Understanding how the biological mechanisms behind exercise and nutrition work, and how they impact on health.
We work in healthy and clinical populations across the lifespan to characterise and understand the biological mechanisms behind exercise and nutrition to ask how this impacts on health.
Researchers in this domain work on:
Our researchers use state of the art facilities to conduct cell culture and rodent model studies, as well as whole-body human studies, for the assessment of cardiovascular, metabolic and endocrine function.
Dr Greg Kowalski is working to develop a better understanding of the development and progression of diabetes by examining the complex ways that different hormones interact inside the body.
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Professor Aaron Russell will measure and compare changes in blood proteins to try and identify ways to accurately detect motor neurone disease (MND) and pinpoint how long a person has lived with the disease.
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Dr Lewan Parker is examining type 2 diabetes and the role of poor blood flow through the smallest blood vessels in the body (muscle microvascular dysfunction).
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Having discovered that disrupting the production of lipids within mitochondria causes loss of muscle mass, Associate Professor Clinton Bruce is hoping to better understand the process through his four-year Australian Research Council Future Fellowship.
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People with type 2 diabetes often have difficulty controlling blood sugar levels and exercising. It’s common for those with this debilitating disease to develop problems with their heart and blood vessels – most (70-80%) will die from heart disease or a stroke.
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Group leader:Associate Professor Michelle Keske
Group members: Professor Glenn Wadley, Dr Andrew Betik, Dr Lee Hamilton, Dr Kirsten Howlett, Dr Gunveen Kaur, Dr Lewan Parker, Dr Chris Shaw, Dr Adam Trewin, Dr Kim Way
This group focuses on reducing cardiometabolic diseases (obesity, insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease) in our community.
Areas of particular interest include understanding the impact of diet and exercise on large and small blood vessel function, cardiac function, blood pressure, whole body metabolism, blood sugar control and fat metabolism in health and disease. Our group specialise in a range of research techniques including:
The group uses a variety of clinical and laboratory models to understand how to maintain cardiovascular and metabolic health, and to discover innovative ways to prevent and treat cardiometabolic diseases.
Some of the research underway includes:
Group leader:Associate Professor Clinton Bruce
Group members: Associate Professor Glenn Wadley, Dr Lee Hamilton, Dr Kirsten Howlett, Dr Greg Kowalski, Dr Chris Shaw, Dr Adam Trewin
This group focuses on the areas of integrative physiology, metabolic biochemistry and endocrinology in the context of health and disease. We are interested in understanding how glucose, fat and amino acid metabolism are regulated and integrated at the whole-body, organ and cellular level.
An area of particular interest is examining the regulation of liver, adipose, and skeletal muscle metabolism by the pancreatic hormones insulin and glucagon. Given the central role of mitochondria in all facets of cellular metabolism, we also have a strong interest in mitochondrial biology. The group employs a range of experimental approaches in humans, rodents and cell systems to understand metabolic regulation in response to challenges such as exercise and dietary manipulation. We employ a broad range of laboratory based techniques including molecular biology approaches to manipulate gene expression, and microscopy-based imaging techniques.
Our group also specialises in utilising our in-house mass spectrometry based platforms (GC-MS and HPLC-MS) to perform quantitative-targeted metabolomics and biochemical flux analysis using stable isotope tracers. Our group’s research is particularly relevant for conditions with metabolic underpinnings such as insulin resistance, diabetes, fatty liver and cardiovascular disease.
This group covers:
Group leader:Associate Professor Severine Lamon
Group members: Professor Aaron Russell, Professor Glenn Wadley, Dr Paul Della Gatta, Dr Lee Hamilton, Dr Angus Lindsay, Dr Craig Wright
This group focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and function of human organs and tissues in health and disease. Members of our group have specific expertise in skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle biochemistry and physiology. Our group possesses a wide range of technical expertise spanning in vitro (tissue culture), rodent, and human models. There is a focus on investigating human and rodent models of skeletal muscle wasting, including ageing, fasting, and motor neurone disease and muscle dystrophy. Tissue samples from patient populations are analysed to evaluate the potential clinical relevance of our work.
Regulatory approaches in cell and rodent models of human disease include the use of locked nucleic acid inhibitors and adeno-associated viruses. Isolated muscle and whole body muscle contraction (exercise) is also performed. Members of our group have experience in conducting human exercise trials involving muscle tissue collection (muscle biopsies) and radiolabelled isotope tracer infusion. Specific areas of focus include muscle protein metabolism, non-coding RNA-mediated gene regulation, mitochondrial biogenesis, muscle regeneration and creatine metabolism and supplementation during pregnancy.
This group covers: