Biography
My research spans the metabolic biochemistry, integrative physiology, endocrinology and analytical chemistry fields. Specifically, I am interested in insulin and glucagon secretion and action as well as understanding how pathways of central carbon metabolism (glucose, lipids, amino acids) are coordinated across different organ systems (liver, muscle, pancreas, adipose) in vivo. A particular interest is in the organ specific evolution of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia along with the role they play in disease development, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. I am also interested in skeletal muscle phospholipid metabolism and how it relates to mitochondrial structure and function. I utilise both human and rodent in vivo experimentation, and am specialised in the use of stable isotope metabolic tracer methodology and quantitative targeted metabolomics. I also manage the biological gas chromatography-mass spectrometry platform within the Metabolic Research Unit at the School of Medicine.
Read more on Greg's profileResearch interests
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
Insulin
Hyperinsulinaemia
Glucagon
Pancreatic Islet Hormone Secretion
Hepatic intermediary metabolism
Insulin Resistance
Cardiometabolic Disease
Energy Metabolism
Gluconeogenesis
Endocrinology
Units taught
Topic Coordinator: HME912 Cardiorespiratory Physiology (Medical Degree)
Guest Lecturer: HME911 Human Biology (Medical Degree)
Awards
2022: Diabetes Australia (DART) Project Grant (CIA Kowalski $70,000)
2018-2020: Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award (ARC DECRA)
2020: Diabetes Australia (DART) Project Grant (CIA Kowalski $60,000)
2019: Diabetes Australia (DART) Project Grant (CIA Kowalski $60,000)
2016: Diabetes Australia (DART) Project Grant (CIA Kowalski $60,000)
2015: Diabetes Australia (DART) Project Grant (CIA Kowalski $60,000)
202016-2017: Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
2013: Australian Diabetes Society (ADS): Pincus Taft Young Investigator Award ($2000)
2012: ADS Basic Science Poster Award ($500)
2008 -Recipient of Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute Bright Sparks Scholarship; a three year top-up scholarship ($6000 per year)
2008-Recipient of two post-graduate research scholarships:
-Australian Post-Graduate Award (APA), Monash University
-Melbourne University Research Scholarship (turned down to take up APA)
Publications
N Tran, G Kowalski, A Muccini, I Nitsos, N Hale, R Snow, D Walker, S Ellery
(2022), Vol. 600, pp. 3193-3210, Journal of Physiology, London, Eng., C1
Insulin sensitivity is preserved in mice made obese by feeding a high starch diet
A Brandon, L Small, T Nguyen, E Suryana, H Gong, C Yassmin, S Hancock, T Pulpitel, S Stonehouse, L Prescott, M Kebede, B Yau, L Quek, G Kowalski, C Bruce, N Turner, G Cooney
(2022), Vol. 11, eLife, England, C1
T Allerton, G Kowalski, J Stampley, B Irving, J Lighton, Z Floyd, J Stephens
(2021), Vol. 53, pp. 712-723, Medicine and science in sports and exercise, United States, C1
María Morales-Scholz, Courtney Swinton, Robyn Murphy, Greg Kowalski, Clinton Bruce, Kirsten Howlett, Christopher Shaw
(2021), Vol. 534, pp. 533-539, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
J Snaith, D Samocha-Bonet, J Evans, Z Liu, G Kowalski, C Bruce, D Holmes-Walker, J Greenfield
(2021), Vol. 38, Diabetic Medicine, England, C1
C Bruce, S Hamley, T Ang, K Howlett, C Shaw, G Kowalski
(2021), Vol. 53, Molecular Metabolism, Germany, C1
C Bortolasci, A Turner, M Mohebbi, Z Liu, M Ashton, L Gray, W Marx, A Walker, G Kowalski, F Jacka, M Berk, O Dean, K Walder
(2021), Vol. 142, pp. 376-383, Journal of Psychiatric Research, England, C1
The effects of early-onset pre-eclampsia on placental creatine metabolism in the third trimester
S Ellery, P Murthi, P Gatta, A May, M Davies-Tuck, G Kowalski, D Callahan, C Bruce, E Wallace, D Walker, H Dickinson, R Snow
(2020), Vol. 21, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Switzerland, C1
H Beyene, S Hamley, C Giles, K Huynh, A Smith, M Cinel, N Mellet, M Morales-Scholz, D Kloosterman, K Howlett, G Kowalski, C Shaw, D Magliano, C Bruce, P Meikle
(2020), Vol. 105, pp. E1041-E1055, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, United States, C1
