Anatomy and Physiology Research
Anatomy and Physiology Research
About Us
Welcome to The Department of Anatomy and Physiology Research – home to 35 world-class research laboratories led by a dynamic team of forward thinkers.
Here you will discover the innovative research taking place under four key themes: Metabolic and Cardiovascular Sciences; Muscle Biology; Neuroscience; Stem Cell and Developmental Biology as well as the Centre for Muscle Research (CMR) and Melbourne Academy of Surgical Anatomy (MASA).
Through cutting-edge facilities, innovative research, training opportunities and the support of diverse funding streams, we remain at the forefront of disease-focused research.
Metabolic and Cardiovascular Sciences

Image depicting an isolated primary hepatocyte, examining the mitochondria–lipid droplet interaction, stained with Mitotracker (red) and Bodipy (green) to visualize mitochondria and lipid droplets, respectively.
Credit: Stacey Keenan
Outstanding scientific and clinical researchers are improving our understanding of cellular metabolism and, ultimately, generating fresh insight into how to tackle metabolic disorders. Our inter-disciplinary community is at the forefront of novel therapeutic strategies for obesity, diabetes, liver and heart disease, and many cancers.
Dr Magda Montgomery, Academic Theme Lead
Dr Helen Jiao, Deputy
Metabolism is essential for the optimal function of every cell in your body.
Without effective control, metabolic impairments impact the normal function of all body tissues and underpin some of the leading causes of death in our society. This includes obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease and many cancers.
Our researchers investigate metabolism and metabolic dysfunctions of the:
- Liver
- Heart
- Vasculature
- Adipose tissues
- Skeletal muscle
- Gut
- Brain and
- Eye
The theme collectively interrogates the biology of cellular metabolism – the ways in which cells communicate to regulate metabolism – and the complex interactions between the endocrine system, enteric nervous system and sensory systems in the context of health and disease.
We adopt systems biology and translational approaches with the ultimate aim of identifying and developing novel therapeutic strategies to tackle metabolic diseases to improve patient outcomes.
-
Delbridge laboratory: Cardiac phenomics
Research Group Leader: Professor Lea Delbridge
-
Dodd laboratory: Metabolic Neuroscience
Research Group Leader: Dr Garron Dodd
-
Furness laboratory: Digestive physiology and nutrition
Research Group Leader: Professor John Furness
-
Harrap laboratory: Genetic physiology
Research Group Leader: Professor Stephen Harrap
-
Montgomery laboratory: Metabolic Tissue Cross-Talk
Research Group Leader: Dr Magda Montgomery
-
Parker laboratory: Metabolic Proteomics & Signal Transduction
Research Group Leader: Dr Benjamin Parker
-
Watt laboratory: Metabolism and Diabetes
Research Group Leader: Professor Matthew Watt
-
Wilkinson-Berka laboratory: Retinal vascular biology and inflammation
Research Group Leader: Professor Jennifer Wilkinson-Berka
-
Yao laboratory: Cardiovascular Neuroscience
Research Group Leader: Dr Song Yao
Muscle Biology

The image show 3D human muscle tissues cultured for 7+ days. The muscle tissues are labelled for the structural protein Titin (green) showing the complex architecture of the muscle fibre and nuclei (blue). The generation of 3D human muscle tissues provides new capabilities to model complex acquired and inherited muscle diseases.
Credit: Dr. Kevin Watt
Medical conditions impacting our muscles are a major health problem that contributes to a large burden of disability and suffering globally. We are in an exciting era - finding treatments for these conditions is now becoming a reality
Associate Professor Paul Gregorevic, Academic Theme Lead
Dr Kristy Swiderski, Deputy
Skeletal muscle is essential for movement, breathing and metabolism.
Loss of muscle structure and function is associated with many diseases and conditions, including ageing and frailty, cancer, muscle injury, sepsis and the muscular dystrophies.
These conditions are major health problems that contribute to a large burden of disability and suffering worldwide.
Our researchers investigate the biology of muscle wasting and weakness while also contributing to the development and testing of novel therapies for muscle disorders.
