Profile
I joined the Department of Physiology at The University of Melbourne in 2003 after spending 8 years in the Department of Physiology at Monash University. My research interests include the regulation of glucose uptake into skeletal muscle during exercise and the factors contributing to the increase in skeletal muscle mitochondrial volume following exercise training. My favourite pastimes are cycling, running and playing with my two girls (6 and 9 yrs).
Qualifications
B. Appl. Sc. 1989. The University of Wollongong (Human Movement Science)
M.Sc. 1991. Ball State University in Indiana (Exercise Physiology)
Ph.D. 1995. The University of Melbourne (Exercise Physiology)
Teaching
Lecturer:
513-121 Musculoskeletal systems. Lecturer and Physiology coordinator
513-211 Cardiorespiratory Systems (Physiotherapy). Lecturer and Physiology coordinator
536-211 Physiology: Control of Body Function (Science)
536-250 Integrated Biomedical Science (Biomedical Science)
536-308 Muscle and Exercise (Science)
Service to the University, discipline
or community and recent presentations
Honour’s convenor
Department of Physiology Environment representative of EHS committee.
I regularly review research grant applications for national funding bodies (NHMRC, ARC, DART, NHF etc).
Presentations:
The University of Tasmania. 2006. “Potential role of AMPK and NOS in the regulation of skeletal muscle glucose uptake during exercise”. Invited.
Ten days of exercise training attenuates AMPK activation during exercise more during exercise than 10 days of AICAR administration. AMPK 2006 FASEB Summer Conference. Snowmass, Colorado, USA. Aug 2006. Poster.
L-arginine infusion increases glucose uptake during prolonged exercise in humans. Keystone Symposia: Diabetes Mellitus: Molecular Mechanisms, Genetics and New Therapies. Keystone, Colorado. January 27 - February 2, 2005. Poster.
Research
Profile, Interests and Recent Publications
My research focuses on examination of the regulation of skeletal muscle glucose uptake during exercise in humans using tracer methodologies, femoral artery-vein measurements as well as skeletal muscle biopsies. We also utilize human and mouse cell culture, isolated contraction muscle preparations and running rat and mouse models. These studies are conducted in collaboration with Professor Bruce Kemp (St Vincent’s Institute/CSIRO), Assoc Prof Gordon Lynch and Prof Mark Hargreaves (University of Melbourne), Assoc Prof Stephen Rattigan and Prof Michael Clark (University of Tasmania) and Dr Bronwyn Kingwell (Baker Heart Institute).
Recently I have begun investigation of the factors regulating the increase in muscle mitochondria with exercise training. These studies involve exercising humans, muscle cells (human and rat) and exercising rats and mice. These studies are conducted in collaboration with Assic Prof David Cameron-Smith (Deakin University), Assoc Prof Mary Wlodek (University of Melbourne) and Dr Lance Macaulay (CSIRO).
These research areas have implications for increasing the understanding of Diabetes
Selected Recent Publications:
1. Wadley, G.D. and G.K. McConell. Effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibition on mitochondrial biogenesis in rat skeletal muscle. J. Appl. Physiol. 102: 314–320, 2007.
2. Wadley, G.D., R.S. Lee-Young, B. J. Canny, C. Wasuntarawat, Z-P.Chen, M. Hargreaves, B.E. Kemp and G.K. McConell. Effect of exercise intensity and hypoxia on skeletal muscle AMPK signalling and substrate metabolism in humans. Am. J. Physiol. Endo Metabol. 290: E694-E702, 2006.
3. McConell, G. K., N. N. Huynh, R. S. Lee-Young, B. J. Canny and G. D. Wadley. L-Arginine infusion increases glucose clearance during prolonged exercise in humans. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 290: E60–E66, 2006.
4. McConell, Glenn K. and Bronwyn A. Kingwell. Does nitric oxide regulate skeletal muscle glucose uptake during exercise? Invited review. Exerc and Sports Sci Reviews. 34(1):36-41, 2006.
5. McConell, Glenn K, Robert S. Lee-Young, Zhi-Ping Chen, Nigel K. Stepto, Ngan N. Huynh, Terry J. Stephens, Benedict J. Canny and Bruce E. Kemp. Short-term exercise training in humans reduces AMPK signalling during prolonged exercise independent of muscle glycogen. J.Physiol. 568: 665-676, 2005.
Research
Funding
NHMRC.
Can exercise and improved nutrition normalise rat skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis following growth restriction? McConell, Wlodek, Wadley.
Diabetes Australia Research Trust (DART)
Does an acute bout of exercise activate skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT-4 expression normally in people with type 2 diabetes? McConell
NHMRC.
Is nitric oxide a central regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle cells? McConell.
NHMRC.
Glucose uptake during exercise: important role of AMP-activated protein kinase and nitric oxide? McConell, Canny and Hargreaves
Contract with Country Fire Authority.
Firefighter health, safety and well being. McConell.
Supervisor
Mark Hargreaves
Currently
Supervised Staff/Students
Glenn Wadley
Rhianna Laker
Sarah Heywood
B Aisbett
Kelly Linden
Matthew Phillips
Craig Goodman
Christine Goulter
