ENHANCE Lab

Publications

Here you will find our disseminated work.

Research Highlights

A genome-wide association analysis reveals new pathogenic pathways in gout.
Tanya J Major, Riku Takei, Hirotaka Matsuo, Megan P Leask, Nicholas A Sumpter, …, Alexander So, Yukinori Okada, Changgui Li, Yongyong Shi, Tony R Merriman
Nature genetics  ·  15 Oct 2024  ·  pubmed:39406924

All

2025

Reduced Weight Gain with Pioglitazone vs Vildagliptin in
Zanetta L L Toomata, Yannan Jiang, Rui Qian Yeu, Rebecca Brandon, Ry Yves Tweedie-Cullen, …, Tony R Merriman, Ryan Paul, Troy L Merry, Peter R Shepherd, Rinki Murphy
Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy  ·  23 Apr 2025  ·  pubmed:40297769
Colocalization Analysis Reveals Shared Genetic Loci Contributing to Gout and Metabolite Levels
Riku Takei, Nicholas A. Sumpter, Megan P. Leask, Tony R. Merriman
Gout, Urate, and Crystal Deposition Disease  ·  27 Mar 2025  ·  doi:10.3390/gucdd3020006
Hyperuricaemia and gout in the Pacific.
Baptiste Gérard, Megan Leask, Tony R Merriman, Thomas Bardin, Erwan Oehler, …, Samuela ‘Ofanoa, Leanne Te Karu, Lisa K Stamp, Nicola Dalbeth, Tristan Pascart
Nature reviews. Rheumatology  ·  11 Mar 2025  ·  pubmed:40069386
A rare splice-site variant in TNNT2: the need for ancestral diversity in genomic reference data sets.
Alexandra Butters, Kate Thomson, Franki Harrington, Natasha Henden, Karen McGuire, …, Jonathan R Skinner, Daniel G MacArthur, Owen M Siggs, Richard D Bagnall, Jodie Ingles
European heart journal  ·  05 Mar 2025  ·  pubmed:40038847

