Research interests
Dr Howletts research program is focused on understanding the metabolic and cellular mechanisms that underpin the beneficial effects of exercise, and the detrimental impact of obesity and physical inactivity in the development of metabolic diseases. This research provides greater insight into the maintenance of good health and well-being, and prevention and treatment of diseases such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Affiliations
Teaching interests
Course Director, Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science (H343)
Exercise Physiology and Metabolism, Human Physiology
Supervisors and co-supervisors honours and PhD students
Professional activities
Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) National Academic Course Accreditation Reviewer
Awards
2021 Deakin University Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Employability.
2000 Fulbright Post-doctoral Award
The Queens Trust Award for Young Australians
Publications
J Stokie, G Abbott, K Howlett, D Hamilton, C Shaw
(2023), Vol. 134, pp. 581-592, Journal of Applied Physiology, Bethesda, Md., C1
M Morales-Scholz, S Wette, J Stokie, B Tepper, C Swinton, D Hamilton, K Dwyer, R Murphy, K Howlett, C Shaw
(2022), Vol. 323, pp. E242-E253, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, United States, C1
M Renton, S McGee, K Howlett
(2021), Vol. 22, Obesity Reviews, England, 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
C Bruce, S Hamley, T Ang, K Howlett, C Shaw, G Kowalski
(2021), Vol. 53, Molecular Metabolism, Germany, C1
C Shaw, C Swinton, M Morales-Scholz, N McRae, T Erftemeyer, A Aldous, R Murphy, K Howlett
(2020), Vol. 128, pp. 379-389, Journal of applied physiology, Rockville, Md., 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
N McRae, A Addinsall, K Howlett, B McNeill, D McCulloch, N Stupka
(2020), Vol. 10, Scientific Reports, England, C1
Reducing hepatic PKD activity lowers circulating VLDL cholesterol
Amanda Genders, Timothy Connor, Shona Morrison, Simon Bond, Brian Drew, Peter Meikle, Kirsten Howlett, Sean Mcgee
(2020), Vol. 246, pp. 265-276, Journal of Endocrinology, Bristol, Eng., 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
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
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
Epigenetic regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism
K Howlett, S McGee
(2016), Vol. 130, pp. 1051-1063, Clinical Science, England, C1
L Parker, I Levinger, A Mousa, K Howlett, B De Courten
(2016), Vol. 8, Nutrients, Switzerland, C1
T Connor, S Martin, K Howlett, S McGee
(2015), Vol. 42, pp. 109-115, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, England, London, C1
Exercise-induced muscle glucose uptake in mice with graded, muscle-specific GLUT-4 deletion
K Howlett, S Andrikopoulos, J Proietto, M Hargreaves
(2013), Vol. 1, pp. 1-7, Physiological reports, Chichester, England, C1
Akt, AS160, metabolic risk factors and aerobic fitness in middle-aged women
I Levinger, K Howlett, J Peake, A Garnham, D Hare, G Jerums, S Selig, C Goodman
(2010), Vol. 16, pp. 98-104, Exercise immunology review, Champaign, Ill., C1-1
M Gibala, S McGee, A Garnham, K Howlett, R Snow, M Hargreaves
(2009), Vol. 106, pp. 929-934, Journal of applied physiology, Bethesda, Md., C1
K Howlett, A Matthews, A Garnham, K Sakamoto
(2008), Vol. 294, pp. 401-407, American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism, Bethesda, Md., C1
AMP-activated protein kinase regulates GLUT4 transcription by phosphorylating histone deacetylase 5
S McGee, B van Denderen, K Howlett, J Mollica, J Schertzer, B Kemp, M Hargreaves
(2008), Vol. 57, pp. 860-867, Diabetes, Alexandria, Va., C1-1
K Koshinaka, A Sano, K Howlett, T Yamazaki, M Sasaki, K Sakamoto, K Kawanaka
(2008), Vol. 57, pp. 749-756, Metabolism, Maryland Heights, Mo., C1-1
G Wadley, N Konstantopoulos, L Macaulay, K Howlett, A Garnham, M Hargreaves, D Cameron-Smith
(2007), Vol. 102, pp. 1624-1631, Journal of applied physiology, Washington, D.C., C1-1
Resistance exercise and insulin regulate AS160 and interaction with 14-3-3 in human skeletal muscle
K Howlett, K Sakamoto, A Garnham, D Cameron-Smith, M Hargreaves
(2007), Vol. 56, pp. 1608-1614, Diabetes, New York, N.Y., C1
K Howlett, K Sakamoto, H Yu, L Goodyear, M Hargreaves
(2006), Vol. 55, pp. 1046-1052, Metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
C Wilson, M Hargreaves, K Howlett
(2006), Vol. 290, pp. 341-346, American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism, Bethesda, Md., C1
G Wadley, C Bruce, N Konstantopoulos, J Macauley, K Howlett, J Hawley, D Cameron-Smith
(2004), Vol. 47, pp. 412-419, Diabetologia, Berlin, Germany, C1
Exercise increases nuclear AMPK α2 in human skeletal muscle
S McGee, K Howlett, R Starkie, D Cameron-Smith, B Kemp, M Hargreaves
(2003), Vol. 52, pp. 926-928, Diabetes, Alexandria, Va., C1
K Howlett, M Watt, M Hargreaves, M Febbraio
(2003), Vol. 52, pp. 1615-1620, Metabolism, clinical and experimental, Philadelphia, Pa., C1
B Lamont, S Andrikopoulos, A Funkat, J Favaloro, J Ye, E Kraegen, K Howlett, J Zajac, J Proietto
(2003), Vol. 46, pp. 1338-1347, Diabetologia, New York, N.Y., C1
Insulin signaling after exercise in insulin receptor substrate-2-deficient mice
K Howlett, K Sakamoto, M Hirschman, W Aschenbach, M Dow, M White, L Goodyear
(2002), Vol. 51, pp. 479-483, Diabetes, New York, N.Y., C1-1
Effect of AICAR treatment on gycogen metabolism in skeletal muscle
W Aschenbach, M Hirschman, N Fujii, K Sakamoto, K Howlett, L Goodyear
(2002), Vol. 51, pp. 567-573, Diabetes, New York, N.Y., C1-1
Effect of prior exercise on glucose metabolism in trained men.
A Rose, K Howlett, D King, M Hargreaves
(2001), Vol. 281, American journal of physiology : endocrinology and metabolism, Bethesada, Md., C1
M Watt, K Howlett, M Febbraio, L Spriet, M Hargreaves
(2001), Vol. 534, pp. 269-278, Journal of physiology, Cambrigde, England, C1
Carbohydrate metabolism during exercise in females : effect of reduced fat availability
K Howlett, L Spriet, M Hargreaves
(2001), Vol. 50, pp. 481-487, Metabolism, clinical and experimental, Duluth, Minn., C1
R Bergeron, M Kjaer, L Simonsen, J Bulow, D Skovgaard, K Howlett, H Galbo
(2001), Vol. 281, pp. 1854-1861, American journal of physiology. Regulatory, integrative, and comparative physiology, Bethesda, Md., C1-1
Effect of prior exercise on glucose metabolism in trained men
A Rose, K Howlett, D King, M Hargreaves
(2001), Vol. 281, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, C1-1
M Kjær, K Howlett, J Langfort, T Zimmerman-Belsing, J Lorentsen, J B‡ülow, J Ihlemann, U Feldt-Rasmussen, H Galbo
(2000), Vol. 528, pp. 371-378, Journal of physiology, Oxford, England, C1-1
Glucose production during strenuous exercise in humans : role of epinephrine
K Howlett, M Febbraio, M Hargreaves
(1999), Vol. 276, American journal of physiology, Bethesda, Md., C1-1
Effect of adrenaline on glucose kinetics during exercise in adrenalectomised humans
K Howlett, H Galbo, J Lorentsen, R Bergeron, T Zimmerman-Belsing, J Bulow, U Feldt-Rasmussen, M Kjaer
(1999), Vol. 519, pp. 911-921, Journal of physiology, Oxford, England, C1-1
Glucose production during strenuous exercise in humans: role of epinephrine
Kirsten Howlett, Mark Febbraio, Mark Hargreaves
(1999), Vol. 276, pp. E1130-E1135, American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Rockville, Md., C1
Effect of increased blood glucose availability on glucose kinetics during exercise
K Howlett, D Angus, J Proietto, M Hargreaves
(1998), Vol. 84, pp. 1413-1417, Journal of applied physiology, Bethesda, Md., C1-1
Effect of heat stress on glucose kinetics during exercise
M Hargreaves, D Angus, K Howlett, N Marmy Conus, M Febbraio
(1996), Vol. 81, pp. 1594-1597, Journal of applied physiology, Bethesda, Md., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Intracellular localisation of insulin signalling proteins in human skeletal muscle following exercise
Dr Kirsten Howlett, Prof Mark Hargreaves
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2006: $58,561
A novel mechanism by which AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) may improve insulin action
Dr Kirsten Howlett
DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust)
- 2007: $24,900
- 2006: $24,900
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
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
Supervisions
Mark Renton
Thesis entitled: The role of protein kinase D in obesity
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Bianca Tepper
Thesis entitled: Extracellular Matrix Remodelling: Role in Insulin Resistance and Exercise Adaptations
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Liam Hall
Thesis entitled: The Role of Amyloid Beta 42 in Obese Cardiomyopathy
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Maria Gabriela Morales Scholz
Thesis entitled: The impact of metabolic disease, feeding and exercise training on autophagy
Doctor of Philosophy (Nutrition & Exercise) (High Cost), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
Kirstie Anne De Jong
Thesis entitled: Characterisation of the Obese and T2D Heart - Protein Kinase D, a Possible Therapeutic Target
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine
Simon Bond
Thesis entitled: The Role of Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Acetylation in Liver Metabolism
Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), School of Medicine