In diverse areas of biomedicine, biomedical engineering, agriculture and aquaculture this work focuses on:
- Muscle growth and development
- Adaptation and plasticity
- Exercise and metabolism
- Injury and regeneration
-
Gregorevic laboratory: Muscle Research and Therapeutics
Research Group Leader: Professor Paul Gregorevic
-
Lynch laboratory: Basic and clinical myology
Research Group Leader: Professor Gordon Lynch
-
Parker laboratory: Metabolic Proteomics & Signal Transduction
Research Group Leader: Dr Benjamin Parker
-
Ruparelia Laboratory: Muscle Growth, Regeneration and Ageing
Research Group Leader: Dr Avnika Ruparella
Neuroscience

This is a three-dimensional image of mouse vagal ganglia which have been labelled with three different markers of neurons, chemically treated to become transparent and imaged at a confocal microscope. The neurons and nerve fibres which are embryologically derived from a special group of cells called neural crest are labelled with green fluorescent protein. Two other subtypes of vagal neurons and their fibres are labelled with red and far red (pseudo-coloured as magenta here) fluorescent proteins.
Credit: Dr Aung Aung Kywe Moe
There's no doubt this is one of the most exciting times to be working in discovery neuroscience. The ground-breaking discoveries we make today will underpin the new treatments of tomorrow, advancing human health and allowing us to reach new frontiers.
Dr Song Yao, Academic Theme Lead
Dr Andrew Jobling, Deputy
Unravelling the complexities of the nervous system through the study of genes, cells and neural circuits.
How is blood pressure controlled and maintained? How do we regulate breathing, the urinary tract, feeding or digestion? What about changes in genes, synapses or nerve cell insulation that cause neurological diseases? How does the nervous system enable us to detect, interpret and experience the world around us and within us?
We employ state-of-the-art experimental and computational methods to advance understanding of:
- The causes of hypertension and heart failure
- Obesity and type-2 diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuropsychiatric disorders
- Dysfunctions of the urinary, reproductive, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems
- Ocular development
- Retinal function
- How the brain then interprets sensory stimuli to produce adaptive behaviours
We have established links with clinicians, pharmaceutical companies and bioengineers. Our goal is to develop novel ways to target the nervous system through pharmacological, bioelectric or genetically-targeted therapies to treat chronic neurological and life-threatening conditions.
-
Allen laboratory: Central cardiovascular regulation
Research Group Leader: Professor Andrew Allen
-
Bornstein laboratory: Enteric neuroscience
Research Group Leader: Professor Joel C Bornstein
-
Clark laboratory: Transcriptomics and Neurogenetics
Research Group Leader: Dr Mike Clark
-
Dodd laboratory: Metabolic Neuroscience
Research Group Leader: Dr Garron Dodd
-
Fletcher laboratory: Visual neuroscience
Research Group Leader: Professor Erica Fletcher
-
Furness laboratory: Digestive physiology and nutrition
Research Group Leader: Professor John Furness
-
Gunnersen laboratory: Neuron development and plasticity
Research Group Leader: Associate Professor Jenny Gunnersen
-
Ivanusic laboratory: Pain and sensory mechanisms
Research Group Leader: Professor Jason Ivanusic
-
Keast-Osborne Laboratory: Neural and Bioelectronic Control of Pelvic Organs
Research Group Leaders: Prof Janet Keast and A/Prof Peregrine Osborne
-
Mazzone laboratory: Respiratory Sensory Neuroscience
Research Group Leader: Professor Stuart Mazzone
-
Murray laboratory: Myelin biology
Research Group Leader: Associate Professor Simon Murray
-
Scott Laboratory: Neural Circuits and Behaviour
Research Group Leader: Professor Ethan Scott
-
Stamp & Hao laboratory: Plasticity of the enteric nervous system
Research Group Leaders: Dr Lincon Stamp and Dr Marlene Hao
-
Yao laboratory: Cardiovascular Neuroscience
Research Group Leader: Dr Song Yao
-
Peter Crouch laboratory
Stem Cell and Developmental Biology

Drosophila melanogaster larval brain with tumours. The knock-down of the neuronal-fate determinant prospero in Neural Stem Cells (NSC, in magenta) causes cells to fail to differentiate into neurons, leading to increased proliferation of NSC and ultimately tumour growth (in white). Additionally, we can see neuronal projections and axons in green.
Credit: Edel Alvarez
Tremendous advances in biomedical technologies are allowing us to understand how cells develop and differentiate into complex tissues and organisms, and this helping us to unravel the processes involved in many diseases.
