In the latest episode of Demystifying Genetics, host Matt Burgess sits down with Dr Jodie Ingles, one of Australia’s leading cardiac genetic counsellors and researchers, to explore the fast-evolving world of cardiac genomics. With a career dedicated to understanding inherited heart conditions, Jodie shares insights from her clinical and research work, her passion for mentoring future genetic counsellors, and how genomic medicine is reshaping care for families affected by sudden cardiac events.
Jodie’s favourite gene, MYH7, is well known to those working in inherited cardiology. Variants in this gene are a major cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, potentially leading to arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death. Jodie explains how understanding genes like MYH7 has transformed the ability to diagnose and manage individuals and families with inherited heart diseases. However, she also emphasises that the story doesn’t end with identifying a variant – it’s about integrating genetic findings with careful clinical evaluation and family history to guide truly personalised care.
A major theme of the conversation is the impact of sudden cardiac events on families, and the critical role genetic counsellors play in their care. Jodie describes how genetic testing can help provide answers and reassurance, but also how counsellors support families through uncertainty, grief, and complex decision-making. “We often meet people at one of the hardest moments in their lives,” she notes, “and our job is not only to explain the science, but to help them find a way forward.”
The discussion also delves into the ongoing challenges of variant classification in cardiac genetics. As genomic testing becomes more widespread, the number of variants identified continues to grow. But interpreting their significance remains a nuanced process. Jodie highlights the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration between laboratories, clinicians, and researchers, as well as the need for ongoing data sharing to refine understanding of gene-disease relationships.
Beyond the science, Jodie is passionate about health equity and ensuring that access to genomic testing and specialist cardiac genetics services is available to everyone, not just those in metropolitan or well-resourced areas. She discusses efforts to improve accessibility across Australia and the importance of community engagement in building trust and awareness.
Throughout the episode, mentorship and professional development emerge as key themes. Jodie reflects on her own mentors and the role they played in shaping her career, while also encouraging early-career genetic counsellors to get involved in research and innovation. “We need genetic counsellors who are curious, who want to question the system and make it better,” she says.
The conversation concludes with a look to the future: how we can move beyond research pilots to embed genomic testing in everyday clinical practice. For Jodie, this means simplifying processes, empowering clinicians with practical tools, and continuing to centre patient experience in every step of genomic medicine.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, student, or simply curious about how genetics meets the heart, this episode offers a powerful and inspiring insight into the people and discoveries driving cardiac genomics forward.
🎧 Listen to “When Genes Meet Heart: Inside Cardiac Genomics” on the Demystifying Genetics podcast – available wherever you get your podcasts.
