Professor Martin Kennedy, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Head of Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science
Director, Carney Centre for Pharmacogenomics
Laboratory Director, Gene Structure and Function Laboratory

BSc(Hons)(Cant), PhD(Auck)

Email martin.kennedy@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 364 0590

Research interests

Professor Martin Kennedy's main research interests are psychiatric genetics, pharmacogenomics, and the genetics of complex disease.

His current research largely focuses on pharmacogenomics, which aims to understand how drugs and genes interact with the goal of improving drug treatments and reducing adverse drug reactions. For example, analysis of genetic variation in genes such as those that encode drug metabolising liver enzymes like CYP2D6 and CYP2C19, is helping to determine genetic factors that impact on response to treatments for various diseases.

For a more comprehensive analysis of genetic factors impacting drug response or risks of adverse drug reactions, they are also applying Next Generation DNA sequencing methods including exome sequencing and other genomic approaches to explore drug response phenotypes.

In order to understand severe adverse drug reactions, his lab has developed a biobank for collecting biological samples of people who have suffered such reactions, called UDRUGS. This biobank is growing, and will enhance efforts to understand genetic factors that contribute to severe adverse drug reactions.

Other research interests include work with the Christchurch Health and Development Study looking at genetic contributions to a range of complex human traits, and a study focusing on the genetics of anorexia nervosa.

In addition, Martin's laboratory is examining the impact of G-quadruplex DNA structures and their relevance to genomic imprinting and other aspects of genome biology.

Education

Professor Kennedy obtained his BSc(Hons) at University of Canterbury, and his PhD in bacterial genetics at the University of Auckland, and carried out postdoctoral research in leukaemia genetics at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge (UK) before returning to University of Otago, Christchurch in 1991.

In the media

Professor Martin Kennedy was interviewed for Radio New Zealand's Our Changing World series in May 2013.

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Publications

Morillon, M. B., Nørup, A., Singh, J. A., Dalbeth, N., Taylor, W. J., Kennedy, M. A., … Grainger, R., … Stamp, L. K. (2023). Outcome reporting in randomized trials in Gout: A systematic scoping review from the OMERACT Gout Working Group assessing the uptake of the core outcome set. Seminars in Arthritis & Rheumatism. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2023.152191

Kee, P. S., Maggo, S. D. S., Kennedy, M. A., & Chin, P. K. L. (2023). The pharmacogenetics of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 in a case series of antidepressant responses [Brief research report]. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14, 1080117. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1080117

Cleland, L., Kennedy, H. L., Pettie, M. A., Kennedy, M. A., Bulik, C. M., & Jordan, J. (2023). Eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image research in New Zealand: A scoping review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(1), 7. doi: 10.1186/s40337-022-00728-1

Prickett, T. C. R., Pearson, J. F., Troughton, R. W., Kennedy, M. A., & Espiner, E. A. (2023). The predictive value of A, B, and C-type natriuretic peptides in people at risk of heart disease: Protocol for a longitudinal observational study. JMIR Research Protocols, 12, e37011. doi: 10.2196/37011

Hitchman, L. M., Faatoese, A., Merriman, T. R., Miller, A. L., Liau, Y., Graham, O. E. E., Kee, P. S., Pearson, J. F., … Cameron, V. A., Kennedy, M. A., & Maggo, S. D. S. (2022). Allelic diversity of the pharmacogene CYP2D6 in New Zealand Māori and Pacific peoples. Frontiers in Genetics, 13, 1016416. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1016416

Chua, E. W., Maggo, S., & Kennedy, M. A. (2017). Long fragment polymerase chain reaction. In L. Domingues (Ed.), PCR: Methods in molecular biology (Vol. 1620). (pp. 65-74). New York, NY: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7060-5_3

Chapter in Book - Research

Kennedy, M. A., Rogers, G. R., & Joyce, P. R. (2004). Pharmacogenetics of antidepressants and mood stabilisers. In P. R. Joyce & P. B. Mitchell (Eds.), Mood disorders: Recognition and treatment. (pp. 223-237). Sydney, Australia: The University of New South Wales Press Ltd.

Chapter in Book - Research

Kennedy, M. A. (2000). Mendelian Genetic Disorders. In The Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. London: Nature Publishing Group.

