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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Neonatal respiratory trials in sick & preterm newborn infants
Prof Brett J. Manley leads and collaborates on large national and international randomised clinical trials in neonatology. He previously collaborated on 4 randomised trials of nasal high-flow as non-invasive respiratory support for preterm and term infants, all of which were published in N Engl J Med. Recently he led the PLUSS trial of intratracheal budesonide for extremely preterm infants, that recruited in 21 NICUs across 4 countries, the results of which were published in JAMA. PLUSS was awarded the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance Trial of the Year in 2025. Another passion of his is mentoring and supervising early career researchers to undertake their own clinical trials.
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Dr Ryan O’Hare Doig
NEIL SACHSE CENTRE FOR SPINAL CORD RESEARCH (SAHMRI)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA -
Biostatistics in Clinical Trials
As a biostatistician working in research and clinical settings, Kate Francis plays a vital role in ensuring all projects adhere to best practice guidelines and are transparently reported. She has served as the lead statistician for the analysis of clinical trials across a broad range of subject areas, including neonatal resuscitation, BCG for allergy and infection, convulsive status epilepticus and her work has been published in the top journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and The Lancet. Most recently she was awarded the 2025 Excellence in Trial Statistics Award for her work on the PLUSS trial.
