Dr Julie Wixey
Research Fellow
UQ Centre for Clinical Research
Researcher biography
Dr Julie Wixey is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Perinatal Research Centre. Her research focusses on mechanisms, detection, and treatment of brain injury in fetally growth restricted babies.
Fetal growth restriction (FGR), where a fetus fails to grow normally in utero, is a leading cause of death and long-term disability with around 32 million babies born FGR globally each year. The fetal brain is particularly vulnerable to FGR conditions, and adverse outcomes cause life-long difficulties ranging from schooling and behavioural issues to cerebral palsy. These disabilities occur in up to 50% of FGR infants and have significant impacts on their lives. There is no treatment to protect the FGR newborn brain.
Dr Wixey is investigating how inflammation is associated with brain injury in the growth restricted newborn. She is examining novel detection methods of brain injury and applying different treatments to the clinically relevant growth restriction animal model, targeting both inflammation and blood brain barrier integrity to protect the vulnerable newborn brain.
Research Projects
• Mechanisms of brain injury in growth restriction
• Novel detection methods of brain injury in the growth restricted newborn using blood biomarkers
• Treatments to protect the growth restricted newborn from adverse brain outcomes
| Featured projects | Duration |
|---|---|
|
Stem cell treatment for neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy National Health and Medical Research Council |
2018–2021 |
|
Contribution of systemic inflammatory response to brain injury in growth restricted newborns National Health and Medical Research Council |
2018–2021 |
| Long-term protection in the growth restricted newborn | 2021–2023 |
| Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years following ibuprofen treatment for patent ductus arteriosus in the preterm small for gestational age newborn: potential for neuroprotection | 2020–2021 |
| The right cell – which stem cells provide optimal neuroprotection in the growth restricted newborn? | 2020–2021 |
Journal Articles
Teo, Elliot J., Chand, Kirat. K., Miller, Stephanie M., Wixey, Julie A., Colditz, Paul B. and Bjorkman, S. Tracey. (2023). Early evolution of glial morphology and inflammatory cytokines following hypoxic-ischemic injury in the newborn piglet brain. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 282. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-27034-9
Beecher, Kate and Wixey, Julie (2023). Could serotonin play a role in abnormal brain outcomes in fetal growth restriction?. Neural Regeneration Research, 18 (3), 543-544. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.346481
Wixey, Julie A. and Musco, Hannah (2023). Understanding the timing of brain injury in fetal growth restriction: lessons from a model of spontaneous growth restriction in piglets. Neural Regeneration Research, 18 (2), 322-323. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.343909
McGillick, Erin V., Gizzi, Camilla, Volpe, MaryAnn, Nakstad, Britt, Kooi, Elisabeth M. W., Wixey, Julie and Tolcos, Mary (2022). Editorial: Visibility matters – women in neonatology. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 10 1059426. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.1059426
Chand, Kirat, Nano, Rachel, Wixey, Julie and Patel, Jatin (2022). Stem cell therapy for neuroprotection in the growth-restricted newborn. Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 11 (4), 372-382. doi: 10.1093/stcltm/szac005
Chand, Kirat K., Pannek, Kerstin, Colditz, Paul B. and Wixey, Julie A. (2022). Brain outcomes in runted piglets: a translational model of fetal growth restriction. Developmental Neuroscience, 44 (4-5), 1-11. doi: 10.1159/000523995
Stevenson, Nathan J., Lai, Melissa M., Starkman, Hava E., Colditz, Paul B. and Wixey, Julie A. (2022). Electroencephalographic studies in growth-restricted and small-for-gestational-age neonates. Pediatric Research, 92 (6), 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s41390-022-01992-2
