A bit about me

My research and professional practice focuses on workforce development in genomic medicine. I bring together aspects of education and evaluation theory as a researcher, project manager, communicator and producer, building on my doctorate in multimedia genetics education and evaluation. I have over 20 years of experience in health, science and education research and my publications have over 2000 citations. I’ve worked in Australia, the USA and UK, first in population-based genetic screening then moving into research and delivery of medical and genetics educational materials in various settings – including primary, secondary and tertiary education, medical professional and public sectors. I love being part of the cutting edge of genomic technologies – helping to move them from research into routine health practice.

Awards and Recognition

• 2024 Best paper award, Journal of Translations Genetics & Genomics, for Maher, Nisselle et al. , 2025

• Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Oakleaf Award for notable contribution from an alumni, for advancement of medical science through education, 2023

• Human Genetics Society of Australasia, Vic/Tas branch travel award, 2021

• Human Genetics Society of Australasia, Australasian Society of Genetic Counsellors, Best oral presentation at annual scientific meeting, 2019

• American Society of Human Genetics, International invited speaker travel award, 2018

• Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Mentor/Supervisor Star Award, 2018

Leadership

• Section Editor – Education, European Journal of Human Genetics, 2024–current

• Committee member, International Genomics Education Network, National Institutes of Health, USA, 2020–current

• Committee member, Education Working Group, Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative, 2019–current

• Co-Chair, Education, Ethics & Social Issues Committee, Human Genetics Society of Australasia, 2016–23 (Secretary 2016–20, ex officio 2023)

• Committee member, Scientific Programming Committee, Human Genetics Society of Australasia, 2017–23

Grants and Funding

I am, and have been, an investigator on multiple Australian and American grants relating to implementing genomic medicine and/or developing current and future genomic workforces, totalling >AU$30M and >US$4M.  

Current Projects

• Genomics Education for Human Research Ethics Committees

• GENE-SIGHT: Facilitating the integration of genetic risk scores into optial healthcare

• PRS education for genetic health professionals

Selected Publications

For a full list of publications, see https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8908-5906

1. McGahan, E, Berkman, J, Milne, D, Terrill, B, Gear, R, Gardiner, S, Eckstein, L, Nicol, D, Taylor, N, Winship, I, et al. Empowering human research ethics committees to review genomics applications: evaluating the utility of a custom online education resource.. Eur J Hum Genet 2025
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2. Nisselle A, Janinski M, Martyn M, McClaren B, Kaunein N, the Reporting Item Standards in Genomics Education and its Evaluation Expert Group, Metcalfe S, Jordan H, Gaff C. Ensuring best practice in genomics education and evaluation: Reporting Item Standards in Genomics Education and its Evaluation (RISE2 Genomics). Genet Med 2021;23:1356–65.

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3. Nisselle A, Martyn M, Jordan H, Kaunein N, McEwen A, Patel C, Terrill B, Bishop M, Metcalfe S, Gaff C. Ensuring best practice in genomic education and evaluation: a program logic approach. Front Genet 2019;10:1057

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4. Nisselle A,* Terrill B, Janinski M, Metcalfe S, Caff C. Ensuring best practice in genomics education: A theory- and empirically-informed evaluation framework. Am J Hum Genet 2024;111(8):1497–1507.

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5. Nisselle A,* King E,* Terrill B,… Gaff C. Investigating practice and perceptions of genomic medicine amongst Australian non-genetics physicians to inform education and implementation efforts. Genom Med 2023;8(1):13.

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