Chapter in Book - Research

Kennedy, M. A. (1996). Internet resources for human and mouse molecular genetics. In S. R. Swindell, R. Miller & G. S. A. Myers (Eds.), Internet for the Molecular Biologist. (pp. 123-149). Norfolk: Horizon Scientific Press.

Chapter in Book - Research

Kennedy, M., Joyce, P., & Begg, E. (2013). Carney Centre for Pharmacogenomics. In P. Joyce, G. Nicholls, K. Thomas & T. Wilkinson (Eds.), The Christchurch experience: 40 years of research and teaching. (pp. 100-104). Christchurch, New Zealand: University of Otago.

Chapter in Book - Other

Journal - Research Article

Karunanathie, H., Kee, P. S., Ng, S. F., Kennedy, M. A., & Chua, E. W. (2022). PCR enhancers: Types, mechanisms, and applications in long-range PCR. Biochimie. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.02.009

Journal - Research Article

Noble, A. J., Pearson, J. F., Noble, A. D., Boden, J. M., Horwood, L. J., Kennedy, M. A., & Osborne, A. J. (2022). DNA methylation analysis using bisulphite-based amplicon sequencing of individuals exposed to maternal tobacco use during pregnancy, and offspring conduct problems in childhood and adolescence. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 34(7), 540-548. doi: 10.1071/rd21108

Journal - Research Article

Surgenor, L. J., Dhakal, S., Watterson, R., Lim, B., Kennedy, M., Bulik, C., … Jordan, J. (2022). Psychosocial and financial impacts for carers of those with eating disorders in New Zealand. Journal of Eating Disorders, 10, 37. doi: 10.1186/s40337-022-00565-2

Journal - Research Article

Watson, H. J., Thornton, L. M., Yilmaz, Z., Baker, J. H., Coleman, J. R. I., Adan, R. A. H., … Boden, J. M., … Horwood, L. J., … Jordan, J., Kennedy, M., … Bulik, C. M. (2022). Common genetic variation and age at onset of anorexia nervosa. Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science, 2, 368-378. doi: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.09.001

Journal - Research Article

Xu, J., Johnson, J. S., Signer, R., Eating Disorders Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, Birgegård, A., Jordan, J., Kennedy, M. A., … Bulik, C. M., & Huckins, L. M. (2022). Exploring the clinical and genetic associations of adult weight trajectories using electronic health records in a racially diverse biobank: A phenome-wide and polygenic risk study. Lancet Digital Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/S2589-7500(22)00099-1

Journal - Research Article

Ip, H. F., van der Laan, C. M., Krapohl, E. M. L., Brikell, I., Sánchez-Mora, C., Nolte, I. M., … Miller, A., … Boden, J., Pearson, J., Horwood, L. J., Kennedy, M., Poulton, R., … Boomsma, D. I. (2021). Genetic association study of childhood aggression across raters, instruments, and age. Translational Psychiatry, 11, 413. doi: 10.1038/s41398-021-01480-x

Journal - Research Article

Munn-Chernoff, M. A., Johnson, E. C., Chou, Y.-L., Coleman, J. R. I., Thornton, L. M., Walters, R. K., … Boden, J. M., … Horwood, L. J., … Pearson, J. F., … Jordan, J., Kennedy, M. A., … Agrawal, A. (2021). Shared genetic risk between eating disorder- and substance-use-related phenotypes: Evidence from genome-wide association studies. Addiction Biology, 26, e12880. doi: 10.1111/adb.12880

Journal - Research Article

Nabais, M. F., Laws, S. M., Lin, T., Vallerga, C. L., Armstrong, N. J., Blair, I. P., … Anderson, T. J., … Kennedy, M., … Pearson, J., Pitcher, T. L., … McRae, A. F. (2021). Meta-analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation identifies shared associations across neurodegenerative disorders. Genome Biology, 22(1), 90. doi: 10.1186/s13059-021-02275-5

Journal - Research Article

Noble, A. J., Pearson, J. F., Boden, J. M., Horwood, L. J., Gemmell, N. J., Kennedy, M. A., & Osborne, A. J. (2021). A validation of Illumina EPIC array system with bisulfite-based amplicon sequencing. PeerJ, 9, e10762. doi: 10.7717/peerj.10762

