Professor Iain Clarke
Address
Department of Physiology,
Monash University VIC 3800 Australia
Located
Room F275, Building 13F (Physiology)
Campus
Clayton
Tel: +61 3 990 52554
Fax: +61 3 990 52566
Email: iain.clarke@monash.edu
Background Information
Professor Clarke graduated from Massey University, New Zealand (B. Agric. Sci., 1971) followed by M. Agric. Sci. (1st Class) in reproductive physiology in 1973). He then obtained his PhD at Edinburgh University, Scotland in 1976, studying endocrinology and behaviour. He then moved to Australia and has been in Melbourne since 1977. He became a Senior Research Fellow of NHMRC in 1986, rising to Principal Research Fellow in 1991. He became Chairman, Department of Physiology, Monash University in 2007
Flash Video 83.6Mb
Awards
Prof has published 430 research papers and has received The Woodward Prize for Excellence in Research in Neuroscience (1992), a Senior Fulbright Award (1997), the Asia and Oceania Medal of The Endocrine Society (United Kingdom) in 2001 and the TransPacific Lecturership, Endocrine Society (USA) in 2004. Most recently (2009), he was the recipient of The Geoffrey Harris Memorial Award of the International Federation of Neuroendocrinology (2009).
Research Interests
Historical: Prof Clarke's seminal studies on the measurement of hypothalamic secretion of GnRH in sentient animals were published in 1982 and he has contributed extensively to the field of reproductive neuroendocrinology for 35 years. His laboratory expanded to embrace all many other aspects of neuroendocrinology and he currently devotes 50% of his research effort to the study of brain mechanisms that regulate food intake and energy expenditure. There are two main divisions in Professor Clarke's laboratory; reproduction in association with Dr Jeremy Smith and metabolic Neuroendocrinology, in association with Dr Belinda Henry.
In particular, his work has utilised sheep models, which allow a range of studies not easily undertaken in small laboratory species. He has developed a number of novel neuroendocrine methodologies that allow analysis ranging from the whole animal down to the singe cell and subcellular function. These techniques have enabled a range of national and international collaborations, with grant funding from Australian and offshore sources. In addition, his laboratory undertakes a range of contract research projects.
- His laboratory is currently focused on the following areas:-
- Central regulation of reproduction by kisspeptin and gonadotropin inhibitory hormone
- Estrogen signalling in neuroendocrine systems
- Control of food intake and energy expenditure by leptin and novel regulatory factors
- Melanocortins and reproduction
- Central regulation of energy expenditure
CLARKE, I.J. and TILBROOK, A.J. 'Hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis: Neural and hormonal control of GnRH neurons'. New Encyclopedia of Neurosciences, Elsever. In Press 2008. To be published September 2008. Copyright permission granted August 2008.
Current Service
Strategic Committee International Society Neuroendocrinology
Organising Committee, International Farm Animal Endocrinology meeting 2011
Editor, Neuroendocrinology
Editorial Board, Endocrinology
Steering Committee (Programming) Endocrine Society (USA)
Homeostatic control of thermogenesis in skeletal muscle
Selected Publications
Some recent publications are listed below
HENRY, B.A., DUNSHEA, F.R., GOULD, M. and CLARKE, I.J. Profiling post-prandial thermogenesis in muscle and fat of sheep and the central effect of leptin administration. Endocrinology 149: 2019 – 2026, 2008
CLARKE, I.J., SARI, I.P., QI, Y., LI, Q., SMITH, J.T., PARKINGTON, H.C., UBUKA, T., IQBAL, J., LI, Q., TILBROOK, A.J., MORGAN, K., PAWSON, A.J., TSUTSUI, K., MILLAR, R.P. and BENTLEY, G.E. Potent action of RFRP-3 on pituitary gonadotropes indicative of an hypophysiotropic role in the negative regulation of gonadotropin secretion. Endocrinology 149(11): 5811-5821, 2008
ROSEWEIR, A., KAUFFMAN, A., SMITH, J.T., GUERRIERO, K.A., MORGAN, K., PIELECKA-FORTUNA, J., PINEDA, R., GOTTSCH, M.L., TENA-SEMPERE, M., MOENTER, S.M., TERASAWA, E.I., CLARKE, I.J., STEINER, R.A., and MILLAR, R.P. Discovery of potent kisspeptin antagonists delineate physiological mechanisms gonadotropin regulation. Journal of Neuroscience 29: 3920-3929, 2009.
BACKHOLER, K., SMITH, J.T. and CLARKE, I.J. Melanocortins may stimulate reproduction by activating orexin neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus and kisspeptin neurons in the preoptic area of the ewe. Endocrinology 150: 5488-5497, 2009.
SMITH, J.T. & CLARKE, I.J. Gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH) function in mammals. Invited Review. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 21: 255-260, 2010.
TSCHOP, J., NOGUEIRAS, R., LOCKIE, S., KASTEN, K., CASTANEDA, T.R., HUBER, N., GUANCIALE, K., PEREZ-TILVE, D., WOODS, S.C., OLDFIELD, B.J., CLARKE, I.J., CHUA, S., FAROOQI, S., O'RAHILLY, S., CALDWELL, C.C. and TSCHOP, M.H. CNS leptin action modulates immune response and survival in sepsis. Journal of Neuroscience 30: 6036-6047, 2010.
QI, Y., HENRY, B.A., OLDFIELD, B.J., & CLARKE, I.J. The action of leptin on appetite regulating cells in the ovine hypothalamus: Demonstration of direct action in the absence of the arcuate nucleus. Endocrinology 151: 2106-2116, 2010.
An image of a slice through a gonadotropin releasing hormone neuron (red) showing input from gonadotropin inhibitory hormone terminals (green). From Qi et al. (2009) J Neuroendo 21:690.
Current Grants
| 2011-2013 Henry, B.A., Clarke, I.J., Andrews, Z. 'Muscle thermogenesis In models of predisposition to obesity'. APP1005935 |
$171,262 – 2011 $151,262 – 2012 $131,262 – 2013 |
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2011-2013 Oldfield, B.J., Clarke, I.J., 'The differential innervations of fat – Potential to target visceral adiposity'. APP1010318 |
$151,174 – 2011 $172,274 – 2012 $152,174 – 2013 |
|
2009-2011 Clarke, I.J. & Smith, A.I 'Melanocortin Regulation of Reproduction' Application ID 545918 |
$189,500 p.a |
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2009-2011 Clarke, I.J. & Tilbrook AJ 'Gonadotropin Inhibitory Hormone as a Major Regulator of Reproduction'. Application ID 545919 |
$199,675 p.a. |
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2011 – 2011 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Sartin, J.L. and Clarke, I.J. Hypothalamic site of action of kisspeptin in the regulation of growth hormones release in ruminants. |
$119,082.00 |
|
2010 – 2011 Horizon Science Pty Ltd. 'Beneficial effects of LoGiCane sugar on Glycemic index adiposity and insulin sensitivity in maturing piglets: Implications for human childhood obesity'. Clarke, I.J. |
$253,128 – 2010 $253,128 – 2011 |
|
2009-2011 Australian Research Council (ARC) 'Dissecting the impact of stress on reproduction: novel peptide mediates as inhibitory effects of stress on female reproduction'. Tilbrook, A.J., Clarke, I.J., Hemsworth, P.H. ID No. DP0985730 |
$150,000 – 2009 $120,000 – 2010 $120,000 – 2011 |
|
2008-2011 German Research Community (DFG) framework group 793. Characterization of the skeletal effects of the disconnection between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland (HPD) in sheep Iain Clarke, Michael Amling, Pia Pogoda & F. Timo Beil |
$100,000 - 2008/9 $43,250 - 2010 $106,000 - 2011 |
Research Staff
Back (from left): Professor Iain Clarke, Scott Clarke, Dr Rui Zeng, Dr Kevin Lee
Second Row (from left): Dr Jeremy Smith, Alix Rao, Dr Belinda Henry
Second Bottom Row (from left): Dr Jessica Jacobi, Mandy Curd, Sofie Slaeh, Dr Qun Li
Bottom Row (from left): Alda Pereira, Teena George, Elaine Leeson
Werribee Large Animal Facility Staff
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Operations Manager
Mr Bruce Doughton |
Technical Assistant
Ms Lynda Morrish |