2024

Gout-associated SNP at the IL1RN-IL1F10 region is associated with altered cytokine production in PBMCs of patients with gout and controls.
Orsolya I Gaal, Megan Leask, Valentin Nica, Georgiana Cabău, Medeea Badii, …, Cristina Pamfil, Simona Rednic, Tony R Merriman, Tania O Crișan, Leo A B Joosten
Arthritis research & therapy  ·  20 Nov 2024  ·  pubmed:39568029
Culturally responsive strategies and practical considerations for live tissue studies in Māori participant cohorts.
Helena Abolins-Thompson, Kimiora L Henare, Bridget Simonson, Mark Chaffin, Patrick T Ellinor, …, Taku Parai, Bianca Elkington, Michael Rongo, Kirsty M Danielson, Megan P Leask
Frontiers in research metrics and analytics  ·  05 Nov 2024  ·  pubmed:39564513
Publisher Correction: A genome-wide association analysis reveals new pathogenic pathways in gout.
Tanya J Major, Riku Takei, Hirotaka Matsuo, Megan P Leask, Nicholas A Sumpter, …, Alexander So, Yukinori Okada, Changgui Li, Yongyong Shi, Tony R Merriman
Nature genetics  ·  01 Nov 2024  ·  pubmed:39501129
The population-specific Thr44Met OCT3 coding variant affects metformin pharmacokinetics with subsequent effects on insulin sensitivity in C57Bl/6J mice
Qian Wang, Megan P. Leask, Kate Lee, Jagdish Jaiswal, Prasanna Kallingappa, …, Huti Watson, Phillip Wilcox, Rinki Murphy, Troy L. Merry, Peter R. Shepherd
Diabetologia  ·  18 Oct 2024  ·  doi:10.1007/s00125-024-06287-1
The population-specific Thr44Met OCT3 coding variant affects metformin pharmacokinetics with subsequent effects on insulin sensitivity in C57Bl/6J mice.
Qian Wang, Megan P Leask, Kate Lee, Jagdish Jaiswal, Prasanna Kallingappa, …, Huti Watson, Phillip Wilcox, Rinki Murphy, Troy L Merry, Peter R Shepherd
Diabetologia  ·  18 Oct 2024  ·  pubmed:39422716
A genome-wide association analysis reveals new pathogenic pathways in gout
Tanya J. Major, Riku Takei, Hirotaka Matsuo, Megan P. Leask, Nicholas A. Sumpter, …, Alexander So, Yukinori Okada, Changgui Li, Yongyong Shi, Tony R. Merriman
Nature Genetics  ·  15 Oct 2024  ·  doi:10.1038/s41588-024-01921-5
A genome-wide association analysis reveals new pathogenic pathways in gout.
Tanya J Major, Riku Takei, Hirotaka Matsuo, Megan P Leask, Nicholas A Sumpter, …, Alexander So, Yukinori Okada, Changgui Li, Yongyong Shi, Tony R Merriman
Nature genetics  ·  15 Oct 2024  ·  pubmed:39406924
A Polynesian-specific SLC22A3 variant associates with low plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations independent of apo(a) isoform size in males.
Qian Wang, Sally McCormick, Megan P Leask, Huti Watson, Conor O’Sullivan, …, Rosemary Hall, Patricia Whitfield, Troy L Merry, Rinki Murphy, Peter R Shepherd
Bioscience reports  ·  31 Jul 2024  ·  pubmed:38896441
The pathogenesis of gout: molecular insights from genetic, epigenomic and transcriptomic studies.
Megan P Leask, Tania O Crișan, Aichang Ji, Hirotaka Matsuo, Anna Köttgen, Tony R Merriman
Nature reviews. Rheumatology  ·  11 Jul 2024  ·  pubmed:38992217
Further delineation of short-chain enoyl-CoA hydratase deficiency in the Pacific population.
Isaac Bernhardt, Leah E Frajman, Bryony Ryder, Erik Andersen, Callum Wilson, …, Anne-Marie Yardley, Tony Merriman, Stephen Robertson, Alison G Compton, Emma Glamuzina
Molecular genetics and metabolism  ·  25 May 2024  ·  pubmed:38820906
The gout epidemic in French Polynesia: a modelling study of data from the Ma'i u'u epidemiological survey.
Tristan Pascart, Kaja A Wasik, Cristian Preda, Valérie Chune, Jérémie Torterat, …, Jacques Raynal, Nicola Dalbeth, Tony Merriman, Thomas Bardin, Erwan Oehler
The Lancet. Global health  ·  01 Apr 2024  ·  pubmed:38485432
Interaction of genetic variation at ADH1B and MLXIPL with alcohol consumption for elevated serum urate level and gout among people of European ethnicity.
Min H Chuah, Megan P Leask, Ruth K Topless, Gregory D Gamble, Nicholas A Sumpter, Lisa K Stamp, Tony R Merriman, Nicola Dalbeth
Arthritis research & therapy  ·  08 Feb 2024  ·  pubmed:38331848

2023

Genetic testing for misclassified monogenic diabetes in Māori and Pacific peoples in Aōtearoa New Zealand with early-onset type 2 diabetes.
Zanetta Toomata, Megan Leask, Mohanraj Krishnan, Murray Cadzow, Nicola Dalbeth, …, Janak de Zoysa, Tony Merriman, Phillip Wilcox, Ofa Dewes, Rinki Murphy
Frontiers in endocrinology  ·  10 May 2023  ·  pubmed:37234800
A Polynesian
Jaye Moors, Mohanraj Krishnan, Nick Sumpter, Riku Takei, Matt Bixley, …, Nuku Rapana, Sally McCormick, Ryan L Minster, Tony R Merriman, Megan Leask
HGG advances  ·  08 May 2023  ·  pubmed:37250494
A functional genomics approach reveals suggestive quantitative trait loci associated with combined TLR4 and BCP crystal-induced inflammation and osteoarthritis.
Viola Klück, Collins K Boahen, Brenda Kischkel, Jéssica C Dos Santos, Vasiliki Matzaraki, …, Tony R Merriman, Tania O Crişan, Geraldine M McCarthy, Vinod Kumar, Leo A B Joosten
Osteoarthritis and cartilage  ·  25 Apr 2023  ·  pubmed:37105395
Association of Gout Polygenic Risk Score With Age at Disease Onset and Tophaceous Disease in European and Polynesian Men With Gout.
Nicholas A Sumpter, Riku Takei, Murray Cadzow, Ruth K G Topless, Amanda J Phipps-Green, …, Hyon K Choi, Ana I Vazquez, Megan P Leask, Richard J Reynolds, Tony R Merriman
Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.)  ·  25 Mar 2023  ·  pubmed:36281732
Genetic and Physiological Effects of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) on Human Urate Homeostasis.
Asim K Mandal, Megan P Leask, Nicholas A Sumpter, Hyon K Choi, Tony R Merriman, David B Mount
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN  ·  13 Jan 2023  ·  pubmed:36735516
Stratified glucose-lowering response to vildagliptin and pioglitazone by obesity and hypertriglyceridemia in a randomized crossover trial.
Rebecca Brandon, Yannan Jiang, Rui Qian Yeu, Ry Tweedie-Cullen, Kate Smallman, …, Tony R Merriman, Brandon Orr-Walker, Peter R Shepherd, Ryan Paul, Rinki Murphy
Frontiers in endocrinology  ·  09 Jan 2023  ·  pubmed:36699039

2022

A Polynesian-specific copy number variant encompassing the MICA gene associates with gout.
Ke Wang, Murray Cadzow, Matt Bixley, Megan P Leask, Marilyn E Merriman, …, Lisa K Stamp, Janak de Zoysa, Zhuo Wang, Yongyong Shi, Tony R Merriman
Human molecular genetics  ·  28 Oct 2022  ·  pubmed:35451026
Local genetic covariance between serum urate and kidney function estimated with Bayesian multitrait models.
Alexa S Lupi, Nicholas A Sumpter, Megan P Leask, Justin O’Sullivan, Tayaza Fadason, Gustavo de Los Campos, Tony R Merriman, Richard J Reynolds, Ana I Vazquez
G3 (Bethesda, Md.)  ·  25 Aug 2022  ·  pubmed:35876900
Local genetic covariance between serum urate and kidney function estimated with Bayesian multitrait models
Alexa S Lupi, Nicholas A Sumpter, Megan P Leask, Justin O’Sullivan, Tayaza Fadason, Gustavo de los Campos, Tony R Merriman, Richard J Reynolds, Ana I Vazquez
G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics  ·  25 Jul 2022  ·  doi:10.1093/g3journal/jkac158
SNVformer: An Attention-based Deep Neural Network for GWAS Data
Kieran Elmes, Diana Benavides-Prado, Neşet Özkan Tan, Trung Bao Nguyen, Nicholas Sumpter, Megan Leask, Michael Witbrock, Alex Gavryushkin
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  ·  10 Jul 2022  ·  doi:10.1101/2022.07.07.499217
Genetic association studies of the progression from hyperuricaemia to gout.
Nicholas A Sumpter, Riku Takei, Megan P Leask, Richard J Reynolds, Tony R Merriman
Rheumatology (Oxford, England)  ·  30 May 2022  ·  pubmed:35020833

2021

Riboceine Rescues Auranofin-Induced Craniofacial Defects in Zebrafish.
Megan Leask, Catherine Carleton, Bryony Leeke, Trent Newman, Joseph Antoun, Mauro Farella, Julia Horsfield
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)  ·  08 Dec 2021  ·  pubmed:34943067
The genetic basis of urate control and gout: Insights into molecular pathogenesis from follow-up study of genome-wide association study loci.
Megan P Leask, Tony R Merriman
Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology  ·  01 Nov 2021  ·  pubmed:34732286
Evolution and genomic organization of the insect sHSP gene cluster and coordinate regulation in phenotypic plasticity
Megan Leask, Mackenzie Lovegrove, Abigail Walker, Elizabeth Duncan, Peter Dearden
BMC Ecology and Evolution  ·  04 Aug 2021  ·  doi:10.1186/s12862-021-01885-8
Evolution and genomic organization of the insect sHSP gene cluster and coordinate regulation in phenotypic plasticity.
Megan Leask, Mackenzie Lovegrove, Abigail Walker, Elizabeth Duncan, Peter Dearden
BMC ecology and evolution  ·  04 Aug 2021  ·  pubmed:34348652
Genetic and Physiological Effects of Insulin on Human Urate Homeostasis.
Asim K Mandal, Megan P Leask, Christopher Estiverne, Hyon K Choi, Tony R Merriman, David B Mount
Frontiers in physiology  ·  02 Aug 2021  ·  pubmed:34408667
Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and the Risk of Death Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Analysis of the UK Biobank.
Ruth K Topless, Amanda Phipps-Green, Megan Leask, Nicola Dalbeth, Lisa K Stamp, Philip C Robinson, Tony R Merriman
ACR open rheumatology  ·  15 Apr 2021  ·  pubmed:33856739
Local genetic covariance between serum urate and kidney function obtained from local Bayesian regressions
Alexa S Lupi, Nicholas A Sumpter, Megan P Leask, Justin O’Sullivan, Tayaza Fadason, Gustavo de los Campos, Tony R Merriman, Richard J Reynolds, Ana I Vazquez
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  ·  05 Apr 2021  ·  doi:10.1101/2021.03.31.21254729
­­Evolution and genomic organization of the sHSP gene cluster in Arthropods
Megan Leask, Mackenzie Lovegrove, Abigail Walker, Elizabeth Duncan, Peter Dearden
Springer Science and Business Media LLC  ·  05 Feb 2021  ·  doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-192223/v1

2020

Gout, rheumatoid arthritis and the risk of death from COVID-19: an analysis of the UK Biobank
Ruth K Topless, Amanda Phipps-Green, Megan Leask, Nicola Dalbeth, Lisa K Stamp, Philip C Robinson, Tony R Merriman
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  ·  09 Nov 2020  ·  doi:10.1101/2020.11.06.20227405
The Shared Genetic Basis of Hyperuricemia, Gout, and Kidney Function
Megan P. Leask, Nicholas A. Sumpter, Alexa S. Lupi, Ana I. Vazquez, Richard J. Reynolds, David B. Mount, Tony R. Merriman
Seminars in Nephrology  ·  01 Nov 2020  ·  doi:10.1016/j.semnephrol.2020.12.002
The Shared Genetic Basis of Hyperuricemia, Gout, and Kidney Function.
Megan P Leask, Nicholas A Sumpter, Alexa S Lupi, Ana I Vazquez, Richard J Reynolds, David B Mount, Tony R Merriman
Seminars in nephrology  ·  01 Nov 2020  ·  pubmed:33678313
Genome Architecture Facilitates Phenotypic Plasticity in the Honeybee (Apis mellifera).
Elizabeth J Duncan, Megan P Leask, Peter K Dearden
Molecular biology and evolution  ·  01 Jul 2020  ·  pubmed:32134461
Genomic dissection of 43 serum urate-associated loci provides multiple insights into molecular mechanisms of urate control.
James Boocock, Megan Leask, Yukinori Okada, Hirotaka Matsuo, Yusuke Kawamura, …, Hyon K Choi, Tayaza Fadason, Justin O’Sullivan, Eli A Stahl, Tony R Merriman
Human molecular genetics  ·  15 Apr 2020  ·  pubmed:31985003
Genome Architecture Facilitates Phenotypic Plasticity in the Honeybee (Apis mellifera)
Elizabeth J Duncan, Megan P Leask, Peter K Dearden
Molecular Biology and Evolution  ·  05 Apr 2020  ·  doi:10.1093/molbev/msaa057
Genomic dissection of 43 serum urate-associated loci provides multiple insights into molecular mechanisms of urate control
James Boocock, Megan Leask, Yukinori Okada, Hirotaka Matsuo, Yusuke Kawamura, …, Hyon K Choi, Tayaza Fadason, Justin O’Sullivan, Eli A Stahl, Tony R Merriman
Human Molecular Genetics  ·  27 Jan 2020  ·  doi:10.1093/hmg/ddaa013

