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Genevieve Syn

Research Officer

Genevieve Syn

Research Officer

BSc (Hons), PhD

genevieve.syn@telethonkids.org.au

+61 8 6319 1549

Genevieve Syn has been at The Kids Research Institute Australia since 2009, where she did her Honours project on the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.  After graduating from Murdoch University with a First Class Honours, she continued on as a research assistant at The Kids Research Institute Australia working on several projects including Aboriginal susceptibility to Type II diabetes and obesity, Hypospadias and Toxoplasma gondii. In 2013, she commenced her PhD studies in The Kids Research Institute Australia under the supervision of Dr Sarra Jamieson and Professor Jenefer Blackwell. Following her PhD, she then joined the team of Genetic and Rare Diseases led by A/Prof Timo Lassmann.

Genevieve has always been interested in microbiology research, especially the interactions between the host and the bug. Recently, she has developed a keen interest in the revolutionary gene editing tool called CRISPR-Cas9 and wants to apply this to the field of rare disease research. 

Projects

Genome-wide analysis of genetic risk factors for rheumatic heart disease in Australian Aboriginal populations from the Northern Territory

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) following Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections is heritable and prevalent in Indigenous populations.

Influence of Toxoplasma gondii on host cell function

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous pathogen capable of infecting animals, including humans, & is a significant health burden in developed/developing countries

Published research

Gene editing and cardiac disease modelling for the interpretation of genetic variants of uncertain significance in congenital heart disease

Genomic sequencing in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients often discovers novel genetic variants, which are classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Functional analysis of each VUS is required in specialised laboratories, to determine whether the VUS is disease causative or not, leading to lengthy diagnostic delays.

Anti-Interleukin-10 Unleashes Transcriptional Response to Leishmanial Antigens in Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL; Leishmania donovani) cases produce interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor in response to soluble leishmanial antigen in whole-blood assays. Using transcriptional profiling, we demonstrate the impact of interleukin-10, a cytokine implicated in VL, on this response.

CRISPR single base editing, neuronal disease modelling and functional genomics for genetic variant analysis: pipeline validation using Kleefstra syndrome EHMT1 haploinsufficiency

Over 400 million people worldwide are living with a rare disease. Next Generation Sequencing identifies potential disease causative genetic variants. However, many are identified as variants of uncertain significance and require functional laboratory validation to determine pathogenicity, and this creates major diagnostic delays.

Reference exome data for Australian Aboriginal populations to support health-based research

Our data set provides a useful reference point for genomic studies on Aboriginal Australians

Transcriptional blood signatures for active and amphotericin B treated visceral leishmaniasis in India

Amphotericin B provides improved therapy for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania donovani

CD8+XCR1neg Dendritic Cells Express High Levels of Toll-Like Receptor 5 and a Unique Complement of Endocytic Receptors

Our data demonstrate that CD8+XCR1neg DCs possess a unique pattern of endocytic receptors and a restricted TLR profile that is particularly enriched for TLR5

Epigenetic dysregulation of host gene expression in Toxoplasma infection with specific reference to dopamine and amyloid pathways

Our results provide a possible functional link between Toxoplasma gondii infection and congenital/early life and adult neurological clinical signs

Arylsulphatase A Pseudodeficiency (ARSA-PD), hypertension and chronic renal disease in Aboriginal Australians

Traits associated with CVD, CRD and T2D in Aboriginal Australians provide novel insight into function of Arylsulphatase A Pseudodeficiency variants

An in silico pipeline to filter the Toxoplasma gondii proteome for proteins that could traffic to the host cell nucleus and influence host cell epigenetic regulation

To identify genes with putative epigenetic functions, we developed an in silico pipeline to interrogate the T. gondii proteome of 8313 proteins

Education and Qualifications
  • First Class Honours in Bachelor of Science– Murdoch University
  • Doctor of Philosophy – University of Western Australia
Awards/Honours
  • 2018 - Australian Academy of Science Travel Award for Science – Science Pathways 2018 and Science at the Shine Dome 2018
  • 2017 - Light Microscopy Image Competition Grand Prize Winner
  • 2015 - 6th World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria Scientific Contribution Award for Poster
  • 2015 - Friends of the Institute International Travel Grant
  • 2015 - LAMF Award for Excellence in Research – Honorary Mention
  • 2015 - EMBL Australia Travel Grant
  • 2015 – Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Disease Seed Funding Grant
  • 2014 – EMBL Australia Inaugural PhD Symposium Poster Third Prize
  • 2014 – The Kids Research Institute Australia EMBL Australia PhD Symposium Travel Award
  • 2014 – Stan and Jean Perron Top-up Award
  • 2014 – Australian Postgraduate Award
  • 2012 – Friends of the Institute for Child Health Research International Travel Grant