Dr Karen Reader
| 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
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
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
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
Eiholzer, R. A., Mehta, S., Kazantseva, M., Drummond, C. J., McKinney, C., Young, K., … Fleming, N., Morrin, H. R., Reader, K., Royds, J. A., Landmann, M., Petrich, S., … Taha, A., Hung, N. A., Slatter, T. L., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2020). Intronic TP53 polymorphisms are associated with increased Δ133TP53 transcript, immune infiltration and cancer risk. Cancers, 12(9), 2472. doi: 10.3390/cancers12092472
Kazantseva, M., Mehta, S., Eiholzer, R. A., Gimenez, G., Bowie, S., Campbell, H., Reily-Bell, A. L., … Ray, S., Drummond, C. J., Reid, G., … Wiles, A., Morrin, H. R., Reader, K. L., Hung, N. A., Baird, M. A., Slatter, T. L., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2019). The Δ133p53β isoform promotes an immunosuppressive environment leading to aggressive prostate cancer. Cell Death & Disease, 10, 631. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1861-1
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
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
Eiholzer, R. A., Mehta, S., Kazantseva, M., Drummond, C. J., McKinney, C., Young, K., … Fleming, N., Morrin, H. R., Reader, K., Royds, J. A., Landmann, M., Petrich, S., … Taha, A., Hung, N. A., Slatter, T. L., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2020). Intronic TP53 polymorphisms are associated with increased Δ133TP53 transcript, immune infiltration and cancer risk. Cancers, 12(9), 2472. doi: 10.3390/cancers12092472
Journal - Research Article
Kazantseva, M., Mehta, S., Eiholzer, R. A., Gimenez, G., Bowie, S., Campbell, H., Reily-Bell, A. L., … Ray, S., Drummond, C. J., Reid, G., … Wiles, A., Morrin, H. R., Reader, K. L., Hung, N. A., Baird, M. A., Slatter, T. L., & Braithwaite, A. W. (2019). The Δ133p53β isoform promotes an immunosuppressive environment leading to aggressive prostate cancer. Cell Death & Disease, 10, 631. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1861-1
Journal - Research Article
Reader, K. L., Marino, F. E., Nicholson, H. D., Risbridger, G. P., & Gold, E. J. (2018). Role of activin C in normal ovaries and granulosa cell tumours of mice and humans. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 30(7), 958-968. doi: 10.1071/RD17250
Journal - Research Article
Croxford, K. P., Reader, K. L., & Nicholson, H. D. (2017). The potential role of transforming growth factor beta family ligand interactions in prostate cancer. AIMS Molecular Science, 4(1), 41-61. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2017.1.41
Journal - Research Article
McNatty, K. P., Heath, D. A., Clark, Z., Reader, K., Juengel, J. L., & Pitman, J. L. (2017). Ovarian characteristics in sheep with multiple fecundity genes. Reproduction, 153, 233-240. doi: 10.1530/rep-16-0587
Journal - Research Article
Ottley, E. C., Reader, K. L., Lee, K., Marino, F. E., Nicholson, H. D., Risbridger, G. P., & Gold, E. (2017). Over-expression of activin-βC is associated with murine and human prostate disease. Hormones & Cancer, 8(2), 100-107. doi: 10.1007/s12672-017-0283-8
Journal - Research Article
O'Connell, A. R., Demmers, K. J., Smaill, B., Reader, K. L., & Juengel, J. L. (2016). Early embryo loss, morphology, and effect of previous immunization against adrostenedione in the ewe. Theriogenology, 86(5), 1285-1293. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.04.069
Journal - Research Article
O'Connell, A. R., McNatty, K. P., Hurst, P. R., Spencer, T. E., Bazer, F. W., Reader, K. L., … Juengel, J. L. (2016). Activin A and follistatin during the oestrous cycle and early pregnancy in ewes. Journal of Endocrinology, 228(3), 193-203. doi: 10.1530/joe-15-0367
Journal - Research Article
Reader, K. L., Mottershead, D. G., Martin, G. A., Gilchrist, R. B., Heath, D. A., McNatty, K. P., & Juengel, J. L. (2016). Signalling pathways involved in the synergistic effects of human growth differentiation factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein 15. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 28, 491-498. doi: 10.1071/RD14099
Journal - Research Article
Reader, K. L., & Gold, E. (2015). Activins and activin antagonists in the human ovary and ovarian cancer. Molecular & Cellular Endocrinology, 415, 126-132. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2015.08.011
Journal - Research Article
Reader, K. L., Cox, N. R., Stanton, J.-A. L., & Juengel, J. L. (2015). Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on lamb oocyte blastocyst rate, ultrastructure, and mitochondrial DNA copy number. Theriogenology, 83, 1484-1492. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.01.028
Journal - Research Article
Reader, K. L., Cox, N. R., Stanton, J.-A. L., & Juengel, J. L. (2015). Mitochondria and vesicles differ between adult and prepubertal sheep oocytes during IVM. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 27(3), 513-522. doi: 10.1071/RD13359
Journal - Research Article
Reader, K. L., Haydon, L. J., Littlejohn, R. P., Juengel, J. L., & McNatty, K. P. (2012). Booroola BMPR1B mutation alters early follicular development and oocyte ultrastructure in sheep. Reproduction, Fertility & Development, 24(2), 353-361. doi: 10.1071/RD11095
Journal - Research Article
Cree, A. M., Guillette, Jr, L. J., & Reader, K. (1996). Eggshell formation during prolonged gravidity of the Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). Journal of Morphology, 230(2), 129-144.
Journal - Research Article
Reader, K. L., Stanton, J.-A. L., & Juengel, J. L. (2017). The role of oocyte organelles in determining developmental competence. Biology, 6(3), 35. doi: 10.3390/biology6030035
Journal - Research Other