2019

Genomic dissection of 43 serum urate-associated loci provides multiple insights into molecular mechanisms of urate control
James Boocock, Megan Leask, Yukinori Okada, Hirotaka Matsuo, Yusuke Kawamura, …, Hyon K Choi, Tayaza Fadason, Justin O’Sullivan, Eli A Stahl, Tony R Merriman
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  ·  22 Aug 2019  ·  doi:10.1101/743864
Corrigendum: Functional Urate-Associated Genetic Variants Influence Expression of lincRNAs LINC01229 and MAFTRR
Megan Leask, Amy Dowdle, Hamish Salvesen, Ruth Topless, Tayaza Fadason, …, Judith Marsman, Jisha Antony, Justin M. O’Sullivan, Tony R. Merriman, Julia A. Horsfield
Frontiers in Genetics  ·  24 Apr 2019  ·  doi:10.3389/fgene.2019.00382
Corrigendum: Functional Urate-Associated Genetic Variants Influence Expression of lincRNAs
Megan Leask, Amy Dowdle, Hamish Salvesen, Ruth Topless, Tayaza Fadason, …, Judith Marsman, Jisha Antony, Justin M O’Sullivan, Tony R Merriman, Julia A Horsfield
Frontiers in genetics  ·  24 Apr 2019  ·  pubmed:31105747
Molecular evolutionary trends and feeding ecology diversification in the Hemiptera, anchored by the milkweed bug genome
Kristen A. Panfilio, Iris M. Vargas Jentzsch, Joshua B. Benoit, Deniz Erezyilmaz, Yuichiro Suzuki, …, Séverine Viala, Kim C. Worley, Evgeny M. Zdobnov, Richard A. Gibbs, Stephen Richards
Genome Biology  ·  02 Apr 2019  ·  doi:10.1186/s13059-019-1660-0
Molecular evolutionary trends and feeding ecology diversification in the Hemiptera, anchored by the milkweed bug genome.
Kristen A Panfilio, Iris M Vargas Jentzsch, Joshua B Benoit, Deniz Erezyilmaz, Yuichiro Suzuki, …, Séverine Viala, Kim C Worley, Evgeny M Zdobnov, Richard A Gibbs, Stephen Richards
Genome biology  ·  02 Apr 2019  ·  pubmed:30935422
Functional Urate-Associated Genetic Variants Influence Expression of lincRNAs
Megan Leask, Amy Dowdle, Hamish Salvesen, Ruth Topless, Tayaza Fadason, …, Judith Marsman, Jisha Antony, Justin M O’Sullivan, Tony R Merriman, Julia A Horsfield
Frontiers in genetics  ·  21 Jan 2019  ·  pmid:30719032
Functional Urate-Associated Genetic Variants Influence Expression of lincRNAs
Megan Leask, Amy Dowdle, Hamish Salvesen, Ruth Topless, Tayaza Fadason, …, Judith Marsman, Jisha Antony, Justin M O’Sullivan, Tony R Merriman, Julia A Horsfield
Frontiers in genetics  ·  21 Jan 2019  ·  pubmed:30719032

2018

A non-coding genetic variant maximally associated with serum urate levels is functionally linked to HNF4A-dependent PDZK1 expression.
Sarada Ketharnathan, Megan Leask, James Boocock, Amanda J Phipps-Green, Jisha Antony, Justin M O’Sullivan, Tony R Merriman, Julia A Horsfield
Human molecular genetics  ·  15 Nov 2018  ·  pmid:30124855
A non-coding genetic variant maximally associated with serum urate levels is functionally linked to HNF4A-dependent PDZK1 expression.
Sarada Ketharnathan, Megan Leask, James Boocock, Amanda J Phipps-Green, Jisha Antony, Justin M O’Sullivan, Tony R Merriman, Julia A Horsfield
Human molecular genetics  ·  15 Nov 2018  ·  pubmed:30124855
Antioxidant treatment ameliorates phenotypic features of SMC1A-mutated Cornelia de Lange syndrome in vitro and in vivo.
Dubravka Cukrov, Trent A C Newman, Megan Leask, Bryony Leeke, Patrizia Sarogni, Alessandra Patimo, Antonie D Kline, Ian D Krantz, Julia A Horsfield, Antonio Musio
Human molecular genetics  ·  01 Sep 2018  ·  pmid:29860495
Antioxidant treatment ameliorates phenotypic features of SMC1A-mutated Cornelia de Lange syndrome in vitro and in vivo.
Dubravka Cukrov, Trent A C Newman, Megan Leask, Bryony Leeke, Patrizia Sarogni, Alessandra Patimo, Antonie D Kline, Ian D Krantz, Julia A Horsfield, Antonio Musio
Human molecular genetics  ·  01 Sep 2018  ·  pubmed:29860495
A non-coding genetic variant maximally associated with serum urate levels is functionally linked to HNF4A-dependent PDZK1 expression
Sarada Ketharnathan, Megan Leask, James Boocock, Amanda J. Phipps-Green, Jisha Antony, Justin M. O’Sullivan, Tony R. Merriman, Julia A. Horsfield
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory  ·  08 Jul 2018  ·  doi:10.1101/362277

