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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CASE STUDY Next Generation Condom Contraception
Eudaemon Technologies, an early-stage medtech company with a focus on sexual reproductive health, is developing a hydrogel condom to address the need for a better feeling, next generation condom, with the potential to improve user experience and address issues with traditional latex condoms.
“Over 1 million STI’s being diagnosed every day and up to 120 million unplanned pregnancies every year result in a $60 billion health burden across the globe”, says Co-Founder and Executive Director of Operations, Dr Simon Cook.
Formed in 2018, the company focuses on developing tough hydrogels as an alternative to address issues with odour, colour, and taste commonly associated with latex condoms. This technology can be loaded with small molecule drugs for flavours or anti-STI compounds, and was developed in response to a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to address unplanned pregnancies and STIs.
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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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Better biomarkers for predicting the incidence of having atherosclerosis and heart attack
Assoc Prof Bursill is a vascular biologist with interests and expertise in vascular inflammation, atherosclerosis and angiogenesis. She completed her PhD at The University of Adelaide in lipid metabolism then headed to Oxford University for five years to undergo a postdoctoral post in the Departments of Cardiovascular Medicine and Pathology. Her postdoctoral time triggered her interest in the mechanisms that cause atherosclerosis and in particular the role of small inflammatory proteins called chemokines.
