
Contact Details
University Links
- Position
- Pūkeka | Lecturer
- Department
- Department of Physiology
- Iwi affiliations
- Kāi Tahu
- Research summary
- Assigning function to genetic variants associated with metabolic traits
Research
My research projects aim to assign function to genetic variants that are associated with health and disease using bioinformatics, zebrafish and cell assays. I also work with Māori and Pacific genetic data to identify clinically-relevant genetic variants that are unique to Māori and Pacific people. The long-term outcomes of this work has the potential to reduce health disparities and improve genetic equity in these population groups.
Publications
Toomata, Z. L., Jiang, Y., Yeu, R. Q., Brandon, R., Tweedie-Cullen, R. Y., Nehren, N., … Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., Paul, R., Merry, T. L., Shepherd, P. R., & Murphy, R. (2025). Reducing weight gain with pioglitazone vs vildagliptin in CREBRF rs373863828 A-allele carriers: Insights form the WORTH trial. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome & Obesity, 18, 1255-1262. doi: 10.2147/dmso.S500336 Journal - Research Article
Gérard, B., Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., Bardin, T., Oehler, E., Lawrence, A., … Te Karu, L., Stamp, L. K., Dalbeth, N., & Pascart, T. (2025). Hyperuricaemia and gout in the Pacific. Nature Reviews Rheumatology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s41584-025-01228-7 Journal - Research Article
Talosaga, M., Darroch, H., Horsfield, J., & Leask, M. (2024, August-September). Investigating the function of the type-2-diabetes gene JAZF1 in alternative tissues. Poster session presented at the 18th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Darroch, H., Mosimann, C., Lalonde, R., Calhoun, C., Morice, E., Ledgerwood, E., … Stamp, L., Merriman, T., Horsfield, J., Wilcox, P., & Leask, M. (2024, August-September). Novel ‘omics and molecular pipelines in zebrafish for precision medicine for and by Māori. Verbal presentation at the 18th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Gaal, O. I., Leask, M., Nica, V., Cabău, G., Badii, M., Hotea, I., … Merriman, T. R., … Joosten, L. A. B. (2024). Gout-associated SNP at the IL1RN-IL1F10 region is associated with altered cytokine production in PBMCs of patients with gout and controls. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 26, 205. doi: 10.1186/s13075-024-03436-0 Journal - Research Article
2025
Journal - Research Article
Toomata, Z. L., Jiang, Y., Yeu, R. Q., Brandon, R., Tweedie-Cullen, R. Y., Nehren, N., … Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., Paul, R., Merry, T. L., Shepherd, P. R., & Murphy, R. (2025). Reducing weight gain with pioglitazone vs vildagliptin in CREBRF rs373863828 A-allele carriers: Insights form the WORTH trial. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome & Obesity, 18, 1255-1262. doi: 10.2147/dmso.S500336
Gérard, B., Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., Bardin, T., Oehler, E., Lawrence, A., … Te Karu, L., Stamp, L. K., Dalbeth, N., & Pascart, T. (2025). Hyperuricaemia and gout in the Pacific. Nature Reviews Rheumatology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s41584-025-01228-7
2024
Chapter in Book - Research
Morice, E., Calhoun, C., Lalonde, R., & Leask, M. (2024). Zebrafish for the study of enhancer activity in human traits and disease. In G. R. Disner (Ed.), Zebrafish research: An ever-expanding experimental model. (pp. 53-80). London, UK: IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.1003949
Journal - Research Article
Gaal, O. I., Leask, M., Nica, V., Cabău, G., Badii, M., Hotea, I., … Merriman, T. R., … Joosten, L. A. B. (2024). Gout-associated SNP at the IL1RN-IL1F10 region is associated with altered cytokine production in PBMCs of patients with gout and controls. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 26, 205. doi: 10.1186/s13075-024-03436-0
Abolins-Thompson, H., Henare, K., Simonson, B., Chaffin, M., Ellinor, P. T., Henry, C., Haimona, M., Aitken, J., … Rongo, M., Danielson, K. M., & Leask, M. P. (2024). Culturally responsive strategies and practical considerations for live tissue studies in Māori participant cohorts. Frontiers in Research Metrics & Analytics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.3389/frma.2024.1468400
Wang, Q., Leask, M. P., Lee, K., Jaiswal, J., Kallingappa, P., Dissanayake, W., … Wilcox, P., … Shepherd, P. R. (2024). The population-specific Thr44Met OCT3 coding variant affects metformin pharmacokinetics with subsequent effects on insulin sensitivity in C57Bl/6J mice. Diabetologia. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s00125-024-06287-1
Major, T. J., Takei, R., Matsuo, H., Leask, M. P., Sumpter, N. A., Topless, R. K., … Cadzow, M. J., Phipps-Green, A. J., … McCormick, S. P. A., Bixley, M. J., … Stamp, L. K., … Merriman, T. R. (2024). A genome-wide association analysis reveals new pathogenic pathways in gout. Nature Genetics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s41588-024-01921-5
Wang, Q., McCormick, S., Leask, M. P., Watson, H., O'Sullivan, C., Krebs, J. D., Hall, R., Whitfield, P., Merry, T. L., Murphy, R., & Shepherd, P. R. (2024). A Polynesian-specific SLC22A3 variant associates with low plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations independent of apo(a) isoform size in men [Brief report]. Bioscience Reports, 44(7), BSR20240403. doi: 10.1042/BSR20240403
Bernhardt, I., Frajman, L. E., Ryder, B., Andersen, E., Wilson, C., McKeown, C., Anderson, T., … Drake, K. M., Leask, M., Yardley, A.-M., Merriman, T., Robertson, S., … Glamuzina, E. (2024). Further delineation of short chain enoyl-CoA hydratase deficiency in the Pacific population. Molecular Genetics & Metabolism, 142, 108508. doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2024.108508
Chuah, M. H., Leask, M. P., Topless, R. K., Gamble, G. D., Sumpter, N. A., Stamp, L. K., Merriman, T. R., & Dalbeth, N. (2024). Interaction of genetic variation at ADH1B and MLXIPL with alcohol consumption for elevated serum urate level and gout among people of European ethnicity. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 26, 45. doi: 10.1186/s13075-024-03279-9
Journal - Research Other
Leask, M. P., Crișan, T. O., Ji, A., Matsuo, H., Köttgen, A., & Merriman, T. R. (2024). The pathogenesis of gout: Molecular insights from genetic, epigenomic and transcriptomic studies. Nature Reviews Rheumatology, 20, 510-523. doi: 10.1038/s41584-024-01137-1
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Leask, M., Darroch, H., Morice, E., Calhoun, C., Wilcox, P., Horsfield, J., & Merriman, T. (2024). Beyond GWAS and towards precision medicine equity for Indigenous populations. Proceedings of the 17th GeneMappers Conference. Retrieved from https://www.genemappersconference.org
Abolins-Thompson, H., Henry, C., Simonson, B., Leask, M., Haimona, M., Chaffin, M., … Danielson, K. (2024). Development of in-depth analyses for Māori health in cancer and coronary artery disease. Proceedings of the 17th GeneMappers Conference. Retrieved from https://www.genemappersconference.org
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Talosaga, M., Darroch, H., Horsfield, J., & Leask, M. (2024, August-September). Investigating the function of the type-2-diabetes gene JAZF1 in alternative tissues. Poster session presented at the 18th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Darroch, H., Mosimann, C., Lalonde, R., Calhoun, C., Morice, E., Ledgerwood, E., … Stamp, L., Merriman, T., Horsfield, J., Wilcox, P., & Leask, M. (2024, August-September). Novel ‘omics and molecular pipelines in zebrafish for precision medicine for and by Māori. Verbal presentation at the 18th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand.
