Dr Denise Furness

Biography/ Background

Current Appointments

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide

• Head of Predicting Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (PAPO) study

• Member of the Research Centre for Reproductive Health, a constituent research centre of the Robinson Institute

• Registered Exercise Professional (REP), Fitness Australia

• Registered Nutritionist (RNutr), Nutrition Society of Australia

Past Appointments

• South Australian Public Relations Officer, Australian Society of Medical Research, (2008)

• Medicine PBL Tutor, Adelaide University, South Australia (2006-2007)

• Chair, Ausbiotech Students Association, South Australia (2004-2006)

• PhD candidate, CSIRO Human Nutrition, South Australia (2003-2007)

• Research Officer, Australian Animal Health Laboratories, Victoria (2002-2003)

Awards & Achievements

• 2010 Australian Society Medical Research Early Career Research Award, Best Oral Presentation

• 2009 International Federation of Placenta Associations Early Career Research Award

• 2009 Finalist High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia, Early Career Oral Presentation

• 2008 Semi-Finalist CYWHS  Young Investigator Award

• 2008 Healthy Living Fitness and Australian Institute of Fitness, Career Starter Award

• 2008 The American Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Excellence Award (International award)

• 2007 Network in Genes Environment and Development Honourable Mention for Oral Presentation

• 2007 Bayer Health and Medical Research Award

Research Interests

Diagnosing risk for pregnancy complications.

A number of pathologies of pregnancy, including up to 50% of miscarriages, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm labour, unexplained stillbirth and placental abruption are characterised by an impaired cytotrophoblast invasion and inadequate response of the uterine spiral arteries to undergo physiological transformation. Together these conditions affect more than one quarter of pregnant women in developed societies. We aim to understand the factors that impair placental function and apply this understanding to determining which couples are at risk of developing serious pregnancy complications.

We were funded by Government of South Australia to develop predictive tests for couples' risks for complications of late pregnancy, specifically preeclampsia, IUGR and pre-term birth. This is the SA SCOPE (SCreening fOr Pregnancy Endpoints) project (Clinical Director Professor Gus Dekker and Scientific Director Professor Claire Roberts). We have assembled a biobank of samples from women pregnant for the first time, their partners and babies. We are undertaking a targeted gene approach and aim to identify genes that determine a couple's risk prior to the development of symptoms. These genes have already been shown to be important in the control of placental development. We have a particular interest in how the father imparts risk for pregnancy complications in the mother and baby. Furthermore, we are determining whether there are differences in circulating microRNAs (miRs) in the mother in early gestation that are associated with later development of preeclampsia.

We have a new cohort Predicting Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (PAPO) in whom women suffer recurrent pregnancy complications but primarily recurrent spontaneous miscarriage (RSM). It appears that RSM is in the continuum of pregnancy complications associated with poor placentation. We aim to elucidate molecular mechanisms in RSM and identify potential therapeutic targets for subsequent development and testing.

PAPO Study Research Group

• Dr Denise Furness: Group Leader
• Ms Karen Rivers: Research Midwife
• Mr Dylan McCullough: Research Assistant

Students supervised and mentored

• Ms Jessica Laurence: PhD (Current) and Honours (2009)
• Mr Sam Buckberry: Honours (2011)
• Ms Kisha Sivanathan: Honours (2010)

 

Research Funding

• Bonnie Babes Research Grant 
• Colin Mathews Research Grant
• NHMRC Project Grant (Professor Gus Dekker)
• Cooperative Research Centre for Diagnostic

Publications

Entry last updated: Monday, 16 May 2011