Associate Professor Aideen McInerney-Leo

Principal Research Fellow

Frazer Institute
Faculty of Medicine
a.mcinerney@uq.edu.au
+61 7 344 37057

Overview

I am a clinician-academic whose interactions with patients have shaped my research questions and fuelled my enthusiasm for the importance of clinical research. I trained as a genetic counsellor and my research now focuses on the integration of genomics into clinical care. My research program has had three primary themes: evaluating the psychosocial impact of genetic conditions and/or genetic testing; evaluating genetics education preferences for patients and healthcare providers; and using next-generation sequencing to increase diagnostic yield for rare disorders.

Current research projects include:

  1. Exploring whether genetic fatalism affects sun-related health behaviours in high-risk individuals following genetic testing.
  2. Exploring the referral journey to genetic services for individuals with rare diseases
  3. Assessing Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) members’ confidence in reviewing genomic research applications.
  4. Mainstreaming Genetic Testing for Melanoma into Dermatology Practice.
  5. Using Exome sequencing to identify new genes in families with inherited melanoma, negative for mutations in known genes.

Research Interests

  • Integrating genetic testing for melanoma into dermatology practice
    Our study explores whether upskilling dermatologists to offer genetic testing for melanoma is acceptable to dermatologists and whether patient outcomes, as compared to when genetic testing is offered by a genetic counsellor.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, The University of Manchester

Publications

  • Dane, Aimee, Berkman, Jennifer, DeBortoli, Emily, Wallingford, Courtney K., Yanes, Tatiane and McInerney‐Leo, Aideen (2024). Narrative therapy and family therapy in genetic counseling: A scoping review. Journal of Genetic Counseling. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1938

  • Maas, Ellie J., DeBortoli, Emily, Nathan, Vaishnavi, Freeman, Ned P., Mothershaw, Adam, Smit, Darren J., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Aoude, Lauren G., Stark, Mitchell S., Sturm, Richard A., Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2024). POT1 and multiple primary melanomas: the dermatological phenotype. Journal of Medical Genetics jmg-2023-109637, 1-4. doi: 10.1136/jmg-2023-109637

  • Muller, Cassandra, Gallacher, Lyndon, Keogh, Louise, McInerney-Leo, Aideen, Boughtwood, Tiffany, Gleeson, Penny, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Delatycki, Martin B., Winship, Ingrid, Nowak, Kristen J., Otlowski, Margaret, Lacaze, Paul and Tiller, Jane (2024). “Uninsurable because of a genetic test”: a qualitative study of consumer views about the use of genetic test results in Australian life insurance. European Journal of Human Genetics. doi: 10.1038/s41431-024-01602-1

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Grants

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Supervision

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Publications

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor