Associate Professor Tony Merriman

Associate Professor
Merriman.jpg
  • Biochemistry Department
  • School of Medical Sciences
  • University of Otago
  • P.O. Box 56
  • 710 Cumberland St
  • Dunedin 9054 , New Zealand
  • Tel.: +64 3 479-5798
  • FAX: +64 3 479-7866
  • e-mail:tony.merriman@otago.ac.nz

Research Interests:

Our research group takes a genetic approach to understanding the biology of human disease. Currently we have four primary research projects.

1. Gout - the genetic causes and how these genes interact with the environment.

2. Genetics of autoimmune disease (mainly rheumatoid arthritis)

3. A genetic relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and schizophrenia.

4. Copy number variable genes and disease.


Our group is involved in these networks and extended collaborations

1. CCRep, a charitable trust whose key objective is clinical research

2. MapNet, a New Zealand cross sector organisation of geneticists

3. Middlemore Maaori Gout Action Group

4. The New Zealand Rheumatology Research Network (Dr Nicola Dalbeth, A/Prof Peter Gow, Dr Andrew Harrison, Prof John Highton, A/Prof Peter Jones, A/Prof Lisa Stamp)

5. Ngati Porou Hauora

6. Virtual Institute of Statistical Genetics, developing advanced methods for statistical genomic analysis


Our group also collaborates with:

1. Dr Mik Black on analysis of copy number variation in next-generation sequencing data

2. A/Prof Greg Jones on the genetics of abdominal aortic aneurysm

3. Dr Benedicte Lie on the genetics of rheumatoid arthritis

4. Dr Rebecca Roberts on the genetics of inflammatory bowel disease

5. Dr Sophia Steeron the genetics of rheumatoid arthritis

6. Prof Paul Wordsworth on the genetics of rheumatoid arthritis

 

Links with, and funding and support from these organisations are important to us:

1. Arthritis New Zealand

2. Genetics Otago

3. Health Research Council of New Zealand

4. New Zealand Rheumatology Association