Journal - Research Article

Seddon, A. R., Liau, Y., Pace, P. E., Miller, A. L., Das, A. B., Kennedy, M. A., Hampton, M. B., & Stevens, A. J. (2021). Genome-wide impact of hydrogen peroxide on maintenance DNA methylation in replicating cells. Epigenetics & Chromatin, 14(1), 17. doi: 10.1186/s13072-021-00388-6

Journal - Research Article

Sinha, P., Cree, S. L., Miller, A. L., Pearson, J. F., & Kennedy, M. A. (2021). Transcriptional analysis of sodium valproate in a serotonergic cell line reveals gene regulation through both HDAC inhibition-dependent and independent mechanisms. Pharmacogenomics Journal, 21, 359-375. doi: 10.1038/s41397-021-00215-x

Journal - Research Article

Bryois, J., Skene, N. G., Folmann Hansen, T., Kogelman, L. J. A., Watson, H. J., Liu, Z., … Eating Disorders Working Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, including Boden, J., … Jordan, J., … Kennedy, M., … Pearson, J., … Sullivan, P. F. (2020). Genetic identification of cell types underlying brain complex traits yields insights into the etiology of Parkinson’s disease. Nature Genetics, 52, 482-493. doi: 10.1038/s41588-020-0610-9

Journal - Research Article

Bulik, C., Kennedy, M., & Wade, T. (2020). ANGI: Anorexia Nervosa Genetics Initiative. Twin Research & Human Genetics, 23, 135-136. doi: 10.1017/thg.2020.24

Journal - Research Article

Cree, S. L., Chua, E. W., Crowther, J., Dobson, R. C. J., & Kennedy, M. A. (2020). G-quadruplex structures bind to EZ-Tn5 transposase. Biochimie, 177, 190-197. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.07.022

Journal - Research Article

Graham, O. E. E., Pitcher, T. L., Liau, Y., Miller, A. L., Dalrymple-Alford, J. C., Anderson, T. J., & Kennedy, M. A. (2020). Nanopore sequencing of the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene in a New Zealand Parkinson's disease cohort. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 70, 36-41. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.11.022

Journal - Research Article

Heft, I. E., Mostovoy, Y., Levy-Sakin, M., Ma, W., Stevens, A. J., Pastor, S., … Kennedy, M. A., … Sikela, J. M. (2020). The driver of extreme human-specific Olduvai repeat expansion remains highly active in the human genome. Genetics, 214, 179-191. doi: 10.1534/genetics.119.302782

Journal - Research Article

Johnson, E. C., Demontis, D., Thorgeirsson, T. E., Walters, R. K., Polimanti, R., Hatoum, A. S., … Boden, J., … Pearson, J. F., … Horwood, J., … Kennedy, M. A., … Agrawal, A. (2020). A large-scale genome-wide association study meta-analysis of cannabis use disorder. Lancet Psychiatry, 7, 1032-1045. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30339-4

Journal - Research Article

Osborne, A. J., Pearson, J. F., Noble, A. J., Gemmell, N. J., Horwood, L. J., Boden, J. M., … Kennedy, M. A. (2020). Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of heavy cannabis exposure in a New Zealand longitudinal cohort. Translational Psychiatry, 10, 114. doi: 10.1038/s41398-020-0800-3

Journal - Research Article

Schierding, W., Farrow, S., Fadason, T., Graham, O. E. E., Pitcher, T. L., Qubisi, S., … Anderson, T. J., Kennedy, M. A., … O'Sullivan, J. M. (2020). Common variants coregulate expression of GBA and modifier genes to delay Parkinson's disease onset. Movement Disorders, 35(8), 1346-1356. doi: 10.1002/mds.28144

Journal - Research Article

Searchfield, G. D., Poppe, T. N. E. R., Durai, M., Jensen, M., Kennedy, M. A., Maggo, S., Miller, A. L., … Russell, B. R., … Wise, K. (2020). A proof-of-principle study of the short-term effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on tinnitus and neural connectivity. International Journal of Neuroscience, 130(7), 671-682. doi: 10.1080/00207454.2019.1702544

Journal - Research Article

Slow, S., Pearson, J. F., Florkowski, C. M., Elder, P. A., Lewis, J. G., Kennedy, M. A., & Murdoch, D. R. (2020). Effect of genetic factors on the response to vitamin D₃ supplementation in the VIDARIS randomised controlled trial. Nutrition, 75-76, 110761. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2020.110761

