Professor Katherine Belov
BSc(Hons) PhD
Professor of Comparative Genomics
Pro Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement
School of Life and Environmental Sciences
B19 - R.M.C. Gunn Building
The University of Sydney
Telephone | +61 2 9351 3454 |
Fax | +61 2 9351 3957 |
|
|
Website |
Video: Genomics Lecture Viedo: Save the Tasmanian Devil |
Research interests
Evolution of the adaptive immune system Marsupial and monotreme immune genes MHC Diversity and Conservation Marsupial and monotreme genomics Comparative Genomics Genetics of Tasmanian Devil facial tumour disease
Teaching and supervision
Genetics and Genomics
Current research students
Project title | Research student |
---|---|
The importance of immune genes in mate choice in endangered and vulnerable Australian animals | Parice BRANDIES |
Genetic and ecological monitoring of an introduced island population of Tasmanian devils | Elle MCLENNAN |
Conservation genomics of the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) | Caitlin MORRISON |
Associations
- President of the Genetics Society of Australasia ( July 2014)
- Part of the organising committee Genetics Society of Australasia annual meeting at USyd in 2014
- Editorial board of BMC Genomics
- Edited a special issue of the Australian Journal of Zoology
Awards and honours
- 2015 The 38 influential University of Sydney people you should follow on Twitter
- 2014 Australian Academy of Science, Fenner Medal for Research in Biology (Excluding the Biomedical Sciences).
- 2014 The Genetics Society of Australasia "Ross Crozier Medal".
- 2011 Eureka Awards Research and Innovation, Environmental Research, The Devils' Advocates
- 2009 ARCs prestigious Future Fellowships for mid-career researchers
- 2009 Received People’s Choice Award, at the 20th Australian Museum Eureka Prizes
- 2009 The "Thompson Fellowship for Research career development".
- 2008 The Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) Tall Poppy award.
- 2008 Grace Mary Mitchell Awards for teaching, research, research support and teaching support respectively.
In the media
PhD candidate Emma Peel from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences was interviewed on ABC (News 24, RN Drive, PM, 702 Sydney, 774 Melbourne, 666 Canberra, 891 Adelaide, 720 Perth, 105.7 Darwin, 936 Hobart, triple j), The Project on Channel 10, The Feed on SBS Two, 3AW Melbourne, 5AA Adelaide, 6PR Perth, 2GB Sydney, 2CC Canberra and Gizmodoabout new research that has proved Tasmanian Devil’s milk can kill some of the most deadly bacterial and fungal infections. The Hobart Mercuryand news.com.auquoted Professor Kathy Belov, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement) about the research. Pedestrianalso reported on the study. | Oct 2016 |
The Scientist (US) and The Verge(US) quoted Professor Katherine Belov, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), from the Faculty of Veterinary Science, about new US research suggesting that Tasmanian devils are evolving resistance to facial tumour disease. | August 2016 |
The Sun Heraldand Sunday Canberra Timesquoted Professor Katherine Belov, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), from the Faculty of Veterinary Science, about the threat of extinction of Tasmanian devils ten years ago, which has now turned to hope for their survival in the wild. | July 2016 |
May 2016 | |
The Age reported PhD researcher Rebecca Gooley confirmed the discovery of a new Tasmanian devil population. Professor Katherine Belov, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement), was quoted on how the discovery of nine new genetic variants would aid the species’ outlook. 936 ABC Hobart mentioned University of Sydney research on the Tasmanian devil population |
May 2016 |
Clones no more as a secret population of Tasmanian devils discovered |
May 2016 |
May 2015 | |
The 38 influential University of Sydney people you should follow on Twitter |
Mar 2015 |
Mar 2016 | |
America and Australia in partnership to save the Tassie devil |
Feb 2014 |
There has been coverage around the partnership announced between the University and San Diego Zoo to save the Tasmanian Devil: ABC Northern Tasmania, 936 ABC Hobart and 702 ABC Sydney. |
|
Nov 2013 | |
The Sydney Morning Herald and Canberra Times published stories about University research into the origins of echidna’s spurs, quoting Professor Kathy Belov from the School of Veterinary Science. |
|
Selected grants
2018
- Marsupial genomics:Antimicrobial peptides & endangered species conservation; Belov K, Di Palma F; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
2017
- RES: Collaboration Agreement with the Australian Museum and the Zoo and Aquarium Association of Australia for the development of genetic methods for management of Australian wildlife.; Belov K; Zoo and Aquarium Association/Research Collaboration Agreement.
- Minimising adaptation to captivity for conservation of threatened species; Grueber C, Belov K, Wallis G, Lacy R; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
- Molecular diet analysis of an introduced island population of Tasmanian devils; Belov K, Grueber C, Hogg C, McLennan E; Equity Trustees Limited/Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment.
2015
- SNP Genotyping to maintain genetic diversity in the Tasmanian devil insurance population and beyond; Grueber C, Hogg C, Belov K; University of Tasmania Foundation/Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant.
- Bacterial and host drivers of chlamydial blindness in koalas; Polkinghorne A, Belov K, Timms P, Myers G, Papenfuss A; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
- UPLC-MS for rapid analysis and detection of bioactive molecules; Payne R, Cordwell S, Jolliffe K, Belov K, Codd R; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Equipment Grants.
2014
- Mitigating ecosystem impacts by improving the way we breed and manage devils.; Belov K, Grueber C, Hogg C, Hogg C, Papenfuss A, Barrs V, Pemberton D, Peck S, Goldstone-Henry C; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP).
- From the pouch to the grave: age and sex related changes in immunity in the Tasmanian devil; Belov K, Papenfuss A; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
2013
- Human Animal Research Network; Probyn-Rapsey F, Belov K, Black C, Degeling C, Fawcett (Quain) A, Irvine R, Johnston J, Lea T, Kindt J, Michael M, McGreevy P, McManus P, Raubenheimer D, Schlosberg D, Spurr B, Shine R, Wadiwel D; DVC Research/Research Network Scheme (SyReNS).
- Genotyping of captive devils using next-generation sequencing assays; Belov K; University of Tasmania Foundation/Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant.
- Devil Tools & Tech: bridging the gap between the lab bench and forest floor; Belov K; Zoological Society of San Diego/Research Support.
2012
- Development of a high throughput next-generation sequencing assay to measure genetic relatedness and genomic diversity in Tasmanian devils; Belov K; University of Tasmania Foundation/Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant.
2011
- Characterization of tumour variants of devil facial tumour disease; Belov K, Papenfuss A; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
- Investigating the genomic basis for heterogeneity in susceptibility of Tasmanian devils to a novel infectious cancer; Jones M, McCallum H, Belov K, Wade C, Storfer A; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
- Characterizing the role of telomeres and telomerase in the evolution and progression of DFTD; Ujvari B, Belov K; University of Tasmania Foundation/Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant.
2010
- The genetics of resistance to devil facial tumour disease; Belov K; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Future Fellowships (FT).
- The importance of MHC variation in reproductive success and health of the tasmanian devil population; Spindler R, Belov K; Morris Animal Foundation (USA)/Research Support.
- Sequencing of Tasmanian Devil MHC Class 1; Belov K; University of Tasmania Foundation/Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant.
- Evolution of devil facial tumour disease; Belov K; DVC Research/Bridging Support Grant.
- Identification of the gene for the IL-2 cytokine in the brushtail possum; Belov K; Landcare Research New Zealand Limited/Research support.
2009
- MHC diversity of Tasmanian devils at West Pencil Pine: a genetic profile for disease resistance; Lane A, Belov K; University of Tasmania Foundation/Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant.
- ARC Linkage - funding commencing 1-07-09 - University of Tasmania lead institution - An immunologica; Belov K.
- Does invasion affect immunological fitness? MHC diversity in the cane toad; Belov K; DVC Research/Thompson Fellowships.
- Immunogenetics of Devil Facial Tumour Disease; Belov K; DVC Research/Bridging Support Grant.
- Eight new polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed to amplify microsatellites that are linked to MHC genes in the domestic cat.; Belov K; Constance H. Aird Diabetes Bequest/Faculty of Veterinary Science Bequest.
- Evolution, disease and extinction - using ancient and modern DNA to investigate molecular evolution in the Tasmanian Devil; Misso G, Austin J, Belov K; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP).
- Construction of a Tasmanian Devil bacterial artificial chromosome library; Belov K; Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment./Research Grant.
- An immunological and immunogenetic approach to understand and to protect Tasmanian devils against devil facial tumour disease; Belov K; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP).
- MHC diversity in Tasmanian Platypuses; Belov K; Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment./Research Grant.
2008
- Tracing the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of the vertebrate major histocompatibility co; Belov K; Department of Industry, Innovation and Science/International Science Linkages (ISL) Competitive Grants.
- Identification of novel MHC types in Tasmamian devils; Belov K; University of Tasmania Foundation/Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant.
- Development of MHC-linked microsatellites to allow rapid MHC typing; Belov K; University of Tasmania Foundation/Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant.
- Tracing the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of the vertebrate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) - USA; Belov K; Australian Academy of Science/International Science Linkages Science Academies Program: Scientific Visits to North America.
2007
- Molecular characterisation of T-cell receptor gamma variable genes in feline low grade alimentary lymphoma (LGL); Barrs V, Beatty J, Belov K; The Sara and Anne Payten Canine Cancer Research Fund/Bequest Research Funding.
- Immunoglobulin genetics of non-eutherian mammals; Miller R, Baker M, Belov K; National Science Foundation/Science and Technology Studies Program.
- In silico identification and characterisation of antimicrobial peptide genes from non-eutherian mammals; Belov K; University of Sydney/Early Career Researcher.
- Major histocompatibility complex genes and Tasmanian Devil facial tumour; Belov K; Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment./Research Grant.
2006
- Linking habitat fragmentation and disease: the major histocompatibility complex class II and its role in disease of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus); Higgins D, Belov K, Krockenberger M, Hemsley S; The Hermon Slade Foundation/HSF Research Grants.
- Characterization of the tammar wallaby MHC; Belov K, Eldridge M, Beck S, Eldridge M; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
- Postgraduate Research scholarship in Veterinary Science; Belov K, Sanderson C, Wong E, Graves J; Australian Research Council (ARC)/ARC Centres of Excellence.
2005
- Elucidation of gene content and organisation of the tammar wallaby major histocompatibility complex (MHC).; University of Sydney/Postdoctoral Fellowship.
2002
- Monotreme immune system provides insights into their evolutionary relationships; Belov K; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
Selected publications
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|