My group sits at the intersection of genomics and neuroscience, utilising a number of genomic approaches (RNA-Seq, long-read sequencing, targeted RNA sequencing and single cell sequencing) to investigate gene expression and function in the human brain and in neuropsychiatric disorders. Many regions in our DNA are known to confer risk to disease, including neuropsychiatric disorders, but the genes responsible and how they confer risk are often unknown.

We are interested in identifying these genes (both protein coding and noncoding) and how their expression can change to cause disease risk. We utilise both post-mortem human brain and neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to help answer these questions.


A second research interest of my group is to develop and utilise novel sequencing methods. We have worked in the past to help develop targeted RNA sequencing to allow highly sensitive detection and quantification of genes of interest. More recently we have focused on utilising Nanopore sequencing, a technology that can sequence both DNA and native RNA. We are very interested in applying Nanopore sequencing to many research questions and in developing novel applications for this technology.


In addition I have long-standing interests in multiple aspects of RNA biology including noncoding RNAs and RNA post-transcriptional regulation.