2023
Chapter in Book - Research
Diermeier, S. D., & Leask, M. P. (2023). History and definitions of ncRNAs. In J. Sztuba-Solinska (Ed.), Navigating non-coding RNA: From biogenesis to therapeutic application. (pp. 1-46). London, UK: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-90406-3.00002-6
Journal - Research Article
Toomata, Z., Leask, M., Krishnan, M., Cadzow, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L. K., … Merriman, T., Wilcox, P., … Murphy, R. (2023). Genetic testing for misclassified monogenic diabetes in Māori and Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand with early-onset type 2 diabetes. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14, 1174699. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1174699
Moors, J., Krishnan, M., Sumpter, N., Takei, R., Bixley, M., Cadzow, M., Major, T. J., Phipps Green, A., Topless, R., Merriman, M., Rutledge, M., Morgan, B., … Stamp, L., Taumoepeau, M., … Wilcox, P., … McCormick, S., … Merriman, T. R., & Leask, M. (2023). A Polynesian-specific missense CETP variant alters the lipid profile. Human Genetics & Genomic Advances, 4, 100204. doi: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2023.100204
Brandon, R., Jiang, Y., Yeu, R. Q., Tweedie-Cullen, R., Smallman, K., Doherty, G., … Leask, M. P., Merriman, T. R., … Murphy, R. (2023). Stratified glucose-lowering response to vildagliptin and pioglitazone by obesity and hypertriglyceridemia in a randomized crossover trial. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 13, 1091421. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1091421
Mandal, A. K., Leask, M. P., Sumpter, N. A., Choi, H. K., Merriman, T. R., & Mount, D. B. (2023). Genetic and physiological effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on human urate homeostasis. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 34(3), 451-466. doi: 10.1681/ASN.0000000000000054
Sumpter, N. A., Takei, R., Cadzow, M., Topless, R. K. G., Phipps-Green, A. J., Murphy, R., … Major, T. J., Stamp, L. K., … Leask, M. P., … Merriman, T. R. (2023). Association of gout polygenic risk score with age at disease onset and tophaceous disease in European and Polynesian men with gout. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 75(5), 816-825. doi: 10.1002/art.42393
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Morice, M., Darroch, H., Horsfield, J., Merriman, T., & Leask, M. (2023). The regulatory landscape of metabolism in Polynesian populations. Proceedings of the Society for Developmental Biology 82nd Annual Meeting. (pp. 7). Retrieved from https://www.sdbonline.org
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Leask, M., Morice, M., Darroch, H., Horsfield, J., & Merriman, T. R. (2023, August). GWAS and beyond: Towards 'omics based precision medicine discovery for Māori and Pacific people. Verbal presentation at the 17th New Zealand Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand.
2022
Journal - Research Article
Lupi, A. S., Sumpter, N. A., Leask, M. P., O'Sullivan, J., Fadason, T., de los Campos, G., Merriman, T. R., … Vazquez, A. I. (2022). Local genetic covariance between serum urate and kidney function estimated with Bayesian multitrait models. Genes Genomes Genetics, 12(9), jkac158. doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac158
Wang, K., Cadzow, M., Bixley, M., Leask, M. P., Merriman, M. E., Yang, Q., … Takei, R., Phipps-Green, A., Major, T. J., Topless, R., … Stamp, L. K., … Merriman, T. R. (2022). A Polynesian-specific copy number variant encompassing the MICA gene associates with gout. Human Molecular Genetics, 31(21), 3757-3768. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddac094
Journal - Research Other
Sumpter, N. A., Takei, R., Leask, M. P., Reynolds, R. J., & Merriman, T. R. (2022). Genetic association studies of the progression from hyperuricaemia to gout. Rheumatology, 61, e139-e140. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac011
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Merriman, T., Matsuo, H., Takei, R., Leask, M., Topless, R., Shirai, Y., … Cadzow, M., … Stamp, L., … Robinson, P., … Sumpter, N., Merriman, M., Phipps-Green, A., Wei, W., McCormick, S., … Major, T. (2022). A genome-wide association analysis of 2,622,830 individuals reveals new pathogenic pathways in gout. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 74(Suppl. 9), 1678. doi: 10.1002/art.42355
Urquiaga, M., Leask, M., Sumpter, N., Maxwell, B., Lewis, S., Kelley, E. E., & Merriman, T. (2022). The prostate plays a role in serum urate levels and the risk of gout in men. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 74(Suppl. 9), 1145. doi: 10.1002/art.42355
Brandon, R., Jiang, Y., Yeu, R. Q., Tweedie-Cullen, R., Smallman, K., Doherty, G., … Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., … Murphy, R. (2022). Randomised cross-over trial of vidagliptin and pioglitazone as add-on therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes: Predicting Which One is Righ Here (WORTH) Study: Predicting type 2 diabetes medication response. Proceedings of the 45th New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) Annual Scientific Meeting. (pp. 30). Retrieved from https://www.ivvy.com.au/event/NZSSD22/welcome.html
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Brandon, R., Jiang, Y., Yeu, R. Q., Tweedie-Cullen, R., Smallman, K., Doherty, G., … Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., … Paul, R., & Murphy, R. (2022, August). Precision medicine in diabetes: Type 2 diabetes medication Which One is Right Here? (WORTH) study. Verbal presentation at the Metabolic & Cardiovascular Disease Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Chang, H. H. G., Leask, M. P., Kallingappa, P. K., Merry, T. L., Hotu, C., de Zoysa, J., … Fronius, M., … Hay, D. L., Merriman, T. R., & Davidson, A. J. (2022, August). The CALCRL receptor: A potential new genetic determinant of diabetic kidney disease in NZ. Verbal presentation at the Metabolic & Cardiovascular Disease Satellite Meeting: Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, New Zealand.
2021
Journal - Research Article
Leask, M., Carleton, C., Leeke, B., Newman, T., Antoun, J., Farella, M., & Horsfield, J. (2021). Riboceine rescues auranofin-induced craniofacial defects in zebrafish. Antioxidants, 10, 1964. doi: 10.3390/antiox10121964
Leask, M. P., & Merriman, T. R. (2021). The genetic basis of urate control and gout: Insights into molecular pathogenesis from follow-up study of genome-wide association study loci. Best Practice & Research: Clinical Rheumatology, 35, 101721. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2021.101721
Mandal, A. K., Leask, M. P., Estiverne, C., Choi, H. K., Merriman, T. R., & Mount, D. B. (2021). Genetic and physiological effects of insulin on human urate homeostasis. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 713710. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.713710
Leask, M., Lovegrove, M., Romeril, A., Duncan, E., & Dearden, P. (2021). Evolution and genomic organization of the insect sHSP gene cluster and coordinate regulation in phenotypic plasticity. BMC Ecology & Evolution, 21, 154. doi: 10.1186/s12862-021-01885-8
Topless, R. K., Phipps-Green, A., Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L. K., Robinson, P. C., & Merriman, T. R. (2021). Gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and the risk of death related to coronavirus disease 2019: An analysis of the UK Biobank. ACR Open Rheumatology, 3(5), 333-340. doi: 10.1002/acr2.11252
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Morice, M., Bixley, M., Cadzow, M., Major, T., Phipps-Green, A., Topless, R., Merriman, M., Merriman, T. R., Leask, M., & Horsfield, J. (2021). Replication of a Māori and Pacific-specific T2D-risk variant within JAZF1. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1547), (pp. 142). Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal
2020
Journal - Research Article
Leask, M. P., Sumpter, N. A., Lupi, A. S., Vazquez, A. I., Reynolds, R. J., Mount, D. B., & Merriman, T. R. (2020). The shared genetic basis of hyperuricemia, gout, and kidney function. Seminars in Nephrology, 40(6), 586-599. doi: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2020.12.002
Duncan, E. J., Leask, M. P., & Dearden, P. K. (2020). Genome architecture facilitates phenotypic plasticity in the honeybee (Apis mellifera). Molecular Biology & Evolution, 37(7), 1964-1978. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msaa057
Boocock, J., Leask, M., Okada, Y., Asian Genetic Epidemiology Network (AGEN) Consortium, Matsuo, H., Shi, Y., … Cadzow, M., Gosling, A. L., Major, T. J., Horsfield, J. A., … Merriman, T. R. (2020). Genomic dissection of 43 serum urate-associated loci provides multiple insights into molecular mechanisms of urate control. Human Molecular Genetics, 29(6), 923-943. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa013
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Leask, M. (2020). Translating the non-coding variome of the Pacific [Invited]. Proceedings of the Genetics Otago (GO) Zoom Symposium. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/go/2020-3/
Sumpter, N., Lupi, A., Leask, M., Merriman, T., Vazquez, A., & Reynolds, R. (2020). Genomic regions jointly associated with eGFR and serum urate: Implications for shared genetic etiology of hyperuricemia and chronic kidney disease. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 72(Suppl. 10), 0661. [Abstract]
Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L., Merriman, T., Phipps-Green, A., Topless, R., Boocock, J., … Leaupepe, K., & Stahl, E. (2020). Polynesian-specific gout-associated frameshift variant in PRPSAP1. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 72(Suppl. 10), 0659. [Abstract]
Moors, J., Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L., Hindmarsh, J. H., & Merriman, T. (2020). Novel CETP variant associates with increased HDL and low LDL in Polynesian populations. In A. Finigan, P. Vakaoti, R. Richards, M. Schaaf, M. Colombo, M. Taumoepeau & L. Moata'ane (Eds.), Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XVII. (pp. 33). Dunedin, New Zealand: Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/pacific
2019
Journal - Research Article
Panfilio, K. A., Vargas Jentzsch, I. M., Benoit, J. B., Erezyilmaz, D., Suzuki, Y., Colella, S., … Duncan, E. J., … Cridge, A. G., … Dearden, P. K., … Leask, M., … Lovegrove, M. R., … Tidswell, O., … Richards, S. (2019). Molecular evolutionary trends and feeding ecology diversification in the Hemiptera, anchored by the milkweed bug genome. Genome Biology, 20, 64. doi: 10.1186/s13059-019-1660-0
