Understanding metabolic cross-talk in health and disease - Focus on type 2 diabetes and fatty liver
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Dr Magdalene Montgomerymagdalene.montgomery@unimelb.edu.au
+61 422 059 907
Project Details
The concept of ‘metabolic cross-talk’ postulates that tissues secrete factors that act through paracrine and/or endocrine communication to alter metabolism and energy homeostasis. The main goal of our research program is to understand how tissues communicate with each other and how various pathological states affect tissue cross-talk, and subsequently impact systemic metabolism. The classic example is the adipocyte-secreted protein leptin, which was first discovered in 1995 as a hormone that regulates body fat stores and has subsequently been shown to regulate a myriad of metabolic functions.
Our focus lies on understanding changes in the secretory function of the major metabolic tissues (such as liver, muscle, adipose tissue and heart) in the presence of ectopic fat accumulation, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We use this discovery platform with the primary aims of identifying (1) novel therapeutic targets that affect glycaemic control and energy homeostasis, and (2) novel blood biomarkers for various disease states.
Research Opportunities
This research project is available to Honours students to join as part of their thesis.
Please contact the Research Group Leader to discuss your options.
Research Publications
View Dr Montgomery's latest PubMed publications listing here
Research Group
Montgomery laboratory: Metabolic Tissue Cross-Talk
Faculty Research Themes
School Research Themes
Biomedical Neuroscience, Cell Signalling, Systems Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Therapeutics & Translation
Key Contact
For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.
Department / Centre
MDHS Research library
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