Journal - Research Article

Vallerga, C. L., Zhang, F., Fowdar, J., McRae, A. F., Qi, T., Nabais, M. F., … Kennedy, M., … Gratten, J. (2020). Analysis of DNA methylation associates the cystine-glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 with risk of Parkinson's disease. Nature Communications, 11, 1238. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-15065-7

Journal - Research Article

Adehin, A., Adeagbo, B. A., Kennedy, M. A., Bolaji, O. O., Olugbade, T. A., Bolarinwa, R. A., & Durosinmi, M. A. (2019). Inter-individual variation in imatinib disposition: Any role for prevalent variants of CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and CYP3A5 in Nigerian CML patients? Leukemia & Lymphoma, 60(1), 216-221. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2018.1466291

Journal - Research Article

Balasubramanian, D., Pearson, J. F., & Kennedy, M. A. (2019). Gene expression effects of lithium and valproic acid in a serotonergic cell line. Physiological Genomics, 51, 43-50. doi: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00069.2018

Journal - Research Article

Gardner, R. J. M., Crozier, I. G., Binfield, A. L., Love, D. R., Lehnert, K., Gibson, K., … Jones, P. P., … Kennedy, M. A., & Skinner, J. R. (2019). Penetrance and expressivity of the R858H CACNA1C variant in a five-generation pedigree segregating an arrhythmogenic channelopathy. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine, 7(1), e00476. doi: 10.1002/mgg3.476

Journal - Research Article

Liau, Y., Cree, S. L., Maggo, S., Miller, A. L., Pearson, J. F., Gladding, P. A., & Kennedy, M. A. (2019). A multiplex pharmacogenetics assay using the MinION nanopore sequencing device. Pharmacogenetics & Genomics, 29(9), 207-215. doi: 10.1097/fpc.0000000000000385

Journal - Research Article

Liau, Y., Maggo, S., Miller, A. L., Pearson, J. F., Kennedy, M. A., & Cree, S. L. (2019). Nanopore sequencing of the pharmacogene CYP2D6 allows simultaneous haplotyping and detection of duplications. Pharmacogenomics, 20(14), 1033-1047. doi: 10.2217/pgs-2019-0080

Journal - Research Article

Maggo, S. D. S., Sycamore, K. L. V., Miller, A. L., & Kennedy, M. A. (2019). The three ps: Psychiatry, pharmacy, and pharmacogenomics, a brief report from New Zealand. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 690. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00690

Journal - Research Article

Pettersson, E., Lichtenstein, P., Larsson, H., Song, J., Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Working Group of the iPSYCH-Broad-PGC Consortium, Autism Spectrum Disorder Working Group of the iPSYCH-Broad-PGC Consortium, Bipolar Disorder Working Group of the PGC, Eating Disorder Working Group of the PGC, including Kennedy, M. A., Major Depressive Disorder Working Group of the PGC, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and Tourette Syndrome Working Group of the PGC, Schizophrenia CLOZUK, Substance Use Disorder Working Group of the PGC, including Horwood, L. J., Pearson, J. F., … Polderman, T. J. C. (2019). Genetic influences on eight psychiatric disorders based on family data of 4 408 646 full and half-siblings, and genetic data of 333 748 cases and controls. Psychological Medicine, 49(7), 1166-1173. doi: 10.1017/S0033291718002039

Journal - Research Article

Prickett, T. C. R., Spittlehouse, J. K., Miller, A. L., Liau, Y., Kennedy, M. A., Cameron, V. A., Pearson, J. F., Boden, J. M., Troughton, R. W., & Espiner, E. A. (2019). Contrasting signals of cardiovascular health among natriuretic peptides in subjects without heart disease. Scientific Reports, 9, 12108. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48553-y

Journal - Research Article

Reynolds, R. H., Botía, J., Nalls, M. A., International Parkinson's Disease Genomics Consortium (IPDGC), including System Genomics of Parkinson's Disease (SGPD), Anderson, T., … Kennedy, M., Pearson, J., … Ryten, M. (2019). Moving beyond neurons: The role of cell type-specific gene regulation in Parkinson's disease heritability. npj Parkinson's Disease, 5, 6. doi: 10.1038/s41531-019-0076-6

