RESEARCH CASE STUDY Role of Exercise in Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (Filmed 2024)
Dr. Shelley Keating AES AEP* is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, a researcher, and a senior lecturer at the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Dr. Keating’s research primarily focuses on the role of exercise in the management of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. MASLD affects a significant portion of the global adult population, with many individuals unaware of their condition.
The condition is strongly linked with the development of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and various liver-related consequences. Dr. Keating’s research emphasises lifestyle interventions, particularly the role of exercise, in managing MASLD. Her work has shown that aerobic exercise, independent of weight loss, plays a crucial role in reducing liver fat and improving liver health.
Through clinical trials, Dr. Keating and her team have explored the impact of different doses of supervised aerobic exercise on individuals with obesity and MASLD. Their findings suggest that aerobic exercise, at various durations and intensities, yields benefits for reducing liver fat. They recommend 150 to 240 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise per week as beneficial for improving liver health. Moreover, even lower doses of exercise, such as 135 minutes per week, have shown positive effects.
Dr. Keating has collaborated with Exercise and Sports Science Australia and international experts in creating exercise guidelines for the management of MASLD, which have been adopted in numerous policies and guidelines worldwide. Currently, her focus is on designing tailored exercise solutions to help individuals living with MASLD sustain long-term exercise behaviours based on their needs, perspectives, and experiences.
* AES is the acronym for Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES), AEP is the acronym for Accredited Exercise Physiologist
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Genetic disease research imitating function and architecture of organs
Professor Wolvetang was among the first to bring the first human embryonic stem cells to Queensland, with his Wolvetang Group at the AIBN now renowned for its work with organoids: growing them, studying them, and using them to try and understand diseases and human development.
Using cutting edge technology, Professor Wolvetang designs and grows organoids both for their own work and for labs across the country, coaxing pluripotent stem cells or tissue samples into 3D structures that mimic the function and architecture of real brains, livers, kidneys, spinal cords, and intestines.
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Junior Fellowship to develop vaccine for bacteria that cause ear infections
Dr Erin Brazel has a background in molecular and translational microbiology, with a focus on developing new ways of preventing and treating bacterial diseases. Recently Dr Brazel has been awarded a Junior Fellowship by the Passe & Williams Memorial Foundation.
The fellowship enables outstanding individuals to obtain postdoctoral training under the supervision of an experienced clinical or scientific researcher, with the view to establishing a research career in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in Australia and/or New Zealand.
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Leukaemia microenvironment & high risk childhood leukaemia
Associate Professor Laurence Cheung is now an Associate Professor at the Curtin Medical School as well as Curtin Medical Research Institute, and a Co-head of the Leukaemia Translational Research Laboratory at The Kids.
He has attracted over $8.7 million in research funding, including 16 awards as CIA (over $6.1 million). Assoc Prof Cheung was named the 2019 Cancer Council of WA Early Career Cancer Researcher of the Year and received the STEM Early Career Research Award at Curtin University in 2019.
