Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
The University of Otago has launched a new brand. Find out more

Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 7161
Email
karen.reader@otago.ac.nz
Position
Senior Lecturer
Department
Department of Pathology (Dunedin)
Qualifications
PhD
Research summary
Ovarian cancer

Research

Karen is a reproductive biologist with broad interests in the areas of assisted reproductive technologies in humans and livestock, and ovarian and prostate cancer. Her research aims to identify factors important for oocyte quality that can be manipulated to improve oocyte in vitro maturation and embryo quality.

Karen also investigates the role of members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) family of proteins in reproductive biology. Her cancer research is focused on the role of activins in ovarian and prostate cancer development. The aim is to identify biomarkers that can predict disease outcome and inform treatment decisions, as well as discovering novel therapeutic targets.

Karen’s laboratory works with human tissue, human cancer cell lines and sheep ovarian cells, and utilises techniques such as cell culture, in vitro embryo production, electron and confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology.

Publications

Juengel, J. L., Reader, K. L., Maclean, P. H., Quirke, L. D., Zellhuber-McMillan, Z., Haack, N., & Heiser, A. (2024). The role of the oviduct environment in embryo survival. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 36, RD23171. doi: 10.1071/rd23171 Journal - Research Article

Reader, K. L., John-McHaffie, S., Zellhuber-McMillan, S., Jowett, T., Mottershead, D. G., Cunliffe, H. E., & Gold, E. J. (2023). Activin B and activin C have opposing effects on prostate cancer progression and cell growth. Cancers, 15, 147. doi: 10.3390/cancers15010147 Journal - Research Article

Reader, K. L., Pilbrow, B. G., Zellhuber-McMillan, S., Mitchell, A. J., Juengel, J. L., & Morbeck, D. (2022). High pressure frozen oocytes have improved ultrastructure but reduced cleavage rates compared to conventionally fixed or vitrified oocytes. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 34(18), 1135-1144. doi: 10.1071/rd22118 Journal - Research Article

Kelty, A. M., & Reader, K. L. (2022, August). Ultrastructure, function and relationships of Oocyte mitochondria. Verbal presentation at the Advances in Microscopy Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Seo, S., Sizemore, R. J., Reader, K. L., Smither, R. A., Wicky, H. E., Hughes, S. M., Bilkey, D. K., Parr-Brownlie, L. C., & Oorschot, D. E. (2021). A schizophrenia risk factor induces marked anatomical deficits at GABAergic-dopaminergic synapses in the rat ventral tegmental area: Essential evidence for new targeted therapies. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 529, 3946-3973. doi: 10.1002/cne.25225 Journal - Research Article

Back to top