Matthew Barnett

Senior Research Scientist, AgResearch
Leader - Epigenetics, Nutrigenomics New Zealand

Research specialty: Nutritional genetics

Academic qualifications

2005; PhD (Biological Sciences), The University of Auckland.
1997; MSc (1st Class Honours, Biological Sciences), The University of Auckland.
1994; BSc (Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular biology), The University of Auckland.

Distinctions/Honours

2009: Invited to present a series of three lectures on “Omics technologies” to Food Science Australia, Werribee, Melbourne, March 2009 on behalf of Nutrigenomics New Zealand.
2008-2009: Invited lecturer for The University of Auckland MEDSCI 315 paper: "Genes, nutrition & health”.
2008: Invited speaker, Functional Foods conference: Functional Foods and Edible Oils – The Future. “Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids – effects on colon inflammation and gene expression.” Heritage Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand, 12-13 November, 2008.
2008: Invited speaker, New Zealand Rheumatology Association conference. “Nutrigenomics New Zealand: Are lessons learned studying Crohn’s disease applicable to other inflammatory phenotypes?” Novotel Tainui Hotel, Hamilton, New Zealand, 4 September 2008.
2007-2010: New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST) Grant: Nutritional Epigenetics (Contract C10X0701; Programme Leader).
2007: EE Dalton Award (sponsored by FRST) recognising excellent research and emerging leadership of Postdoctoral scientists.
2006: New Zealand Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Science (NZIAHS) Postdoctoral Award.
2006: New Zealand Society of Animal Production (NZSAP) Young Member Award for best oral presentation.
2005-2008: FRST Post-doctoral Fellowship.
1997-2000: The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust (AGMARDT) - PhD Scholarship.
1997-2000: The University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship.

Employment History

2008-present: Senior Research Scientist, Food Metabolism & Microbiology, Food & Textiles Group, AgResearch Limited: Nutritional Epigenetics (FRST C10X0701).
2005-2008:FRST Post-doctoral Research Scientist, Food Metabolism & Microbiology, Food & Textiles Group, AgResearch Limited: Nutrigenomics; Omega fatty acids, from in silico networks to health and back.
2004-2005:Research Associate (Part-time while completing PhD), Nutrition and Metabolism Team, Nutrition and Behaviour Group, AgResearch Limited: Chronic intestinal inflammation: interaction between genes and nutrients.
2001-2004:Research Associate (Part-time while completing PhD), Nutrition & Metabolism Team, Nutrition & Behaviour Group, AgResearch Limited: Regulation of protein synthesis in bovine mammary gland and iron transport in bovine small intestine.
1997-2005:PhD Student, The University of Auckland, School of Biological Sciences, Auckland, New Zealand. Research: The effect of insufficient maternal protein during gestation and lactation on development of diabetes in the offspring.
1995-1997:MSc Student, The University of Auckland, School of Biological Sciences, Auckland, New Zealand. Research: Studies on the regulation of glycogen metabolism.

Key Publications

• Knoch B, Barnett MPG, Zhu ST, Park ZA, Nones K, Dommels YEM, Knowles SO, McNabb WC & Roy NC (2009). Genome-Wide Analysis of Dietary Eicosapentaenoic Acid- and Oleic Acid-Induced Modulation of Colon Inflammation in Interleukin-10 Gene-Deficient Mice. Journal of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics 2(1):9-28.
• Knoch B, Barnett MPG, Roy NC & McNabb WC (2009). Study of the effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids: Molecular mechanisms involved in intestinal inflammation. Grasas y aceites – International Journal of Fats and Oils 60(1): 8-21.
• Nones K, Dommels YE, Martell S, Butts C, McNabb WC, Park ZA, Zhu ST, Hedderley D, Barnett MPG & Roy NC (2009). The effects of dietary curcumin and rutin on colonic inflammation and gene expression in multidrug resistance gene-deficient (mdr1a-/-) mice, a model of inflammatory bowel diseases. British Journal of Nutrition 101(2):169-81.
• Bermingham EN, Roy NC, Anderson RC, Barnett MPG, Knowles SO & McNabb WC (2008). Smart foods from the pastoral sector: implications for meat and milk producers. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48 (6-7), 726-734. Invited review.
• Anderson RC, Roy NC, Barnett MPG, McCann MJ & McNabb WC (2008). Developing smart foods using models of intestinal health. Food Science & Technology Bulletin: Functional Foods 5 (3): 27-38.
• Barnett MPG, Phillips ARJ, Harris PM & Cooper GJS (2008). Impaired insulin secretion in perfused pancreases isolated from offspring of protein malnourished rats. Journal of the Pancreas 9(4): 477-488. PMID: 18648139.
• Dommels YEM, Butts C, Zhu ST, Davy M, Martell S, Hedderly D, Barnett MPG, McNabb WC, Roy NC (2007). Characterization of intestinal inflammation and identification of related gene expression changes in mdr1a-/- mice. Genes & Nutrition 2:209-223. PMID: 18850176.
• Ferguson LR, Barnett MPG, Roy NC & McNabb WC (2007). Influence of nutritional factors on genetic and epigenetic events relevant to chronic diseases. Agro FOOD Industry High-tech 18(3):49-51.
• Roy NC, Barnett MPG, Knoch B, Dommels YEM, McNabb WC (2007). Nutrigenomics applied to an animal model of inflammatory bowel diseases: transcriptomic analysis of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid- and arachidonic acid-enriched diets. Mutation Research 622:103-116.

Refereed book chapters

Ferguson LR, Philpott M & Barnett MPG (2009). Nutrigenomics: Integrating genomic approaches into nutrition research. Molecular Diagnostics (Elsevier), (In press).