Berit Genz
Dr | Research Officer
berit.genz@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Dr Berit Genz is a Research Officer in the Hepatic Fibrosis laboratory at QIMR Berghofer and an Honorary Fellow in the Mater Research Institute, UQ. She completed her PhD at the Rostock University Medical Centre in Germany developing a gene therapy approach to target hepatic stellate cells in liver fibrosis.
Dr Genz joined QIMR Berghofer with a Research Fellowship from the German Research Foundation (DFG) in 2016 focussing on the role of Wnt signaling in hepatic stellate cell activation and cross-talk with macrophages during liver fibrosis. For the last few years Dr Genz has been investigating the role of microRNAs in the hepatic stellate cell phenotype and hepatic fibrosis. She is also interested in the different signaling pathways regulating hepatic stellate cell behaviour and their interaction with macrophages as well as liver progenitor (stem) cells in fibrosis development and regression.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
2018 – current: Research Officer, Hepatic Fibrosis laboratory, QIMR Berghofer
2018 – current: Honorary Fellow, Macrophage Biology Research Group, Mater Research Institute
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS
2016 – 2018: Visiting Scientist, Hepatic Fibrosis Laboratory
2016 – 2018: Visiting Scientist, Mater Research Institute, UQ
2015 – 2016: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
2010 – 2014: PhD student, Institute for Experimental Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
ORCID NUMBER
0000-0002-8038-9815
RESEARCHER ID
AAZ-4230-2020
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
Dr Genz’s current research interests focus on the role of microRNAs in hepatic stellate cell activation, collagen synthesis and development of hepatic fibrosis. Her aim is to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of liver fibrosis and to use this knowledge to discover new potential targets for anti-fibrotic therapy.
In collaboration with Dr Kate Irvine at the Mater Research Institute, Dr Genz is investigating the role of macrophages in liver fibrosis regression and the possibility to reinforce their anti-fibrotic phenotype.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
2017 – current: Gastroenterological Society of Australia
2016 – 2019: Australian Society for Medical Research
AWARDS RECOGNITION
2016 – 2018: Research Fellowship of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
2015: PhD in Cell Biology, Rostock University Medical Centre, Germany
2010: Diploma in Human Biology, University Greifswald, Germany