Professor Lyn Griffiths is the Executive Director of the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), the largest inter-disciplinary research institute at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She is a molecular geneticist with over 28 years experience studying human complex gene disorders with specific expertise in human gene mapping and gene expression analyses, including migraine, cardiovascular disease and several types of cancer. Prof Griffiths has published more than 336 refereed publications in peer reviewed international journals including Nature,  Nature Medicine, Nature Neurology Review, PNAS, American Journal of Human Genetics, Nature Genetics, Cancer Research, Neurology and Neurogenetics.  Prof Griffiths has supervised 53 PhD students, and 45 Honours students to completion, many of whom now have established positions with excellent national and international institutes.  Prof Griffiths is currently supervising 7 PhD and 2 Masters students. Prof Griffiths has many significant international collaborations including: the International Migraine Gene Consortium; Texas Biomedical Research Institute; University of Texas Grande Valley, Oxford University; St Bart’s London; Italian National Research Council; and the MS ANZ Gene consortium.

Honours, Awards and prizes:

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 2013
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 area: Professor Griffiths leads the Genomics Research Centre(GRC). Established in 1997, the GRC is a well equipped research centre including principal researchers, postdoctoral scientists, research assistants, nurses, postgraduate and honours students, and is funded by national competitive grants and industry collaboration and contracts. The main focus of research in the GRC is the identification of genes involved in common human disorders and the translation of this research into new diagnostics and therapeutics. Prof Griffiths has established significant genomic population resources for her research, including a unique case-controlled, multigenerational pedigree and genetic isolate from Norfolk Island. Recent studies at the GRC have mapped several migraine, CVD, MS and cancer gene loci and have implicated a number of candidate genes in disease susceptibility. The GRC  undertakes regular NATA and HGSA accredited diagnostic testing for six human genetic disorders for Australasia and  research to date has resulted in three fully granted and five provisional patent applications. The GRC was a founding member of the Therapeutic Innovation Australia (TIA) Qld node – a consortium that aims to translate health discoveries.  The GRC provides molecular diagnostic capabilities for this consortium as well as undertaking Phase III clinical trials focused on migraine, Multiple Sclersosis and Alzheimers Disease.

Research support and funding:  Prof Griffiths research has been supported by more than $39M 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