Rate My Professor Murray Cadzow

Dr. Murray Cadzow serves as a Programmer in ICT Support within the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Otago, contributing to research and teaching IT infrastructure. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Otago in 2018, with a thesis entitled 'Selection and Metabolic Disease in the Pacific,' supervised by Tony Merriman and Michael Black. His graduate work examined evolutionary selection pressures on genes associated with metabolic diseases in Pacific populations. Previously, Cadzow was an Assistant Research Fellow and PhD student in the Black Research Group, focusing on bioinformatics and genomic analyses.

Cadzow's research specializes in the genetics of gout and hyperuricaemia, with emphasis on ancestry-specific effects in diverse populations, including Polynesians and Pacific Islanders. Key publications include 'A genome-wide association analysis reveals new pathogenic pathways in gout' (Nature Genetics, 2024), 'Association of Gout Polygenic Risk Score With Age at Disease Onset' (Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2023), 'A Polynesian-specific copy number variant encompassing the MICA gene associates with gout' (Human Molecular Genetics, 2022), 'Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: a risk factor for prevalent gout with SLC2A9 genotype-specific effects' (Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2014), and 'A bioinformatics workflow for detecting signatures of selection in genomic data' (Frontiers in Genetics, 2014). These works have elucidated roles of loci like SLC2A9, ABCG2, and novel pathways in urate regulation and gout susceptibility, informing trans-ancestral genetic studies. Cadzow collaborates on projects such as the STRAND Marsden Fund initiative and Guam-based gout research through SING Micronesia. As a certified Software Carpentry Instructor and Trainer, he leads bioinformatics workshops, including the annual Bioinformatics Spring School, Otago Study Group, and contributions to Genomics Aotearoa and NeSI platforms for national research computing skills development. His efforts enhance genomic data analysis for health outcomes, including child and youth health dashboards and Parkinson's genetics in Polynesia.