Dr Michelle Thunders , Our people, University of Otago, Wellington

BSc (Hons) Human Genetics (UCL), PhD Human Genetics (UCL)

Tel +64 4 918 5740
Email michelle.thunders@otago.ac.nz

Michelle Thunders is a Senior Lecturer in Pathology and Molecular Medicine currently working at the University of Otago, Wellington in the Department of Pathology. She obtained both a BSc (Hons) and PhD in Human Genetics from University College London and has worked in a variety of academic institutions in the UK and in NZ. She is a strong believer in inclusive genetics education and making knowledge accessible, actionable and meaningful to all. Her research interests are in the analysis of sequencing data, both RNA and DNA, to understand health, risk and disease pathogenesis at a molecular level. She is interested in epigenomic biomarkers relative to assessing human health and disease, specifically DNA methylation and whether stressors we are exposed to, both physical and psychological, can have a legacy effect on subsequent generations. This potentially has profound implications in terms of how we assess heritability of disease, health equity and disease risk. Michelle has been using the earthworm as a model organism to explore this hypothesis and over the last two years built up a research network including PhD students and collaborators at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Michelle is currently co-supervising three PhD students.

Publications

Kenwright, D., Kuruppu, N., Cornwall, J., Print, C., Lindt, T., Grainger, R., & Thunders, M. (2023). A Delphi consensus exercise to determine a genetics and genomics curriculum for primary medical degree in Aotearoa New Zealand. Focus on Health Professional Education, 24(4), 24-36. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v24i4.653 Journal - Research Article

Chinn, V., Neely, E., Shultz, S., Kruger, R., Hughes, R., Page, R., … Thunders, M. (2023). Next level health: A holistic health and wellbeing program to empower New Zealand women. Health Promotion International, 38, daab205. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daab205 Journal - Research Article

He, Z., Wilson, A., Rich, F., Kenwright, D., Stevens, A., Low, Y. S., & Thunders, M. (2023). Chromosomal instability and its effect on cell lines. Cancer Reports, e1822. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/cnr2.1822 Journal - Research Other

Wu, Y., Deng, S., Wang, X., Thunders, M., Qiu, J., & Li, Y. (2023). Discovery and mechanism of action of a novel antimicrobial peptide from an earthworm. Microbiology Spectrum, 11(1). doi: 10.1128/spectrum.03206-22 Journal - Research Article

Wang, Y., Li, Y., Geng, H., Zuo, Q., Thunders, M., & Qiu, J. (2023). Effect of arsenite on the proteome of earthworms Eisenia fetida. Soil Ecology Letters, 5(1), 181-194. doi: 10.1007/s42832-021-0126-y Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

2022

Journal - Research Article

Samaratunga, H., Egevad, L., Thunders, M., Iczskowski, K. A., van der Kwast, T., Kristiansen, G., … Kenwright, D. N., Bethwaite, P. B., … Delahunt, B. (2022). LOT and HOT ... or not: The proliferation of clinically insignificant and poorly characterised types of renal neoplasia. Pathology, 54(7), 842-847. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2022.09.002

Yaxley, W., Delahunt, B., Yaxley, J., Thunders, M. C., Kenwright, D. N., Egevad, L., & Samaratunga, H. (2022). Prognostic significance of percentage Gleason grade 5 prostatic adenocarcinoma in needle biopsies from patients treated by radical prostatectomy. Pathology, 54(6), 694-699. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2022.02.009

Delahunt, B., Steigler, A., Atkinson, C., Christie, D., Duchesne, G., Egevad, L., … Kenwright, D. N., … Murray, J. D., … Thunders, M. C., … Denham, J. W. (2022). Percentage grade 4 tumour predicts outcome for prostate adenocarcinoma in needle biopsies from patients with advanced disease: 10-year data from the TROG 03.04 RADAR trial. Pathology, 54(1), 49-54. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2021.11.004

Deng, S., Li, P., Wu, Y., Tang, H., Cheng, S., Thunders, M., … Li, Y. (2022). Eco-risk management of tylosin fermentation residues using vermicomposting. Journal of Environmental Management, 303, 114126. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114126

Journal - Research Other

Chinn, V., Neely, E., Shultz, S., Kruger, R., Hughes, R., & Thunders, M. (2022). Empowering women in the face of body ideals: A scoping review of health promotion programs. Health Education & Behavior, 49(3), 534-547. doi: 10.1177/10901981211050571

