Miles C. Benton

Bioinformatics PhD and Data Scientist

Currently

I am a Senior Bioinformatician in the Applications Project Support Team. We strive to support cutting edge science and facilitate the democratizing of sequencing across Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. We collaborate closely with technical, development, global applications and product management teams to enable population-scale sequencing initiatives and provide project support to our customers. In my early research career I was trained as a wet lab scientist and in my previous roles I have lead and worked closely with both bioinformatics and wet lab scientists. I have often supported library preparation questions as well as flow cell loadings, and provided guidance on the design of adaptive sampling panels. I also led the development of machine learning/AI models for portable sequencing solutions using Nanopore technology. I served on the Genomics Aoteoroa Bioinformatics Leadership Team for three years, overseeing bioinformatics support for health projects in New Zealand. Additionally, I contribute to the Data Carpentries community as an instructor and facilitator, promoting data literacy and empowering others with essential computational skills.

Professional Positions Held

2022-present Oxford Nanopore Technologies Senior Bioinformatician | Applications

2019-2022 Genomics Aotearoa Bioinformatics Leadership Team (Health)

2018-2022 Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) Senior Scientist, Bioinformatics / Data Science

2014-2018 Queensland University of Technology Postdoc Research Fellow, Bioinformatics

2013-2014 Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) Honorary Senior Scientist (Bioinformatics)

2011-2021 Victoria University of Wellington Lecturer CLNR580 (Clinical Research Preparation)

2010-2020 Victoria University of Wellington Lecturer BMSC406 (Science and Ethics)

Education

2010-14 Griffith University, Australia Bioinformatics PhD (supervisors: Lyn Griffiths, Rod Lea, Donia Macartney-Coxson and Geoff Chambers)
Thesis: “Identification of Susceptibility Genes for Metabolic Syndrome in the Isolated Population of Norfolk Island”

2007-09 Victoria University of Wellington, NZ MSc Cell and Molecular Biology (HONS)
Thesis: “Mitochondrial Genome Variation and Metabolic Traits in a Maori Community”

2004-07 Victoria University of Wellington, NZ BBMedSc Biomedical Science (Majors: Human Genetics, Molecular Pathology)

Technical skills

Distinctions and Memberships

Research Grants

2020 co-PI, ESR Pioneer Funding: Harnessing the disruptive nature of portable sequencing for community empowerment

2019 co-PI, ESR Pioneer Funding: Engineering, Robotics, Innovation, Coding and Automation code club pilot plus portable sequencers and remote sensors

2019 PI, ESR Strategic Science Investment Funding: Clinically Relevant Human Genomics at ESR

2019 PI, ESR Pioneer Funding: Growing ESRs genomics reputation – compiling and refining a eukaryotic reference genome

2015 PI. Wellington Medical Research Foundation: “Validation of Blood Cell Lineage Specific DNA methylation markers.”

Professional Memberships

2021 -

Chair of a committee of reviewers for the Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand

Panel member reviewing for the Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand

2020 - Certified Carpentries Instructor

Panel member reviewing for the Health Research Council (HRC) of New Zealand

2019 - Member Human Genomics Society of Australasia

2015 - Ad hoc reviewer, Nature Biotechnology, Clinical Epigenetics, PLoS One, BMC Medical Genetics, Gene

2015 - Reviewer National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia

2014 - Member Australasian Genomic Technologies Association (AGTA)

Leadership

2021

Queenstown Molecular Biology Research Week, Queenstown - Organising committee member

eResearch 2021, Victoria University of Wellington - Organising committee member

2019

Mentor for the Royal Society Te Apārangi Powering Potential programme

MapNet 2019, Victoria University of Wellington - Organising committee member

Honours and Distinctions

2024 Applications Award 2023 - Excellence in Cross-Functional Support

2023 ONT Star Award - true teamwork, collaboration and commitment

2021 Science New Zealand Awards - Early Career Researcher of the Year

2019 Mentor – Royal Society Powering Potential

2019 Data Carpentries Instructor

2017 QUT School of Biomedical Sciences Travel Grant

2016 QUT Carla Patterson Award – Best Paper, Early Career Researcher

2015 ESR Vision Best Paper Award (August 2015)

2014 Best Poster Presentation, Genemappers Conference 2014, Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, SA, Australia, 11th – 14th May 2014.

Richard Stewart Memorial Prize (2nd place best presentation), Wellington Health and Biomedical Research Society

2012 Inaugural Grasshopper prize for Scientific Innovation. Wellington Health and Biomedical Research Society annual students and early researchers meeting, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand, 19th November 2012.

Best Student Presenter. 2nd Biomarker Discovery Conference, Shoal Bay Resort and Spa, NSW, Australia, 5th December 2012.

2010-13 Griffith University Higher Degree Research Scholarship

2007-10 ESR Masters Research Scholarship

Supervision

2020 - 2024 Co-supervisor - Bioinformatics PhD student (Otago University/ESR)

2018 - 2022 Co-supervisor - Bioinformatics PhD student (Otago University/ESR)

2018 - 2019 Secondary Supervisor – Bioinformatics Honors Student (QUT)

2016 Completed QUT Effective Supervisory Practices Level 1
A course designed to walk Research Supervisors through the frameworks and pragmatic issues associated with supervising in today’s research environment; ultimately to provide them with effective and essential tools for their supervisory tool kit.

Publication Metrics

Publications

2024

Wong C, Tham CY, Yang L, Benton MC, Narang V, Denil S, Duan K, Yew YW, Lee B, Florez de Sessions P, Common JEA. (2024) Nanopore sequencing enables allelic phasing of FLG loss-of-function variants, intragenic copy number variation and methylation status in atopic dermatitis and ichthyosis vulgaris. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Feb 7:S0022-202X(24)00097-6

Chin HL, Benton MC, Yang L, Poon KS, Tan KML, Jamuar SS, Foo R, Law HY, Goh DM, Chong SS, and de Sessions PF. (2024). Clinical application of targeted long read sequencing in prenatal beta-thalassemia testing and genetic counseling. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine, 12, e2285.

2023

Bloomfield M, Hutton S, Velasco C, Burton M, Benton MC, Storey M, ESR Genomics Consortium. (2023) Oxford Nanopore next generation sequencing in a front-line clinical microbiology laboratory without on-site bioinformaticians. Pathology 56(3)

2021

Tran NK, Lea RA, Holland S, Nguyen Q, Raghubar AM, Sutherland HG, Benton MC, Haupt LM, Blackburn NB, Curran JE, Blangero J, Mallett AJ, and Griffiths LR. (2021) Multi-phenotype genome-wide association studies of the Norfolk Island isolate implicate pleiotropic loci involved in chronic kidney disease. Scientific Reports Volume 11, Article number: 19425

Connell J, Benton MC, Lea RA, Sutherland H, Chaseling J, Haupt LM, Wright K, and Griffiths LR. (2021) Pedigree Derived Mutation Rate Across the Entire Mitochondrial Genome of the Norfolk Island Population. (Accepted at Scientific Reports) DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-823709/v1

Cao TV, Lea RA, Sutherland HG, Benton MC, Pishva SR, Haupt LM, and Griffiths LR. (2021) A genome-wide methylation study of body fat traits in the Norfolk Island Isolate. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases (Accepted, awaiting publication)

2020

Macartney-Coxson D, Cameron AM, Clapham J, and Benton MC. (2020) DNA methylation in blood-potential to provide new insights in immune cell biology. PLOS ONE 15(11): e0241367

Harvey NR, Voisin S, Lea RA, Yan X, MC Benton, Papadimitriou ID, Jacques M, Haupt LM, Ashton KJ, Eynon N, Griffiths and LR. Investigating the influence of mtDNA and nuclear encoded mitochondrial variants on high intensity interval training outcomes. (2020) Scientific Reports 10(1)

Dunn PJ, Maher BH, Albury CL, Stuart S, Sutherland HG, Maksemous N, Benton MC, Smith, RA, Haupt LM, and Griffiths LR. (2020) Tiered analysis of whole-exome sequencing for epilepsy diagnosis. Molecular Genetics and Genomics https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-020-01657-x

