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A/Prof. Kathryn Aston-Mourney

STAFF PROFILE

Position

Associate Professor in Human Biology

Faculty

Faculty of Health

Department

School of Medicine

Campus

Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne, 2007

Contact

Research interests

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

Beta-cell dysfunction

Drug development and delivery

Islet Transplants

Units taught

Doctor of Medicine, HME911 Human Biology Topic Coordinator

Awards

2021 Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) Outstanding Service Award

2017 Deakin University Faculty of Health Award for outstanding leadership

2012JDRF/Maquarie Group Foundation Early-Stage Researcher Travel Grant

2012 CASS Foundation Early Career Researcher Award

2009 Travel Scholarship, Recent Advances in Beta Cell Biology, International Diabetes Federation and University of Toronto

2006 Travel Scholarship, Australian Diabetes Society

2005 Pincus-Taft Young Investigator Award (Awarded by the Australian Diabetes Society)

2005 Travel Scholarship, Australian Diabetes Society

2005  Sanofi aventis Diabetes Partnership Young Investigator Award:   Travel Grant for American Diabetes Association Annual Scientific Meeting 2005

2004 Travel Scholarship, Australian Diabetes Society

2003-2007 Australian Postgraduate Award (Scholarship)

2003 Travel Scholarship, Australian Diabetes Society

Projects

Dr. Aston-Mourney has several projects underway focusing on the insulin-secreting beta cells of the pancreas and their dysfunction in diabetes.

 

Currently accepting expressions of interest from prospective PhD and Honours students.

Publications

Filter by

2024

Amyloid beta 42 alters cardiac metabolism and impairs cardiac function in male mice with obesity

L Hall, J Czeczor, T Connor, J Botella, K De Jong, M Renton, A Genders, K Venardos, S Martin, S Bond, K Aston-Mourney, K Howlett, J Campbell, G Collier, K Walder, M McKenzie, M Ziemann, S McGee

(2024), Vol. 15, pp. 1-13, Nature Communications, London, Eng., C1

journal article
2023

Advanced Glycation End-Products and Their Effects on Gut Health

K Phuong-Nguyen, B McNeill, K Aston-Mourney, L Rivera

(2023), Vol. 15, pp. 405-405, Nutrients, Switzerland, C1

journal article

Identification of reversible and druggable pathways to improve beta-cell function and survival in Type 2 diabetes

S Sithara, T Crowley, K Walder, K Aston-Mourney

(2023), Vol. 15, pp. 2165368-, Islets, United States, C1

journal article

Simple Complexity: Incorporating Bioinspired Delivery Machinery within Self-Assembled Peptide Biogels

R Li, Q Zhou, M Tai, K Ashton-Mourney, M Harty, A Rifai, C Parish, D Nisbet, S Zhong, R Williams

(2023), Vol. 9, pp. 1-23, Gels, Basel, Switzerland, C1-1

journal article

Prevalence, clinical features and complications of common forms of Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) seen at a tertiary diabetes centre in south India

Ramasamy Aarthy, Kathryn Aston-Mourney, Anandakumar Amutha, Antonina Mikocka-Walus, Ranjit Anjana, Ranjit Unnikrishnan, Saravanan Jebarani, Ulagamathesan Venkatesan, Sundaramoorthy Gopi, Venkatesan Radha, Viswanathan Mohan

(2023), Vol. 17, pp. 401-407, Primary Care Diabetes, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1

journal article

Identification of appropriate biochemical parameters and cut points to detect Maturity Onset Diabetes of Young (MODY) in Asian Indians in a clinic setting

R Aarthy, K Aston-Mourney, A Amutha, A Mikocka-Walus, R Anjana, R Unnikrishnan, S Jebarani, U Venkatesan, S Gopi, V Radha, V Mohan

(2023), Vol. 13, pp. 1-9, Scientific Reports, Berlin, Germany, C1

journal article

Characterisation of the hydrogen sulfide system in early diabetic kidney disease

C Bushell, L Forgan, K Aston-Mourney, T Connor, S McGee, B McNeill

(2023), Vol. 71, Journal of molecular endocrinology, C1

journal article
2022

Cytokine-inducible SH2 domain containing protein contributes to regulation of adiposity, food intake, and glucose metabolism

W Naser, S Maymand, L Rivera, T Connor, C Liongue, C Smith, K Aston-Mourney, D McCulloch, S McGee, A Ward

(2022), Vol. 36, pp. 1-15, FASEB Journal, London, Eng., C1

journal article

Prior degree and academic performance in medical school: evidence for prioritising health students and moving away from a bio-medical science-focused entry stream

K Aston-Mourney, J McLeod, L Rivera, B McNeill, D Baldi

(2022), Vol. 22, BMC Medical Education, C1

journal article
2021

Clinical features, complications and treatment of rarer forms of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) - A review

R Aarthy, K Aston-Mourney, A Mikocka-Walus, V Radha, A Amutha, R Anjana, R Unnikrishnan, V Mohan

(2021), Vol. 35, Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, United States, C1

journal article
2020

Copper Ionophores as Novel Antiobesity Therapeutics

P Meggyesy, S Masaldan, S Clatworthy, I Volitakis, D Eyckens, K Aston-Mourney, M Cater

(2020), Vol. 25, Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), Switzerland, C1

journal article
2019

Class IIa HDACs do not influence beta-cell function under normal or high glucose conditions

J McCann, M Ellis, S McGee, K Aston-Mourney

(2019), Vol. 11, pp. 112-118, Islets, United States, C1

journal article
2018

Metformin, beta-cell development, and novel processes following beta-cell ablation in zebrafish

G Wyett, Y Gibert, M Ellis, H Castillo, Jan Kaslin, K Aston-Mourney

(2018), Vol. 59, pp. 419-425, Endocrine, United States, C1-1

journal article

APP deficiency results in resistance to obesity but impairs glucose tolerance upon high fat feeding

J Czeczor, A Genders, K Aston-Mourney, T Connor, L Hall, K Hasebe, M Ellis, K De Jong, D Henstridge, P Meikle, M Febbraio, K Walder, S McGee

(2018), Vol. 237, pp. 311-322, Journal of Endocrinology, England, C1

journal article
2017

Gene expression signature: A powerful approach for drug discovery in diabetes

S Sithara, T Crowley, K Walder, K Aston-Mourney

(2017), Vol. 232, pp. R131-R139, Journal of Endocrinology, England, C1

journal article

Scriptaid enhances skeletal muscle insulin action and cardiac function in obese mice

V Gaur, T Connor, K Venardos, D Henstridge, S Martin, C Swinton, S Morrison, K Aston-Mourney, S Gehrig, R van Ewijk, G Lynch, M Febbraio, G Steinberg, M Hargreaves, K Walder, S McGee

(2017), Vol. 19, pp. 936-943, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, England, C1

journal article
2016

Pathways of Acetyl-CoA Metabolism Involved in the Reversal of Palmitate-Induced Glucose Production by Metformin and Salicylate

B Hayward, J Molero, K Windmill, A Sanigorski, J Weir, N McRae, K Aston-Mourney, B Osborne, B Liao, K Walder, P Meikle, N Konstantopoulos, C Schmitz-Peiffer

(2016), Vol. 124, pp. 602-612, Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes, Germany, C1

journal article
2013

One year of sitagliptin treatment protects against islet amyloid-associated β-cell loss and does not induce pancreatitis or pancreatic neoplasia in mice

K Aston-Mourney, S Subramanian, S Zraika, T Samarasekera, D Meier, L Goldstein, R Hull

(2013), Vol. 305, American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, Bethesda, MD, C1

journal article

Adipocytokines as features of the metabolic syndrome determined using confirmatory factor analysis

M Smits, P Woudstra, K Utzschneider, J Tong, F Gerchman, M Faulenbach, D Carr, K Aston-Mourney, A Chait, R Knopp, J Meigs, E Boyko, S Kahn

(2013), Vol. 23, pp. 415-421, Annals of Epidemiology, Amsterdam, Netherlands, C1-1

journal article

Rosiglitazone Treatment Does Not Decrease Amyloid Deposition in Transplanted Islets From Transgenic Mice Expressing Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide

J Udayassankar, S Zraika, K Aston-Mourney, S Subramanian, B Brooks-Worrell, G Taborsky, R Hull

(2013), Vol. 45, pp. 574-579, Transplantation Proceedings, New York, NY, C1-1

journal article

Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 reduces islet amyloid formation by degrading islet amyloid polypeptide

K Aston-Mourney, S Zraika, J Udayasankar, S Subramanian, P Green, S Kahn, R Hull

(2013), Vol. 288, pp. 3553-3559, The journal of biological chemistry, Bethesda, Maryland, C1

journal article
2012

cJUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation mediates islet amyloid-induced beta cell apoptosis in cultured human islet amyloid polypeptide transgenic mouse islets

S Subramanian, R Hull, S Zraika, K Aston-Mourney, J Udayasankar, S Kahn

(2012), Vol. 55, pp. 166-174, Diabetologia, Heidelberg , Germany, C1-1

journal article
2011

B-cell loss and B-cell apoptosis in human type 2 diabetes are related to islet amyloid deposition

C Jurgens, M Toukatly, C Fligner, J Udayasankar, S Subramanian, S Zraika, K Aston-Mourney, D Carr, P Westermark, G Westermark, S Kahn, R Hull

(2011), Vol. 178, pp. 2632-2640, American journal of clinical pathology, Birmingham, Ala., C1-1

journal article

Exendin-4 increases islet amyloid deposition but offsets the resultant beta cell toxicity in human islet amyloid polypeptide transgenic mouse islets

K Aston-Mourney, R Hull, S Zraika, J Udayasankar, S Subramanian, S Kahn

(2011), Vol. 54, pp. 1756-1765, Diabetologia, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1

journal article
2010

Neprilysin impedes islet amyloid formation by inhibition of fibril formation rather than peptide degradation

S Zraika, K Aston-Mourney, P Marek, R Hull, P Green, J Udayasankar, S Subramanian, D Raleigh, S Kahn

(2010), Vol. 285, pp. 18177-18183, Journal of biological chemistry, Bethesda, Md., C1-1

journal article
2009

Amyloid formation results in recurrence of hyperglycaemia following transplantation of human IAPP transgenic mouse islets

J Udayasankar, K Kodama, R Hull, S Zraika, K Aston-Mourney, S Subramanian, J Tong, M Faulenbach, J Vidal, S Kahn

(2009), Vol. 52, pp. 145-153, Diabetologia, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1

journal article

Oxidative stress is induced by islet amyloid formation and time-dependently mediates amyloid-induced beta cell apoptosis

S Zraika, R Hull, J Udayasankar, K Aston-Mourney, S Subramanian, R Kisilevsky, W Szarek, S Kahn

(2009), Vol. 52, pp. 626-635, Diabetologia, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1

journal article

Amyloid formation in human IAPP transgenic mouse islets and pancreas, and human pancreas, is not associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress

R Hull, S Zraika, J Udayasankar, K Aston-Mourney, S Subramanian, S Kahn

(2009), Vol. 52, pp. 1102-1111, Diabetologia, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1

journal article
2008

Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase overexpression in pancreatic [beta]-cells results in reduced insulin secretion : a new mechanism for fat-induced impairment of [beta]-cell function

M Kebede, J Favaloro, J Gunton, D Laybutt, M Shaw, N Wong, B Fam, K Aston-Mourney, C Rantzau, A Zulli, J Proietto, S Andrikopoulos

