Biography
Dr Parker’s internationally recognised research program explores how physical activity, redox biology, bone metabolism, and vascular health, regulate glycaemic control, exercise capacity, and cardiometabolic health and disease. Through the identification of novel mechanisms, his research continues to explore new ways to harness exercise and nutrition for the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Dr Parker is a joint NHMRC & Heart Foundation Early Career Fellow and leader of the Redox Regulation of Health and Disease research group at Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN). Despite the early stage of his career (PhD Awarded in 2017, Victoria University), his research program has led to over 27 national and international conference presentations (as presenting author), >40 published articles in top international journals, and successful research funding (>$3.5 million) as a CI including a NHMRC MRFF grant, three Diabetes Australia Grants, two NHF Vanguard Grants, and NHMRC and NHF Fellowships. The impact of his research program has been officially recognised by over 17 accolades including the James Cook University Early Career Alumni Award (2022), Journal of Physiology (UK) Editorial Board Fellowship, and Exercise and Sports Science Australia Early Career Researcher Award (2018). Dr Parker has extensive experience in exercise physiology (acute and chronic exercise training programs), endocrinology (measurement of glycaemic control through gold standard and emerging techniques), vascular function and health (modern ultrasound imaging of the vascular network), redox physiology (redox biomarker assessment), and biochemistry (cell metabolism, function, and signalling assessment).
Dr Parker’s clinical, applied, and mechanistic research program aims to:
• Explore the underlying causes (on a molecular and functional level) of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Explore how exercise and nutrition can be optimised to improve vascular function, exercise capacity, glycaemic control and overall cardiometabolic health.
• Explore novel interventions (e.g., patient screening to inform personalised nutrition and exercise prescription) to improve vascular function, exercise capacity, glycaemic control and overall cardiometabolic health.
Biography summary
Dr Lewan Parker is an NHMRC and National Heart Foundation Early Career Research Fellow in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and is a member of the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN). He has dedicated his research career to exploring exercise, redox biology, bone metabolism, and vascular function as important mediators of blood sugar control and overall cardiometabolic health and disease.
Research interests
Research areas include: Exercise physiology, redox biology, glycaemic control, insulin resistance, bone metabolism, vascular health, and cardiometabolic disease.
Affiliations
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN)
Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Knowledge areas
Research areas include: Exercise physiology, redox biology, glycaemic control, insulin resistance, bone metabolism, vascular health, and cardiometabolic disease.
Conferences
Select invited speaker presentations/workshops/seminars:
Parker, L (October, 2022): Redox Regulation of Health and Disease. Invited seminar delivered to the VasoActive Research Group, University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia, Sunshine Coast).
Parker, L (July, 2022): Redox Regulation of Health and Disease. Invited guest speaker for the National Heart Foundation Research Showcase event (Australia, Melbourne).
Parker, L (November, 2021): Exploring Sex Differences in Human Exercise Physiology: Current Limitations and Future Research Recommendations. Invited host and organiser of a virtual Journal Club and Networking Session for The UK Physiological Society (Virtual, United Kingdom).
Parker, L (June, 2021): Oxidative stress, antioxidants, and cardiometabolic disease. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition Seminar Series, Deakin University (Australia, Virtual).
Parker, L. (December, 2020): Keynote speaker at Victoria University Higher-degree Research Symposium (Australia, Melbourne).
Parker, L. (November 2019). Conducted a workshop for Higher Degree Research Students about “Life after a PhD – Careers in Research”. Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia).
Parker, L., Morrison, D., Betik, A., Roberts-Thomson, K., Wadley, G., Shaw, C., Keske, M. (July 2019). Skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow and postprandial glycaemic responses to a high-glucose mixed meal ingested 3 hours after exercise. European College of Sports Science (Prague, Czech Republic).
Parker, L. (February 2019). Symposium on Early Career Research in Physiology. Australian Physiological Society (Geelong, Australia).
Recent conference presentations as presenting author:
Thomas, H., Ang, T., Morrison, Keske, M., and Parker, L. (November, 2022). High-glucose ingestion and acute exercise elicit dynamic and individualised responses in systemic markers of redox homeostasis. Australian Physiological Society (Australia, Hobart).
Thomas, H., Ang, T., Morrison, Keske, M., and Parker, L. (October, 2022). High-glucose ingestion and acute exercise elicit dynamic and individualised responses in systemic markers of redox homeostasis. Annual Victorian Muscle Network Symposium (Australia, Melbourne).
Parker, L., Ang, T., Morrison, D., Lee, N., Levinger, I., and Keske, M. (October, 2021). Prior aerobic exercise mitigates the decrease in serum osteoglycin and lipocalin-2 following high-glucose mixed-nutrient meal ingestion in young men. 4th Annual Victorian Muscle Network VIRTUAL Symposium (Australia, Virtual).
Parker, L., Ang, T., Morrison, D., Lee, N., Levinger, I., and Keske, M. (November, 2021). Acute exercise increases serum lipocalin-2 and attenuates the postprandial decrease in osteoglycin and lipocalin-2 in young men. Australian Physiological Society Conference (Gold Coast, Australia)
Parker, L., Xuzhu, L., Garnham, A., McConell, G., Stepto, N., Hare, D., Byrnes, E., Ebeling, P., Seeman, E., Brennan-Speranza, T., Levinger, I. (March, 2018). Suppressed osteocalcin and muscle protein signalling mediate glucocorticoid-induced basal and post-exercise insulin resistance in humans. Exercise and Sports Science Australia (Brisbane, Australia)
Awards
Select accolades:
Journal of Physiology (UK) Editorial Board Fellowship (2022)
James Cook University 2022 Outstanding Early Career Alumni award (College of Healthcare Sciences)
NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship (2019)
National Heart Foundation Early Career Research Fellowship (2019)
Exercise and Sports Science Australia Early Career Researcher Award (2018)
Exercise and Sports Science Australia best oral presentation (2018)
European College of Sport Science Program Exchange Award (2018)
Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2017)
Victoria University Vice Chancellors Award for Excellence in Research and Research Training (2017)
Victoria University Vice Chancellors University Medal for Excellence in Postgraduate Research (2017)
Victoria University Staff Award for Excellence in Research (Early Career) (2017)
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research Young Investigator Travel Award (Early Career) (2017)
Publications
Anthony Nowell, Susan Torres, Sarah Hall, Michelle Keske, David Torpy, Lewan Parker, Andrew Betik, Anne Turner
(2024), European Journal of Nutrition, Berlin, Germany, C1
Vitamin C supplementation for diabetes management: A comprehensive narrative review
S Mason, L Parker, P van der Pligt, G Wadley
(2023), Vol. 194, pp. 255-283, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, United States, C1
H Thomas, T Ang, D Morrison, M Keske, L Parker
(2023), Vol. 14, pp. 1-16, Frontiers in immunology, Lausanne, Switzerland, C1
H Lalunio, L Parker, E Hanson, P Gregorevic, I Levinger, A Hayes, C Goodman
(2023), Vol. 578, pp. 1-9, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
K Way, H Thomas, L Parker, A Maiorana, M Keske, D Scott, J Reed, J Tieng, D Hackett, T Hawkins, C Latella, R Cordina, D Tran
(2023), Vol. 9, Sports Medicine - Open, C1
J McVicar, M Keske, S O'Riordan, L Parker, A Betik, R Maddison
(2023), Vol. 33, pp. 101706-101706, Journal of Transport and Health, C1
Antioxidant Supplements and Exercise Adaptations
Shaun Mason, Lewan Parker, Adam Trewin, Glenn Wadley
(2022), Oxidative Eustress in Exercise Physiology, Boca Raton, Fl., B1
R Russell, K Roberts-Thomson, D Hu, T Greenaway, A Betik, L Parker, J Sharman, S Richards, S Rattigan, D Premilovac, G Wadley, M Keske
(2022), Vol. 65, pp. 216-225, Diabetologia, Germany, C1
Osteoglycin Across the Adult Lifespan
M Woessner, D Hiam, C Smith, X Lin, N Zarekookandeh, A Tacey, L Parker, S Landen, M Jacques, J Lewis, T Brennan-Speranza, S Voisin, G Duque, N Eynon, I Levinger
(2022), Vol. 107, pp. E1426-E1433, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Oxford, Eng., C1
K Roberts-Thomson, L Parker, A Betik, G Wadley, P Gatta, T Marwick, M Keske
(2022), Vol. 600, pp. 1667-1681, Journal of Physiology, London, Eng., C1
S Mason, G Wadley, M Keske, L Parker
(2022), Vol. 24, pp. 1047-1060, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, London, England, C1
J McVicar, M Keske, R Daryabeygi-Khotbehsara, A Betik, L Parker, R Maddison
(2022), pp. 1-13, Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, London, Eng., C1
Is vascular insulin resistance an early step in diet-induced whole-body insulin resistance?
L Carmichael, M Keske, A Betik, L Parker, B Brayner, K Roberts-Thomson, G Wadley, D Hamilton, G Kaur
(2022), Vol. 12, Nutrition and Diabetes, C1
K Roberts-Thomson, D Hu, R Russell, T Greenaway, A Betik, L Parker, G Kaur, S Richards, D Premilovac, G Wadley, M Keske
(2022), Vol. 323, pp. E418-E427, American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, United States, C1
L Parker, T Ang, D Morrison, N Lee, I Levinger, M Keske
(2022), Vol. 323, pp. E319-E332, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, United States, C1
A Trewin, J Silver, H Dillon, P Della Gatta, L Parker, D Hiam, Y Lee, M Richardson, G Wadley, S Lamon
(2022), Vol. 20, pp. 1-19, BMC Biology, London, Eng., C1
C Bauer, A Tacey, A Garnham, C Smith, M Woessner, X Lin, N Zarekookandeh, D Hare, J Lewis, L Parker, I Levinger
(2022), Vol. 6, JBMR Plus, England, C1
Whole-body vibration stimulates microvascular blood flow in skeletal muscle
Andrew Betik, Lewan Parker, Gunveen Kaur, Glenn Wadley, Michelle Keske
(2021), Vol. 53, pp. 375-383, Medicine & science in sports & exercise, Philadelphia, Pa., C1
L Parker, D Morrison, G Wadley, C Shaw, A Betik, K Roberts-Thomson, G Kaur, M Keske
(2021), Vol. 599, pp. 83-102, Journal of Physiology, England, C1
J Broatch, S O'Riordan, M Keske, A Betik, D Bishop, S Halson, L Parker
(2021), Vol. 35, FASEB Journal, United States, C1
K McKeegan, S Mason, A Trewin, M Keske, G Wadley, P Della Gatta, M Nikolaidis, L Parker
(2021), Vol. 44, Redox Biology, Netherlands, C1
Osteocalcin and its forms across the lifespan in adult men
C Smith, S Voisin, A Al Saedi, S Phu, T Brennan-Speranza, L Parker, N Eynon, D Hiam, X Yan, D Scott, L Blekkenhorst, J Lewis, E Seeman, E Byrnes, L Flicker, G Duque, B Yeap, I Levinger
(2020), Vol. 130, Bone, United States, C1
K Roberts-Thomson, A Betik, D Premilovac, S Rattigan, S Richards, R Ross, R Russell, G Kaur, L Parker, M Keske
(2020), Vol. 47, pp. 725-737, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, London, Eng., C1
Antioxidant supplements and endurance exercise: Current evidence and mechanistic insights
S Mason, A Trewin, L Parker, G Wadley
(2020), Vol. 35, Redox Biology, Netherlands, C1
L Parker, D Morrison, A Betik, K Roberts-Thomson, G Kaur, G Wadle, C Sha, M Kesk
(2020), Vol. 318, pp. E1014-E1021, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, United States, C1
Lewan Parker, Xuzhu Lin, Andrew Garnham, Glenn McConell, Nigel Stepto, David Hare, Elizabeth Byrnes, Peter Ebeling, Ego Seeman, Tara Brennan-Speranza, Itamar Levinger
(2019), Vol. 34, pp. 49-58, Journal of bone and mineral research, Chichester, Eng., C1
L Parker, C Shaw, E Byrnes, N Stepto, I Levinger
(2019), Vol. 30, pp. 403-410, Osteoporosis international, Cham, Switzerland, C1
Single-dose prednisolone alters endocrine and haematologic responses and exercise performance in men
A Tacey, L Parker, B Yeap, J Joseph, E Lim, A Garnham, D Hare, T Brennan-Speranza, I Levinger
(2019), Vol. 8, pp. 111-119, Endocrine Connections, England, C1
X Lin, L Parker, E McLennan, A Hayes, G McConell, T Brennan-Speranza, I Levinger
(2019), Vol. 34, pp. 1517-1530, Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, United States, C1
L Parker, A Trewin, I Levinger, C Shaw, N Stepto
(2018), Vol. 21, pp. 416-421, Journal of science and medicine in sport, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Xuzhu Lin, Lewan Parker, Emma Mclennan, Xinmei Zhang, Alan Hayes, Glenn McConell, Tara Brennan-Speranza, Itamar Levinger
(2018), Vol. 103, pp. 198-205, Calcified tissue international, New York, N.Y., C1
A Trewin, L Parker, C Shaw, D Hiam, A Garnham, I Levinger, G McConell, N Stepto
(2018), Vol. 315, pp. R1003-R1016, American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, United States, C1
The effect of exercise-intensity on Skeletal muscle stress kinase and insulin protein signaling
L Parker, A Trewin, I Levinger, C Shaw, N Stepto
(2017), Vol. 12, PLoS ONE, United States, C1
L Parker, C Shaw, L Banting, I Levinger, K Hill, A McAinch, N Stepto
(2017), Vol. 7, Frontiers in Physiology, Switzerland, C1
L Parker, M Caldow, R Watts, P Levinger, D Cameron-Smith, I Levinger
(2017), Vol. 117, pp. 1463-1472, European Journal of Applied Physiology, Germany, C1
Exercise and glycemic control: Focus on redox homeostasis and redox-sensitive protein signaling
L Parker, C Shaw, N Stepto, I Levinger
(2017), Vol. 8, Frontiers in Endocrinology, Switzerland, C1
I Levinger, T Brennan-Speranza, A Zulli, L Parker, X Lin, J Lewis, B Yeap
(2017), Vol. 28, pp. 2265-2273, Osteoporosis International, England, C1
The effect of acute and short term glucocorticoid administration on exercise capacity and metabolism
A Tacey, L Parker, A Garnham, T Brennan-Speranza, I Levinger
(2017), Vol. 20, pp. 543-548, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A Trewin, I Levinger, L Parker, C Shaw, F Serpiello, M Anderson, G McConell, D Hare, N Stepto
(2017), Vol. 12, PLoS ONE, United States, C1
X Lin, L Parker, E Mclennan, X Zhang, A Hayes, G McConell, T Brennan-Speranza, I Levinger
(2017), Vol. 8, Frontiers in Endocrinology, Switzerland, C1-1
L Parker, I Levinger, A Mousa, K Howlett, B De Courten
(2016), Vol. 8, Nutrients, Switzerland, C1
L Parker, N Stepto, C Shaw, F Serpiello, M Anderson, D Hare, I Levinger
(2016), Vol. 7, Frontiers in Physiology, Switzerland, C1
Itamar Levinger, Tara Brennan-Speranza, Nigel Stepto, George Jerums, Lewan Parker, Glenn McConell, Mitchell Anderson, Andrew Garnham, David Hare, Peter Ebeling, Ego Seeman
(2016), Vol. 5, JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS, Canada, C1-1
The effect of acute exercise on undercarboxylated osteocalcin and insulin sensitivity in obese men
I Levinger, G Jerums, N Stepto, L Parker, F Serpiello, G McConell, M Anderson, D Hare, E Byrnes, P Ebeling, E Seeman
(2014), Vol. 29, pp. 2571-2576, Journal of bone and mineral research, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
Influence of exercise intensity on systemic oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity
L Parker, T McGuckin, A Leicht
(2014), Vol. 34, pp. 377-383, Clincal physiology and functional imaging, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Exercise intolerance and impaired glycaemic control in heart failure patients: Identifying microvascular dysfunction as a novel mechanism
Dr Lewan Parker
NHMRC ECF - Early Career Fellowship
- 2023: $43,703
- 2022: $86,029
- 2021: $85,147
- 2020: $84,041
- 2019: $41,474
Novel therapy for improving exercise tolerance and glycaemic regulation in type 2 diabetes associated HFpEF
Prof Michelle Keske, Dr Lewan Parker, Prof Ralph Maddison, Prof Thomas Marwick
NHF Vanguard Grant - National Heart Foundation of Australia
- 2021: $74,858
- 2020: $74,920
Oral glucose tolerance test causes acute skeletal muscle microvascular insulin resistance in healthy people: determining the gut-derived factors that underpin microvascular impairments
Prof Michelle Keske, Miss Katherine Roberts - Thomson, Dr Lewan Parker
Diabetes Australia Research Program Grant
- 2021: $45,010
Antioxidant deficiency screening and personalised antioxidant prescription as an accessible and cost-effective treatment for cardiovascular dysfunction and insulin resistance
Dr Lewan Parker, Prof Michelle Keske, Prof Thomas Marwick, A/Prof Michalis Nikolaidis
NHF Vanguard Grant - National Heart Foundation of Australia
- 2023: $74,944
- 2022: $74,944
Home-based vascular therapy for improving exercise tolerance and glycaemia in type 2 diabetes
Prof Michelle Keske, Prof Glenn Wadley, Dr Andrew Betik, Dr Lewan Parker, Dr Gunveen Kaur
Diabetes Australia Research Program Grant
- 2022: $70,000
Does short-term high-calorie high-fat feeding impair skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow and increase the risk of pre-diabetes in humans?
Dr Gunveen Kaur, Prof Michelle Keske, Dr Andrew Betik, Dr Lewan Parker, Dr Barbara Vitorino Alencar Brayner
Diabetes Australia Research Program Grant
- 2022: $52,720
Early detection of insulin-resistance with a mixed meal challenge - The REFINE study
Prof Michelle Keske, Prof Thomas Marwick, Prof Itamar Levinger, Prof Jo Salmon, Prof Glenn Wadley, Dr Lewan Parker, Dr Gavin Abbott
MRFF (NHMRC) CVH Mission - Cardiovascular Health Grant
- 2024: $356,888
- 2023: $624,790
Industry and Other Funding
VCCC Skilled Internship with Grampians Health.
Prof Michelle Keske, Dr Lewan Parker, Miss Emily Claire Wordie-Thompson
VCCC Alliance Ltd
- 2024: $36,000
Other Funding Sources
NHMRC Equipment Grant 2017 - Cosmed Quark RMR with CPET Metabolic Cart
Prof Michelle Keske, Dr Lewan Parker, Dr Andrew Betik
NHMRC - Equipment Grant - Not R&D income countable (2017-current)
- 2018: $15,546
Establishing new collaborations and techniques in Amsterdam for vascular function research
Dr Lewan Parker
Heart Foundation Collaboration and Exchange Award (Conferences)
- 2021: $5,000
Supervisions
Katherine Roberts Thomson
Thesis entitled: Examination of Postprandial Peripheral Tissue Blood Flow Responses
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences