Biography
Dr Parker’s current research explores how vascular dysfunction and oxidative stress contribute to poor cardiometabolic health and reduced quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr Parker is also currently exploring whether interventions targeting the improvement of microvascular function, such as exercise training and antioxidant treatment, can be used to improve cardiometabolic health outcomes and quality of life in cardiometabolic disease patients.
Dr Parker’s research is currently focused on:
• Exploring the underlying causes (on a molecular and functional level) of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
• Exploring how exercise can be optimised (e.g., modifying intensity, duration and mode) to improve cardiometabolic health.
• Exploring novel interventions (e.g., antioxidant treatment and new pharmaceutical compounds) that can be used to improve cardiometabolic health.
Read more on Lewan's profileBiography 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 microvascular 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
La Trobe University / Alfred Health
Victoria University
Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS)
Knowledge areas
Research areas include: Exercise physiology, redox biology, glycaemic control, insulin resistance, bone metabolism, vascular health, and cardiometabolic disease.
Conferences
2020:
- Parker, L. et al. Exercise & Sports Science Australia (Australia, Western Australia) - conference cancelled.
2019:
- Invited: Parker, L. et al. European College of Sports Science (Prague, Czech Republic).
- Invited: Parker, L. Symposium on Early Career Research in Physiology. Australian Physiological Society (Geelong, Australia).
2018:
- Invited: Parker, L. Workshop for Higher Degree Research Students, “Life after a PhD – Careers in Research”. Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia).
- Parker, L., et al. Exercise and Sports Science Australia (Brisbane, Australia)
2017:
- Parker, L., et al. Australian Physiological Society (Melbourne, Australia).
- Parker, L., et al. American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (Denver, Colorado, United States).
- Parker, L., et al. Endocrine Society of Australia (Perth, Australia).
- Parker, L., et al. Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (Brisbane, Australia).
2016:
- Parker, L., et al. European College of Sport Science (Vienna, Austria).
- Parker, L., et al. Exercise and Sport Science Australia (Melbourne, Australia)
2015:
- Parker, L., et al. Australian Physiological Society (Hobart, Australia)
- Parker, L., et al. Victoria University Higher Degree Research Conference (Melbourne, Australia).
- Parker, L., et al. Sports Medicine Australia (Gold Coast, Australia).
- Parker, L., et al. Cell Symposia: Exercise Metabolism (Amsterdam, Netherlands).
2014:
- Parker, L., et al. Victoria University Higher Degree Research Conference (Melbourne, Australia).
2012:
- Parker, L., et al. Sports Medicine Australia (Sydney, Australia)
2011:
- Parker, L., et al. International e-conference on Kinesiology and Integrated Physiology.
Awards
- Early Career Researcher Award (Exercise Science and Health) + European College of Sport Science Research Exchange Award (2018)
- Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2018)
- Vice-Chancellors University Medal for Excellence in Postgraduate Research (2017)
- Vice-Chancellors Award for Excellence in Research and Research Training (2017)
- Staff Award for Excellence in Research (Early Career) (2017)
- Academic Medal in Recognition of Academic Excellence - Honours (2009).
Publications
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
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, England, 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: $36,836
- 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
- 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, Mrs 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
- 2023: $624,790
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