Associate Professor Kelly Smith, Academic Theme Lead
Dr Lincon Stamp, Deputy
Cells are the basic unit of life.
Understanding how cells develop and differentiate into complex tissues and organisms is of fundamental biological importance and a key determinant of disease.
Our researchers use computational systems, stem cells and animal models to investigate the normal and pathological development of tissues and organs, including how sex organs, the heart and the nervous systems develop.
We also examine how cell state and fate change in macular degeneration, heart diseases and vascular disorders.
Our internationally recognised research into ethics, law and society addresses the societal impacts of emerging technologies such as stem cells.
Collectively, we aim to develop new methods for regenerative medicine, including:
- Replacement cells for blood, brain and gut, and
- Identifying improved treatments for retinal disease and neuropsychiatric disorders
-
Cheng laboratory: Stem cell and organ size control regulation
Research Group Leader: Associate Professor Louise Cheng
-
Clark laboratory: Transcriptomics and Neurogenetics
Research Group Leader: Dr Mike Clark
-
Gunnersen laboratory: Neuron development and plasticity
Research Group Leader: Associate Professor Jenny Gunnersen
-
Hime laboratory: Stem cell genetics and Drosophila models of human disease
Research Group Leader: Professor Gary Hime
-
Hogan laboratory: Vascular Cell and Developmental Biology
Research Group Leader: Professor Ben Hogan
-
Munsie laboratory: Ethical, legal and social implications of stem cell research
Research Group Leader: Professor Megan Munsie
-
Smith laboratory: Cardiac Genetics
Research Group Leader: Associate Professor Kelly Smith
-
Stamp & Hao laboratory: Development of the enteric nervous system
Research Group Leaders: Dr Lincon Stamp and Dr Marlene Hao
-
Stem Cell Disease Modelling Laboratory
Research Group Leaders: Professor Alice Pébay and Dr Maria Di Biase
-
Wells laboratory: Stem cell systems
Research Group Leader: Professor Christine Wells
-
Wilhelm laboratory: Gonad Development and Fertility
Research Group Leader: Associate Professor Dagmar Wilhelm
-
Eckersley-Maslin laboratory: Stem cell and cancer epigenetics
Research Group Leader: Dr Melanie Eckersley-Maslin
-
Ruparelia Laboratory: Muscle Growth, Regeneration and Ageing
Research Group Leader: Dr Avnika Ruparella
Centre for Muscle Research (CMR)
Investigating the mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle wasting and weakness.
Established in 2019, the Centre for Muscle Research is the central hub of muscle biology at the University of Melbourne.
The Centre’s goal is to advance the University’s capacity for basic, clinical and translational research on skeletal muscle, by actively facilitating world-class research and research training on muscle-related diseases and conditions of unmet clinical needs.
Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and leaders at the local, national, and international level, our mission is to:
• Translate breakthroughs in muscle biology to industries by enhancing sustainability
• Create smart foods to maintain health across the lifespan, and
• Tackle muscle disease and inform healthy ageing strategies for Australians as they transition through life
MASA: Melbourne Academy of Surgical Anatomy (incl Surgical Anatomy Research)
A detailed understanding of how body anatomy forms the basis of clinical medicine.
Anatomical research in the Melbourne Academy of Surgical Anatomy (MASA) is underpinned by one of the oldest and largest Body Donation Programmes in Australasia and supported through our clinical networks in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct.
With internationally recognised leaders in plastic, reconstructive and body and limb surgical anatomy, we are developing:
• New and refined methods for surgery
• The visualisation of medically imaged vasculature, and
• The 3D modelling of the soft tissues supporting joints
Our researchers have also been successful in clinical anatomy research that influences regional anesthesia and pain management, orthopedic surgery and dentistry.
Through our research and the broader activities of MASA, we aim to be a global leader in the advancement of clinical anatomy and to ultimately improve the care of patients.
-
Fogg laboratory: Surgical Anatomy
Research Group Leader: Associate Professor Quentin Fogg
-
Taylor: Jack Brockhoff Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Research Unit
Research Group Leader: Professor Ian Taylor
-
Melbourne Academy of Surgical Anatomy (MASA)
Lifelong learning opportunities in surgical education and training.