Alexandra O’Donohue
Dr
BMedSci(Hons)/PhD
alexandra.odonohue@wimr.org.au
Centre for Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology Research
Bioengineering & Molecular Medicine Group
Currently open to PHD and Honours students in the topic areas of:
Gene Therapy for Musculoskeletal Diseases
Gene Therapy for Neurofibromatosis Type 1/2.

Biography
Dr Alexandra O’Donohue is a Postdoctoral Scientist in the Bioengineering & Molecular Medicine laboratory. She received a BMedSci(Hons) in molecular biology and genetics in 2018 and then went on to complete a PhD in 2023 (University of Sydney).
She has cultivated a keen interest in gene therapy throughout her postgraduate studies, developing an expertise in the design, generation, and screening of tissue-specific adeno-associated vectors for distinct musculoskeletal tissues. She continues to pursue gene therapy in her postdoctoral fellowship with the goal of preventing tumor formation in individuals born with the cancer predisposition syndrome, Neurofibromatosis type 1/2.
Research interests
Genetic Disorders, Adeno Associated Viral Vectors, CRISPR Gene Editing, Neurofibromatosis type 1, NF2-associated Schwannomatosis, Musculoskeletal Diseases
Adjunct roles
Postdoctoral Research Scientist (School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering) | The University of Sydney |
Research Officer | Sydney Children’s Hospital Network |
Recent publications

Curative Cell and Gene Therapy for Osteogenesis Imperfecta. J Bone Miner Res. 2022, 37(5):826-836.

Targeted postnatal knockout of Sclerostin using a bone-targeted adeno-associated viral vector increases bone anabolism and decreases canalicular density. Bone. 2023, 167:116636.

Modelling anabolic and antiresorptive therapies for fracture healing in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta. J Orthop Res. 2022, 1-7.

Combination treatment with growth hormone and zoledronic acid in a mouse model of Osteogenesis imperfecta. Bone. 2022. 159:116378.

Dietary intervention rescues a bone porosity phenotype in a murine model of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). PLOS ONE. 2024 19(6): e0304778.
Additional information
Google Scholar – https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=_enkrYcXv_gC&hl=en
ORCID – https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2267-3671
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-o-a3321616a/
Current grants
Affiliations
Sydney Children’s Hospital Networks (SCHN), University of Sydney
Professional Associations and Organisations
2024-Present | The Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society | Committee Member |
2023-Present | The Westmead Research Hub Early and Mid-Career Committee | Chair |
Awards and recognition
2022 Panos Ioannou Young Investigator Award, Australasian Gene and Cell Therapy Society |