Health and Exercise Science Honours Projects

Dr Ben Barry
Project 1: Neuromuscular dysfunction in osteoarthritis of the knee. This project will investigate the influence of osteoarthritis on the control of muscles at the knee joint by examining changes in the excitability of neural pathways from the brain and spinal cord to the quadriceps while this muscle shortens and lengthens during flexion and extension of the knee.
Project 2: Characterising the spinal pathways coupling the elbow flexor muscles.  This project will investigate the control of groups of muscles at the elbow joint by examining spinal reflex pathways connecting the biceps brachii, brachioradialis and brachialis muscles and measuring how the excitability of these pathways changes during different muscle actions.
Skills Learnt: surface and needle electromyography, single motor unit recordings, peripheral nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, operation of servo-controlled torque motors, acquiring data with force transducers and other instruments, analysis of data including computer programming in Labview, Matlab and/or Spike2.

Dr David Bentley
Project 1: Acute anabolic responses to resistance training in people with metabolic syndrome. Insulin resistance is known to negatively affect the physiological response to resistance training resulting in blunted anabolic hormone production. However this could be a function of the type of resistance training performed and the muscle mass used during exercise. This project will investigate the expression of key anabolic hormones in the acute stages following resistance training of different volume and intensity in humans with insulin resistance. The study will hope to provide a better rational for individualised resistance training programs in humans with metabolic disease.
Project 2: The influence of Alpha-actinin 3 (ACTN-3) genotype on acute hormonal responses to resistance training. Alpha-actinin 3 (ACTN-3) is a gene associated with skeletal muscle integrity and the ability of muscle to produce forceful contractions. Studies with ACTN-3 ‘knock out’ (genetically modified) animals demonstrate large differences in training induced response to resistance type training compared to wild type animals. This project will investigate the influence of ACTN-3 genotype on acute hormonal responses to resistance training in humans. The study will hope to provide for optimising resistance training based on genetic profile.
Skills Learnt: venous blood collection, DEXA, biochemistry laboratory skills, ELISA, PCR, exercise testing, data analysis using statistical computer packages, scientific literature writing.

Dr Cindy Lin/Dr D Bentley
Project: Acute neuromuscular responses during skeletal muscle contraction in hypoxia. Exercise in hypoxia (simulated altitude) results in a variety of acute and long term physiological adaptations resulting in improved oxygen transport. However it is widely accepted that exercise/skeletal muscle contraction in hypoxia is more difficult, with fatigue a primary factor for prolonged muscle performance in this environment. In order for muscle contraction to occur without fatigue, coordinated responses from the central and peripheral nervous system must occur. However little is understood about the acute adaptation of the central and peripheral nervous system during skeletal muscle contraction in hypoxia. This study will aim to examine the acute responses of the neuromuscular system during muscle contraction in hypoxia.
Skills Learnt: venous blood collection, basic biochemistry, muscle function (strength) testing, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), transmagnetic nerve stimulation (TMS), electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction and excitability.

A/Prof Stephen Boutcher / Dr Yati Boutcher

Cardiovascular adaptations to exercise and the effect of these adaptations on health. The effects of chronic and acute exercise on hypertension risk factors. The ability of exercise to change the cardiopulmonary sensitivity and epinephrine reactivity of individuals genetically disposed to hypertension.

Dr David Simar
Project: Metabolic risks in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia survivors. Investigation of the mechanisms responsible for metabolic complications in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia survivors and development of a new technique to monitor insulin signalling and detect early markers of insulin resistance.
Skills Learnt: cell culture, PCR, Flow cytometry.