Rate My Professor Anne-Louise Gannon

Dr Anne-Louise Gannon serves as Operations Manager of the Gannon Group in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Endocrinology from the University of Edinburgh in 2014, a Master of Research in Cancer Biology from the University of Dundee, and a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Biology from the University of Dundee in 2009. Her early research investigated the impact of light pollution on local bat populations for her honours project, explored mechanisms of ovarian cancer resistance to chemotherapy during her master's—offering insights into endocrinology—and focused during her PhD on the role of adrenal hormones in male lifelong health, with emphasis on nuclear receptors in adrenal cortex regulation.

Recruited to the University of Newcastle in 2018 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dr Gannon contributed to the development and setup of a new laboratory on the Callaghan campus, leading the conception, design, and implementation of endocrinology projects. Her expertise encompasses cancer biology, adrenal function, adrenal androgen signalling, gene editing, and transgenic mouse development. Research themes include developing novel cell-specific targeting technologies such as adrenal-targeting nanobiotechnology for gene therapy in adrenal genetic disorders to replace lifelong hormone replacement; single-injection sterilants; roles of adrenal androgens in male and female lifelong health; novel mouse models and therapeutics for adrenal disease; adrenal stress hormones' effects on testis function, androgen production, architecture, and fertility; and in silico modelling. She uses transgenic mouse models, gene therapy, bio-technologies, bio-molecular techniques, and common approaches in endocrinology and nanobiotechnology. Dr Gannon received New Investigator Awards at the 17th and 18th Adrenal Cortex Conferences in 2016. Key publications are 'Functional Analysis of HSD17B3-Deficient Male Mice Reveals Roles for HSD17B7 and HSD17B12 in Testosterone Biosynthesis' (Endocrinology, 2025), 'Exposure of mice to environmentally relevant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) alters the sperm epigenome' (Communications Biology, 2025), 'Compensatory mechanisms that maintain androgen production in mice lacking key androgen biosynthetic enzymes' (FASEB Journal, 2024), 'Androgen receptor signalling in the male adrenal facilitates X-zone regression, cell turnover and protects against adrenal degeneration during ageing' (Scientific Reports, 2019), and others. She lectures in reproductive physiology and biotechnology honours courses, supervises placement, honours, and PhD students, and has been a member of the HMRI Ignite Leadership Committee since November 2018.