2017

The meiotic regulator JASON utilizes alternative translation initiation sites to produce differentially localized forms.
Simon Cabout, Megan P Leask, Shiny Varghese, Jun Yi, Benjamin Peters, Lei Liu Conze, Claudia Köhler, Lynette Brownfield
Journal of experimental botany  ·  10 Jul 2017  ·  pmid:28922756
The meiotic regulator JASON utilizes alternative translation initiation sites to produce differentially localized forms.
Simon Cabout, Megan P Leask, Shiny Varghese, Jun Yi, Benjamin Peters, Lei Liu Conze, Claudia Köhler, Lynette Brownfield
Journal of experimental botany  ·  10 Jul 2017  ·  pubmed:28922756
An ovine hepatorenal fibrocystic model of a Meckel-like syndrome associated with dysmorphic primary cilia and TMEM67 mutations
C. Stayner, C. A. Poole, S. R. McGlashan, M. Pilanthananond, R. Brauning, …, A. Pinnapureddy, M. Jennings, J. A. Horsfield, R. J. Walker, M. R. Eccles
Scientific Reports  ·  09 May 2017  ·  doi:10.1038/s41598-017-01519-4

2015

The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization
Ben M Sadd, Seth M Barribeau, Guy Bloch, Dirk C de Graaf, Peter Dearden, …, Stephen Richards, Gene E Robinson, Richard A Gibbs, Paul Schmid-Hempel, Kim C Worley
Genome Biology  ·  24 Apr 2015  ·  doi:10.1186/s13059-015-0623-3
The genomes of two key bumblebee species with primitive eusocial organization.
Ben M Sadd, Seth M Barribeau, Guy Bloch, Dirk C de Graaf, Peter Dearden, …, Stephen Richards, Gene E Robinson, Richard A Gibbs, Paul Schmid-Hempel, Kim C Worley
Genome biology  ·  24 Apr 2015  ·  pubmed:25908251
What Do Studies of Insect Polyphenisms Tell Us about Nutritionally-Triggered Epigenomic Changes and Their Consequences?
Andrew Cridge, Megan Leask, Elizabeth Duncan, Peter Dearden
Nutrients  ·  11 Mar 2015  ·  doi:10.3390/nu7031787
What do studies of insect polyphenisms tell us about nutritionally-triggered epigenomic changes and their consequences?
Andrew G Cridge, Megan P Leask, Elizabeth J Duncan, Peter K Dearden
Nutrients  ·  11 Mar 2015  ·  pubmed:25768950

2014

The importance of early life in childhood obesity and related diseases: a report from the 2014 Gravida Strategic Summit
E. C. Macaulay, E. L. Donovan, M. P. Leask, F. H. Bloomfield, M. H. Vickers, P. K. Dearden, P. N. Baker
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease  ·  13 Oct 2014  ·  doi:10.1017/S2040174414000488

2013

The pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) genome encodes two divergent early developmental programs
Elizabeth J. Duncan, Megan P. Leask, Peter K. Dearden
Developmental Biology  ·  01 May 2013  ·  doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.01.036
The pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) genome encodes two divergent early developmental programs.
Elizabeth J Duncan, Megan P Leask, Peter K Dearden
Developmental biology  ·  13 Feb 2013  ·  pubmed:23416037