Chand, Kirat K., Miller, Stephanie M., Cowin, Gary J., Mohanty, Lipsa, Pienaar, Jany, Colditz, Paul B., Bjorkman, Stella Tracey and Wixey, Julie A. (2022). Neurovascular unit alterations in the growth-restricted newborn are improved following Ibuprofen treatment. Molecular Neurobiology, 59 (2), 1018-1040. doi: 10.1007/s12035-021-02654-w
Chand, Kirat K., Patel, Jatin, Bjorkman, S. T., Sim, Seen-Ling, Miller, Stephanie M., Teo, Elliot, Jones, Lara, Sun, Jane, Colditz, Paul B., Khosrotehrani, Kiarash and Wixey, Julie A. (2021). Combination of human endothelial colony-forming cells and mesenchymal stromal cells exert neuroprotective effects in the growth-restricted newborn. npj Regenerative Medicine, 6 (1) 75, 75. doi: 10.1038/s41536-021-00185-5
Fleiss, Bobbi, Murray, Deidre M., Bjorkman, S. Tracey and Wixey, Julie A. (2021). Editorial: Pathomechanisms and treatments to protect the preterm, fetal growth restricted and neonatal encephalopathic brain. Frontiers in Neurology, 12 755617, 755617. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.755617
Teo, Elliot J., Jones, Lara E., Wixey, Julie A., Boyd, Roslyn N., Colditz, Paul B. and Bjorkman, S. Tracey (2021). Combined hypothermia and mesenchymal stem cells in animal models of neonatal hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy: a systematic review. Pediatric Research, 92 (1), 25-31. doi: 10.1038/s41390-021-01716-y
Wixey, Julie A and Bjorkman, Stella Tracey (2021). Improving brain outcomes in the growth restricted newborn: treating after birth. Neural Regeneration Research, 16 (5), 978-979. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.297069
Reinebrant, Hanna, Wixey, Julie and Buller, Kathryn M. (2020). Hypoxia-ischemia in the immature rodent brain impairs serotonergic neuronal function in certain dorsal raphé nuclei. Neural Regeneration Research, 15 (3), 457-463. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.266067
Wixey, Julie A., Sukumar, Kishen R., Pretorius, Rinaldi, Lee, Kah Meng, Colditz, Paul B., Bjorkman, S. Tracey and Chand, Kirat K. (2019). Ibuprofen treatment reduces the neuroinflammatory response and associated neuronal and white matter impairment in the growth restricted newborn. Frontiers in Physiology, 10 (MAY) 541, 541. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00541
Lewindon, Peter J., Puertolas-Lopez, Mora V., Ramm, Louise E., Noble, Charlton, Pereira, Tamara N., Wixey, Julie A., Hartel, Gunter F., Calvopina, Diego A., Leung, Daniel H. and Ramm, Grant A. (2019). Accuracy of transient elastography data combined with APRI in detection and staging of liver disease in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 17 (12), 2561-2569.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2019.03.015
Wixey, Julie A., Lee, Kah Meng, Miller, Stephanie M., Goasdoue, Kate, Colditz, Paul B., Bjorkman, S.T. and Chand, Kirat K. (2019). Neuropathology in intrauterine growth restricted newborn piglets is associated with glial activation and proinflammatory status in the brain. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 16 (1) 5, 5. doi: 10.1186/s12974-018-1392-1
Wixey, Julie A., Chand, Kirat K., Pham, Lily, Colditz, Paul B. and Bjorkman, S. Tracey (2018). Therapeutic potential to reduce brain injury in growth restricted newborns. Journal of Physiology, 596 (23), 5675-5686. doi: 10.1113/JP275428
Wixey, Julie A, Reinebrant, Hanna E, Chand, Kirat K and Buller, Kathryn M (2018). Disruption to the 5-HT7 Receptor Following Hypoxia-Ischemia in the Immature Rodent Brain. Neurochemical research, 43 (3), 711-720. doi: 10.1007/s11064-018-2473-3
Wixey, Julie A, Colditz, Paul B and Björkman, Stella Tracey (2017). Targeting inflammation to reduce brain injury in growth restricted newborns: A potential treatment?. Neural regeneration research, 12 (11), 1804-1806. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.219038
Wixey, Julie A., Chand, Kirat K., Colditz, Paul B. and Bjorkman, S. Tracey (2017). Neuroinflammation in intrauterine growth restriction. Placenta, 54, 117-124. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2016.11.012
