Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Skip to main content

Contact Details

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

University Links

Position
Professor and Head of Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (Christchurch)
Department
Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine (Christchurch)
Qualifications
BSc (Cant) PhD (Auck)
Research summary
Genetics of human disease

Research

Director of the Carney Centre for Pharmacogenomics and the Gene Structure and Function Lab, Martin'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.

Publications

Kee, P. S., Chin, P. K. L., Tatley, M., Braund, R., Kennedy, M. A., & Maggo, S. D. S. (2026). Drug brand switching: A regulatory perspective. Drug Safety. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s40264-026-01712-3 Journal - Research Other

Prendergast, E., Dalbeth, N., Christensen, R., Kennedy, M. A., & Stamp, L. K. (2026). Consensus recommendations for optimal trial design and reporting of core domains in urate-lowering therapy trials for gout: A Delphi study. Seminars in Arthritis & Rheumatism, 81, 153079. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2026.153079 Journal - Research Article

Termorshuizen, J. D., Davies, H. L., Lee, S.-H., Dennis, J. K., Hübel, C., Johnson, J. S., … Kennedy, H. L., … Miller, A. L., … Jordan, J., … Kennedy, M. A., … Coleman, J. R. I. (2026). Genomic meta-analyses of binge-eating behavior and anorexia nervosa yield insights into the unique and shared biology of eating disorder phenotypes. Nature Mental Health. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s44220-026-00698-2 Journal - Research Article

Robertson, S. P., Halliday, B. J., Tibble, R., Koia, C., Haereroa, T., Goodin, E., … Te Aika, B., … Kennedy, M. A., … Markie, D. M., … Wilcox, P. L., & Puketapu-Watson, H. (2026). A primary care pharmacogenetic precision medicine pilot based on specific Māori tribal ethical frameworks and principles. Journal of Community Genetics, 17, 79. doi: 10.1007/s12687-026-00914-7 Journal - Research Article

Hitchman, L., Kerekere, T. W. A., Miller, A. L., Goodin, E., Koia, C., Watson, H., … Robertson, S. P., Wilcox, P., & Kennedy, M. A. (2026). Allelic diversity of the pharmacogenes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 in Māori from Te Tairāwhiti, Aotearoa New Zealand. Frontiers in Genetics, 17, 1668409. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2026.1668409 Journal - Research Other

Back to top