Contact
i.hickman“at”uq.edu.au
Ph. 07 3240 2804

Dr Ingrid Hickman

Biography
Ingrid commenced her professional career as a Dietitian-Nutritionist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in 1999. Her work with the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology inspired her interest in medical research and led her to undertake PhD studies with Associate Professor Elizabeth Powell investigating the role of obesity in the progression of common liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. She then joined Professor John Prins and Associate Professor Graeme Macdonald in Metabolic Medicine research at the Diamantina Institute and was awarded an NHMRC Australian Clinical Research Postdoctoral Fellowship to pursue investigations into the metabolic mechanisms and lifestyle factors which impact on obesity-related liver diseases. In 2008 she undertook a training fellowship in Turin, Italy, with Dr Elisabetta Bugianesi and Professor Giulio Marchesini to expand her knowledge of insulin resistance in chronic liver disease and to consolidate important international collaborations. She returned to the Diamantina Institute as a primary investigator on an NHMRC-funded randomised control trial investigating the effect of diet and exercise as a treatment option for people with chronic liver disease.

Research Interests
The mechanisms whereby lifestyle interventions affect the biochemical, metabolic and histological features of liver disease. Insulin resistance is a key factor that contributes to the progression of liver disease and can be significantly improved by changes to diet and physical activity. Developing cost effective service delivery to improve the success of lifestyle interventions for obesity is an important aspect of this work and will be coupled with sophisticated measurements of insulin resistance, body composition and markers of inflammation. Her work has a long term goal of translating scientific investigations into better clinical treatments for patients with chronic liver diseases.

Selected Publications

1. Colley RC, Hills AP, O'Moore-Sullivan TM, Hickman IJ, Prins JB and Byrne NM. (2008) “Variability in adherence to an unsupervised exercise prescription in obese women.” International Journal of Obesity, 32(5):837-44.
2. Hickman IJ, Russell AJ, Prins JB and Macdonald GA. (2008) “Should patients with type 2 diabetes and raised liver enzymes be referred for further evaluation of liver disease?” Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 80(1):e10-2.
3. Hickman IJ and Macdonald GA. (2007) “The impact of diabetes on the severity of liver disease.” The American Journal of Medicine Invited Review, 120(10):829-834.
4. Osland E, Powell E, Banks M, Jonsson J and Hickman IJ. (2007) “Obesity management in liver clinics: Translation of research into clinical practice.” Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 22(4):504-9. Editorial: Chan HLY and Wong VWS Can dietetic intervention for obesity ever succeed in real life? 2007;22(4):459-450.
5. Hickman IJ, Whitehead JP, Prins JB and Macdonald GA. (2007) “Raised alanine transaminase and decreased adiponectin are features of the metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes.” Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 9(3):438-40.
6. Wang A Y-H, Hickman IJ, Richards AA, Whitehead JP, Prins JB and Macdonald GA. (2005) “High molecular weight adiponectin correlates with insulin sensitivity in patients with hepatitis C genotype 3, but not genotype 1 infection.” American Journal of Gastroenterology, 100:2717-2723.
7. Jonsson J, Moschen A, Hickman I, Richardson M, Clouston A, Powell E and Tilg H. (2005) “Adiponectin and its receptors in patients with chronic hepatitis C.” J Hepatol. 43(6):929-36.
8. Hickman IJ, Jonsson JR, Prins JB, Ash S, Purdie DM, Clouston AD and Powell EE. (2004) “Modest weight loss and physical activity in overweight patients with chronic liver disease results in sustained improvements in alanine aminotransferase, fasting insulin, and quality of life.” Gut.53(3):413-9.
9. Hickman IJ, E Powell, A Clouston, J Prins, D Purdie, S Ash and J Jonsson. (2003) “In overweight patients with chronic hepatitis C, circulating insulin is associated with hepatic fibrosis: implications for therapy.” J Hepatol. 39(6):1042-8.
10. Hickman IJ, A Clouston, G Macdonald, D Purdie, J Prins, S Ash, J Jonsson, and E Powell. (2002) “Effect of weight reduction on liver histology and biochemistry in patients with chronic hepatitis C.” Gut. 51(1):89-94. Editorial: Heathcote J. Weighty issues in hepatitis C Gut. 2002 Jul;51(1):7-8.

Contact
m.hill2“at”uq.edu.au
Ph. 07 3240 7774

Dr Michelle Hill

Biography
Dr Hill received her PhD from The University of Queensland in 2000, working with Professor David James on insulin signalling. She undertook two post-doctoral positions: firstly with Dr Brian Hemmings on Akt regulation in Switzerland, then with Professor Seamus Martin on apoptosomes in Ireland. Dr Hill returned to the UQ Institute for Molecular Bioscience in 2004, working with Professors John Hancock and Rob Parton on membrane microdomains. In 2009, Dr Hill joined the Diamantina Institute with an NHMRC Career Development Award to initiate studies on the molecular links between obesity and cancer. She also received a PCFA grant to perform systems biology analysis in prostate cancer cell models.

Dr Hill is currently an organising member of the Queensland Proteomics Discussion Group, and a committee member of the Australasian Proteomics Society. She has received several prestigious awards, including the 2004 National Association of Research Fellows of NHMRC Postdoctoral Investigators Award.

Research Interests
Changes in protein expression, modification, localisation and thereby function are characteristic, and indeed the cause of many diseases including diabetes and cancer. We are utilising proteomics and systems biology approaches on both cell models and clinical samples (blood, cells and biopsies) to understand how obesity increases cancer risk. The aims of our research are twofold: (1) to discover blood biomarkers for oesophageal and prostate cancer, and to translate these into diagnostic tests and (2) to discover novel therapeutic targets for drug development.

Selected Publications

1. Hill MM, Bastiani M, Luetterforst R, Kirkham M, Kirkham A, Nixon SJ, Walser P, Abankwa D, Oorschot VMJ, Martin S, Hancock JF and Parton RG. (2008) “PTRF-Cavin, a conserved cytoplasmic protein required for caveola formation and function.” Cell, 132:113-24.
2. Kirkham M, Nixon SJ, Howes M, Abi-Rached L, Wakeham D, Hanzal-Bayer M, Ferguson C, Hill MM, Fernandez-Rojo M, Brown D, Hancock JF, Brodsky F and Parton RG. (2008) “Evolutionary analysis and molecular dissection of caveola biogenesis.” J Cell Sci. 121:2075-86.
3. Hill MM, Scherbakov N, Schiefermeier N, Baran J, Hancock JF, Huber LA, Parton RG and Parat MO. (2007) “Reassessing the role of phosphocaveolin-1 in cell adhesion and migration.” Traffic, 8:1695-705.
4. Hill MM, Adrain C, Duriez P, Creagh E and Martin SJ. (2004) “Analysis of the composition, assembly kinetics and activity of native Apaf-1 apoptosomes.” EMBO, J 23:2134-45.
5. Hill MM, Adrain C and Martin SJ. (2003) “Portrait of a killer: the mitochondrial apoptosome emerges from the shadows.” Mol Interv. 3:19-26.
6. Hilll MM and Hemmings BA (2002) “Inhibition of protein kinase B/Akt. Implications for cancer therapy.” Pharmacol Ther. 93:243-51.
7. Hill MM, Feng J and Hemmings BA. (2002) “Identification of a plasma membrane Raft-associated PKB Ser473 kinase activity that is distinct from ILK and PDK1.” Curr Biol. 12:1251-5.
8. Hill MM and Hemmings BA. (2002) “Analysis of Protein Kinase B.” Methods Enz 345:448-63.
9. Hill MM, Connolly L, Simpson RJ and James DE. (2000) “Differential protein phosphorylation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in response to insulin versus platelet-derived growth factor.” J Biol Chem. 275:24313-20.
10. Hill MM, Clark SF, Tucker D, Birnbaum MJ, James DE and Macaulay S. (1999) “A Role for PKBb/Akt2 in insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes.” Mol Cell Biol. 19:6661-71.

Contact
l.hutley“at”uq.edu.au
Ph. 07 3240 2697

Dr Louise Hutley

Biography
Dr Hutley has worked in the field of human adipose tissue biology since 1995 and completed her PhD within The University of Queensland’s Centre for Diabetes & Endocrine Research in 2003. The focus of her PhD studies was investigation of interactions between adipose-derived microvascular endothelial cells and preadipocytes in human adipose tissue growth. This work resulted in identification of fibroblast growth factor-1 as a novel adipogenic agent and target for development of pharmacological intervention in the treatment of obesity. Dr Hutley received the ‘Dean’s Award for Excellence’ from Queensland University of Technology in 2003 in recognition of this work. In 2005 Dr Hutley received a prestigious Queensland Government Smart State Research Fellowship to help further her work in the field of obesity research. Dr Hutley’s findings with regard to an adipogenic role of FGF-1 form the basis of 2 patents, (USA & Australia) and a biotechnology company, Verva Pharmaceuticals Ltd, is undertaking commercialization of these findings.

Research Interests
Dr Hutley heads the Adipose Tissue Biology Team within the metabolic research program of Professor John Prins at the Diamantina Institute. Her research focus is on the molecular events controlling cellular growth of human adipose tissue, specifically the mechanisms involved in proliferation and differentiation of human preadipocytes. Major aims of this research program are a) to develop a better understanding of the cellular and molecular events involved in expansion of adipose tissue mass; b) identification of novel regulators of human adipogenesis; and c) to utilize this knowledge in development of effective anti-obesity strategies. 

Selected Publications

1. Hua Su, Jennifer H Gunter, Melissa de Vries, Tim Connor, Stephen Wanyonyi, Felicity S Newell, David Segal, Juan Carlos Molero, Ofer Reizes, Johannes B Prins, Louise J Hutley, Ken Walder, Jonathan P Whitehead. Inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase reduces adipogenesis and diet-induced obesity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. Accepted for publication June 2009.
2. Widberg CH and Newell FS, Bachmann AW, Ramnoruth SN, Spelta MC, Whitehead JP, Hutley LJ, Prins JB. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 is a Key Regulator of Early Adipogenic Events in Human Preadipocytes. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab (2009). 296(1):E121-E131
3. Newell FM, Su H, Tornqvist H, Whitehead JP, Prins JB, Hutley LJ. Characterization of the transcriptional and functional effects of fibroblast growth factor-1 on human preadipocyte differentiation. FASEB J (2006) 20:E2133-E2145
4. Hutley L and Prins JB. Fat as an Endocrine Organ – Relationship to the Metabolic Syndrome. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences (2005) 330(6):280-289
5. Hutley LJ, Shurety W, Newell F, McGeary R, Pelton N, Grant J, Herington A, Cameron D, Whitehead J, and Prins J. Fibroblast Growth Factor 1: A Key Regulator of Human Adipogenesis. Diabetes (2004) 53(12):3097-3106
6. Hutley LJ, Newell FS, Joyner JM, Suchting SJ, Herington AC, Cameron DP, Prins JB. Effects of rosiglitazone and linoleic acid on human preadipocyte differentiation. European Journal of Clinical Investigation (2003) 33(7): 574-581.
7. Joyner J, Hutley L, Cameron D. Intrinsic regional differences in androgen receptors and dihydrotestosterone metabolism in human preadipocytes. Hormone and Metabolic Research (2002) 34(5):223-228
8. Hutley LJ, Herington AC, Shurety W, Cheung C, Vesey DA, Cameron DP, Prins JB. Human adipose tissue endothelial cells promote preadipocyte proliferation. American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism (2001), 281(5): E1037-E1044.
9. Hutley LJ, Newell FS, Suchting SJ and Prins JB. Adipose Tissue. In: Human Cell Culture vol 5 edited by Koller M, Palsson B and Masters J. Amsterdam: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2001, 173-187
10. Joyner JM, Hutley LJ, Cameron DP. Estrogen receptors in human preadipocytes. Endocrine (2001) 15(2):225-230
 

Contact
j.prins“at”uq.edu.au
Ph. 07 3240 7663

Professor John Prins

Biography
After undertaking his clinical training in endocrinology in Brisbane, Professor Prins then completed a PhD in adipose tissue biology at The University of Queensland. His first postdoctoral research appointment was at the University of Cambridge, UK. His return to Brisbane in 1998 was funded by the award of the highly prestigious Wellcome International Senior Research Fellowship.

Professor Prins is Chair of the Centres of Health Research on the Princess Alexandra Hospital Campus, and this role involves coordinating the campus-wide research strategy, fostering research, facilitating the recruitment of researchers to the campus and integration of research and clinical activities wherever possible. He was Founder/Director of the University of Queensland’s Centre for Diabetes and Endocrine Research (CDER), one of the most prominent and successful groups on the hospital campus, which merged with the CICR in January 2007 to form the Diamantina Institute.

Professor Prins is an active clinician-scientist, a Key Opinion Leader in Diabetes and Endocrinology in Australia and sits on numerous National and International scientific, clinical and educational committees and boards for NHMRC, Non Government Organisations and Industry. He has a strong educational focus and gives over 50 talks per year at local, National and International scientific and clinical meetings.

Professor Prins is founder and scientific director of Adipogen Pty Ltd, a spin-out company with initial shareholding by Queensland Government and the University of Queensland. Adipogen has patents in the field of anti-obesity therapeutics. Professor Prins has over 90 publications in peer-reviewed journals, two patents and sits on two journal editorial boards. He regularly reviews papers for the lead journals in basic science, diabetes, endocrinology and obesity.

Research Interests
Professor Prin's research interests lie in the cell- and molecular-biochemical analysis of human adipose tissue, muscle and liver. In particular, his lab concentrates on investigation of insulin signalling and the regulation of adipose cell turnover.

Contact
j.whitehead1“at”uq.edu.au
Ph. 07 3240 7456

Associate Professor Jon Whitehead

Biography
After completing a PhD at the University of Liverpool (UK) in 1994, Associate Professor Whitehead moved to the University of Cambridge where he began work in the area of insulin signalling, insulin resistance and obesity. In 1999, Associate Professor Whitehead secured an International Travelling Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust, taking up a position at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland, followed by the Diabetes & Obesity Research Program at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney. In 2002, he returned to The University of Queensland to take up an independent position as a Lions Senior Medical Research Fellow and established the Cell Signalling Group. In 2008, Associate Professor Whitehead was awarded an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship.

Research Interests
Associate Professor Whitehead's interest lies in identifying novel strategies to improve insulin sensitivity and metabolism in common diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Selected Publications
1. Gunter JH, Thomas EC, Lengefeld N, Kruger SJ, Worton L, Gardiner EM, Jones A, Barnett NL, Whitehead JP.(2008) “Characterisation of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase expression during retinal development: Differences between variants and isoforms.” Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 40: 1716-1728.
2. Thomas EC, Zhe Y, Molero JC, Schmitz-Peiffer C, Ramm G, James DE, Whitehead JP. (2006) “The subcellular fractionation properties and function of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) are independent of cytoskeletal integrity.” Int J Biochem & Cell Biol. 38:1686-99.
3. Richards AA, Stephens T, Charlton HK, Jones A, Macdonald GA, Prins JB, Whitehead JP. (2006) “Adiponectin multimerisation is dependent on conserved lysines in the collagenous domain: Evidence for regulation of multimerisation by alterations in post-translational modifications.” Mol. Endocrinol. 20: 1673-87.
4. Whitehead JP, Richards AA, Hickman IJ, Macdonald GA, Prins JB. (2006) “Adiponectin – A key adipokine in the metabolic syndrome.” Diabetes Obes Metab 8: 264-280.
5. Jensen J, Jebens E, Brennesvik EO, Ruzzin J, Soos MA, Engebretsen EM, O'Rahilly S, Whitehead JP. (2006) ”Muscle glycogen inharmoniously regulates glycogen synthase activity, glucose uptake, and proximal insulin signalling.” Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 290: E154-E162.
6. Hutley L, Shurety W, Newell F, McGeary R, Pelton N, Grant J, Herington A, Cameron D, Whitehead J, Prins J. (2004) “Fibroblast growth factor 1: a key regulator of human adipogenesis.” Diabetes. 53: 3097-3106.
7. Whitehead JP, Simpson F, Hill MM, Thomas EC, Connolly LM, Collart F, Simpson RJ, James DE (2004) “Insulin and oleate promote translocation of inosine-5' monophosphate dehydrogenase to lipid bodies.” Traffic. 5: 739-749.
8. Schmitz-Peiffer C, Whitehead JP. (2003) “IRS-1 regulation in health and disease.” IUBMB Life. 55: 367-374.
9. Whitehead JP, Molero JC, Clark S, Martin S, Meneilly G, James DE. (2001) “The role of Ca2+ in insulin-stimulated glucose transport in 3T3-L1 cells.” J. Biol. Chem. 276:27816-27824.
10. Montague CT, Farooqi IS, Whitehead JP, Soos MA, Rau H, Wareham NJ, Sewter CP, Digby JE, Mohammed SN, Hurst JA, Cheetham CH, Earley AR, Barnett AH, Prins JB, O'Rahilly S. (1997) “Congenital leptin deficiency is associated with severe early-onset obesity in humans.” Nature. 387: 903-908.