RESEARCHER PROFILE (Filmed May 2024)
Dr Shelley Keating AES AEP ESSAM
Senior Lecturer, Clinical Exercise Physiology and Accredited Exercise Physiologist
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
The University of Queensland
Dr Shelley Keating is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology and Accredited Exercise Physiologist from the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland. With a strong grounding in exercise metabolism and body composition, Dr Keating’s research centres on the utility of exercise as a therapy for obesity and related cardiometabolic conditions, notably metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
Dr Keating has an established research profile that is delivering impact for patients and clinicians. Her research has led to the development of safe and feasible exercise programs that generate significant improvement in the cardiometabolic health of individuals with MASLD and related chronic disease. Drawing on these findings, Dr Keating has developed national and international exercise guidelines for MASLD. Her research has led to a paradigm shift in how exercise is prioritised in MASLD management and has been adopted into exercise prescription recommendations in 15 international guidelines for MASLD management across 12 countries.
Dr Keating’s research had found a lack of awareness, uptake, and sustainability of exercise for MASLD management. Her ongoing program of research is informed by, and co-designed with, people with MASLD and related chronic disease, to find sustainable exercise solutions.
Her contribution to the field was recognised by the prestigious 2020 Australia and New Zealand Obesity Society Young Investigator award. Shelley has been an ESSA (Exercise & Sports Science Australia) member since 2007 and has 16 years of clinical AEP experience in people with cardiometabolic disease including MAFLD.
Her mission is to change the way that exercise is prioritised, accessed, and delivered to improve the health and wellbeing of people with MASLD and related type 2 diabetes.
Source: Supplied & ESSA (Exercise & Sports Science Australia)
Note: AES is the acronym for Accredited Exercise Scientist (AES), AEP is the acronym for Accredited Exercise Physiologist, ESSAM is the acronym for Exercise & Sports Science Australia Member.
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CASE STUDY Link between levels of extracellular vesicles in the blood and tissue damage caused by diseases
A landmark study led by WEHI and La Trobe University has found a potential new diagnostic marker that could be used to better detect the level of tissue damage in our bodies.
This study revealed, for the first time, a link between levels of EVs in the blood and tissue damage caused by diseases such as leukaemia.
Researchers hope to leverage the critical new insight to develop a blood test to monitor cancer patients with tissue damage, which could, in future, enhance treatment strategies for blood cancers and other diseases.
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Investigating the benefits of donor human milk for preterm infants
Together, SAHMRI and Lifeblood are leading a consortium to revolutionise the way human milk, and novel products made from human milk, are used as nutritional and medical interventions to improve health outcomes in vulnerable infants, but with potential application for a diverse range of medical indications.
Currently, babies who are born early preterm – before 32 weeks – are given donor milk when their own mother’s milk is not available or in short supply. Whether donor milk is beneficial for babies born just a few weeks early is unclear, as very little research has been undertaken with these babies.
The GIFT Trial will soon commence as an investigation between SAHMRI, the University of Adelaide, the Red Cross Lifeblood Milk Bank conducted at five sites across three states in Australia.
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Investigating invasive lobular carcinoma and metaplastic breast cancer sub-types
Assoc Prof McCart Reed is the scientific lead on an MRFF-funded (Medical Research Future Fund) genomics program investigating the potential for the application of Whole Genome Sequencing in the breast cancer care pathway in Australia, ‘Q-IMPROvE’. She applies genomics and spatial transcriptomics methodologies to archival clinical samples to understand the differences between tumour types and their potential for treatment. Amy is passionate about clinical research, biobanking and precision oncology. In addition to her breast cancer research portfolio, she is on the steering committee for the Brisbane Breast Bank and the Scientific Advisory Board for Breast Cancer Trials.
