Chronic Disease Prevention and Healthy Ageing

Below are the research topics undertaken in the Chronic Diseases, Diabetes and Metabolic Health research.

Researcher

Barbora de Courten
Professor Barbora de Courten		  

Biomarkers in obesity, diabetes and related chronic diseases

Overview

Investigating disease biomarkers including dietary risk factors, inflammation markers, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), microbiome, lipidomics.

Major Current Projects

  • Inflammatory markers and adipokines in obesity, gestational diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  • Role of AGEs in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
  • Lipidomics in obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gestational diabetes and PCOS
  • Microbiome in obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  • Dietary risk factors in obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
  • Genetic factors in obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
Major Collaborations Staff and students
  • A/Prof Jose Fernandez-Real, Biomedical Research Institute of Girona
  • Dr Marloes Dekker Nitert, The University of Queensland
  • A/Prof Allison Hodge, Victorian Cancer Council
  • Prof Peter Meikle, Baker IDI
  • Prof Josephine Forbes, The University of Queensland
  • Prof Magdalena Plebanski, RMIT
  • Prof Susanne Bugel, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Prof Lars Dragsted, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Prof Peter Reaven, Veterans Affair Hospital, USA
  • Prof Jaime Uribarri, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Postdoctoral Fellows

  • Dr Nazmul Karim
  • Dr Aya Mousa
  • Dr Negar Naderpoor

Research Assistant

  • Ms Paula Fudge-Larsen

PhD students

  • Mr Jakub Mesinovic
  • Ms Mavil Cervo

Low-cost Interventions for Prevention and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Related Chronic Diseases

Overview

Investigating role of diets, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals for prevention and treatment of diabetes and related chronic diseases

Major Current Projects

Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs)

  • Diets low in AGEs and prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  • Diets low in AGEs in fertility

Vitamin D

  • Vitamin D and prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
  • Influence of genetic factors in vitamin D pathway on glucose metabolism

Carnosine

  • Carnosine supplementation and prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors
  • Carnosine supplementation and management of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors
  • Carnosine supplementation and management of peripheral vascular diseases

Nutrigenomics

  • Nutrigenomics for personalised nutrition and prevention and treatment of chronic diseases

Exercise

  • Role of TGF Beta as a novel target for treatment of insulin resistance in PCOS
  • Impact of high intensity training on TGF Beta signalling
Major Collaborations Staff and students
  • Prof James Cameron, Monash University
  • Prof Timothy Buckenham, Monash University
  • Dr David Scott, Monash University
  • A/Prof Barbara Ukropcova, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava
  • Prof Wim Derave, University of Ghent, Belgium
  • Prof Giancarlo Aldini, University of Milan, Italy
  • Prof Aruni Bhatnagar, University of Louisville, USA
  • Prof Jaime Uribarri, Mount Sinai, USA
  • Prof Susanne Bugel, University of Copenhagen
  • Prof Lars Dragsted, University of Copenhagen
  • Prof Robert Scragg, University of Auckland, New Zealand
  • Ms Shelley Gorman, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth
  • Prof Josephine Forbes, The University of Queensland

Postdoctoral Fellows

  • Dr Aya Mousa
  • Dr Negar Naderpoor

Research Assistant

  • Ms Paula Fudge-Larsen

Research Nurses

  • Ms Amanda Hulley
  • Ms Joanne Lillie

PhD students

  • Mr Jakub Mesinovic
  • Ms Mavil Cervo