(2008), Vol. 57, pp. 1887-1895, Diabetes, Alexandria, Va, C1-1

journal article

Too much of a good thing : why it is bad to stimulate the beta cell to secrete insulin

K Aston-Mourney, J Proietto, G Morahan, S Andrikopoulos

(2008), Vol. 51, pp. 540-545, Diabetologia, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1

journal article
2007

Increased nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase levels predispose to insulin hypersecretion in a mouse strain susceptible to diabetes

K Aston-Mourney, N Wong, M Kebede, S Zraika, L Balmer, J McMahon, B Fam, J Favaloro, J Proietto, G Morahan, S Andrikopoulos

(2007), Vol. 50, pp. 2476-2485, Diabetologia, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1

journal article
2006

The influence of genetic background on the induction of oxidative stress and impaired insulin secretion in mouse islets

S Zraika, K Aston-Mourney, D Laybutt, M Kebede, M Dunlop, J Proietto, S Andrikopoulos

(2006), Vol. 49, pp. 1254-1263, Diabetologia, Heidelberg, Germany, C1-1

journal article
2005

Investigational agents that protect pancreatic islet β-cells from failure

K Aston-Mourney, J Proietto, S Andrikopoulos

(2005), Vol. 14, pp. 1241-1250, Expert opinion on investigational drugs, England, London, C1-1

journal article

Differential effect of inbred mouse strain (C57BL/6, DBA/2, 129T2) on insulin secretory function in response to a high fat diet

S Andrikopoulos, C Massa, K Aston-Mourney, A Funkat, B Fam, R Hull, S Kahn, J Proietto

(2005), Vol. 187, pp. 45-53, Journal of endocrinology, Bristol, England, C1-1

journal article

High glucose-induced impairment in insulin secretion is associated with reduction in islet glucokinase in a mouse model of susceptibility to islet dysfunction

S Kooptiwut, M Kebede, S Zraika, S Visinoni, K Aston-Mourney, J Favaloro, C Tikellis, M Thomas, J Forbes, M Cooper, M Dunlop, J Proietto, S Andrikopoulos

(2005), Vol. 35, pp. 39-48, Journal of molecular endocrinology, Bristol, England, C1-1

journal article

Funded Projects at Deakin

Australian Competitive Grants

A novel approach to target beta-cells to enhance survival and function

A/Prof Kathryn Aston-Mourney, A/Prof Sarah Shigdar, Prof Sean Mcgee

DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust)

  • 2020: $59,756

Other Public Sector Funding

MiSeq Next Generation Sequencer

A/Prof Kathryn Aston-Mourney

NHMRC - Equipment Grant (pre 2017)

  • 2013: $15,000

Industry and Other Funding

JDRF Travel Grant

A/Prof Kathryn Aston-Mourney

Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund - JDRF Australia

  • 2012: $3,170

HDAC Inhibition as a Potential Therapy for Preventing the Progression of Type 2 Diabetes

A/Prof Kathryn Aston-Mourney, Prof Sean Mcgee

CASS Grant - Research - The CASS Foundation Limited

  • 2015: $55,000

Generation and application of a novel screening tool for the Discovery of b-cell Protective Diabetes Drugs

A/Prof Kathryn Aston-Mourney

Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation

  • 2015: $20,650

Discovery of novel therapies for type 2 diabetes

A/Prof Kathryn Aston-Mourney

Geelong Community Foundation Grant - Research

  • 2015: $32,000

Other Funding Sources

CASS Travel grant - American Diabetes Foundation

A/Prof Kathryn Aston-Mourney

CASS Travel - The CASS Foundation Limited

  • 2012: $3,000

Supervisions

Principal Supervisor
2023

Bhavisha Patel

Thesis entitled: Developing Targeted Therapy for ¿-cell Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes

Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine

2019

Smithamol Sithara

Thesis entitled: A beta-cell specific global approach for drug identification in Type 2 Diabetes

Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine