Distinguished Professor
Lyn Griffiths
Faculty of Health,
School of Biomedical Sciences
Biography
Distinguished Professor Griffiths is a molecular geneticist with more than 30 years’ research experience. She undertakes research focused on identifying genes involved in common traits and disorders including migraine, cardiovascular disease, memory, dementia and concussion. She is Director of the Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health which aims to discover better methods of diagnosing disease, developing targeted treatments based on genetic information, and training the next generation of genomics scientists. DProf Griffiths is a passionate advocate of the translation of medical research through commercialisation and is the Director of the MTP Connect and industry led Bridge and BridgeTech programs, undertaking commercialisation training for the pharmaceutical and medical devices-technology fields across Australia, respectively. DProf Griffiths’ own genetics research at the Genomics Research Centre has led to diagnostic breakthroughs for several neurogenetic disorders, including familial migraine, ataxia, epilepsy and hereditary stroke and also led to the establishment of a new Defence Innovation Hub which is using next generational DNA technology to identify the remains of missing servicemen. The Hub is utilising aDNA techniques, whole genome sequencing and genetic profiling of family reference samples to aid in this remains identification. Prof Griffiths’ research has appeared in > 430 peer-reviewed international publications and she has obtained significant competitive and industry research funds to support her research team.
Honours, Awards and prizes:
- 2023 Award of Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to genetics, and to research into neurological disorders
- 2022 4th James Lance Intl Migraine Oration - first migraine genetics and first female orator, 5th Lance-Goadsby meeting in conjunction with 10th ARCH
- 2020 Medical Technology Association of Australia: 2020 Outstanding Achievement Award
- 2020 Life Sciences Queensland Limited (LSQ) - the Globally Engaging Networking Event (GENE) Awards: Life Sciences QIMR Berghofer Women of Influence Award
- 2018 Fellow of the National Heart Foundation
- 2017 HGSA, Sutherland Orator
- 2015 Fellow, Queensland Academy of Arts and Science
- 2015 Finalist, Life Sciences, Outstanding Achievement, Women in Technology
- 2014 Greppi Award, for the best international migraine paper Migraine Trust International Congress
- 2013 Gold Coast Overall Leadership Award International Women’s Day Festival
- 2010 F1000 article factor 9 (8-9 Must read) for Nature Medicine 16(10):1157-60
- 2010 F1000 article factor 6 (6-7 Recommended) for Cephalalgia 31(3):264-270
- 2010 Research Excellence Award for Senior Researcher, Griffith University
- 2006 Smart State – Smart Women Finalist (Research Scientist Category);
- 2006 Finalist Queenslander of the Year
- 2005 Australian of the Year Finalist
- 2004 Australian Centenary Medal for Distinguished Service to Education & Medical Research
Research support and funding: Prof Griffiths research has been supported by more than $57M in research funding through national competitive grants, industry collaborations and contracts, and philanthropic sources including NHMRC project grants, ARC Discovery and Linkage grants, ARC EIF and NCRIS grants, Qld Smart State grants as well as international funding from the US Migraine Research Foundation.
Research interests:
- Molecular genetics
- Genetic analysis
- Chronic disease
- Clinical Trials
Personal details
Positions
- Centre Director, Centre for Genomics & Personalised Health
Faculty of Health,
School of Biomedical Sciences
Keywords
Molecular Genetics, Migraine, Genomics, Genetic Analysis, Genetic Susceptibility, Gene Profiling, Clinical Trials
Research field
Genetics
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy - Medicine (University of Sydney)
Professional memberships and associations
Current appointments:
- Centre Director, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health
- Director, Genomics Research Centre, QUT
- Director, Bridge Program
- Director, Bridge Tech Program
- Chair, Board of Censors, Diagnostic Genomics, Human Genetics Society Australasia (HGSA)
- Founding Member, Therapeutic Innovation Australia (TIA) QLD node
Professional membership:
- Member, American Society of Human Genetics
- Member, Australian Headache Society
- Member, Australian Society for Medical Research
- Member, Human Genetics Society of Australasia
Publications
- Smith, R., Haupt, L., Griffiths, L., Ibrahim, O., Sutherland, H. & Maksemous, N. (2020). Exploring neuronal vulnerability to head trauma using a whole exome approach. Journal of Neurotrauma, 37(17), 1870–1879. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/205518
- Dunn, P., Maksemous, N., Sutherland, H., Haupt, L. & Griffiths, L. (2020). Investigating diagnostic sequencing techniques for CADASIL diagnosis. Human Genomics, 14. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/197429
- Pettingill, P., Weir, G., Wei, T., Wu, Y., Flower, G., Lalic, T., Handel, A., Duggal, G., Chintawar, S., Cheung, J., Arunasalam, K., Couper, E., Haupt, L., Griffiths, L., Bassett, A., Cowley, S. & Zameel Cader, M. (2019). A causal role for TRESK loss of function in migraine mechanisms. Brain, 142(12), 3852–3867. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/202677
- Sutherland, H., Albury, C. & Griffiths, L. (2019). Advances in genetics of migraine. Journal of Headache and Pain, 20. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/202431
- Schwarz, N., Bast, T., Gaily, E., Golla, G., Gorman, K., Griffiths, L., Hahn, A., Hukin, J., King, M., Korff, C., Miranda, M., Møller, R., Neubauer, B., Smith, R., Smol, T., Striano, P., Stroud, B., Vaccarezza, M., Kluger, G., Lerche, H. & Fazeli, W. (2019). Clinical and genetic spectrum of SCN2A-associated episodic ataxia. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 23(3), 438–447. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/202433
- Benton, M., Lea, R., MacArtney-Coxson, D., Sutherland, H., White, N., Kennedy, D., Mengersen, K., Haupt, L. & Griffiths, L. (2019). Genome-wide allele-specific methylation is enriched at gene regulatory regions in a multi-generation pedigree from the Norfolk Island isolate. Epigenetics and Chromatin, 12. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/197592
- Bradshaw, G., Haupt, L., Aquino, E., Lea, R., Sutherland, H. & Griffiths, L. (2019). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in MIR143 contribute to protection against non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in Caucasian populations. Genes, 10(3), 1–20. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/129260
- Launer, L., Lessel, D., Ligthart, L., van den Maagdenberg, A., Macaya, A., Malik, R., Mangino, M., McMahon, G., Muller-Myhsok, B., Neale, B., Nyholt, D., Olesen, J., Palotie, A., Pedersen, L., Pedersen, N., Posthuma, D., Pozo-Rosich, P., Pressman, A., Quaye, L., Schürks, M., Sintas, C., Stefansson, K., Stefansson, H., Steinberg, S., Strachan, D., Terwindt, G., Vila-Pueyo, M., Wessman, M., Winsvold, B., Wrenthal, W., Zhao, H., Zwart, J., Runz, H., Daly, M., Ripatti, S., Gormley, P., Kurki, M., Hiekkala, M., Veerapen, K., Häppölä, P., Mitchell, A., Lal, D., Palta, P., Surakka, I., Kaunisto, M., Hamalainen, E., Vepsäläinen, S., Havanka, H., Harno, H., Ilmavirta, M., Nissilä, M., Säkö, E., Sumelahti, M., Liukkonen, J., Sillanpää, M., Metsähonkala, L., Koskinen, S., Lehtimäki, T., Raitakari, O., Männikkö, M., Ran, C., Belin, A., Jousilahti, P., Anttila, V., Salomaa, V., Artto, V., Färkkilä, M., Agee, M., Alipanahi, B., Auton, A., Bell, R., Bryc, K., Elson, S., Fontanillas, P., Furlotte, N., Huber, K., Kleinman, A., Litterman, N., McCreight, J., McIntyre, M., Mountain, J., Northover, C., Pitts, S., Sathirapongsasuti, J., Sazonova, O., Shelton, J., Shringarpure, S., Tian, C., Tung, J., Vacic, V., Wilson, C., Boomsma, D., Børte, S., Chasman, D., Cherkas, L., Christensen, A., Cormand, B., Cuenca-Leon, E., Davey-Smith, G., Dichgans, M., van Duijn, C., Esko, T., Esserlind, A., Ferrari, M., Frants, R., Freilinger, T., Griffiths, L., Hansen, T., Ikram, M., Ingason, A., Järvelin, M., Kajanne, R., Kallela, M., Kaprio, J., Kubisch, C. & Kurth, T. (2018). Common variant burden contributes to the familial aggregation of migraine in 1,589 families. Neuron, 98(4), 743–753.e4. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/202429
- Bradshaw, G., Lualhati, R., Albury, C., Maksemous, N., Roos-Araujo, D., Smith, R., Benton, M., Eccles, D., Lea, R., Sutherland, H., Haupt, L. & Griffiths, L. (2018). Exome sequencing diagnoses x-linked moesin-associated immunodeficiency in a primary immunodeficiency case. Frontiers in Immunology, 9, 1–9. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/120124
- Dunn, P., Albury, C., Maksemous, N., Benton, M., Sutherland, H., Smith, R., Haupt, L. & Griffiths, L. (2018). Next generation sequencing methods for diagnosis of epilepsy syndromes. Frontiers in Genetics, 9, 1–11. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/120125
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Lyn, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2017
- Details
- Sutherland Orator
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2015
- Details
- Fellow Queensland Academy of Arts and Science
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2015
- Details
- Finalist, Life Sciences Outstanding Achievement
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- Finalist, Life Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- Greppi Award: Best International Migraine Paper
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- Finalist, Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ) Industry Excellence Award
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2013
- Details
- Gold Coast Overall Leadership Award International Women's Day Festival 2013
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2010
- Details
- Vice Chancellor's Research Excellence Award Griffith University 2010
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2009
- Details
- Pro Vice Chanceller (Health) Research Excellence Award Griffith University 2009
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2005
- Details
- Queensland Finalist, Australian of the Year 2005
Selected research projects
- Title
- Identifying novel gene mutations for molecular diagnosis of Familial Hemiplegic Migraine
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1122387
- Start year
- 2017
- Keywords
- Migraine; Population Genetics; Pedigree Analysis; Molecular Genetics; Sequencing
- Title
- Identifying Michondrial Genome Variants Associated with Familial Migraine Susceptibility
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1083450
- Start year
- 2015
- Keywords
- migraine; mitochondrial genetics; pedigree analysis; molecular genetics; sequencing
- Title
- Clinical Trials - Genetic Variants underlying X-linked familial migraine
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1058808
- Start year
- 2014
- Keywords
- Migraine; Molecular Genetics; Genetic Analysis; Genetic Linkage; Genetic Susceptibility
- Title
- Identifying glaucoma risk variants in the Norfolk island genetic isolate
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- 1058806
- Start year
- 2014
- Keywords
- Glaucoma; Risk Factors; Sequence Analysis; Phenotype-genotype Correlation; Preventive Health
- Title
- The genetic basis of human memory
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP130101921
- Start year
- 2013
- Keywords
- Human Memory; genetics; genome wide association study
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.
Supervision
Looking for a postgraduate research supervisor?
I am currently accepting research students for Honours, Masters and PhD study.
- Genetics of cardiovascular disease
- Investigation of genetic factors that contribute to concussion and its outcomes
You can browse existing student topics offered by QUT or propose your own topic.
Current supervisions
- Identification of novel causative genetic and epigenetic factors in migraine
PhD, Principal Supervisor
Other supervisors: Associate Professor Larisa Haupt, Dr Heidi Sutherland
The supervisions listed above are only a selection.