Harvey NR, Voisin S, Lea RA, Yan X, MC Benton, Papadimitriou ID, Jacques M, Haupt LM, Ashton KJ, Eynon N, Griffiths and LR. (2020) Identification of novel mitochondrial and mitochondrial related genetic loci associated with exercise response in the Gene SMART study. biorxiv (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.02.20.957340)

Macartney-Coxson D, Danielson K, Clapham J, Benton MC, Johnstone A, Jones A, Shaw O, Hagan RD, Hoffman EP, Hayes M, Harper J, Langston MA, and Stubbs RS. (2020) MicroRNA profiling in adipose before and after weight-loss highlights the role of miR-223-3p and the NLRP3 inflammasome. Obesity (epub 2020)

Osborne AJ, Pearson JF, Noble AJ, Gemmell NJ, Horwood LJ, Boden JM, Benton MC, Macartney-Coxson D, and Kennedy MA. (2020) Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of heavy cannabis exposure in a New Zealand longitudinal cohort. Translational Psychiatry 10(1)

2019

Harvey NR, Albury CL, Stuart S, Benton MC, Ecccles DA, Connell J, Sutherland HG, Allcock RJ, Lea RA, Haupt LM, and Griffiths LR. (2019) Ion torrent high throughput mitochondrial genome sequencing (HTMGS). PLoS ONE 14(11):e0224847

Benton MC, Lea RA, Macartney-Coxson D, Sutherland HG, White NM, Kennedy DW, Mengersen K, Haupt LM, and Griffiths LR. (2019) Genome-wide allele-specific methylation is enriched at gene regulatory regions in a multi-generation pedigree from the Norfolk Island isolate. Epigenetics and Chromatin 12(60)

Macartney-Coxson D, Cameron A, Clapham J, and Benton MC. (2019) DNA methylation in blood - potential to provide new insights in immune cell biology. PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.2.13274/v1]

Benton MC, Smith RA, Haupt LM, Albury CL, Maksemous N, Lea RA, and Griffiths LR. (2019) Variant Call Format (VCF)-Diagnostic Annotation and Reporting Tool (VCF-DART) A Customizable Analysis Pipeline for Identification of Clinically Relevant Genetic Variants in Next-Generation Sequencing Data. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics 21(6) [DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoldx.2019.07.001]

Kennedy DW, White NM, Benton MC, Lea RL and Mengersen K. (2019) Cell-type specific analysis of heterogeneous methylation signal using a Bayesian model-based approach. biorxiv (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/682070)

2018 Kennedy DW, White NM, Benton MC, Fox A, Scott R, Griffiths LR, Mengersen KL and Lea RA. (2018) Critical evaluation of linear regression models for cell-subtype specific methylation signal from mixed blood cell DNA. PLoS ONE (accepted 27th Nov 2018)

Maltby V, Lea RA, Graves M, Sanders K, Benton MC, Tajouri L, Scott R, and Lechner-Scott J. (2018) Genome-wide DNA methylation changes in CD19+ B cells from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Scientific Reports (published 27th November 2018)

Aquino EM, Benton MC, Haupt LM, Sutherland HG, Griffiths LR, and Lea RA. (2018) Current understanding of DNA methylation and age-related disease. OBM Genetics 2(2) [DOI:10.21926/obm.genet.1802016]

Bradshaw G, Lualhati RL, Albury CL, Maksemous N, Roos-Araujo D, Smith RA, Benton MC, Eccles DA, Lea RA, Sutherland HG, Haupt LM and Griffiths LR. (2018) Exome sequencing diagnoses X-linked moesin-associated immunodeficiency in a primary immunodeficiency case. Frontiers in Immunology 9

Dunn P, Albury CL, Maksemous N, Benton MC, Sutherland HG, Smith RA, Haupt LM, and Griffiths LR. (2018) Next Generation Sequencing Methods for Diagnosis of Epilepsy Syndromes. Frontiers in Genetics (accepted 16th Janurary)

Kho PF, Lea RA, Benton MC, Eccles DA, Haupt LM, Hewitt AW, Sherwin JC, Mackey DA, and Griffiths LR. (2018) Expression QTL analysis of glaucoma endophenotypes in the Norfolk Island isolate provides evidence that immune-related genes are associated with optic disc size. Journal of Human Genetics 63 [DOI:10.1038/s10038-017-0374-y]

2017 Matovinovic E, Kho PF, Lea RA, Benton MC, Eccles DA, Haupt LM, Hewitt AW, Sherwin JC, Mackey DA, and Griffiths LR. (2017) Genome-wide linkage and association analysis of primary open-angle glaucoma endophenotypes in the Norfolk Island isolate. Molecular Vision 23

Jones A, Danielson KM, Benton MC, Ziegler O, Shah R, Stubbs RS, Das S, and Macartney-Coxson D. (2017) miRNA signatures of insulin resistance in obesity. Obesity 25(10) [DOI: 10.1002/oby.21950]

White NM, Benton MC, Kennedy D, Fox A, Griffiths LR, Lea RA, and Mengersen KL. (2017) Accounting for cell lineage and sex effects in the identification of cell-specific DNA methylation using a Bayesian model selection algorithm. PLoS One 12(9)

Maltby V, Lea RA, Sanders K, White NM, Benton MC, Scott R, and Lechner-Scott J. (2017) Differential Methylation at MHC in CD4+ T cells is associated with multiple sclerosis independently of HLA-DRB1. Clinical Epigenetics 9(71)

Macartney-Coxson D, Benton MC, Blick R, Stubbs RS, Hagan RD, and Langston MA. (2017) Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis reveals loci that distinguish different types of adipose tissue in obese individuals. Clinical Epigenetics 9(48)

Benton MC, Sutherland HG, Macartney-Coxson D, Haupt LM, Lea RA, and Griffiths LR. (2017) Methylome-wide association study of whole blood DNA in the Norfolk Island isolate identifies robust loci associated with age. Aging 9(3)

Stuart S, Benton MC, Eccles D, Sutherland H, Haupt LM, Lea RA and Griffiths LR. (2017) Gene-Centric Analysis Implicates Nuclear Encoded Mitochondrial Protein Gene Variants in Migraine Susceptibility. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine

2016 Sanders KA, Benton MC, Lea RA, Maltby VE, Agland S, Griffin N, Scott RJ, Tajouri L and Lechner-Scott J. (2016) Next-generation sequencing reveals broad down-regulation of microRNAs in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis CD4+ T-cells. Clinical Epigenetics 8(87)

2015 Fernando S, Speicher DJ, Bakr MM, Benton MC, Lea RA, Scuffham PA and Johnson NW. (2015) A Protocol for assessing maternal, environmental and epigenetic risk factors for dental caries in children. BMC Oral Health 15(167)

Benton MC, Lea RA, Macartney-Coxson D, Carless MA, Bellis C, Hanna M, Eccles D, Chambers GK, Curran JE, Blangero J and Griffiths LR. (2015) Serum bilirubin concentration is modified by UGT1A1 Haplotypes and Influences Risk of Type-2 Diabetes in the Norfolk Island Genetic Isolate. BMC Genetics 16(1)

Maltby VE, Graves MC, Lea RA, Benton MC, Sanders KA, Tajouri L, Scott RJ and Lechner-Scott J. (2015) Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of CD8+ T cells shows a distinct epigenetic signature to CD4+ T cells in Multiple Sclerosis patients. Clinical Epigenetics 7(118)

Benton MC, Lea RA, Macartney-Coxson D, Carless MA, Göring HH, Bellis C, Hanna M, Eccles D, Chambers GK, Curran JE, Harper JL, Blangero J and Griffiths LR. (2015) A phenomic scan of the Norfolk Island genetic isolate identifies a major pleiotropic effect locus associated with renal disorder markers. PLoS Genetics 11(10)

Benton MC, Stuart S, Bellis C, Macartney-Coxson D, Eccles D, Curran JE, Chambers G, Blangero J, Lea RA and Griffiths LR. (2015) ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’: The Genetic History of Norfolk Island reveals extreme gender biased admixture. Investigative Genetics 6(11)

Rodriguez-Acevedo AJ, Ferreira MA, Benton MC, Carless MA, Göring HH, Curran JE, Blangero J, Lea RA and Griffiths LR. (2015) Common Polygenic Variation Contributes to Risk of Migraine in the Norfolk Island Population. Human Genetics (published online July 29th)

Bosch P, Benton MC, Macartney-Coxson D and Kivell B. (2015) mRNA and microRNA analysis reveals modulation of biochemical pathways related to addiction in the ventral tegmental area of methamphetamine self-administering rats. BMC Neuroscience 16(1)

Joshi PK, … Benton MC, Lea RA, Griffiths LR, … and Wislon JF. (2015) Directional dominance on stature and cognition in diverse human populations. Nature 523(7561)

Benton MC, Johnstone A, Eccles D, Harmon B, Hayes MT, Lea RA, Griffiths LR, Hoffman E, Stubbs RS and Macartney-Coxson D. (2015) An analysis of DNA methylation in human adipose tissue reveals differential modification of obesity genes before and after gastric bypass and weight-loss. Genome Biology 16(1)

2014 Aya-Bonilla C, Camilleri E, Benton MC, Haupt LM, Marlton P, Lea RA, Gandhi MK and Griffiths LR. (2014) Fine mapping of the 15q21 region implicate TP53BP1 and B2M in the lymphomagenesis of Follicular and Diffuse Large B-Cell lymphomas. Carcinogenesis & Mutagenesis 5(6)

Gunawardhana LP, Gibson PG, Simpson JL, Benton MC, Lea RA and Baines, KJ. (2014) Characteristic DNA methylation profiles in peripheral blood monocytes are associated with inflammatory phenotypes of asthma. Epigenetics 9(9)

2013 Benton MC, Lea RA, Macartney-Coxson D, Carless MA, Göring HH, Bellis C, Hanna M, Eccles D, Chambers GK, Curran JE, Harper JL, Blangero J and Griffiths LR. (2013) Mapping eQTLs in the Norfolk Island Genetic Isolate Identifies Candidate Genes for CVD-risk Traits. American Journal of Human Genetics 93(6): 1087-99

Graves M, Benton MC, Lea R, Boyle M, Tajouri L, Macartney-Coxson D, Scott R and Lechner-Scott J. (2013) Methylation differences at the HLA-DRB1 locus in CD4+ T-Cells are associated with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis 20(8):1033-1041

Aya-Bonilla C, Green MR, Camilleri E, Benton MC, Keane C, Marlton P, Lea RA, Gandhi MK and Griffiths LR. (2013) High resolution loss of heterozygosity screening implicates PTPRJ as a potential tumor suppressor gene that affects susceptibility to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer 52(5):467-79

Rodriguez-Acevedo AJ, Maher BH, Lea RA, Benton MC, and Griffiths LR. (2013) Association of oestrogen-receptor gene (ESR1) polymorphisms with migraine in the large Norfolk Island pedigree. Cephalalgia 33(14):1139-1147

Stuart S, Maher BH, Sutherland H, Benton MC, Rodriguez A, Lea RA, Haupt LM and Griffiths LR. (2013) Genetic Variation in Cytokine-Related Genes and Migraine Susceptibility. Twin Res Hum Genet 20:1-8

2012 Benton MC, Macartney-Coxson D, Eccles DA, Griffiths LR, Chambers GK and Lea, RA. (2012) Complete Mitochondrial Genome Sequencing Reveals Novel Haplotypes in a Polynesian Population. PLoS ONE 7(4): e35026

Maher BH, Lea RA, Benton MC, Cox HC, Bellis C, Carless M, Dyer TD, Curran J, Charlesworth JC, Buring JE, Kurth T, Chasman DI, Ridker PM, Schürks M, Blangero J and Griffiths LR. (2012) An X Chromosome Association Scan of the Norfolk Island Genetic Isolate Provides Evidence for a Novel Migraine Susceptibility Locus at Xq12. PLoS ONE 7(5): e37903

Presentations

Conference Talks

2021

Benton MC. The disruptive nature of portable sequencing. Nvidia Spring GPU Technology Conference (GTC), 12th - 16th April 2021, Online Virtual Conference.

Benton MC. Harnessing the disruptive nature of portable sequencing for community empowerment. eResearch, 11th Feburary 2021, Victoria University of Wellington.

2020

Benton MC. Harnessing the disruptive nature of portable sequencing for community empowerment. Auckland Research Bazaar, 24th November 2020, Virtual Seminar.

Benton MC. Assessing the potential of autonomous AI devices for portable real-time sequencing eResearch. Dunedin, NZ, February 12th-14th 2020.

2019 Benton MC. The Humble Guinea Pig: Cute, Furry and Deserving of a Better Genome Assembly? Queenstown Research Week, Queenstown, NZ, August 6th 2019.

Benton MC. A Customisable Analysis Pipeline for the Identification of Clinically Relevant Genetic Variants in Next Generation Sequencing Data Human Genetics Society of Australasia, Wellington, NZ, August 3rd-6th 2019.

2018 Benton MC. VCF-DART (VCF Diagnostic Annotation and Reporting Tool). Bioinformatics meeting (Queenstown Research Week), Queenstown, NZ, August 30th-31st.

Benton MC. My journey through genetics - wetlab to cafe. CLNR580 Plenary, Wellington, NZ, August 4th.

2017 Benton MC. The ‘omic coal face: classifying human genomic and epigenomic inheritance. IHBI Inspires 2017, Brisbane, Australia, August 23rd-25th.

Benton MC. Identification of allelic-specific methylation profiles in a genetic isolate. GeneMappers 2017 - Novotel Geelong, Victoria, Australia, April 26th-28th.

2016 Benton MC. Allelic-specific methylation: insights from a human genetic isolate. AB3ACBS 2016 - QUT, Brisbane, Australia, November 1st-2nd.

Benton MC. Insights from a Genetic Isolate. AGTA 2016, Auckland, NZ, October 9th-12th.

2015 Benton MC, Blick R, Lea RA and Griffiths LR. Reproducible Research, Big Data and Visualisation: is free software the solution? Big Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3 2015), Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia, 23-25th November 2015.

White N, Benton MC, Lea RA, Griffiths LR, and Mengersen K. (2015) Cellular heterogeneity in DNA methylation: A new approach for the estimation of cellular proportions in whole blood. Big Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3 2015), Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia, 23-25th November 2015.

2014 Benton MC, Sutherland H, Haupt L, Donia Macartney-Coxson, Lea RA and Griffiths LR. As Time Goes By: Longitudinal profiling of DNA methylation. Wellington Health & Biomedical Research Society Young Investigators Meeting (80th meeting), Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand, 27th November 2014.

Benton MC, Sutherland H, Haupt L, Lea RA and Griffiths LR. As Time Goes By: Longitudinal profiling of DNA methylation. Big Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3 2014), Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia, 24-25th November 2014.

Benton MC, Lea RA, Macartney-Coxson D, Carless MA, Göring HH, Bellis C, Hanna M, Eccles D, Chambers GK, Curran JE, Blangero J and Griffiths LR. A pedigree-based GWAS identifies UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) variants associated with serum bilirubin concentration and risk of Type-2 Diabetes in the Norfolk Island genetic isolate. Genemappers Conference 2014, Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, SA, Australia, 11–14th May 2014.

2013 Benton MC. Epigenetics − where the environment meets the genetics of disease: Interpreting high-throughput DNA Methylation data. QUT SBB symposium, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, 25-26th November 2013.

Benton MC, Johnstone A, Eccles D, Harmon B, Hayes MT, Lea RA, Griffiths LR, Hoffman E, Stubbs RS, Macartney-Coxson D. Global DNA methylation profiling reveals significant differential methylation of subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue before and after weight loss. Queenstown Molecular Biology Meeting, Queenstown, New Zealand, August 2013 Epigenetics Satellite.

Graves MC, Benton MC, Lea RA, Boyle M, Tajouri L, Macartney-Coxson D, Scott R, Lechner-Scott J. (2013) Epigenetic changes in CD4+ T cells isolated from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients. ECTRIMS Lecture: Multiple Sclerosis Journal 19: (S1) 18–73

Benton MC, Eccles D, Macartney-Coxson D. What High-throughput ‘Omics’ and Bioinformatics can do for you! Malaghan Institute Seminar, Wellington, New Zealand, 24 th May 2013.

2012 Benton MC, Lea RA, Macartney-Coxson D, Carless MA, Göring HH, Bellis C, Hanna M, Eccles D, Chambers GK, Curran JE, Blangero J and Griffiths LR. Mapping eQTLs associated with CVD risk in the Norfolk Island genetic isolate. Biomarkers Discovery Conference 2012, Shoal Bay Resort and Spa, NSW, Australia, 3 rd - 6 th December 2012.

Benton MC, Eccles D, Lea R, Sutherland H, Macartney-Coxson D, Griffiths L. Epigenetics – where the environment meets the genetics of disease: Interpreting high-throughput DNA Methylation data. WHBRS 2012, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.

Benton MC, Lea RA, Macartney-Coxson D, Carless MA, Göring HH, Bellis C, Hanna M, Eccles D, Chambers GK, Curran JE, Blangero J and Griffiths LR. eQTL identification and mapping in the population isolate of Norfolk Island. Genemappers Conference. Port Douglas, Australia, 26-29th August 2012.

2011 Benton MC, Lea RA, Macartney-Coxson D, Cox H, Hanna M, Eccles D, Chambers GK, Griffiths L. A Phenome Scan for Metabolic Syndrome in the Norfolk Island Isolate. Goldcoast Health and Medical Research Council Conference 2011.

Posters

2015 Kennedy D, Lea RA, White N, Benton MC, Griffiths LR, and Mengersen K. (2015) Statistical deconvolution of DNA methylation data in mixed cell samples. Big Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3 2015), Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia, 23-25th November 2015.

Stuart S, Benton MC, Eccles DA, Sutherland H, Albury C, Haupt LM, Lea RA, and Griffiths LR. (2015) Full Mitochondrial Genome Sequencing Reveals that the 12S rRNA Mitochondrial subunit is Involved in Migraine Susceptibility in the Genetically Isolated Norfolk Island Population. Big Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3 2015), Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia, 23-25th November 2015.

Avgan N, Sutherland HG, Benton MC, Bellis C, Spriggens LG, Shum DHK, Lea RA, Haupt LM, and Griffiths, LR. (2015) A Genome-Wide Investigation of SNPs in Human Memory. Big Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3 2015), Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia, 23-25th November 2015.

Benton MC, Sutherland H, Haupt L, Lea RA and Griffiths LR. Longitudinal methylation changes in SGK1 are associated with blood glucose levels in healthy Norfolk Island females. Genemappers Conference 2015, Perth, WA, Australia, 10-12th November 2015.

Sanders KA, Benton MC, Lea RA, Maltby VE, Agland S, Griffin N, Scott RJ, Tajouri L and Lechner-Scott J. (2015) MicroRNA sequencing identifies four down-regulated microRNAs in CD4+T-cells of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients. MS Research Australia Progress in MS Research Conference, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA, OCT 29-30, 2015

Lea RA, Benton MC, Scott R. et al. (2015) Next Phase ANZGene Proposal - Epigenome-Wide Association Studies of Multiple Sclerosis. MS Research Australia Progress in MS Research Conference Melbourne, AUSTRALIA, OCT 29-30, 2015

Maltby VE, Graves M, Lea RA, Benton MC, Scott RJ, Tajouri L and Lechner-Scott J. (2015) Minor methylation differences at various loci in CD8+T-Cells are associated with multiple sclerosis. MS Research Australia Progress in MS Research Conference Melbourne, AUSTRALIA, OCT 29-30, 2015

Sanders KA, Benton MC, Lea RA, Maltby VE, Agland S, Griffin N, Scott RJ, Tajouri L and Lechner-Scott J. (2015) MicroRNA sequencing identifies down-regulated microRNA in CD4+T-cells of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis patients. 31st Congress of the European-Committee-for-Treatment-and-Research-in-Multiple-Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Barcelona, SPAIN, OCT 07-10, 2015

2014 White N, Benton MC, Lea RA and Mengersen K. Baysiean hierarchical models for the analysis of DNA methylation. Big Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3 2014), Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia, 24-25th November 2014.

Hernández-Sánchez J, Lea RA, Benton MC, Sutherland H and Griffiths LR. Elastic Nets Haul in Obesity Markers: A Recipe to Analyze Big DNA Methylation Data Big Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium (B3 2014), Queensland University of Technology, QLD, Australia, 24-25th November 2014.

