injury
- Growth restriction
- Neonatal brain injury
- Neuroinflammation
- Perinatal neuroscience
- Preterm birth
- treatments for newborn brain injury
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