Contact Details
- Phone
- +64 3 479 6373
- hod.anatomy@otago.ac.nz
University Links
- Position
- Professor and Head of Department
- Department
- Department of Anatomy
- Qualifications
- BSc PhD
- Research summary
- Neural development
Research
The focus of Professor Jasoni's research is on discovering how the maternal environment during pregnancy affects the formation of the fetal brain. With conditions such as obesity and diabetes on the rise in Western society and the developing world, it is critical that we fully understand the health implications of these disorders for future generations. Specifically, there is clear epidemiological data showing that maternal obesity can greatly increase the likelihood that offspring will also be obese. Professor Jasoni seeks 1) to establish specifically how maternal obesity during pregnancy alters the development of the fetal brain circuits that regulate offspring body weight; 2) to discover epigenetic changes in the brains of the offspring of obese or diabetic mothers, as a further mechanism to explain the influence of maternal health on offspring brain function.
Research interests
My team uses an array of techniques including molecular and cellular biology, mouse genetic models, live cell imaging, and bioinformatics to address their scientific questions. In addition, they have active collaborations with laboratories in the Centre for Neuroendocrinology, the National Research Centre for Growth and Development (one of the 7 national Centres of Research Excellence), as well as overseas collaborations. This collaborative research creates a vibrant, intellectually invigorating environment in which to conduct cutting-edge science that is internationally recognized and will benefit health outcomes in New Zealand and the world.