T Allerton, G Kowalski, H Hang, J Stephens
(2020), Vol. 319, pp. E2-E10, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Bethesda, Md., C1
S Elahee Doomun, S Nie, S Loke, G Kowalski, P Beech, D Callahan
(2020), Vol. 31, pp. 1763-1772, Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, United States, C1
N Poddar, S Elahee Doomun, D Callahan, G Kowalski, G Martin
(2020), Vol. 117, pp. 3299-3309, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, United States, C1
J Mikovic, C Brightwell, A Lindsay, Y Wen, G Kowalski, A Russell, C Fry, S Lamon
(2020), Vol. 319, pp. E1008-E1018, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Bethesda, Md., C1
K De Jong, L Hall, M Renton, T Connor, S Martin, G Kowalski, C Shaw, C Bruce, K Howlett, S McGee
(2020), Vol. 42, Molecular Metabolism, Germany, C1
Postprandial aminogenic insulin and glucagon secretion can stimulate glucose flux in humans
T Ang, C Bruce, G Kowalski
(2019), Vol. 68, pp. 939-946, Diabetes, United States, C1
M Berry, M Schlegel, G Kowalski, C Bruce, D Callahan, M Davies-Tuck, H Dickinson, A Goodson, A Slocombe, R Snow, D Walker, S Ellery
(2019), Vol. 10, Frontiers in Physiology, Switzerland, C1
Dale Morrison, Greg Kowalski, Clinton Bruce, Glenn Wadley
(2019), Vol. 316, pp. E1061-E1070, American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism, Bethesda, Md., C1
L Small, A Brandon, B Parker, V Deshpande, A Samsudeen, G Kowalski, J Reznick, D Wilks, E Preston, C Bruce, D James, N Turner, G Cooney
(2019), Vol. 25, pp. 107-118, Molecular Metabolism, Germany, C1
A Selathurai, G Kowalski, S Mason, D Callahan, V Foletta, P Della Gatta, A Lindsay, S Hamley, G Kaur, A Curtis, M Burch, T Ang, S McGee, C Bruce
(2019), Vol. 27, pp. 33-46, Molecular metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Placental creatine metabolism in cases of placental insufficiency and reduced fetal growth
S Ellery, P Murthi, M Davies-Tuck, P Della Gatta, A May, G Kowalski, D Callahan, C Bruce, N Alers, S Miller, J Erwich, E Wallace, D Walker, H Dickinson, R Snow
(2019), Vol. 25, pp. 495-505, Molecular Human Reproduction, England, C1
S Hamley, D Kloosterman, T Duthie, C Dalla Man, R Visentin, S Mason, T Ang, A Selathurai, G Kaur, M Morales-Scholz, K Howlett, G Kowalski, C Shaw, C Bruce
(2019), Vol. 62, pp. 2310-2324, Diabetologia, Berlin, Germany, C1
Treatment of type 2 diabetes with the designer cytokine IC7Fc
M Findeisen, T Allen, D Henstridge, H Kammoun, A Brandon, L Baggio, K Watt, M Pal, L Cron, E Estevez, C Yang, G Kowalski, L O’Reilly, C Egan, E Sun, L Thai, G Krippner, T Adams, R Lee, J Grötzinger, C Garbers, S Risis, M Kraakman, N Mellet, J Sligar, E Kimber, R Young, M Cowley, C Bruce, P Meikle, P Baldock, P Gregorevic, T Biden, G Cooney, D Keating, D Drucker, S Rose-John, M Febbraio
(2019), Vol. 574, pp. 63-68, Nature, England, C1
D Morrison, G Kowalski, E Grespan, A Mari, C Bruce, G Wadley
(2018), Vol. 314, pp. E503-E511, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, United States, C1
A Reichenbach, R Stark, M Mequinion, R Denis, J Goularte, R Clarke, S Lockie, M Lemus, G Kowalski, C Bruce, C Huang, R Schittenhelm, R Mynatt, B Oldfield, M Watt, S Luquet, Z Andrews
(2018), Vol. 22, pp. 1745-1759, Cell Reports, United States, C1
Teddy Ang, Greg Kowalski, Clinton Bruce
(2018), Vol. 315, pp. E904-E911, American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism, Bethesda, Md., C1
A selective inhibitor of ceramide synthase 1 reveals a novel role in fat metabolism
N Turner, X Lim, H Toop, B Osborne, A Brandon, E Taylor, C Fiveash, H Govindaraju, J Teo, H McEwen, T Couttas, S Butler, A Das, G Kowalski, C Bruce, K Hoehn, T Fath, C Schmitz-Peiffer, G Cooney, M Montgomery, J Morris, A Don
(2018), Vol. 9, Nature Communications, England, C1
S Bond, K Howlett, G Kowalski, S Mason, T Connor, A Cooper, V Streltsov, C Bruce, K Walder, S McGee
(2017), Vol. 31, pp. 2592-2602, FASEB journal, Bethesda, Md., C1
Creatine biosynthesis and transport by the term human placenta
S Ellery, P Della Gatta, C Bruce, G Kowalski, M Davies-Tuck, J Mockler, P Murthi, D Walker, R Snow, H Dickinson
(2017), Vol. 52, pp. 86-93, Placenta, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Does maternal-fetal transfer of creatine occur in pregnant sheep?
S Baharom, R De Matteo, S Ellery, P Della Gatta, C Bruce, G Kowalski, N Hale, H Dickinson, R Harding, D Walker, R Snow
(2017), Vol. 313, pp. E75-E83, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, United States, C1
Resolution of glucose intolerance in long-term high-fat, high-sucrose-fed mice
G Kowalski, M Kraakman, S Mason, A Murphy, C Bruce
(2017), Vol. 233, pp. 269-279, Journal of endocrinology, Bristol, Eng., C1
The effect of ingested glucose dose on the suppression of endogenous glucose production in humans
G Kowalski, S Moore, S Hamley, A Selathurai, C Bruce
(2017), Vol. 66, pp. 2400-2406, Diabetes, United States, C1
G Lancaster, H Kammoun, M Kraakman, G Kowalski, C Bruce, M Febbraio
(2016), Vol. 7, Nature Communications, England, C1
M Wallace, P Della Gatta, B Mir, G Kowalski, J Kloehn, M McConville, A Russell, S Lamon
(2016), Vol. 7, Frontiers in Physiology, Switzerland, C1
G Kowalski, S Hamley, A Selathurai, J Kloehn, D De Souza, S O'Callaghan, B Nijagal, D Tull, M McConville, C Bruce
(2016), Vol. 6, Scientific Reports, England, C1
Strategies for extending metabolomics studies with stable isotope labelling and fluxomics
A Srivastava, G Kowalski, D Callahan, P Meikle, D Creek
(2016), Vol. 6, Metabolites, Switzerland, C1
V Foletta, M Palmieri, J Kloehn, S Mason, S Previs, M McConville, O Sieber, C Bruce, G Kowalski
(2016), Vol. 6, Metabolites, Switzerland, C1
Greg Kowalski, Joachim Kloehn, Micah Burch, Ahrathy Selathurai, Steven Hamley, Stéphanie Bayol, Séverine Lamon, Matthew Watt, Robert Lee-Young, Malcolm McConville, C Bruce
(2015), Vol. 1851, pp. 210-219, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)- molecular and cell biology of lipids, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1
G Kowalski, D De Souza, M Burch, S Hamley, J Kloehn, A Selathurai, D Tull, S O'Callaghan, M McConville, C Bruce
(2015), Vol. 462, pp. 27-32, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, United States, C1
A Selathurai, G Kowalski, M Burch, P Sepulveda, S Risis, R Lee-Young, S Lamon, P Meikle, A Genders, S McGee, M Watt, A Russell, M Frank, S Jackowski, M Febbraio, C Bruce
(2015), Vol. 21, pp. 718-730, Cell Metabolism, United States, C1
In vivo cardiac glucose metabolism in the high-fat fed mouse: comparison of euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp derived measures of glucose uptake with a dynamic metabolomic flux profiling approach
G Kowalski, D De Souza, S Risis, M Burch, S Hamley, J Kloehn, A Selathurai, R Lee-Young, D Tull, S O'Callaghan, M McConville, C Bruce
(2015), Vol. 463, pp. 818-824, Biochemical and biophysical research communications, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
G Kowalski, C Bruce
(2014), Vol. 307, pp. E859-E871, American journal of physiology-endocrinology and metabolism, Bethesda, MD, C1
PLIN5 deletion remodels intracellular lipid composition and causes insulin resistance in muscle
Rachael Mason, Ruzaidi Mokhtar, Maria Matzaris, Ahrathy Selathurai, Greg Kowalski, Nancy Mokbel, Peter Meikle, Clinton Bruce, Matthew Watt
(2014), Vol. 3, pp. 652-663, Molecular metabolism, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1-1
Plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate is elevated in obesity
G Kowalski, A Carey, A Selathurai, B Kingwell, C Bruce
(2013), Vol. 8, pp. 1-7, PloS one, San Francisco, Calif., C1-1
N Turner, G Kowalski, S Leslie, S Risis, C Yang, R Lee-Young, J Babb, P Meikle, G Lancaster, D Henstridge, P White, E Kraegen, A Marette, G Cooney, M Febbraio, C Bruce
(2013), Vol. 56, pp. 1638-1648, Diabetologia, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
C Bruce, S Risis, J Babb, C Yang, G Kowalski, A Selathurai, R Lee-Young, J Weir, K Yoshioka, Y Takuwa, P Meikle, S Pitson, M Febbraio
(2012), Vol. 61, pp. 3148-3155, Diabetes, Alexandria, Virginia, C1-1
G Lancaster, G Kowalski, E Estevez, M Kraakman, G Grigoriadis, M Febbraio, S Gerondakis, A Banerjee
(2012), Vol. 7, pp. 1-7, PLoS one, San Francisco, Calif., C1-1
G Kowalski, H Nicholls, S Risis, N Watson, P Kanellakis, C Bruce, A Bobik, G Lancaster, M Febbraio
(2011), Vol. 54, pp. 888-899, Diabetologia, Berlin, Germany, C1-1
H Nicholls, G Kowalski, D Kennedy, S Risis, L Zaffino, N Watson, P Kanellakis, M Watt, A Bobik, A Bonen, M Febbraio, G Lancaster, M Febbraio
(2011), Vol. 60, pp. 1100-1110, Diabetes, Alexandria, Va., C1-1
Y Xu, P Schnorrer, A Proietto, G Kowalski, M Febbraio, H Acha-Orbea, R Dickins, J Villadangos
(2011), Vol. 186, pp. 3666-3673, Journal of immunology, Bethesda, Md., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Targeting hepatic energy expenditure to improve glycaemic control
Dr Greg Kowalski, Prof Clinton Bruce
DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust)
- 2015: $30,000
- 2014: $30,000
Does mitochondrial dysfunction impair muscle glucose metabolism?
Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Greg Kowalski, Dr Gunveen Kaur
DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust)
- 2015: $60,000
Liver-type pyruvate kinase: a novel anti-hyperglycemic target
Dr Greg Kowalski, Prof Clinton Bruce
DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust)
- 2016: $59,950
Phosphatidylserine: a regulator of muscle and mitochondrial biology?
Dr Greg Kowalski
ARC DECRA - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
- 2020: $130,507
- 2019: $127,465
- 2018: $125,192
Mechanisms of insulin resistance in humans
Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Greg Kowalski
DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust)
- 2019: $60,000
Metabolic tug-of-war: deciphering the role of glucagon and insulin under physiologically relevant conditions in humans
Dr Greg Kowalski, Prof Clinton Bruce
DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust)
- 2019: $59,900
Aminogenic insulin-glucagon secretion and action in human insulin resistance
Dr Greg Kowalski, Prof Clinton Bruce
DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust)
- 2020: $60,000
Fasting hyperinsulinemia remodels adipose tissue metabolism to drive obesity and insulin resistance
Dr Chris Shaw, Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Kirsten Howlett, Prof Sean Mcgee, Dr Greg Kowalski
Diabetes Australia Research Program Grant
- 2021: $59,895
A novel ¿liquid biopsy¿ approach to study in vivo ¿-cell insulin synthesis in humans
Dr Greg Kowalski, Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Chris Shaw
Diabetes Australia Research Program Grant
- 2022: $69,340
Deciphering the mechanisms of prostprandial glucose disposal
Dr Chris Shaw, Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Greg Kowalski, Dr Kirsten Howlett
Diabetes Australia Research Program Grant
- 2022: $69,911
Industry and Other Funding
Determination of 6,6-2H glucose enrichment in plasma
Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Greg Kowalski
Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute Holdings Limited
- 2015: $1,920
Measurement of plasma free fatty acids
Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Greg Kowalski
CSL Limited
- 2016: $2,200
Can dietary supplementation with Krill-Oil improve ME/CFS symptoms?
Dr Lee Hamilton, Prof Ken Walder, Dr Giselle Allsopp, Dr Chris Shaw, Dr Greg Kowalski, Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Craig Wright, Dr Rhiannon Snipe
Equity Trustees - The Mason Foundation National Medical Program
- 2023: $90,000
- 2022: $100,000
Other Funding Sources
Determination of 6,6-2H glucose enrichment in plasma
Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Greg Kowalski
Monash University
- 2017: $776
- 2016: $1,520
- 2015: $1,710
Determination of lipogenesis in liver cancer
Prof Clinton Bruce, Dr Greg Kowalski
University of New South Wales (CAT8)
- 2016: $4,000
Supervisions
Sheik Nadeem Elahee Doomun
Thesis entitled: Analysis of lipid metabolism under nitrogen starvation in microalgae
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Wei (Teddy) Ang
Thesis entitled: Understanding the Physiologic Regulation of Endogenous Glucose Production
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (Low Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Steven Douglas Hamley
Thesis entitled: Understanding the Mechanisms of Hyperinsulinemia
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Dale John Morrison
Thesis entitled: Quantification of postprandial glucose flux following endurance exercise training and overfeeding by the triple tracer technique
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences