Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Molly Johnston is an early career researcher with multi-disciplinary expertise across social science, bioethics, and health policy analysis. Molly has a background in reproductive science but her current research falls within the intersection between social science, bioethics, and regulation.
Molly is currently working on projects that address the ethical, social, and regulatory aspects of technology innovation in human reproduction, including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT); egg freezing, disposition and donation; the use of machine learning for embryo assessment in assisted reproduction; and mitoHOPE, the clinical trial for mitochondrial donation in Australia.
Molly has presented at 30+ academic/industry meetings, with nine of these international and 13 by invitation. She frequently contributes to industry forums and public discussions spanning print, radio, podcasts, and television, on matters related to (in)fertility, egg freezing, and egg donation.
Monash teaching commitment
Unit coordinator: MCE5213 Regulation and Ethics in Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Projects
- 2 Finished
-
MLES: Ethical, social, and regulatory issues relating to the use of machine learning for embryo selection
Johnston, M., Koplin, J., Mills, C. & Whittaker, A.
5/12/22 → 16/12/23
Project: Research
-
Oocyte disposition preferences and actual practices following oocyte cryopreservation
Johnston, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Sutton, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Mills, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hunt, S. P. (Associate Investigator (AI)) & Rombauts, L. (Partner Investigator (PI))
1/02/22 → 30/07/24
Project: Research
-
Egg freezing for young women: a new dawn for reproductive autonomy?
De Proost, M., Johnston, M. & Mertes, H., Mar 2025, In: Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 99, 6 p., 102589.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
-
Getting eggs ‘out of the basket’: facilitating decisions about surplus frozen eggs
Fuscaldo, G., Johnston, M., Zander-Fox, D. & Mills, C., Jul 2025, In: Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 51, 1, 34 p., 104865.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
‘Screening should not be based on ability to pay’: Australian healthcare providers' and consumers' perspectives on public funding for non-invasive prenatal testing
Pynaker, C., Johnston, M., Mills, C., Vasey, K., Taylor-Sands, M., Bowman-Smart, H. & Hui, L., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
“What am I going to do with those eggs”: patients’ experience of and attitudes toward surplus frozen eggs
Johnston, M., Fuscaldo, G., Zander-Fox, D., Hunt, S. P., Rombauts, L. & Mills, C., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 48 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Disparities in integrating non-invasive prenatal testing into antenatal healthcare in Australia: a survey of healthcare professionals
Johnston, M., Hui, L., Bowman-Smart, H., Taylor-Sands, M., Pertile, M. D. & Mills, C., 2024, In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 24, 1, 12 p., 355.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
-
Dean's Award for Excellence in Research by an Early Career Researcher
Johnston, Molly (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Dean's Award for Research Enterprise
Mills, C. (Recipient) & Johnston, M. (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
FSA Best Psychosocial presentation
Johnston, Molly (Recipient), 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
FSANZ Best Psychosocial Presentation
Johnston, Molly (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
-
Vice-Chancellor's Early Career Researcher of the Year Award (HASS)
Johnston, Molly (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
-
Submission to the FSANZ Review of Governance and Standards in ART and IVF Sector
Karinne Ludlow (Contributor), Catherine Mills (Contributor) & Molly Johnston (Contributor)
5 Aug 2024Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
-
Submission to the inquiry into increasing the number of registered organ and tissue donors
Julian Koplin (Contributor), Ezra Kneebone (Contributor), Molly Johnston (Contributor) & Catherine Mills (Contributor)
1 Jun 2023Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
-
Birth Hurt(s): Dissonance in the Delivery Suite
Sutton, L. (Contributor) & Johnston, M. (Advisor)
5 May 2022Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
Press/Media
-
Shifra’s frozen eggs will reach a legal expiry date. What happens to them when time runs out?
15/03/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
-
-
-
-
The Best Egg Freezing Services - and What to Consider Before You Start
22/08/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment