Local Research. Global Impact.
ORIGINS is the largest study of its kind in Australia. Following 10,000 WA children from their time in the womb into early childhood, ORIGINS researchers are working to better understand how the early environment impacts the development of non-communicable diseases.
The unique long-term study is one of the most comprehensive studies of pregnant women and their families in Australia, recruiting families who received pregnancy care at , as well as families from the Joondalup and Wanneroo communities.
ORIGINS researchers are collecting detailed information from our participating families via questionnaires, in-person checks and collection of biological samples, to determine how the early environment influences the risk of a broad range of diseases, including asthma, allergies, mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders.
The total ORIGINS population will consist of more than 20,000 individuals within family units - including mothers, partners, children and siblings.
ORIGINS acknowledges core funding provided by the Telethon Perth Children’s Hospital Research Fund, Joondalup Health Campus, the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the Commonwealth Government of Australia through the Channel 7 Telethon Trust, and the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.
Team leader
BSc (Hons), PGradDipHlthProm, PhD
MBBS, FRACP, MPH, PhD
Co-Director, ORIGINS
Team members (34)
BA (Hons), MPsych, PhD
BSc(Hons), MPsych/PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Nina D'Vaz
Biobank Manager, ORIGINS
Avril Bezant
BSc, Master of Bioinformatics
Research Assistant
Bailee Renouf
BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science
Research Assistant
Courtney Kidd
BSc, MSc (Biotechnology: Genetics and Genomics)
Biobank Coordinator
Jo Cole
BPsych, DipEd
Project Coordinator, STARS for Kids
Jodie Leslie
Research Assistant
Lisa Porter
Honorary Team Member
Poonam Pannu
BSc. (Nutrition), BSc. (Health Promotion), MPH, PhD, Registered Public Health Nutritionist (Nutrition Society of Australia)
Research Officer
Sarah Whalan
BSc, Master of Dietetics, PhD (Nutrition)
Data Manager
Jessica Powell
BA, BCom
Communications Specialist
Jack Kennare
BFA, BSc
Research Assistant, The Flourishing Child
Ellen Meagher
BSc, MPH
Project Coordinator, The Flourishing Child
Alexis Harun
BHSc (Psychology)
Paediatric Team Coordinator
Angeline Ho
BSc (Hons) Biotechnology
Governance and Compliance Coordinator
Bec Young
BSc (Nursing), GradCert Clinical Nursing, MMHN
Research Assistant, STARS for Kids
Alex Beesley
BSc (Hons), PhD (Physiology)
Data Analyst
Chantelle Dine
AdvDip OHS, Cert III Pathology Collection
Research Assistant
Dray Fernandez
DipN, Cert III Children’s Services, Cert III Residential & Community Services
Research Assistant
Jack Wong
BHealthSc
Data Officer
Jamie Tan
MBBS, GradDipNeo, FRACP (Paediatrics)
Honorary Team Member
Katie Britton
MBBS, FRACP (Paediatrics), Grad Cert ASD Diagnosis
Honorary Team Member
Sarah De Bruin
BSN
Research Assistant
Sini Borgen
BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology
Research Assistant, STARS for Kids
Wesley Billingham
BSc. (Computer Science), BSc. (Data Science), Graduate Certificate (Predictive Analytics)
Biostatistician
Kristjana Einarsdottir
BSc (Hons), PhD (Epidemiology)
Senior Research Fellow
Joanna Brisbane
BSc (Hon), Grad Dip (Genet Couns), MPH
Honorary Team Member
Kasie Jackson
BPsychSc, GradDipPsych
Research Assistant, The Flourishing Child
Natasha Bear
BSc, Masters (Biostatistics)
Honorary Research Fellow
Danielle Summers
BEd (Sec), BAPsych (Hons)
Research Assistant
Alex Scherini
BSc (Nutrition & Food Science)
Data Assistant
Brad Zhang
PhD (Public Health)
Senior Research Fellow
Emma Moon
ProfExecAsst (AIM WA), Grievance Officer Training (EEO Specialists), Cert IV Assessment & Workplace Training
Project Assistant
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