Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment

School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Dr Leonard Forgan
  Phone   N/A
Email   leonard.forgan@deakin.edu.au
Position   Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Campus   Geelong

Dr Forgan is an animal physiologist with expertise in cardiorespiratory and comparative physiology. He
uses a range of invertebrate and vertebrate animal models in his studies, which are focused on
environmental adaptation and evolutionary biology. He has worked extensively on the respiratory
physiology of skeletal muscle as well as whole organism ecophysiology, focusing on how animals
respond to hypoxia. He has also worked on aspects of fish harvesting and post-mortem storage
systems. He is currently completing postdoctoral studies on the molecular evolution of blood pressure
regulation in vertebrates.

Research interests

  1. Cardiorespiratory physiology
  2. Comparative physiology
  3. Vascular physiology


Career

2012 - Current, Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow. Deakin University, Australia.
2010 - 2012, Postdoctoral Scientist. NZ Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, NZ.
2006 - 2010, Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Physiology. University of Canterbury, NZ.
2004 - 2006, Master of Science with First Class Honours in Animal Physiology. University of Canterbury, NZ.
2000 - 2003, Bachelor of Science in Zoology. University of Canterbury, NZ.

Key publications

Forgan, L. G. and Forster, M. E. (2010) Oxygen-dependence of metabolic rate in the muscles of craniates Journal of Comparative Physiology, Part B 180, 715-729

Forgan, L.G. and Forster, M.E. (2012) Oxygen dependence of metabolism and cellular adaptation in vertebrate muscles: a review Journal of Comparative Physiology, Part B 182, 177-188

Olson, K. R., Forgan, L. G., Dombkowski, R. A. and Forster, M. E. (2008) Oxygen dependency of hydrogen sulfide-mediated vasoconstriction in cyclostome aortas Journal of Experimental Biology 211, 2205-2213

Tuckey, N. P., Forgan, L. G. and Jerrett, A. R. (2012) Fillet colour correlates with biochemical status in Australasian snapper (Pagrus auratus) stored in refrigerated seawater Aquaculture 356, 256-263

Forgan, L. G. and Forster, M. E. (2010) Oxygen consumption, ventilation frequency and cytochrome c oxidase activity in blue cod (Parapercis colias) exposed to hydrogen sulphide or isoeugenol Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part C 151, 57-65

View entire list of audited publications

 

Honours students

Student nameThesis title Nathan RobertsonNitric oxide synthase expression in skeletal muscle and capillaries of lower vertebrates Melenaite SofeleThe role of nitrite in vascular regulation in amphibians and fish Vinay KanakurthiEndothelial nitric oxide synthase gene and protein expression in mammals  


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8th February 2013