Fields of Research

Endocrinology
Systems physiology
Cardiology (incl. cardiovascular diseases)
Epidemiology
Gene and molecular therapy
Agricultural biotechnology diagnostics (incl. biosensors)
Respiratory diseases
Cell metabolism
Animal physiology - systems
Peripheral nervous system
Basic pharmacology
Animal immunology
Receptors and membrane biology
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public health and wellbeing
Medical biochemistry - carbohydrates
Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Health services and systems
Animal physiology - cell
Zoology
Medical biochemistry - nucleic acids
Public health nutrition
Protein trafficking
Medical biotechnology
Sensory systems
Exercise physiology

Research Objectives

Clinical health
Expanding knowledge in the biomedical and clinical sciences
Prevention of human diseases and conditions
Expanding knowledge in the health sciences
Human diagnostics
Disease distribution and transmission (incl. surveillance and response)
Human pharmaceutical treatments
Diagnosis of human diseases and conditions
Specific population health (excl. Indigenous health)
Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences
Treatment of human diseases and conditions
Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences
Nutrition
Climatological hazards (e.g. extreme temperatures, drought and wildfires)
Public health (excl. specific population health)

Career Best Publications

Adiponectin opposes endothelin-1-mediated vasoconstriction in the perfused rat hindlimb; American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology
cGMP degrading phosphodiesterases are expressed differentially in skeletal muscle vasculature; American Diabetes Association, 66th Scientific Sessions
cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibition improves the vascular and metabolic actions of insulin in skeletal muscle; American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Contraction-mediated muscle capillary recruitment and metabolic responses in vivo are resistant to TNFα; 18th International Diabetes Federation Congress
Factors influencing the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of insulin in muscle; Current Diabetes Reviews
Local methacholine but not bradykinin potentiates insulin-mediated capillary recruitment and glucose uptake in muscle in vivo; Diabetologia
Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Capillary Recruitment; Microcirculation
T-1032, a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, acutely blocks physiologic insulin-mediated muscle haemodynamic effects and glucose uptake in vivo; British Journal of Pharmacology
Vascular and metabolic effects of methacholine in relation to insulin action in muscle; Diabetologia

Research Publications

A comparison of ultrasound and laser Doppler for Measuring Capillary Recruitment Using Models in vitro; ACSM Conference on Integrative Physiology of Exercise
A vascular mechanism for high-sodium-induced insulin resistance in rats; Diabetologia: Clinical and Experimental Diabetes and Metabolism
Acute divergent effects of AICAR on insulin action in vivo; American Diabetes Association, 63rd Scientific Sessions
Acute glucosamine-induced insulin resistance in muscle in vivo is associated with impaired capillary recruitment; Diabetologia
Acute vascular and metabolic actions of the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin 3-gallate in rat skeletal muscle; Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Acute, local infusion of angiotensin II impairs microvascular and metabolic insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle; Cardiovascular Research
Adiponectin opposes endothelin-1-mediated vasoconstriction in the perfused rat hindlimb; American Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Adiposity Gain During Childhood, ACE I/D Polymorphisms and Metabolic Outcomes; Obesity
An abductive inference approach to assess the performance‑enhancing effects of drugs included on the World Anti‑Doping Agency Prohibited List; Sports Medicine
Angiotensin II-mediated phenotypic cardiomyocyte remodeling leads to age-dependent cardiac dysfunction and failure; Hypertension
Are the metabolic benefits of resistance training in type 2 diabetes linked to improvements in adipose tissue microvascular blood flow?; American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Association between birth weight and adolescent systolic blood pressure in a caucasian birth cohort differs according to skin type, CRH promoter or 11β-HSD2 genotype; Archives of Disease in Childhood
Blood flow and muscle metabolism: a focus on insulin action; American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Blueberry tea enhances insulin sensitivity by augmenting insulin-mediated metabolic and microvascular responses in skeletal muscle of high fat fed rats; International Journal of Diabetology & Vascular Disease Research
Capillary recruitment in muscle is a highly sensitive event in insulin action in vivo; American Diabetes Association, 63rd Scientific Sessions
cGMP degrading phosphodiesterases are expressed differentially in skeletal muscle vasculature; American Diabetes Association, 66th Scientific Sessions
cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibition improves the vascular and metabolic actions of insulin in skeletal muscle; American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Contraction-mediated capillary recruitment is not impaired in muscle of insulin-resistant obese Zucker rats; American Diabetes Assocaition, 62nd Scientific Sessions
Contraction-mediated muscle capillary recruitment and metabolic responses in vivo are resistant to TNFα; 18th International Diabetes Federation Congress
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurement of microvascular perfusion relevant to nutrient and hormone delivery in skeletal muscle: A model study in vitro; Microvascular Research
Decreased microvascular vasomotion and myogenic response in rat skeletal muscle in association with acute insulin resistance; Journal of Physiology
Determination of skeletal muscle microvascular flowmotion with contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
Differential expression of cGMP degrading phosphodiesterases in skeletal muscle vasculature; COMBIO 2006 Meeting
Effect of blueberry tea on improving metabolic and vascular function in people with and without type 2 diabetes - A Pilot Study; Australian Diabetes Society and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association Annual Scientific Meeting 2016
Endothelial Na+ -D-glucose cotransporter: No Role in Insulin-mediated Glucose Uptake ; Hormone and Metabolic Research
Endothelin-1 as a messenger for insulin has both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on perfused muscle metabolism via its vascular actions; American Diabetes Association, 64th Scientific Sessions
Endothelin-1 vascular and resultant metabolic actions in perfused rat hindlimb are opposed by insulin; 41st EASD Annual Meeting
Enhancement of insulin-mediated rat muscle glucose uptake and microvascular perfusion by 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside; Cardiovascular Diabetology
Exercise and insulin-mediated capillary recruitment in muscle; Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews
Factors influencing the hemodynamic and metabolic effects of insulin in muscle; Current Diabetes Reviews
Flow motion in skeletal muscle is associated with increased nutritive flow and insulin action; 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association
Glucosamine induces acute insulin resistance in muscle in vivo assocaited with impaired capillary recruitment; 41st EASD Annual Meeting
Graded occlusion of perfused rat muscle vasculature decreases insulin action; Clinical Science
Impaired postprandial adipose tissue microvascular blood flow responses to a mixed-nutrient meal in first-degree relatives of adults with type 2 diabetes; American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Impaired postprandial skeletal muscle vascular responses to a mixed meal challenge in normoglycaemic people with a parent with type 2 diabetes; Diabetologia
Impairments in adipose tissue microcirculation in Type 2 diabetes mellitus assessed by real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging
In utero exposure to diesel exhaust particles, but not silica, alters post-natal immune development and function; Chemosphere
Insulin and contraction increase nutritive blood flow in rat muscle in vivo: determined by microdialysis of L-[14C]glucose; Journal of Physiology
Insulin sensitivity of muscle capillary recruitment in vivo; Diabetes
Interleukin-6 increases glucose uptake but does not increase AMPK activity in L6 myotubes and perfused rat hindlimb; AMPK 2004, 3rd International Symposium on AMP-activated protein kinase
Laser Doppler flowmetry, but not contrast enhanced ultrasound, influenced by flow when measuring changes in muscle capillary recruitment - a study in vitro; Exercise, Insulin Sensitivity and Diabetes - What is new?
Local infusion of an inhibitor of Ca²⁺ dependent K⁺ channels (TEA), but not L-NAME blocks insulin-mediated capillary recruitment and glucose uptake in muscle in vivo; American Diabetes Association, 65th Scientific Sessions
Local methacholine but not bradykinin potentiates insulin-mediated capillary recruitment and glucose uptake in muscle in vivo; American Diabetes Association, 64th Scientific Sessions
Local methacholine but not bradykinin potentiates insulin-mediated capillary recruitment and glucose uptake in muscle in vivo; Diabetologia
Local NOS inhibition impairs vascular and metabolic actions of insulin in rat hindleg muscle in vivo; American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Loss of insulin-mediated microvascular perfusion in skeletal muscle is associated with the development of insulin resistance ; Diabetes Obesity & Metabolism
Metabolic and vascular actions of endothelin-1 are inhibited by insulin-mediated vasodilation in perfused rat hindlimb muscle; British Journal of Pharmacology
Metabolic-vascular coupling in skeletal muscle: a potential role for capillary pericytes?; Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology
Metformin improves vascular and metabolic insulin action in insulin resistant muscle; Journal of Endocrinology
Microvascular blood flow responses to muscle contraction are not altered by high-fat feeding in rats; Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Microvascular contributions to insulin resistance; Diabetes
Microvascular flow routes in muscle controlled by vasoconstrictors; Microvascular Research
Microvascular involvement in insulin resistance of skeletal muscle; 7th World Congress for Microcirculation
Muscle capillary recruitment and glucose uptake of genetically obese rats respond to contractions but not insulin; American Diabetes Association, 64th Scientific Sessions
Muscle insulin resistance resulting from impaired microvascular insulin sensitivity in Sprague Dawley rats; Cardiovascular Research
Muscle metabolism and control of capillary blood flow: insulin and exercise; Essays in Biochemistry
Muscle microvascular blood flow responses in insulin resistance and ageing; The Journal of Physiology
Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Capillary Recruitment; Microcirculation
Oral glucose challenge impairs skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow in healthy people; American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Papyriferic Acid, an antifeedant triterpene from birch trees, inhibits succinate dehydrogenase from liver mitochondria; Journal of Chemical Ecology
Partial microsphere embolism of muscle leads to acute impairment of insulin-mediated glucose uptake without compromising resting energetics; American Diabetes Association, 65th Scientific Sessions
Perfusion controls muscle glucose uptake by altering the rate of glucose dispersion in viv; American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Postprandial microvascular blood flow in skeletal muscle: Similarities and disparities to the hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp; Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology
Potential for endothelin-1-mediated impairment of contractile activity in hypertension; Clinical and Experimental Physiology and Pharmacology
Pregnancy protects against the pro-inflammatory respiratory responses induced by particulate matter exposure; Chemosphere
Regulation of microvascular flow and metabolism: An overview; Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology
Role for the Microvasculature in Glucose Uptake in Skeletal Muscle; Glucose Uptake: Regulation, Signaling Pathways and Health Implications (Endocrinology Research and Clinical Developments)
Role of capillary recruitment in the potentiation of insulin action by prior exercise; American Diabetes Association, 64th Scientific Sessions
Rosiglitazone partly reverses insulin resistance in the obese Zucker rat but fails to recover insulin-mediated capillary recruitment and glucose uptake in muscle; American Diabetes Association, 65th Scientific Sessions
Skeletal muscle contraction stimulates capillary recruitment and glucose uptake in insulin resistant obese Zucker rats; American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Skeletal muscle microvascular-linked improvements in glycemic control from resistance training in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes; Diabetes Care
T-1032 a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor blocks physiologic insulin-mediated muscle hemodynamic effects and glucose uptake in vivo; American Diabetes Association, 63rd Scientific Sessions
T-1032, a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, acutely blocks physiologic insulin-mediated muscle haemodynamic effects and glucose uptake in vivo; British Journal of Pharmacology
TNF? inhibits low physiologic but not high insulin-mediated capillary recruitment and glucose uptake in vivo; American Diabetes Association, 62nd Scientific Sessions
TNFalpha acutely inhibits vascular effects of physiological but not high insulin or contraction; American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism
Use of microdialysis to assess capillary recruitment in muscle - a study in vitro; Exercise, Insulin Sensitivity and Diabetes - What is nes?
Vascular and metabolic effects of methacholine in relation to insulin action in muscle; Diabetologia

Research Projects

A Novel Form of Resting Muscle Thermogenesis from Na+ Cycling Regulated by Signals from Blood Vessels; Australian Research Council (ARC)
Adipose tissue blood flow: the link between obesity and disease risk?; The Select Foundation (SelF)
Augmenting Microvascular Blood Flow in Muscle; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Central and Peripheral Actions of Insulin for the Control of Muscle Capillary Recruitment; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Detrimental Haemodynamic Changes in Skeletal Muscle From Chronic Heart Failure; Heart Foundation (HF)
Development of Laser Doppler Flowmetry for Assessment of Muscle Microvascular Flow in Insulin Resistance; Clifford Craig Foundation (CCFoundation)
Endothelin-1, type2 diabetes and hypertension; Heart Foundation (HF)
Genetic Factors that Predispose Low Birth Weight Babies to Increased Risk of Hypertension and IGT; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Gradient Thermal Cycler for PCR; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Interaction between adiponectin and insulin in vascular control of glucose uptake in muscle; Heart Foundation (HF)
Isoelectric Focussing System; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Leica DMIRB Inverted Microscope Configured for Fluorescence and Bright Field with Phase Contrast; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Microvascular Defects and Insulin Resistance; Heart Foundation (HF)
Muscle Vascular Research and Gene Therapy Using Ultrasound; Australian Research Council (ARC)
NHMRC Standard Equipment Grant - 2008; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Nutrient and Hormone Delivery to Muscle: Interactions between Insulin and Exercise; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Refrigerated Benchtop Centrifuge; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Relationship Between Muscle Insulin Resistance and High Blood Pressure; Heart Foundation (HF)
Role of microvascular flowmotion in skeletal muscle glucose metabolism; National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
The Effects of Insulin on the Microvasculature; National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The Role of Nutritive and Non-nutritive Blood Flow on Lipid Clearance by Normal and Insulin-resistant Muscle; Heart Foundation (HF)
Ultrasound in Muscle Vascular Research, Diagnosis and Gene Therapy; Australian Research Council (ARC)
Understanding how breathing in air pollution leads to metabolic disease; Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation (RHHRF)

Research Candidate Supervision

Develop a Greater Understanding of the Relationship between Neurons and Muscle with Respect to Type II Diabetes Specifically, How Inactivity and Denervation Impact Glucose Transportation
Effect of the Green Tea Polyphenol, EGCG, on Insulin Sensitivity
Effect of vascular flow on insulin resistance in skeletal muscle
Enhancing Blood Flow and Glucose Uptake in Insulin-Resistant Skeletal Muscle
Exercise and Insulin- Muscle Haemodynamics and Metabolism
Glucose Uptake in Skeletal Muscle
Hemodynamic and Metabolic Actions of Adiponectin in Muscle
Hemodynamic and metabolic changes in muscle in relation to insulin action
Impaired adipose tissue blood flow in obesity and the development of hypoxia
Insulin-Mediated Capillary Recruitment- Regulatory and Anatomical Aspects
Interactions between contraction, insulin and thiazolidinediones in skeletal muscle; a focus on capillary recruitment
Microvascular Dysfunction and the Development of Muscle Insulin Resistance
Muscle capillary recruitment and insulin action
Novel Technologies and Measurement of Microvascular Blood Flow in Muscle
Role of the endothelium in insulin mediated capillary recruitment.
Role of the Microvasculature in the Development of Muscle Insulin Resistance
The role of Flowmotion in Regulating Basal and Insulin-mediated Skeletal Glucose Uptake
The Role of iNOS in Vascular Dysfunction in Insulin Resistant States
Vascular and Metabolic Actions of Insulin and AMPK Activation in Muscle