Journal - Research Article

Richards, A., Horwood, J., Boden, J., Kennedy, M., Sellers, R., Riglin, L., … Harold, G. T. (2019). Associations between schizophrenia genetic risk, anxiety disorders and manic/hypomanic episode in a longitudinal population cohort study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 214, 96-102. doi: 10.1192/bjp.2018.227

Journal - Research Article

Rucklidge, J. J., Eggleston, M. J. F., Darling, K., Stevens, A., Kennedy, M., & Frampton, C. M. (2019). Can we predict treatment response in children with ADHD to a vitamin-mineral supplement? An investigation into pre-treatment nutrient serum levels, MTHFR status, clinical correlates and demographic variables. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 89, 181-192. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.09.007

Journal - Research Article

Stevens, A. J., Purcell, R. V., Darling, K. A., Eggleston, M. J. F., Kennedy, M. A., & Rucklidge, J. J. (2019). Human gut microbiome changes during a 10 week randomised control trial for micronutrient supplementation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Scientific Reports, 9, 10128. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-46146-3

Journal - Research Article

Walker, L. C., Lattimore, V. L., Kvist, A., Kleiblova, P., Zemankova, P., de Jong, L., Wiggins, G. A. R., Hakkaart, C., Cree, S. L., … Kennedy, M. A., … de la Hoya, M. (2019). Comprehensive assessment of BARD1 messenger ribonucleic acid splicing with implications for variant classification. Frontiers in Genetics, 10, 1139. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01139

Journal - Research Article

Watson, G. M., Chan, C. W., Belluscio, L., Doudney, K., Lacey, C. J., Kennedy, M. A., & Bridgman, P. (2019). Comparing the variants of takotsubo syndrome: An observational study of the ECG and structural changes from a New Zealand tertiary hospital. BMJ Open, 9(5), e025253. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025253

Journal - Research Article

Watson, H. J., Yilmaz, Z., Thornton, L. M., Hübel, C., Coleman, J. R. I., Gaspar, H. A., … Roberts, M., … Boden, J. M., … Horwood, L. J., … Pearson, J. F., … Jordan, J., Kennedy, M., … Bulik, C. M. (2019). Genome-wide association study identifies eight risk loci and implicates metabo-psychiatric origins for anorexia nervosa. Nature Genetics, 51, 1207-1214. doi: 10.1038/s41588-019-0439-2

Journal - Research Article

Zhang, Q., Vallerga, C. L., Walker, R. M., Lin, T., Henders, A. K., Montgomery, G. W., … Kennedy, M., Pitcher, T., Pearson, J., … Anderson, T., … Visscher, P. M. (2019). Improved precision of epigenetic clock estimates across tissues and its implication for biological ageing. Genome Medicine, 11(1), 54. doi: 10.1186/s13073-019-0667-1

Journal - Research Article

Adehin, A., Bolaji, O. O., Maggo, S., & Kennedy, M. A. (2018). Genetic polymorphism of CYP2C9 and VKORC1 in the Nigerian population: Significance for warfarin therapy in the population. Polish Annals of Medicine, 25(2), 180-183. doi: 10.29089/2017.17.00041

Journal - Research Article

Culverhouse, R. C., Saccone, N. L., Horton, A. C., Ma, Y., Anstey, K. J., Banaschewski, T., … Horwood, J., … Fergusson, D. M., … Kennedy, M., … Bierut, L. J. (2018). Collaborative meta-analysis finds no evidence of a strong interaction between stress and 5-HTTLPR genotype contributing to the development of depression. Molecular Psychiatry, 23, 133-142. doi: 10.1038/mp.2017.44

Journal - Research Article

Lacey, C. J., Doudney, K., Bridgman, P. G., George, P. M., Mulder, R. T., Zarifeh, J. J., Kimber, B., Cadzow, M. J., Black, M. A., Merriman, T. R., … Pearson, J. F., Cameron, V. A., & Kennedy, M. A. (2018). Copy number variants implicate cardiac function and development pathways in earthquake-induced stress cardiomyopathy. Scientific Reports, 8, 7548. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-25827-5

Journal - Research Article

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Professor Martin Kennedy

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