Graves M, Benton MC, Lea R, Boyle M, Tajouri L, Macartney-Coxson D, Scott R and Lechner-Scott J. (2014) Epigenetic changes in CD8(+) T cells and CD19(+) B cells isolated from relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS, Boston, MA, SEP 10-13, 2014

Miles C. Benton, Ronald D. Hagan, Alice Johnstone, Richard Stubbs, Michael A. Langston, Donia Macartney-Coxson. A tale of two [adipose] tissues: DNA methylation markers associated with weight-loss and tissue specificity. Genemappers Conference 2014, Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, SA, Australia, 11 th – 14 th May 2014. [PDF]

2013 Benton MC, Johnstone A, Eccles D, Harmon B, Hayes MT, Lea RA, Griffiths LR, Hoffman E, Stubbs RS, Macartney-Coxson D. Global DNA methylation profiling reveals significant differential methylation of subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue before and after weight loss. AMATA 2013, Surfers Paradise, Oct 13-16 – Australasian Microarray and Associated Technologies Association Conference.

Jones A, Benton MC, Stubbs RS, Macartney-Coxson D. A comparison of plasma miRNA levels in insulin sensitive, insulin resistant and type 2 diabetic obese individuals versus lean controls: differential miRNA levels between groups. AMATA 2013, Surfers Paradise, Oct 13-16 – Australasian Microarray and Associated Technologies Association Conference.

2012 Griffiths LR, Benton MC, Cox H, Bellis C, Blangero J, Lea RA. Identification of a pleiotropic effect locus associated with a composite CVD risk trait in the genetic isolate of Norfolk Island. ASHG 2012. [PDF]

2011 Benton MC, Lea RA, Macartney-Coxson D, Cox H, Hanna M, Eccles D, Chambers GK, Griffiths L. A Phenome Scan for Metabolic Syndrome in the Norfolk Island Isolate. HGSA Conference, Seaworld, Queensland, Australia, 3-6th December 2011. [PDF]

2010 Benton MC, Macartney-Coxson D, Eccles D, Griffiths L, Chambers GK, Lea RA. A Mitochondrial Genome Scan for Thrifty Genes in Maori. WHBRS 2010, Wellington, New Zealand. [PDF]

Other dissemination

Media

Radio New Zealand - Miles Benton: diagnosing serious illnesses cheaper and faster. An interview that I did with Kim Hill on Radio NZ’s Saturday Morning show. link

ESR Media Release - ESR scientists showcase benefits of collaboration for rapid-DNA sequencing. Another article highlighting the work we are doing in the Nanopore space to make the technology more affordable and accessible. link

New Zealand Herald - The genius of genomics: The revolution that helped NZ quash Covid-19. A NZ Herald article that contains a section on the Nanopore portable bed-side sequencing projects that we have underway. link

Talks

Benton MC. Something a little bit different… CLNR 401 Plenary, 6th March 2021, Victoria University of Wellington.

Benton MC. and de Ligt J. Genomics at the frontline - the power of GPUs. ESR Data Science Week 2020, Virtual Presentation, 24th September 2020.

Benton MC. Clinical Genomics: Customisable Analysis Workflows for Identification of Clinically Relevant Genetic Variants - An Update. Otago Genetics Seminar, University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ, August 24th 2020.

Benton MC. Genomics and Data Science at ESR …something a little different… University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ, August 20th 2019.

Benton MC. Online Resources, Databases and Clinical Data Management Wellington Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand, July 12th 2017.

Benton MC. My journey - how bioinformatics changed my worldview: the many platforms, data types and analyses I’ve learnt along the way… and other general ramblings. Invited speaker, CMB Friday seminar series, Vitoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand, 6th Novemember 2015.

Benton MC. A student’s journey − how Bioinformatics changed my worldview: the many platforms, data types and analyses I’ve learnt along the way. ESR conference, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand, 3rd-5th December 2013.

Benton MC, Eccles D, Macartney-Coxson D. What High-throughput ‘Omics’ and Bioinformatics can do for you! Malaghan Institute Seminar, Wellington, New Zealand, 24th May 2013.

References

Available on request.