Kalanjati, Viskasari P., Wixey, Julie A., Miller, Stephanie M., Colditz, Paul B. and Bjorkman, Stella T. (2017). GABAA receptor expression and white matter disruption in intrauterine growth restricted piglets. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 59 (C), 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2017.02.004
Lewindon, Peter J., Balouch, Fariha, Pereira, Tamara N., Puertolas-Lopez, Mora V., Noble, Charlton, Wixey, Julie A. and Ramm, Grant A. (2016). Transient liver elastography in unsedated control children: Impact of age and intercurrent illness. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 52 (6), 637-642. doi: 10.1111/jpc.13151
Reinebrant H.E., Wixey J.A. and Buller K.M. (2013). Neonatal hypoxia-ischaemia disrupts descending neural inputs to dorsal raphé nuclei. Neuroscience, 248, 427-435. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.06.016
Reinebrant, Hanna E., Wixey, Julie A. and Buller, Kathryn M. (2012). Disruption of raphe serotonergic neural projections to the cortex: a potential pathway contributing to remote loss of brainstem neurons following neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. European Journal of Neuroscience, 36 (11), 3483-3491. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.08276.x
Wixey, Julie A., Reinebrant, Hanna E. and Buller, Kathryn M. (2012). Post-insult Ibuprofen Treatment Attenuates Damage to the Serotonergic System After Hypoxia-Ischemia in the Immature Rat Brain. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, 71 (12), 1137-1148. doi: 10.1097/NEN.0b013e318277d4c7
Wixey, Julie A., Reinebrant, Hanna E. and Buller, Kathryn M. (2012). Evidence that the serotonin transporter does not shift into the cytosol of remaining neurons after neonatal brain injury. Neuroscience Research, 73 (3), 252-256. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2012.04.002
Buller, Kathryn, Wixey, Julie and Reinebrant, Hanna (2012). Disruption of the serotonergic system after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia in a rodent model. Journal of Neurology Research International, 2012 650382, 650382.1-650382.12. doi: 10.1155/2012/650382
Carty, M.L., Wixey, J.A., Reinebrant, H.E., Gobe, G., Colditz, P.B. and Buller, K.M. (2011). Ibuprofen inhibits neuroinflammation and attenuates white matter damage following hypoxia-ischemia in the immature rodent brain. Brain Research, 1402, 9-19. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2011.06.001
Wixey, J. A., Reinebrant, H. E., Spencer, S. J. and Buller, K. M. (2011). Efficacy of post-insult minocycline administration to alter long-term hypoxia-ischemia-induced damage to the serotonergic system in the immature rat brain. Neuroscience, 182, 184-192. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.03.033
Wixey, Julie A., Reinebrant, Hanna E. and Buller, Kathryn M. (2011). Inhibition of neuroinflammation prevents injury to the serotonergic network after hypoxia-ischemia in the immature rat brain. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, 70 (1), 23-35. doi: 10.1097/NEN.0b013e3182020b7b
Carty, Michelle L., Wixey, Julie A., Kesby, James, Reinebrant, Hanna E., Colditz, Paul B., Gobe, Glenda and Buller, Kathryn M. (2010). Long-term losses of amygdala corticotropin-releasing factor neurons are associated with behavioural outcomes following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia. Behavioural Brain Research, 208 (2), 609-618. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.01.007
Reinebrant, Hanna E., Wixey, Julie A., Gobe, Glenda C., Colditz, Paul B. and Buller, Kathryn M. (2010). Differential effects of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury on brainstem serotonergic raphe nuclei. Brain Research, 1322 (C), 124-133. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.01.065
Wixey, Julie A, Reinebrant, Hanna E, Carty, Michelle L. and Buller, Kathryn M. (2009). Delayed P2X4R expression after hypoxia-ischemia is associated with microglia in the immature rat brain.. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 212 (1-2), 35-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2009.04.016
Buller, Kathryn M., Carty, Michelle L., Reinebrant, Hanna E. and Wixey, Julie A. (2009). Minocycline: a neuroprotective agent for hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in the neonate?. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 87 (3), 599-608. doi: 10.1002/jnr.21890
Buller, Kathryn M., Julie Wixey, Pathipati, Praneeti, Michelle Carty, Colditz, Paul B., Williams, Christopher E. and Scheepens, Arjan (2008). Selective Losses of Brainstem Catecholamine Neurons After Hypoxia-Ischemia in the Immature Rat Pup.. Pediatric Research, 63 (4), 364-369. doi: 10.1203/PDR.0b013e3181659774
Michelle Carty, Julie Wixey, Colditz, Paul B. and Buller, Kathryn M. (2008). Post-insult minocycline treatment attenuates hypoxia-ischemia-induced neuroinflammation and white matter injury in the neonatal rat: a comparison of two different dose regimens.. International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 26 (5), 477-485. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2008.02.005
Lewohl, Joanne M., Wixey, Julie, Harper, Clive G. and Dodd, Peter R. (2005). Expression of MBP, PLP, MAG, CNP, and GFAP in the human alcoholic brain. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 29 (9), 1698-1705. doi: 10.1097/01.alc.0000179406.98868.59
Hearle, N., Humphreys, J., Damato, B. E., Wort, R., Talaban, R., Wixey, J., Green, H., Easton, D. F. and Houlston, R. S. (2003). Role of MC1R variants in uveal melanoma. British Journal of Cancer, 89 (10), 1961-1965. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6601358
Hearle, Nicholas, Damato, Bertil E., Humphreys, Jane, Wixey, Julie, Green, Helen, Stone, Joanne, Easton, Douglas F. and Houlston, Richard S. (2003). Contribution of germline mutations in BRCA2, P16INK4A, P14ARF and P15 to uveal melanoma. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 44 (2), 458-462. doi: 10.1167/iovs.02-0026
Popat, S., Hearle, N., Wixey, J., Hogberg, L., Bevan, S., Lim, W., Stenhammar, L. and Houlston, R. S. (2002). Analysis of the CTLA4 gene in Swedish coeliac disease patients. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 37 (1), 28-31. doi: 10.1080/003655202753387310
Hamlin, Gary P., Cernak, Ibolja, Wixey, Julie A. and Vink, Robert (2001). Increased expression of neuronal glucose transporter 3 but not glial glucose transporter 1 following severe diffuse traumatic brain injury in rats. Journal of Neurotrauma, 18 (10), 1011-1018. doi: 10.1089/08977150152693700
Bevan, S., Pal, T., Greenberg, C. R., Green, H. and Wixey, J. (2001). A comprehensive analysis of MNG1, TCO1, fPTC, PTEN, TSHR, and TRKA in familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer: confirmation of linkage to TCO1. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 86 (8), 3701-3704. doi: 10.1210/jc.86.8.3701
Conference Papers
Goasdoue, Kate, Chand, Kirat Kishore, Miller, Stephanie Melita, Lee, Kah Meng, Colditz, Paul Bernard, Wixey, Julie Anne and Bjorkman, Stella Tracey (2019). Seizures are associated with blood-brain barrier disruption in a piglet model of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. 11th Hershey Conference on Developmental Brain Injury, Asilomar, CA, United States, 5-8 June 2018. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger AG. doi: 10.1159/000499365
Wixey, Julie, Sukumar, Kishen, Miller, Stephanie, Goasdoue, Kate, Colditz, Paul, Bjorkman, Stella Tracey and Chand, Kirat (2017). Anti-inflammatory treatment to reduce brain injury in the growth restricted neonate. 31st Annual Fetal and Neonatal Workshop of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 30-31 March 2017.
Goasdoue, K., Miller, S., Chand, K., Wixey, J., Colditz, P. and Bjorkman, S. T. (2017). Inflammation and blood-brain barrier disruption occurs rapidly following neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Queensland Perinatal Consortium, Brisbane, Australia, 20 July 2017.
Sukumar, K., Chand, K., Miller, S., Goasdoue, K., Colditz, P., Bjorkman, S. T. and Wixey, J. (2017). Neuroinflammation in the IUGR piglet model. Queensland Perinatal Consortium, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, 20 July 2017.
Wixey, Julie, Muller, Camille, Sullivan, Susan, Colditz, Paul and Bjorkman, Stella Tracey (2016). Inflammation, microglial and astrocyte response in the intrauterine growth restricted neonatal brain. 25th Annual RBWH Health Care Symposium, Herston, QLD Australia, 12-16 September 2016.
Eiby, Yvonne, Bjorkman, Tracey, Wixey, Julie, Chand, Kirat, Colditz, Paul and Lingwood, Barbara (2016). Pilot trial of early blood transfusions for supporting cardiovascular function and cerebral oxygen delivery in preterm piglets. 30th Annual meeting Fetal and Neonatal Workshop of Australia and New Zealand, Magnetic Island, QLD, Australia, 19-21 May 2016.
Goasdoue, Kate, Miller, Stephanie, Chand, Kirat, Wixey, Julie, Colditz, Paul and Bjorkman, Tracey (2016). Investigation of the impact of seizures on disruption to the blood-brain barrier following neonatal hypoxia-ischaemia. Queensland Perinatal Consortium, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: University of Queensland, 15 July, 2016.
Wixey, Julie, Muller, Camille, Chand, Kirat, Sullivan, Susan, Colditz, Paul and Bjorkman, Stella Tracey (2016). Neuroinflammatory response in the growth restricted neonate. Australasian Neuroscience Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Hobart, TAS Australia, 4-7 December 2016.
Wixey, J. A., Colditz, P. B. and Sullivan, S. M. (2015). Inflammation in the growth restricted newborn brain. 24th Annual RBWH Healthcare Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 12-16 October 2015.
Sullivan, S. M., Wixey, J. A., Sullivan, R. K. P. and Colditz, P. B. (2015). Erythropoietin decreases brain injury and improves glial outcomes in newborn hypoxic-ischemic piglets. 24th Annual RBWH Healthcare Symposium, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 12 - 16 October 2015.
Wixey, J. A., Reinebrant, H. E. and Buller, K. M. (2011). Serotonergic system damage is alleviated by post-insult ibuprofen treatment following hypoxia-ischemia in the preterm brain. 15th Annual Congress of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ), Hobart, Australia, 10-13 April 2011. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02046.x
Reinebrant, H. E., Wixey, J. A. and Buller, K. M. (2011). Loss of brainstem serotonergic neurons after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia is partly mediated via disruption of serotonergic fibres projecting to the damaged forebrain. 15th Annual Congress of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ), Hobart, Australia, 10-13 April 2011. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02046.x
Wixey, JA, Dodd, PR and Lewohl, JM (2004). RGS protein expression in the human alcoholic brain: Effects of gender. 27th Annual Meeting of the Research-Society-on-Alcoholism, Vancouver Canada, Jun 26-30, 2004. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.
Lewohl, JM, Wixey, JA and Dodd, PR (2004). Gender differences in the expression of myelin related proteins in human alcoholic. 27th Annual Meeting of the Research-Society-on-Alcoholism, Vancouver Canada, Jun 26-30, 2004. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.
Wixey, J.A., Dodd, P. R. and Lewohl, J. M. (2004). RGS protein expression in the human alcoholic brain: effects of gender. 27th Annual Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Vancouver, B.C. Canada, 26-30 June, 2004. Maryland, MO, U.S.A.: Blackwell.
Lewohl, J. M., Wixey, J.A. and Dodd, P. R. (2004). Gender differences in the expression of myelin related proteins in human alcoholic. 27th Annual Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Vancouver, B.C. Canada, 26-30 June, 2004. Maryland, M.O., U.S.A.: Blackwell.
Wixey, J.A., Dodd, P. R. and Lewohl, J. M. (2002). Myeline gene expression in human alcoholics. Australian Neuroscience Society 22nd Annual Meeting, Sydney, 4-6 February, 2002.
Wixey, J.A., Kuo, S., Watkins, T. V., Dodd, P. R. and Lewohl, J. M. (2002). Differences in RGS, myelin and synaptic protein expression in human alcoholics. RSA & ISBRA Joint Meeting, San Francisco, 28 June - 3 July, 2002.
Thesis
Wixey, Julie Anne (2012). Effects of hypoxia-ischemia on the serotonergic system in the neonatal brain. PhD Thesis, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland.
Conference Item
Wixey, J.A., Watkins, T. V., Dodd, P. R. and Lewohl, J. M. (2004). Gender influence on RGS protein expression in the human alcoholic brain. Australian Neuroscience Society 24th Annual Meeting, Melbourne, Australia, 27-30 Jan, 2004. Australia: Australian Neuroscience Society.