A/Professor Sylvia Metcalfe

contact details

  A/Professor Sylvia Metcalfe
  Genetics Education & Health Research
  Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
  Royal Children's Hospital
  Flemington Road
  Parkville Victoria 3052
  Australia

  T +61 3 8341 6298
  F +61 3 8341 6212
  E sylvia.metcalfe@mcri.edu.au

biography

Sylvia did her early training in biochemistry and has a broad background in biomedical research conducted in London, New York and Melbourne. Since 1997 she has focused on the understanding of genetics by health professionals and the community with respect to the implications of genetic technologies, genetic screening/testing and the impact of genetic diagnosis. She teaches genetics to a variety of students at The University of Melbourne, as well as providing continuing professional development, and has produced a number of educational resources.

She supervises and mentors research higher degree students and early career researchers. She has roles on various MCRI and University of Melbourne committees, as well as committees of several national professional societies and the Information and Education Committee of the American Society of Human Genetics. She is on the editorial board of Public Health Genomics and is Associate Editor of Genetic Literacy for Journal of Community Genetics.

research focus & interest

Our main areas of research include:

• Population genetic screening and testing - focused on informed decision-making, psychosocial outcomes and factors influencing uptake of testing.

• Clinical genetics and counselling research - current projects: (i) developing genetic counselling guidelines and support for carriers of fragile X syndrome; ii) assessing the feasibility of integrating genetics into primary care (GIPC project).
• Health communication and impact of genetic conditions - the diagnosis of a genetic condition in a family has implications for the immediate family as well as other relatives and can be a traumatic time. Health professionals and families both contribute to communicating information about the genetic condition and providing support.