Dr Ellen Jarred

Dr Ellen Jarred is a member of the Germ Cell Development and Epigenetics Research group in the Centre for Reproductive Health.

Learn more about my group's research

Areas of interest

Female infertility Testicular cancer

Research group

Germ Cell Development and Epigenetics

Biography

Dr Elly Jarred is a postdoctoral researcher working with A/Prof Patrick Western in the Germ Cell Development and Epigenetics Group at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research.

Dr Jarred completed her Bachelor of Science (Hons) at Monash University in 2017 with a focus on genetics and molecular biology. She then completed her PhD under the supervision of A/Prof Patrick Western, graduating in 2022. Her research is focussed on understanding how epigenetic modifications, alterations to DNA or associated histone proteins, regulate which genes are active or inactive in the cell. Using genetic and pharmacological models, Dr Jarred studies how epigenetic modifications are established within growing eggs (oocytes) to ensure proper offspring development. She also investigates how epigenetic modifications within supporting cells of the ovary regulate ovarian function to support female fertility and endocrine health.

Collectively her work seeks to understand the role of epigenetic modifications in female reproductive health, to gain insights into non-genetic and environmental contributions to conditions impacting female reproductive health and fertility.

Publication highlights

• Blücher RO, Lim RS, Jarred EG, Ritchie ME, Western PS (2023) FGF-independent MEK1/2 signalling in the developing foetal testis is essential for male germline differentiation in mice. BMC Biol. Dec 5;21(1):281.

• Jarred EG, Qu Z, Tsai T, Oberin R, Petautschnig S, Bildsoe H, Pederson S, Zhang QH, Stringer JM, Carroll J, Gardner DK, Van den Buuse M, Sims NA, Gibson WT, Adelson DL, Western PS (2022) Transient Polycomb activity represses developmental genes in growing oocytes. Clin Epigenetics. Dec 21;14(1):183.

• Prokopuk L, Jarred EG, Blücher RO, McLaughlin EA, Stringer JM, Western PS (2022) An essential role for Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 in the mouse ovary. Reproduction.  Feb 17;163(3):167-182.

• Jarred EG, Bildsoe H, Western PS (2018) Out of sight, out of mind? Germ cells and the potential impacts of epigenomic drugs. F1000Res. Dec 21;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1967.