Leask, M., Dowdle, A., Salvesen, H., Topless, R., Fadason, T., Wei, W., … Marsman, J., Antony, J., … Merriman, T. R., & Horsfield, J. A. (2019). Functional urate-associated genetic variants influence expression of lincRNAs LINC01229 and MAFTRR. Frontiers in Genetics, 9, 733. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00733
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Moors, J., Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L., Hindmarsh, J. H., & Merriman, T. (2019). Novel CETP variant associates with increased HDL and low LDL in Polynesian populations. In A. Finigan, P. Vakaoti, R. Richards & M. Schaaf (Eds.), Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XVI. (pp. 23). Dunedin, New Zealand: The Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/pacific
Moors, J., Leask, M., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L., Hindmarsh, J. H., & Merriman, T. (2019). Pacific-specific CETP genetic variant associates with increased HDL and low LDL in Polynesian populations. Diabetologia, 62(Suppl. 1), (pp. S574-S575). [Abstract]
2018
Journal - Research Article
Ketharnathan, S., Leask, M., Boocock, J., Phipps-Green, A. J., Antony, J., O'Sullivan, J. M., Merriman, T. R., & Horsfield, J. A. (2018). A non-coding genetic variant maximally associated with serum urate levels is functionally linked to HNF4A-dependent PDZK1 expression. Human Molecular Genetics, 27(22), 3964-3973. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy295
Cukrov, D., Newman, T., Leask, M., Leeke, B., Sarogni, P., Patimo, A., … Horsfield, J., & Musio, A. (2018). Antioxidant treatment ameliorates phenotypic features of SMC1A-mutated Cornelia de Lange syndrome in vitro and in vivo. Human Molecular Genetics, 27(17), 3002-3011. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy203
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Leask, M., Merriman, T. R., Dowdle, A., Salvesen, H., Topless, R., Fadason, T., Wei, W., … Horsfield, J. (2018). Non-coding urate-associated variants function in a conserved lincrna regulatory domain that alters MAF transcription. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 70(9, Suppl.), 2238. doi: 10.1002/art.40700
Other Research Output
Leask, M. (2018, June). Decoding the regulatory landscape that is linked to urate. Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].
2017
Journal - Research Article
Cabout, S., Leask, M. P., Varghese, S., Yi, J., Peters, B., Conze, L. L., … Brownfield, L. (2017). The meiotic regulator JASON utilizes alternative translation initiation sites to produce differentially localized forms. Journal of Experimental Botany, 68(15), 4205-4217. doi: 10.1093/jxb/erx222
Stayner, C., Poole, C. A., McGlashan, S. R., Pilanthananond, M., Brauning, R., Markie, D., … Slobbe, L., … Parker, K., Wiles, A., … Leichter, A., Leask, M., … Jennings, M., Horsfield, J. A., Walker, R. J., & Eccles, M. R. (2017). An ovine hepatorenal fibrocystic model of a Meckel-like syndrome associated with dysmorphic primary cilia and TMEM67 mutations. Scientific Reports, 7, 1601. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01519-4
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Ketharnathan, S., Leask, M., Merriman, T., & Horsfield, J. (2017). Functional analysis of a gout-associated noncoding snp variant. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Genetics Society of Australasia (GSA) with the New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NZSBMB). 706. Retrieved from http://gen2017.w.events4you.currinda.com
Merriman, T. R., Ketharnathan, S., Boocock, J., Phipps-Green, A., Antony, J., Leask, M., … Horsfield, J. (2017). A non-coding genetic variant maximally associated with serum urate levels is functionally linked to HNF4A-dependent PDZK1 expression. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 69(Suppl. 10), 2897. doi: 10.1002/art.40321
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Duncan, E., Leask, M., & Dearden, P. K. (2017, September). Developmental plasticity and its impacts on the genome. Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Ketharnathan, S., Leask, M., Merriman, T., & Horsfield, J. (2017, January-February). Functional analysis of gout-associated SNP variant rs1967017 upstream of PDZK1. Verbal presentation at the 18th Australia and New Zealand Zebrafish Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand.
Leask, M., Horsfield, J., & Merriman, T. (2017, January-February). A zebrafish system for the functional characterisation of genomic variants. Verbal presentation at the 18th Australia and New Zealand Zebrafish Meeting, Auckland, New Zealand.
Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report
Panfilio, K. A., Vargas Jentzsch, I. M., Benoit, J. B., Erezyilmaz, D., Suzuki, Y., Colella, S., … Cridge, A. G., … Dearden, P. K., … Leask, M., … Lovegrove, M. R., … Richards, S. (2017). Molecular evolutionary trends and feeding ecology diversification in the Hemiptera, anchored by the milkweed bug genome. bioRxiv. doi: 10.1101/201731
2016
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Carleton, C., Leeke, B., Leask, M., Farella, M., Antoun, J., & Horsfield, J. (2016). A novel model for exploring the causes and treatments of craniofacial birth defects. Proceedings of the Sir John Walsh Research Institute Research Symposium. (pp. 17). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/sjwri/news/otago621026
Newman, T., Leeke, B., Carleton, C., Leask, M., Hampton, M., & Horsfield, J. (2016). How zebrafish can help understand craniofacial biology. Proceedings of the Sir John Walsh Research Institute Research Symposium. (pp. 16-17). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/sjwri/news/otago621026
2015
Journal - Research Article
Sadd, B. M., Barribeau, S. M., Bloch, G., de Graaf, D. C., Dearden, P., Elsik, C. G., … Cridge, A. G., … Duncan, E., … Irvine, F., … Leask, M., Lockett, G. A., … Nair, A., … Blommaert, J., … Worley, K. C. (2015). The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization. Genome Biology, 16, 76. doi: 10.1186/s13059-015-0623-3
Cridge, A. G., Leask, M. P., Duncan, E. J., & Dearden, P. K. (2015). What do studies of insect polyphenisms tell us about nutritionally-triggered epigenomic changes and their consequences? Nutrients, 7(3), 1787-1797. doi: 10.3390/nu7031787
2014
Journal - Research Other
Macaulay, E. C., Donovan, E. L., Leask, M. P., Bloomfield, F. H., Vickers, M. H., Dearden, P. K., … and on behalf of the Gravida International College Summit Team. (2014). The importance of early life in childhood obesity and related diseases: A report from the 2014 Gravida Strategic Summit. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health & Disease, 5(6), 398-407. doi: 10.1017/S2040174414000488
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Dearden, P., Leask, M., & Duncan, E. (2014). Phenotypic plasticity and epigenetics in the honeybee ovary. Proceedings of the 5th European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology Meeting. (pp. 120-121). Retrieved from http://evodevo2014.univie.ac.at/
Awarded Doctoral Degree
Leask, M. (2014). Phenotypic plasticity and epigenetics in the honeybee ovary (PhD). University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/4888
2013
Journal - Research Article
Duncan, E. J., Leask, M. P., & Dearden, P. K. (2013). The pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) genome encodes two divergent early developmental programs. Developmental Biology, 377, 262-274. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.01.036
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Leask, M. (2013, August). Developmental plasticity in the honeybee ovary. Verbal presentation at the University of Canterbury Māori Postgraduate Symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand.
2012
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Duncan, E. J., O'Neill, M., Leask, M. P., & Dearden, P. K. (2012, November). Phenotypic plasticity in the pea aphid: Do the same molecular mechanisms underpin plasticity in different species? Verbal presentation at the Gravida Annual Science Symposium: What Makes the Best Start for a Healthy Life? Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Leask, M. P., Duncan, E. J., & Dearden, P. K. (2012, November). Epigenetics in the honeybee ovary. Verbal presentation at the Gravida Annual Science Symposium: What Makes the Best Start for a Healthy Life? Palmerston North, New Zealand.
2010
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Leask, M. (2010, November). Developmental plasticity in the honeybee ovary. Verbal presentation at the Genetics Otago Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.