Professor Iain J Clarke

Background

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.

Research Interests

Professor Clarke has wide ranging interests in the field of Neuroendocrinology and the central regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. 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 other RF-amide peptides
• Rapid estrogen signalling in neuroendocrine systems and endocrine disruptor effects on reproduction
• Stress and reproduction
• Control of food intake 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.

Honours and Awards

1992           Woodward Prize for Excellence in Research in Neuroscience

1997           Senior Fulbright Award

2001           Asia and Oceania Medal of The Endocrine Society (UK)

2004           Asia & Oceania Lecturer, Endoc Soc, New Orleans

Current Service

• Strategic Committee International Society Neuroendocrinology
• Organising Committee, International Farm Animal Endocrinology meeting 2008
• Editor, Neuroendocrinology
• Editorial Board, Endocrinology
• Steering Committee (Programming) Endocrine Society (USA)

Publications

Professor Clarke has published 394 peer reviewed articles, chapters and reviews between 1973 and 2008

Some recent publications are listed below:- 

1. LINCOLN, G.A., CLARKE, I.J., HUT, R.A. and HAZLERIGG, D.G. Characterising a mammalian circannual pacemaker. Science 314: 1941-4, 2006.
2. SMITH, J.T., CLAY, C.M., CARATY, A. and CLARKE, I.J. ‘Kiss-1 mRNA expression in the brain of the ewe is regulated by sex steroids and season’. Endocrinology 148:1150-7. 2007.
3. 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
4. SMITH, J.T., RAO, A., PEREIRA, A., CARATY, A., MILLAR, R.P. and CLARKE, I.J. Kisspeptin is present in ovine hypophysial portal blood, but does not increase during the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge: Evidence that gonadotropes are not direct targets of kisspeptin in vivo. Endocrinology 149: 1951 – 1959, 2008
5. QI, Y., IQBAL, J., OLDFIELD, B.J. and CLARKE, I.J. ‘Neural connectivity in the mediobasal hypothalamus of the sheep brain’. Neuroendocrinology 87: 91 – 112, 2008
6. CLARKE, I.J. ‘Models of ‘Obesity in large animals and birds’. Frontiers of Hormone Research 36: 107 – 117, 2008
7. PIERCE, B.N., HEMSWORTH, P.H., RIVALLAND, E.T.A., WAGENMAKER, E.R., MORRISSEY, A.D., PAPERGIRIS, M.M., CLARKE, I.J. KARSCH, F.J., TURNER, A.I. and TILBROOK, A.J. Psychosocial stress suppresses attractivity, proceptivity and pulsatile LH secretion in the ewe. In Press, Hormones and Behaviour. In Press, 2008
8. HENRY, B.A. and CLARKE, I.J. Adipose tissue hormones and the regulation of food intake. Journal of Neuroendocrinology 20: 842-849 2008
9. SMITH, J.T., COOLEN, L.M., KRIEGSFELD, L.J., SARI, I.P., JAAFARZADEHSHIRAZI, M.R., MALTBY, M., BATEMAN, K., GOODMAN, R.L., TILBROOK, A.J., UBUKA, T., BENTLEY, G.E., CLARKE, I.J. and LEHMAN, M.N. Variation in kisspeptin and gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone expression and terminal connections to GnRH neurons in the brain: a novel medium for seasonal breeding in the sheep. In Press, Endocrinology, June 2008
10. CLARKE, I.J., SARI, I.P., QI. Y., QUN LI, 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. In Press, Endocrinology June 2008

Research Group

Front Row:
Research Assistant Ms Alda Pereira B.Sci
Personal Assistant Ms Mandy Curd
Professor Iain Clarke
Research Trainee Dr Jessica Jacobi (Mexico)

Back Row:
Doherty Research Fellow Dr Jeremy Smith
Research Assistant Ms Alix Rao B. Sci
PhD Candidate Miss Kathryn Backholer
PhD Candidate Mrs Chantacha Anukulkitch
Research Officer Dr Qun Li
Research Technician Ms Melanie Clarke
PhD Candidate Mr Scott Clarke
Senior Research Officer Dr Javed Iqbal
PhD Candidate Mr Qi Yue

Not In Photo:
PhD Candidate Ms Ika Puspita Sari

On Maternity Leave

Research Fellow
Dr Belinda Henry

Werribee Large Animal Facility

Operations Manager Mr Bruce Doughton		Technical Assistant Ms Lynda Morrish		Technical Assistant Ms Elaine Leeson