Professor Stephen Robertson, Group Leader
Professor Stephen Robertson.
Email stephen.robertson@otago.ac.nz
Stephen Robertson is the Cure Kids Professor of Paediatric Genetics at the University of Otago in Dunedin. He graduated in Medicine in 1990 and specialised in Paediatrics and Genetics after training at various hospitals in greater Auckland and at the Victorian Clinical Genetics Service in Melbourne from 1997–1999. From 1995–1996, he was Chief Resident of Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland.
From 1999–2002, Stephen was Nuffield Medical Fellow at St Catherine's College, Oxford University, studying the genetic determinants of congenital malformations in children. This work was conducted in the laboratory of Professor Andrew Wilkie at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine. Since relocated to Dunedin in 2002 he has developed strong research themes in the area of paediatric genetics that has focused on conditions that result in malformations, neurodevelopmental disability and Māori genomics. He remains an active clinical geneticist attached to Genetic Health Services New Zealand as well as teaching into the Genetics Teaching Programme, undergraduate and postgraduate medical programmes and Medical Laboratory Science.
View Professor Stephen Robertson's staff profile
The Curekids Chair in Child Health Research
Curekids Fundraiser.
The Child Health Research Foundation (subsequently re-branded as Curekids) launched an initiative in 2002 to establish a chair at the University of Otago that was dedicated to aspects of child health research. A large number of corporate organisations and private individuals contributed to the establishment of the position. Most notably, four men from Queenstown – Graham Smolenksi, Jeff Turner, Wayne Cafe, and Fraser Skinner – initiated an international ski endurance event – The 50k of Coronet – over five successive years from 2000–2004 to contribute over $1 million to the fund. Professor Robertson was appointed as the Inaugural Curekids Professor in late 2002 and established the Clinical Genetics Group. In 2006, in collaboration with the Government's Partnerships in Excellence Programme and the University's Leading Thinkers Programme, the Curekids Chair in Child Health Research was established in perpetuity.
Read more about the Curekids Chair in Child Health Research at the Curekids website
Current staff
Zandra Jenkins
Research Fellow
Email zandra.jenkins@otago.ac.nz
I began my research studying the molecular genetics of wool at the AgResearch Molecular Biology Unit, University of Otago, completing my doctorate in 1998. I went on to carry out postdoctoral research at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University Sweden (1998–2000) studying protein translation. I continued this research at the Childrens Hospital Oakland Research Institute, USA (2000–2002), in addition to studying the regulation of iron homeostasis in patients with sickle cell anaemia and β-thalassemia. Returning to New Zealand in 2003, I joined the Clinical Genetics Group as a Research Fellow.
Zandra Jenkins research profile
Ben Halliday
Research Fellow
Email benjamin.halliday@otago.ac.nz
I completed my BSc(Hons) in 2016, exploring the genetic drivers of childhood kidney cancers. Through this project I developed a passion for bioinformatics, particularly in the application of genome sequencing techniques to explore rare disease genetics.
In 2017, I began my PhD in the Laboratory for Genomic Medicine. My doctoral research focused on the genomic investigation of patients with brain malformations, providing diagnostic answers for patients and their families, as well as improving understanding of the genetic pathways critical for brain development.
I am now a Research Fellow in the Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, and contribute to several ongoing projects in the lab. My main project involves assessing the appropriateness of first-tier genomic diagnostic tools in New Zealand, and investigating why these tools have reduce performance in Māori and other Pacific Peoples.
Amy Jones
Assistant Research Fellow
I completed my BSc (Hons) in 2019 investigating Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the bacteria responsible for the majority of lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
In 2020 I began my PhD in the Clinical Genetics group. My project aims to understand how metabolism contributes to neurodevelopment. Specifically, I will be investigating the metabolite glutamine, one of the most abundant amino acids in the human body. My work utilises genetic and biochemical techniques to understand how glutamine influences neurodevelopment.
Anastasia Labudina
Postdoctoral Fellow
Email anastasia.labudina@otago.ac.nz
Anastasia is a developmental biologist specialising in stem cell biology and tissue formation. She holds degrees in Molecular Biology from Lomonosov Moscow State University and Regenerative Biology and Medicine from Dresden, Germany.
Fascinated by how the regulation of three-dimensional genome structure influences stem cell differentiation and development, Anastasia began her research journey in Dunedin. During her doctoral studies in the chromosome structure and development group, she investigated the genetic basis of cohesinopathies using the zebrafish model.
Currently, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Anastasia focuses on unravelling the genetic mechanisms of periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH). Her research aims to deepen our understanding of PVNH pathogenesis, particularly emphasising the role of SON gene mutations.
Elizabeth Goodin
Assistant Research Fellow
Email liz.goodin@otago.ac.nz
I joined the Clinical Genetics Group as a Research Technician in 2019, working mainly with mouse models which help us learn more about skeletal development. One interesting technique I use is Micro CT, which is 3D x-ray scanning of small (micro) structures, in our case mouse bones. These scans allow us to compare bones between groups of mice with or without a particular genetic change and investigate how certain genes might be important in bone structure.
Previously, from 2017–2019, I carried out work in our lab on behalf of the world famous Dunedin Longitudinal Study, which studies human health, development and behaviour. In this role, I processed and catalogued past and present study member samples, including DNA. Prior to that, I completed a master's degree with the Robertson group, taking a close look at the gene MET, which is important in a bone disease called Osteofibrous Dysplasia (OFD). Among other techniques, I used specially designed antisense oligonucleotides to target certain RNA sites in cells, in search of what might regulate the differential processing of this gene to cause disease.
Sam Hawarden
Assistant Research Fellow
Email sam.hawarden@otago.ac.nz
Tim Morgan
Research Technician
Email tim.morgan@otago.ac.nz
I completed my MSc in Biochemistry in Professor Julian Eaton-Rye's lab in 2000, working on photosysthesis research. From there, I started working in Professor Robin Old's lab on bipolar disorder. Then I moved to Professor Stephen Robertson's new lab in 2003, working mainly with Filamin A, Filamin B and WTX.
PhD students
- Joanna Goes Castro Meira
- Emily Swasbrook
- Kaya Fukushima
Clinical Genetics Group team photos
2024
Left to right: Back row: Anastasia Labudina (Postdoctoral Fellow), Ben Halliday (Postdoctoral Fellow), Stephen Robertson (Group leader), Emma Wade (Postdoctoral Fellow), Henry Chapman (Honours). Front row: Amy Jones (PhD student), Zandra Jenkins (Research Fellow), Jessica Calverley (Assistant Research Fellow), Ben Rangihuna (Assistant Research Fellow), Tim Morgan (Laboratory Technician)
2022
Left to right: Back row: Ben Halliday (Postdoctoral Fellow), Stephen Robertson (Group leader), Tim Morgan (Laboratory Technician), Kam Salt (PGDipSci). Front row: Emma Wade (Postdoctoral Fellow), Amy Jones (PhD student), Hayley Gibson (BMedSc(Hons) Student), Elizabeth Goodin (Assistant Research Fellow), Padmini Parthasarathy (Assistant Research Fellow), Zandra Jenkins (Research Fellow)