Obesity, diabetes and men’s health issues: these are just some of the diseases that are being better understood by work within our endocrinology and metabolism research domain. An important aspect of this research is that it seeks to combine basic knowledge of complex cellular processes and the genetic makeup behind these diseases with a forward-looking approach to clinical research and studies involving patients.
Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology Subdomains
Graduate Research StudentsIf you are interested in doing a graduate research degree, please lodge an Expression of Interest.
The PhD Experience
The PhD Experience Are you thinking of doing a PhD, but want to know more about what you might be getting yourself into? We invite you to listen to eight PhD candidates at various stages of their PhD share their experiences, as they plan their project, recruit participants, and analyse and communicate their results. Listen to the podcast on the PhD Experience.
Details to be announced...
Congratulations to honorary researchers of the University of Melbourne, A/Professors Steven Stacker and Marc Achen, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and A/Professor David Thomas, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, whose research has been profiled in the National Health and Medical Research Council's book and accompanying series of podcasts "10 of the Best Research Projects 2009." Read more.
Getting emotional about diabetes
Resentment, anxiety, stress and feelings of guilt – these are some of the emotional responses that patients have when they are diagnosed with type II diabetes. Living with a chronic disease is an emotionally charged experience, yet this is often not considered in the disease treatment plans of General Practitioners. It was an unexpected theme to emerge from the Patient Engagement and Coaching for Health (PEACH) study. Read more.
Debunking myths and improving the health of children
Federal Health Minister’s Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research
Read more.
Biomarkers used to detect gestastional diabetes
Gestational diabetes can develop in the late stages of pregnancy and results in carbohydrate intolerance of varying severity. This has implications for both mother and baby around the time of birth. If predictive biomarkers could be identified, the risks of gestational diabetes and its associated complications could be reduced.
University of Melbourne study looked at the presence of protein biomarkers in early pregnancy and compared these to the routine recognition of gestational diabetes based on glucose measurement. Results showed these biomarkers were present before the onset of raised glucose, and could ultimately be used to predict the onset of gestational diabetes. Read the paper.
Obesity Consortium Launch - 20 May 2009
Recent publicity has made us all aware of the rise in the prevalence of obesity in Australia. The AusDiab study found that over 52% of women and 67% of men are either overweight or obese. The number of obese children and adolescents has doubled in the last 15 years. The University of Melbourne Obesity Consortium has been set up as a response to this serious health issue.
The obesity epidemic: can we stop the scourge of the 21st century?
Obesity has become a major health issue in the developed world. The health problems associated with obesity have led to the prediction that, for the first time, life expectancy will decline. Not surprisingly, many governments are considering initiating public health measures designed to stem the tide. These measures will inevitably be expensive, taking resources away from other areas. Will they work? In this lecture, it will be argued that they may not. The social, political and, more importantly, biological impediments to success will be discussed. It will be argued that, given that body weight is both genetically (and epigenetically) determined and homeostatically regulated, public health measures will only work if we can engineer (and accept) an absolute deficiency of food and an obligatory need for physical activity. A possible path forward will be discussed.
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