Group leader
Geoff FaulknerOur research
The Faulkner lab focus on uncovering how retrotransposons shape the genome during early mammalian embryonic development and in neurons of the human brain.
Their work explores how these genetic elements contribute to genetic mosaicism, a process where cells within the same organism carry slight genetic differences. This diversity may play a fundamental role in healthy brain function, particularly in neuronal development and plasticity.
The lab's research shows that changes in retrotransposon activity are linked to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, including Rett syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson's disease, highlighting their potential impact on brain health and disease progression.
A global leader in the field, Professor Faulkner published a landmark study in Nature demonstrating somatic retrotransposition in the human brain. This discovery was recognised by the US National Institute of Mental Health as the joint No. 1 research advance of 2011. He has since led high-impact publications in Cell, Molecular Cell, Nature Neuroscience, and Science, advancing understanding of genome dynamics in neuroscience.
- ASMR Queensland Premier’s Award (2009)
- FEBS Anniversary Prize (2011)
- Lorne Genome Millennium Science Award (2014)
- Centenary Institute Lawrence Creative Prize (2014)
- Australian Academy of Science Ruth Stephens Gani Medal (2016)
- CSL Centenary Fellowship (2017)
Latest news
- A major international study has uncovered a surprising mechanism that increases the risk of certain genetic diseases, overturning decades of scientific thinking about the human X chromosome.
- Dr Gabriela-Oana Bodea in the Faulkner lab has been investigating a specific type of mobile genes, called retrotransposons, linked to several neurological diseases, including schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.
- QBI researchers are refuting claims that COVID-19 can enter a person’s DNA.
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