Reproductive Epidemiology Research

Advancing reproductive health outcomes associated with prenatal risk factors through data and discovery.

The Reproductive Epidemiology research group at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) combines expertise in epidemiology, psychology, genetics, and maternal fetal medicine to measure, monitor, and maximise longitudinal health outcomes associated with prenatal risk factors.

Our research

Our group evaluates how current and emerging genetic technologies are being used in real-world settings, particularly in prenatal diagnosis and population screening for genetic disorder.

We also study how genetic information is communicated within families, and how it influences decision-making and health outcomes.

We take a comprehensive approach by integrating:

  • Genetic and epigenetic data
  • Environmental exposures
  • Socio-demographic factors

Our research focuses on how these elements interact during prenatal development, especially in contexts such as:

  • Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)
  • Prenatal alcohol exposure

We aim to understand how these early-life exposures affect the health and wellbeing of infants, children, and young adults, with the goal of informing safer, more equitable reproductive and public health practices.

Key research areas

Prenatal genomic diagnosis
We are conducting a follow-up study on children diagnosed with and without genomic variants before birth, examining their developmental, social-emotional, and health outcomes.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)
Our team has published world-first findings on the  health of young adults conceived via ART, confirming the overall safety of these procedures. We are also investigating how lifestyle and environmental factors, associated with male infertility, may influence health and well-being of their children conceived by ART.

Prenatal alcohol exposure
In a major ongoing study, we are exploring the effects of low-to-moderate alcohol exposure during pregnancy on child development. This research uses early developmental markers and considers a range of influences, including maternal and infant genetics, epigenetics, and lifestyle factors.

Our team

Our multidisciplinary team brings together expertise in:

  • Epidemiology
  • Psychology
  • Maternal and fetal medicine
  • Health services research
  • Genetics and genomics
  • Genetic counselling

Using these approaches, the team applies a detailed knowledge of genetics and genomics to the research and undertakes collaborative projects in many areas.

With over 40 years of experience monitoring prenatal diagnostic testing in Victoria, our research has shaped clinical services, informed public policy, and provided accurate, accessible information to families.

Contact us

Professor Lisa Hui, Group Leader / Honorary Fellow Manager
Email: