I am a clinician-researcher based at the Integrating Genomics into Medicine group and at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. My research is informed by my clinical experience as a genetic counsellor, where I support families undergoing genetic testing, provide genetic risk assessment, and assist families cope and adapt to their genetic diagnosis. My research has been recognised through multiple awards including Rising Star Award in 2021 by both the University of QLD Faculty of Medicine and Frazer Insitute.
My research focuses on the implementation of genomic technologies in healthcare, with expertise in polygenic risk (PGS). My current projects include:
Journal Article: The MC1R r allele does not increase melanoma risk in MITF E318K carriers
Wallingford, Courtney K., Demeshko, Anastassia, Krishnakripa, Asha Krishnankutty, Smit, Darren J., Duffy, David L., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Pflugfelder, Annette, Jagirdar, Kasturee, Holland, Elizabeth, Mann, Graham J., Primiero, Clare A., Yanes, Tatiane, Malvehy, Josep, Badenas, Cèlia, Carrera, Cristina, Aguilera, Paula, Olsen, Catherine M., Ward, Sarah V., Haass, Nikolas K., Sturm, Richard A., Puig, Susanna, Whiteman, David C., Law, Matthew H., Cust, Anne E., Potrony, Miriam, Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2023). The MC1R r allele does not increase melanoma risk in MITF E318K carriers. British Journal of Dermatology, 188 (6), 770-776. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad041
Journal Article: Development and evaluation of a novel educational program for providers on the use of polygenic risk scores
Yanes, T., Wallingford, C., Young, M.A., McInerney-Leo, , Willis, A.M., McKnight, L., Terrill, B., McInerny, S., Forrest, L., Cicciarelli, L., Williams, R., Keane, H. and James, P.A. (2023). Development and evaluation of a novel educational program for providers on the use of polygenic risk scores. Genetics in Medicine 100876, 100876. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2023.100876
Journal Article: Human Genetics Society of Australasia Position Statement: Use of Polygenic Scores in Clinical Practice and Population Health
Young, Mary-Anne, Yanes, Tatiane, Cust, Anne E., Dunlop, Kate, Limb, Sharne, Newson, Ainsley J., Purvis, Rebecca, Thiyagarajan, Lavvina, Scott, Rodney J., Verma, Kunal, James, Paul A. and Steinberg, Julia (2023). Human Genetics Society of Australasia Position Statement: Use of Polygenic Scores in Clinical Practice and Population Health. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 1-9. doi: 10.1017/thg.2023.10
(2023–2024) UQ Amplify Women's Academic Research Equity
(2022–2026) NHMRC Investigator Grants
TRIAGE: A disease agnostic computational and modelling platform to accelerate variant classification
(2022–2026) NHMRC MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission
Personalised Melanoma Risk Score: Needs Assessment, Development and Evaluation of a Co-Designed Toolkit
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing the impact of communicating holistic melanoma risk on sun-protective and screening behaviours
Doctor Philosophy
Development and evaluation of a consumer driven education toolkit for polygenic risk scores
Personalised disease risk prediction models that combine the effects of genetic (e.g. polygenic scores (PGS)) with non-genetic risk factors are now becoming increasing available through research studies and commercial genetic testing companies. These models aim to identify individuals at higher disease risk who may benefit from preventative health interventions. However, despite commercial availability, there is little implementation research and there are no guidelines on how to provide this test in clinical practice. This project aims to develop a toolkit to support the implementation of personalised disease risk prediction, that includes training for healthcare providers and patient resources. Findings from the study will provide guidance regarding optimal risk communication and a pathway for the successful implementation of personalised risk information.
The MC1R r allele does not increase melanoma risk in MITF E318K carriers
Wallingford, Courtney K., Demeshko, Anastassia, Krishnakripa, Asha Krishnankutty, Smit, Darren J., Duffy, David L., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Pflugfelder, Annette, Jagirdar, Kasturee, Holland, Elizabeth, Mann, Graham J., Primiero, Clare A., Yanes, Tatiane, Malvehy, Josep, Badenas, Cèlia, Carrera, Cristina, Aguilera, Paula, Olsen, Catherine M., Ward, Sarah V., Haass, Nikolas K., Sturm, Richard A., Puig, Susanna, Whiteman, David C., Law, Matthew H., Cust, Anne E., Potrony, Miriam, Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2023). The MC1R r allele does not increase melanoma risk in MITF E318K carriers. British Journal of Dermatology, 188 (6), 770-776. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad041
Yanes, T., Wallingford, C., Young, M.A., McInerney-Leo, , Willis, A.M., McKnight, L., Terrill, B., McInerny, S., Forrest, L., Cicciarelli, L., Williams, R., Keane, H. and James, P.A. (2023). Development and evaluation of a novel educational program for providers on the use of polygenic risk scores. Genetics in Medicine 100876, 100876. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2023.100876
Young, Mary-Anne, Yanes, Tatiane, Cust, Anne E., Dunlop, Kate, Limb, Sharne, Newson, Ainsley J., Purvis, Rebecca, Thiyagarajan, Lavvina, Scott, Rodney J., Verma, Kunal, James, Paul A. and Steinberg, Julia (2023). Human Genetics Society of Australasia Position Statement: Use of Polygenic Scores in Clinical Practice and Population Health. Twin Research and Human Genetics, 1-9. doi: 10.1017/thg.2023.10
Yanes, Tatiane, Sullivan, Anna, Barbaro, Pasquale, Brion, Kristian, Hollway, Georgina, Peake, Jane and McNaughton, Peter (2023). Evaluation and pilot testing of a multidisciplinary model of care to mainstream genomic testing for paediatric inborn errors of immunity. European Journal of Human Genetics. doi: 10.1038/s41431-023-01321-z
Umstead, Kendall L., Woolford, Samuel, Macnamara, Ellen F., Yanes, Tatiane, Brothers, Kyle B., Han, Paul K. J., Sapp, Julie C., Crenshaw, Molly, Price, Cristofer S. and Biesecker, Barbara B. (2023). Parental Uncertainty About a Child’s Health Scale (PUCHS): Development and Validation of a Novel Measure. Georgetown Medical Review. doi: 10.52504/001c.68103
Wand, Hannah, Kalia, Sarah S., Helm, Benjamin M., Suckiel, Sabrina A., Brockman, Deanna, Vriesen, Natalie, Goudar, Ranjit K., Austin, Jehannine and Yanes, Tatiane (2023). Clinical genetic counseling and translation considerations for polygenic scores in personalized risk assessments: a practice resource from the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Journal of Genetic Counseling. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1668
Primiero, Clare A., Finnane, Anna, Yanes, Tatiane, Peach, Betsy, Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2022). Protocol to evaluate a pilot program to upskill clinicians in providing genetic testing for familial melanoma. PLoS One, 17 (12) e0275926, 1-15. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275926
Wallingford, Courtney K., Kovilpillai, Hannah, Jacobs, Chris, Turbitt, Erin, Primiero, Clare A., Young, Mary-Anne, Brockman, Deanna G., Soyer, H. Peter, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. and Yanes, Tatiane (2022). Models of communication for polygenic scores and associated psychosocial and behavioral effects on recipients: a systematic review. Genetics in Medicine, 25 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2022.09.008
Primiero, Clare A., Baker, Amy M., Wallingford, Courtney K., Maas, Ellie J., Yanes, Tatiane, Fowles, Lindsay, Janda, Monika, Young, Mary-Anne, Nisselle, Amy, Terrill, Bronwyn, Lodge, Jason M., Tiller, Jane M., Lacaze, Paul, Andersen, Hayley, McErlean, Gemma, Turbitt, Erin, Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2022). Attitudes of Australian dermatologists on the use of genetic testing: A cross-sectional survey with a focus on melanoma. Frontiers in Genetics, 13 919134, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.919134
The future of precision prevention for advanced melanoma
Lee, Katie J., Betz-Stablein, Brigid, Stark, Mitchell S., Janda, Monika, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Caffery, Liam J., Gillespie, Nicole, Yanes, Tatiane and Soyer, H. Peter (2022). The future of precision prevention for advanced melanoma. Frontiers in Medicine, 8 818096, 818096. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.818096
Smit, Amelia K., Sharman, Ashleigh R., Espinoza, David, Wallingford, Courtney, Young, Mary‐Anne, Dunlop, Kate, Tiller, Jane, Newson, Ainsley J., Meiser, Bettina, Cust, Anne E. and Yanes, Tatiane (2021). Knowledge, views and expectations for cancer polygenic risk testing in clinical practice: a cross‐sectional survey of health professionals. Clinical Genetics, 100 (4) cge.14025, 430-439. doi: 10.1111/cge.14025
Yanes, Tatiane, Meiser, Bettina, Kaur, Rajneesh, Young, Mary-Anne, Mitchell, Philip B., Scheepers-Joynt, Maatje, McInerny, Simone, Taylor, Shelby, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Antill, Yoland, Salmon, Lucinda, Smyth, Courtney, Betz-Stablein, Brigid and James, Paul A. (2021). Breast cancer polygenic risk scores: a 12-month prospective study of patient reported outcomes and risk management behavior. Genetics in Medicine, 23 (12), 2316-2323. doi: 10.1038/s41436-021-01288-6
Polygenic risk in familial breast cancer: changing the dynamics of communicating genetic risk
Gregory, Gillian, Das Gupta, Kuheli, Meiser, Bettina, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Geelan-Small, Peter, Kaur, Rajneesh, Scheepers-Joynt, Maatje, McInerny, Simone, Taylor, Shelby, Antill, Yoland, Salmon, Lucinda, Smyth, Courtney, Young, Mary-Anne, James, Paul A and Yanes, Tatiane (2021). Polygenic risk in familial breast cancer: changing the dynamics of communicating genetic risk. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 31 (1) jgc4.1458, 120-129. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1458
Willis, Amanda M, Smith, Sian K, Meiser, Bettina, James, Paul A, Ballinger, Mandy L, Thomas, David M, Yanes, Tatiane and Young, Mary-Anne (2021). Influence of lived experience on risk perception among women who received a breast cancer polygenic risk score: 'Another piece of the pie'. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 30 (3), 849-860. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1384
Genomic risk score for melanoma in a prospective study of older individuals
Bakshi, Andrew, Yan, Mabel, Riaz, Moeen, Polekhina, Galina, Orchard, Suzanne G., Tiller, Jane, Wolfe, Rory, Joshi, Amit, Cao, Yin, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Yanes, Tatiane, Janda, Monika, Soyer, H. Peter, Cust, Anne E., Law, Matthew H., Gibbs, Peter, McLean, Catriona, Chan, Andrew T., McNeil, John J., Mar, Victoria J. and Lacaze, Paul (2021). Genomic risk score for melanoma in a prospective study of older individuals. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 113 (10), 1379-1385. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djab076
Communicating polygenic risk scores in the familial breast cancer clinic
Das Gupta, Kuheli, Gregory, Gillian, Meiser, Bettina, Kaur, Rajneesh, Scheepers-Joynt, Maatje, McInerny, Simone, Taylor, Shelby, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Antill, Yoland, Salmon, Lucinda, Smyth, Courtney, McInerney-Leo, Aideen, Young, Mary-Anne, James, Paul A. and Yanes, Tatiane (2021). Communicating polygenic risk scores in the familial breast cancer clinic. Patient Education and Counseling, 104 (10), 2512-2521. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2021.02.046
Primiero, Clare A., Yanes, Tatiane, Finnane, Anna, Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2021). A systematic review on the impact of genetic testing for familial melanoma I: primary and secondary preventative behaviours. Dermatology , 237 (5), 1-10. doi: 10.1159/000513919
Primiero, Clare A., Yanes, Tatiane, Finnane, Anna, Soyer, H. Peter and McInerney-Leo, Aideen M. (2021). A systematic review on the impact of genetic testing for familial melanoma II: psychosocial outcomes and attitudes. Dermatology, 237 (5), 1-11. doi: 10.1159/000513576
McMeniman, E. K., McInerney-Leo, A. M., Peach, E., Lee, K. J., Yanes, T., Jagirdar, K., Stark, M. S., Soyer, H. P., Duffy, D. L. and Sturm, R. A. (2020). CDKN2A testing threshold in a high-risk Australian melanoma cohort: number of primaries, family history and young age of onset impact risk. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 34 (12) jdv.16627, e797-e798. doi: 10.1111/jdv.16627
The emerging field of polygenic risk scores and perspective for use in clinical care
Yanes, Tatiane, McInerney-Leo, Aideen M., Law, Matthew and Cummings, Shelly (2020). The emerging field of polygenic risk scores and perspective for use in clinical care. Human Molecular Genetics, 29 (R2), R165-R176. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa136
Women’s responses and understanding of polygenic breast cancer risk information
Yanes, T., Kaur, R., Meiser, B., Scheepers-Joynt, M., McInerny, S., Barlow-Stewart, K., Antill, Y., Salmon, L., Smyth, C., James, P. A. and Young, M. A. (2020). Women’s responses and understanding of polygenic breast cancer risk information. Familial Cancer, 19 (4), 297-306. doi: 10.1007/s10689-020-00185-2
Meiser, Bettina, Guo, Xin Y., Putt, Sophie, Fullerton, Janice M., Schofield, Peter R., Mitchell, Philip B. and Yanes, Tatiane (2020). Psychosocial implications of living with familial risk of a psychiatric disorder and attitudes to psychiatric genetic testing: A systematic review of the literature. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 183 (5) ajmg.b.32786, 277-288. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32786
Exploration of experiences with and understanding of polygenic risk scores for bipolar disorder
Putt, Sophie, Yanes, Tatiane, Meiser, Bettina, Kaur, Rajneesh, Fullerton, Janice M., Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Schofield, Peter R., Toma, Claudio, Peay, Holly and Mitchell, Philip B. (2020). Exploration of experiences with and understanding of polygenic risk scores for bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 265, 342-350. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.037
Uptake of polygenic risk information among women at increased risk of breast cancer
Yanes, Tatiane, Meiser, Bettina, Kaur, Rajneesh, Scheepers‐Joynt, Maatje, McInerny, Simone, Taylor, Shelby, Barlow‐Stewart, Kristine, Antill, Yoland, Salmon, Lucinda, Smyth, Courtney, Young, Mary‐Anne and James, Paul A. (2020). Uptake of polygenic risk information among women at increased risk of breast cancer. Clinical Genetics, 97 (3) cge.13687, 492-501. doi: 10.1111/cge.13687
Yanes, Tatiane, Young, Mary-Anne, Meiser, Bettina and James, Paul A. (2020). Clinical applications of polygenic breast cancer risk: a critical review and perspectives of an emerging field. Breast Cancer Research, 22 (1) 21, 21. doi: 10.1186/s13058-020-01260-3
Kaur, Rajneesh, Meiser, Bettina, Yanes, Tatiane, Young, Mary-Anne, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Roscioli, Tony, Smith, Sian and James, Paul A. (2019). Development and pilot testing of a leaflet informing women with breast cancer about genomic testing for polygenic risk. Familial Cancer, 18 (2), 147-152. doi: 10.1007/s10689-018-0104-4
Psychosocial and behavioral outcomes of genomic testing in cancer: a systematic review
Yanes, Tatiane, Willis, Amanda M., Meiser, Bettina, Tucker, Katherine M. and Best, Megan (2019). Psychosocial and behavioral outcomes of genomic testing in cancer: a systematic review. European Journal of Human Genetics, 27 (1), 28-35. doi: 10.1038/s41431-018-0257-5
Smith, Sian Karen, Cai, Antonia, Wong, Michelle, Sousa, Mariana S., Peate, Michelle, Welsh, Alec, Meiser, Bettina, Kaur, Rajneesh, Halliday, Jane, Lewis, Sharon, Trevena, Lyndal, Yanes, Tatiane, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine and Barclay, Margot (2018). Improving women's knowledge about prenatal screening in the era of non-invasive prenatal testing for Down syndrome - development and acceptability of a low literacy decision aid. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18 (1) 499. doi: 10.1186/s12884-018-2135-0
Hedelund Lausen, Lisa, Smith, Sian K., Cai, Antonia, Meiser, Bettina, Yanes, Tatiane, Ahmad, Raghib and Rowlands, Gillian (2018). How is health literacy addressed in primary care? Strategies that general practitioners use to support patients. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 11 (4), 278-287. doi: 10.1080/17538068.2018.1531477
Yanes, Tatiane, Meiser, Bettina, Young, Mary-Anne, Kaur, Rajneesh, Mitchell, Gillian, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, Roscioli, Tony, Halliday, Jane and James, Paul (2017). Psychosocial and behavioral impact of breast cancer risk assessed by testing for common risk variants: protocol of a prospective study. BMC Cancer, 17 (1) 491, 491. doi: 10.1186/s12885-017-3485-0
Factors associated with parental adaptation to children with an undiagnosed medical condition
Yanes, Tatiane, Humphreys, Linda, McInerney-Leo, Aideen and Biesecker, Barbara (2016). Factors associated with parental adaptation to children with an undiagnosed medical condition. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 26 (4), 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s10897-016-0060-9
Research participants' attitudes towards the confidentiality of genomic sequence information
Jamal, Leila, Sapp, Julie C., Lewis, Katie, Yanes, Tatiane, Facio, Flavia M., Biesecker, Leslie G. and Biesecker, Barbara B. (2014). Research participants' attitudes towards the confidentiality of genomic sequence information. European Journal of Human Genetics, 22 (8), 964-968. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2013.276
High-risk women's responses and understanding of polygenic breast cancer risk information
Yanes, T., Kaur, R., Meiser, B., Scheepers-Joynt, M., McInerny, S., Barlow-Stewart, K., Antill, Y., Salmon, L., Smyth, C., Halliday, J., James, P. and Young, M. (2019). High-risk women's responses and understanding of polygenic breast cancer risk information. 52nd Conference of the European-Society-of-Human-Genetics (ESHG), Gothenburg, Sweden, 15-18 June 2019 . London, United Kingdom: Nature Publishing Group.
Uptake of polygenic risk information among women at potentially high breast cancer risk
Yanes, T., Meiser, B., Kaur, R., Scheepers-Joynt, M., Young, M., Barlow-Stewart, K., John, T., Harris, M., Antill, Y., Halliday, J., Burke, J., Roscioli, T., Mitchell, P. and James, P. (2019). Uptake of polygenic risk information among women at potentially high breast cancer risk. 51st Conference of the European-Society-of-Human-Genetics (ESHG) in conjunction with the European Meeting on Psychosocial Aspects of Genetics (EMPAG), Milan, Italy, 16-19 June 2018. London, United Kingdom: Nature Publishing Group.
Polygenic breast cancer risk: A prospective study of uptake and outcomes among high-risk women
Yanes, Tatiane, Meiser, Bettina, Kaur, Rajneesh, Scheepers-Joynt, Maatje, Young, Mary-Anne, Barlow-Stewart, Kristine, John, Tom, Harris, Marrion, Antill, Yoland, Burke, Jo, Roscioli, Tony, Halliday, Jane, Mitchell, Phillip and James, Paul A (2018). Polygenic breast cancer risk: A prospective study of uptake and outcomes among high-risk women. 42nd Human Genetics Society of Australasia Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 4-7th August 2018. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
(2023–2024) UQ Amplify Women's Academic Research Equity
(2022–2026) NHMRC Investigator Grants
TRIAGE: A disease agnostic computational and modelling platform to accelerate variant classification
(2022–2026) NHMRC MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission
(2022–2024) NHMRC MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission
Personalised Melanoma Risk Score: Needs Assessment, Development and Evaluation of a Co-Designed Toolkit
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Assessing the impact of communicating holistic melanoma risk on sun-protective and screening behaviours
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
Development and evaluation of a consumer driven education toolkit for polygenic risk scores
Personalised disease risk prediction models that combine the effects of genetic (e.g. polygenic scores (PGS)) with non-genetic risk factors are now becoming increasing available through research studies and commercial genetic testing companies. These models aim to identify individuals at higher disease risk who may benefit from preventative health interventions. However, despite commercial availability, there is little implementation research and there are no guidelines on how to provide this test in clinical practice. This project aims to develop a toolkit to support the implementation of personalised disease risk prediction, that includes training for healthcare providers and patient resources. Findings from the study will provide guidance regarding optimal risk communication and a pathway for the successful implementation of personalised risk information.