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Gray, D., Ewers, E., Phipps-Green, A., Campbell, A., Porteous, D. E., Morris, S., … Stamp, L. K., Merriman, T. R., Thunders, M. C., & Major, T. J. (2022). Brothers discordant for gout have differing DNA methylation patterns in inflammatory genes. In L. Wilson, H. Harcombe, P. Jayakaran, L. Burga, J. Antony, K. Morgaine, M. Garelja, A. Middleton, M. Anwar & T. Milne (Eds.), Proceedings of the 264th Otago Medical School Research Society (OMSRS) Meeting: Masters/Honours Student Speaker Awards. Dunedin, New Zealand: OMSRS. Retrieved from https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/handle/10523/12839

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Gray, D., Ewers, E., Phipps-Green, A., Campbell, A., Porteous, D. E., Morris, S., … Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L. K., Merriman, T. R., Thunders, M. C., & Major, T. J. (2022, September). Brothers discordant for gout have differing DNA methylation patterns in inflammatory genes. Verbal presentation at the Postgraduate & Early Career Researchers Committee (PERC) & Division of Health Sciences Early & Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) Joint Research Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2021

Journal - Research Article

Henry, C. E., Phan, K., Orsman, E. J. O., Kenwright, D., Thunders, M. C., & Filoche, S. K. (2021). Molecular profiling of endometrial cancer: An exploratory study in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Cancers, 13(22), 5641. doi: 10.3390/cancers13225641

Franklin, A., Delahunt, B., Egevad, L., Yaxley, J., Johannsen, S., Gianduzzo, T., … Thunders, M., … Samaratunga, H. (2021). Prognostic significance of morphological patterns of Gleason grade 5 prostatic adenocarcinoma diagnosed on needle biopsy. Pathology, 53(2), 199-204. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2020.10.009

Delahunt, B., Eble, J. N., Samaratunga, H., Thunders, M., Yaxley, J. W., & Egevad, L. (2021). Staging of renal cell carcinoma: Current progress and potential advances. Pathology, 53(1), 120-128. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2020.08.007

Journal - Research Other

Wolyncewicz, B., Major, T. J., Delahunt, B., & Thunders, M. (2021). The epigenome: Key to understanding and predicting gout flares. Pathology, 53(7), 824-829. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2021.09.001

Thunders, M., & Delahunt, B. (2021). Gene of the month: DICER1: Ruler and controller. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 74, 69-72. doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-207203

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Ewers, E., Phipps-Green, A., Dalbeth, N., Stamp, L. K., Merriman, T. R., Thunders, M. C., & Major, T. J. (2021). Brothers discordant for gout have differing DNA methylation levels in inflammatory genes. Proceedings of the Genetics Otago (GO) Annual Symposium. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/go

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Ewers, E., Phipps-Green, A., Merriman, T. R., Thunders, M. C., & Major, T. J. (2021, August). Brothers discordant for gout have differing DNA methylation levels in inflammatory genes. Poster session presented at the New Zealand Rheumatology Association (NZRA) Annual Scientific Meeting, [Online].

2020

Journal - Research Article

Wilson, A. D., Brown, A. E., Turner, C., Zamanpoor, M., Felix, C. A., & Thunders, M. C. (2020). Validation of a pan-cancer targeted next generation sequencing panel in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Medical Laboratory Science, 74, 210-214.

Filoche, S., Stone, P., Cram, F., Bacharach, S., Dowell, A., Sika-Paotonu, D., … Ormandy, J., … Thunders, M., & Dew, K. (2020). Uncovering social structures and informational prejudices to reduce inequity in delivery and uptake of new molecular technologies. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46, 763-767. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2019-105734

Journal - Research Other

Thunders, M., & Delahunt, B. (2020). Gene of the month: TMPRSS2 (transmembrane serine protease 2). Journal of Clinical Pathology, 73, 773-776. doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206987

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Thunders, M. (2020). Is it possible to identify epigenetic biomarkers that reflect the multidimensional nature of health? [Invited]. Proceedings of the Genetics Otago (GO) Epigenetics User Group (EUG) Symposium. Retrieved from https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/go/2020-3/

Kenwright, D., Kuruppu, N., Cornwall, J., Print, C., Lints, T., Filoche, S., Thunders, M., & Grainger, R. (2020). Integrating a 2020 genomics curriculum within extant curricula. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Conference. (pp. 44). Retrieved from https://anzahpe.org

2019

Journal - Research Other

Henry, C., Filoche, S., Thunders, M., Kenwright, D., & Ekeroma, A. (2019). Reflection on the current status of endometrial cancer in New Zealand. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 59, 874-876. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13057

Delahunt, B., Eble, J. N., Egevad, L., Yaxley, J., Thunders, M., & Samaratunga, H. (2019). Emerging entities of renal cell neoplasia. Surgical & Experimental Pathology, 2, 10. doi: 10.1186/s42047-019-0035-x

Thunders, M., Holley, A., Harding, S., Stockwell, P., & Larsen, P. (2019). Using NGS-methylation profiling to understand the molecular pathogenesis of young MI patients who have subsequent cardiac events [Brief report]. Epigenetics, 14(6), 536-544. doi: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1605815

2018

Journal - Research Article

Thunders, M., Chinn, V., Bilewitch, J., & Stockwell, P. (2018). Identification of potential 'lifestyle-responsive' epigenomic biomarkers in healthy women aged 18-40. Biomarkers, 23(5), 453-461. doi: 10.1080/1354750x.2018.1443512

Lu, X., Li, Y., Thunders, M., Matthew, C., Wang, X., Ai, X., … Qiu, J. (2018). Effect of enrofloxacin on the proteome of earthworms. Science of the Total Environment. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.275

Journal - Research Other

Li, Y., Jiang, M., Thunders, M., Ai, X., & Qiu, J. (2018). Effect of enrofloxacin and roxarsone on CYP450s in pig. Research in Veterinary Science, 117, 97-98. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.11.014

2017

Journal - Research Article

Dharmadasa, P., Kim, N., & Thunders, M. (2017). Maternal cadmium exposure and impact on foetal gene expression through methylation changes. Food & Chemical Toxicology, 109(Part 1), 714-720. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.09.002

Thunders, M., Cavanagh, J., & Li, Y. (2017). De novo transcriptome assembly, functional annotation and differential gene expression analysis of juvenile and adult E. fetida, a model oligochaete used in ecotoxicological studies. Biological Research, 50, 7. doi: 10.1186/s40659-017-0114-y

Peng, C., Tang, L., Tan, X., Li, Y., Wang, X., Ai, X., … Thunders, M., & Qiu, J. (2017). Heavy metal fractionation after application of fermented sludge to soil and its effect on Sedum lineare. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 26(1-A), 810-822.

Thomas, J. A., Wadsworth, D., Jin, Y., Clarke, J., Page, R., & Thunders, M. (2017). Engagement with online self-tests as a predictor of student success. Higher Education Research & Development, 36(5), 1061-1071. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2016.1263827

Lu, X., Li, Y., Thunders, M., Cavanagh, J., Matthew, C., Wang, X., … Qiu, J. (2017). Differential protein expression and localization of CYP450 enzymes in three species of earthworm: Is this a reflection of environmental adaptation? Chemosphere, 171, 485-490. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.052

van Wissen, K., Thunders, M., Mcbride-Henry, K., Ward, M., Krebs, J., & Page, R. (2017). Cardiovascular disease and prediabetes as complex illness: People's perspectives. Nursing Inquiry, 24, e12177. doi: 10.1111/nin.12177

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thunders, M., & Chinn, V. (2017, September). Revealing the invisible impact of lifestyle change (using epigenomic studies to determine molecular impact). Verbal presentation at the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine Conference, Sydney, Australia.

2016

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Thunders, M. C., & Chinn, V. A. (2016). The epigenomic impact of a 6 month health intervention on women aged 18-40. Proceedings of the Society of Toxicology Contemporary Concepts in Toxicology Meeting: Toxicoepigenetics. 35. Retrieved from https://www.toxicology.org

Chinn, V., Shultz, S., Page, R., Coad, J., Kruger, R., & Thunders, M. (2016). Next level health: An integrated health programme using multiple behaviour change to develop a balanced health practice for women. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 23(Suppl. 1), (pp. S77-S78). doi: 10.1007/s12529-016-9586-3

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Thunders, M. C., Chinn, V., & Page, R. (2016, April). The epigenetic impact of a 6 month lifestyle intervention programme on women aged 18-40. Poster session presented at the 13th International Congress of Human Genetics, Kyoto, Japan.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thunders, M. (2016, September). Are epigenomic studies useful for health promotion? Verbal presentation at the School of Public Heatlh Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.

2015

Journal - Research Article

Thunders, M. (2015). Epigenetics: Its understanding is crucial to a sustainable healthcare system. Healthcare, 3(2), 194-204. doi: 10.3390/healthcare3020194

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Thunders, M. (2015, November-December). School children as health advisors. Verbal presentation at the Science Communicators Association of New Zealand (SCANZ) Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.

2014

Journal - Research Article

Thunders, M., Jin, Y., Clarke, J., Wadsworth, D., Thomas, J., & Page, R. (2014). Words and pictures: Back to basics for effective learning in the health sciences. International Journal of Research in Education Methodology, 5(3), 673-679.

Journal - Research Other

Castro, N., Faulkner, J., Skidmore, P., Williams, M., Lambrick, D. M., Signal, L., Thunders, M., … Stoner, L. (2014). Pre-adolescent cardio-metabolic associations and correlates: PACMAC methodology and study protocol. BMJ Open, 4(9), e005815. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005815

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Thunders, M. (2014). Epigenetics and the role exercise plays. New Zealand Journal of Sports Medicine, 41(2), (pp. 83). [Abstract]

Thunders, M., Kim, N., & Page, R. (2014). Sex, worms, genes and cadmium. Proceedings of the New Zealand Trace Elements Group Conference. (pp. 42). Retrieved from http://www.tracenz.org/

Chinn, V., Cornwall, J., Thunders, M., Orta, O., & Stoner, L. (2014). Influence of gender on the reliability of central adiposity measurements using B-mode ultrasound. New Zealand Journal of Sports Medicine, 41(2), (pp. 88). [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Van Wissen, K. A., Thunders, M. C., McBride-Henry, K. S., Ward, M. A., Krebs, J. D., Harding, S. A., & Page, R. A. (2014, May). Complex illness: The experiences of people with cardiovascular disease also found to have prediabetes. Poster session presented at the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) Annual Scientific Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand.

2013

Journal - Research Article

Somdee, T., Thunders, M., Ruck, J., Lys, I., Allison, M., & Page, R. (2013). Degradation [Dha⁷]MC-LR by a microcystin degrading bacterium isolated from Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand. ISRN Microbiology, 2013, 596429. doi: 10.1155/2013/596429

Journal - Research Other

Thunders, M., Mangai, S., & Cooper, R. (2013). Nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics and the future of dietary advice. Food & Nutrition Sciences, 4(10), 999-1003. doi: 10.4236/fns.2013.410129

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Thunders, M., Jing, Y., & Page, R. (2013). The language of science: An online animated tool for learning the vocabulary used in the health sciences. In M. Gosper, J. Hedberg & H. Carter (Eds.), Proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference on Australian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE). (pp. 875-878). [Full Paper]

Jin, Y., Thunders, M., & Page, R. (2013). Using a glossary random entry tool on moodle online learning sites to improve students’ engagement: A pilot study. In M. Gosper, J. Hedberg & H. Carter (Eds.), Proceedings of the 30th Annual Conference on Australian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE). (pp. 438-441). [Full Paper]

2007

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C., McCulley, M., Nicoll, J. A. R., Alder, J. T., Chen, C. P. L.-H., & Francis, P. T. (2007). Genetic variation in the 5-HT2A receptor and altered neocortical [³H] ketanserin binding in Alzheimer's disease. Neuroscience Letters, 420(1), 58-60. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.04.009

2005

Journal - Research Article

Holmes, C., Ballard, C., Lehmann, D., Smith, D. A., Beaumont, H., Day, I. N., … McCulley, M., … Warden, D. (2005). Rate of progression of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease: Effect of butyrylcholinesterase K gene variation. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 76(5), 640-643. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.2004.039321

2004

Journal - Research Article

McCulley, M. C., Day, I. N. M., & Holmes, C. (2004). Association between interleukin 1-β promoter (-511) polymorphism and depressive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B, 124 B(1), 50-53. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.20086

Journal - Research Other

Engelborghs, S., Holmes, C., McCulley, M., & De Deyn, P. P. (2004). 5-HT_2A receptor polymorphism may modulate antipsychotic treatment response in Alzheimer's disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 19, 1108-1109. doi: 10.1002/gps.1179

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Engelborghs, S., Holmes, C., McCulley, M., & De Deyn, P. P. (2004). 5-HT2A receptor polymorphism may modulate antipsychotic treatment response in Alzheimer's disease. European Journal of Neurology, 11(Suppl. 2), (pp. 183). doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2004.00920.x

1997

Journal - Research Article

Wolfe, J., Jeremiah, S., Young, J., Burley, M. W., Stewart, H., McCulley, M., … Povey, S. (1997). Mapping ESTs to the TSC1 candidate interval by use of the ‘Science 96’ transcript map. Annals of Human Genetics, 61(5), 401-409. doi: 10.1046/j.1469-1809.1997.6150401.x