AuPS symposium
Vesicle-mediated transport and signalling are key physiological regulators in health and disease. Caveolae and extracellular vesicles (EVs); the latter mainly as exosomes and microvesicles, are the main structures involved in these processes, with significant diversity in their specific morphology and activity within and between cells, tissues, species and sex, as well as in ageing, development and disease. Such transport and signalling vesicles are involved in the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and nervous systems, where clarifying their function is key for healthy function, and disease diagnosis and treatment. This symposium will focus on the diversity of mechanisms for transport and signalling vesicles at the basic level (Parton/Grau), and their application to understanding vascular disease etiology in neonatal fluid balance (Hinkley), sepsis (Emery) and preeclampsia (Luque). Understanding some of the key aspects of the diversity in vesicle-mediated signalling will assist to identify targets for disease diagnosis and methods to control cardiovascular disease. In addition, such data improve knowledge on vesicle-related transport and signalling in endocrine, immune and nervous systems and the health and disease processes therein.
Chair: Shaun Sandow UniSC/UQ and Tim Murphy UNSW
AuPS symposium
Given the pivotal role of mitochondria in providing the energy required for activities of daily life, it is not surprising that mitochondria have been associated with endurance performance. The mitochondria also have an important role in ageing and cell pathology, and have been implicated in many age-related degenerative or metabolic diseases. These findings highlight the importance of a better understanding of the factors that have beneficial and potentially negative effects on mitochondrial characteristics. This session will present the latest research regarding: 1) how mitochondria respond when skeletal muscle is under stress and adapts by lowering its basal energy consumption; 2) the mechanisms by which mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) escape outside mitochondria and into the cytosol, and then escape outside the cells themselves; 3) a re-examination of how mitochondria respond to contractile stress (including exercise) - challenging current dogma in the field; 4) how mitochondria respond to the stress of ageing, with particular emphasis on the role of inactivity versus effects of ageing per se.
Chair: Prof David Bishop, Victoria University
AuPS symposium
Biological ageing leads to progressive physiological dysfunction and is increasingly understood as a multi-layered process shaped by molecular damage, stress adaptation, and cellular remodelling across tissues. Advances in molecular profiling have enabled the development of ageing "clocks" and other measures that estimate biological age using epigenetic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data, offering insights beyond chronological age alone. This symposium will highlight recent progress in ageing biology with a focus on integrative, multi-omic approaches relevant to human physiology. Prof Eynon (Monash University) will outline the epigenome of multiple human tissues- and context-specific ageing trajectories. Prof Kennedy (National University of Singapore) will then discuss core hallmarks of ageing and intervention targets identified through large-scale human and model-system studies. A/Prof Emily Wong (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute) will examine how exercise reshapes enhancer activity and chromatin architecture to influence cardiac ageing and gene-regulatory networks. Finally, Dr Reisman (ECR, Monash University) will present new work on proteomic ageing clocks in skeletal muscle, revealing how mitochondrial function and proteostasis regulation contribute to functional ageing and exercise responsiveness. Together, these talks will showcase how combining multi-omics analysis with physiological measures can improve mechanistic understanding and translational potential in ageing research.
Chair: Prof Nir Eynon, Monash University
AuPS - Chinese Association for Physiological Sciences (CAPS) joint symposium
Neurophysiology and circadian biology are fundamental to understanding how the nervous system senses, processes, and adapts to environmental and physiological signals. This joint symposium brings together leading researchers from China and Australia to highlight recent advances in neurophysiology, sensory neuroscience, and circadian biology, fields that are central to modern physiological research and highly relevant to major health challenges, including neurological disorders, sensory impairment, sleep disruption, and mental health conditions.
By integrating molecular, cellular, and systems-level perspectives, the session will provide a comprehensive overview of how neural circuits and biological rhythms regulate brain function and behaviour. Professor Gary Housley (UNSW Sydney) will present translational research on neural protection and innovative gene-based therapeutics for hearing and vision disorders. Professors Yun Wang and Tian Xue will discuss advances in neural signalling, sensory physiology, and light-regulated neural circuits. Professor Luo-Ying Zhang will highlight emerging insights into sleep and circadian clock mechanisms and their links to mood and brain function.
Together, these presentations will showcase cutting-edge research across multiple domains of neurophysiology while fostering international collaboration and new research directions in physiological science.
Chair: A/Prof Xu Sean Yan, Victoria University
AuPS symposium
Maternal metabolism and endocrine adaptation are central to reproductive success and long-term offspring health. This symposium brings together researchers examining how metabolic tissues communicate with reproductive systems in pregnant and non-pregnant females. It will explore how exercise-induced adaptations during pregnancy influence placental function and fetal growth, highlighting links between maternal activity and developmental programming. The neuroendocrine integration of metabolic cues within maternal reproductive hormone circuits will be discussed, revealing how central pathways coordinate fertility, pregnancy, and lactation. The pathophysiology of gestational diabetes will then be examined to understand how disrupted metabolic signalling alters placental function and shapes offspring risk trajectories. Finally, skeletal muscle will be considered as a dynamic endocrine organ, with a focus on myokine secretion, and emerging endocrine tracking technologies that capture direct interactions between muscle and reproductive tissues. Together, these presentations provide an integrative perspective on metabolic tissue crosstalk in female reproductive physiology.
Chair: Dr Kelly Walton, University of Queensland
AuPS symposium
It is now appreciated that circulating factors and inter-organ transmission of these factors, are important in physiology and pathophysiology. The question is how? Recent evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial in mediating the effect of cellular communication in the aging microenvironment and age-related disease incidence and progression. EVs are lipid bilayer-encased particles known to participate in the exchange of molecules from cell to cell. Often referred to as exosomes, EVs shed from the plasma membrane, or microparticles referred to simply as small EVs (sEVs). Originally thought to be merely a waste disposal system, it is now known that sEVs largely facilitate inter-cellular communication in diverse cellular processes. This symposium will focus on the precise biology of sEVs in the context of human health and disease.
Chair: Prof Mark A Febbraio, Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute
AuPS symposium
Exercise is a powerful modulator of cardiovascular and skeletal muscle health, activating diverse molecular pathways that protect and enhance organ function. This symposium, Exercise Driven Molecular Pathways in Heart and Muscle Health, brings together emerging discoveries across RNA biology, mitochondrial regulation, and the non coding genome. First, new insights into circular RNAs (circRNAs) reveal their role as dynamic regulators of exercise induced cardioprotection, offering potential therapeutic avenues for heart disease. Complementing this, novel findings highlight how exercise activated pathways can mitigate chemotherapy associated cardiotoxicity, underscoring the translational potential of exercise biology in clinical settings. In skeletal muscle, recent work uncovers previously unrecognised controllers of mitochondrial function that are engaged following exercise. Finally, expanding beyond the heart and muscle, research demonstrates how exercise orchestrates beneficial changes in other tissues, such as adipose, liver, and immune systems, supporting whole body metabolic resilience and health. Together, these advances illustrate how exercise rewires molecular networks to promote resilience in heart and muscle, paving the way for innovative therapeutic strategies.
Chair: Dr Bianca Bernardo , Deakin University
AuPS symposium
Pregnancy induces the most profound cardiovascular adaptations seen in adult life, yet many of these physiological shifts remain poorly understood. While these changes are essential to support fetal development, they also create a state of heightened vulnerability in which the cardiovascular system can become dysfunctional, leading to significant maternal and neonatal morbidity. This symposium brings together leading experts in cardiovascular function during pregnancy, each with a strong foundation in basic and translational science. Collectively, they will present their latest findings aimed at elucidating the mechanisms underpinning normal cardiovascular adaptation, as well as the pathways that become dysregulated in pregnancy related cardiovascular conditions. By integrating cutting edge experimental approaches with emerging clinical insights, this symposium will highlight opportunities for improving prediction, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular complications in pregnancy.
Chair: Dr James Cuffe, University of Queensland
AuPS symposium
Calcium is the principal regulator of function in skeletal muscle, including EC coupling, non-shivering thermogenesis and adaptation to exercise or disuse, for example. In this symposium, work will be presented that covers these themes in the muscle from different experimental approaches. How calcium is controlled acutely in muscle is through the action of the ryanodine receptor. This role of Calcium and RyRs will be explored in EC coupling, NST and in pathology. Post-calcium transient signalling by CaMKII is poorly understood in muscle and will be explored through biochemical approaches.
Chair: Prof Bradley Launikonis, University of Queensland
AuPS symposium
The neuromuscular system, comprising the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), motor neurons, neurotransmitters, and skeletal muscle fibres, underpins normal muscle function. Aberrant function of this system leads to neuromuscular disease, both acquired and hereditary, marked by the loss of skeletal muscle mass. To date, there remains no cure and treatment options are limited. Understanding the mechanisms underpinning neuromuscular function is crucial for the development of therapeutics for neuromuscular disease. This symposium will showcase new and exciting research delving into the role of the NMJ in skeletal muscle atrophy across acquired and hereditary neuromuscular disease.
Chair: Kristy Swiderski, University of Melbourne
AuPS symposium
Mitochondrial function is a critical regulator of mammalian physiology. Beyond the classical role of ATP production, mitochondria integrate metabolic signals, coordinate cellular stress responses, and shape tissue-specific physiological outcomes across the lifespan. Emerging evidence suggests that disturbances in mitochondrial homeostasis can act both as drivers of physiological dysfunction and as downstream consequences of metabolic, reproductive, and age-related stress, yet disentangling cause from effect remains a fundamental challenge. This symposium brings together leading experts to explore how mitochondria health and dysfunction control tissue specific physiology and vulnerability across musculoskeletal, metabolic, neuronal and reproductive systems.
The symposium will focus on:
1) The role of mitochondrial DNA damage as a driver of maladaptive metabolic reprogramming and disease progression.
2) How alterations in mitochondrial function at fertilisation can impair telomere elongation in early embryos, limiting healthspan and lifespan later in life.
3) The importance of mitochondrial homeostasis for optimal health and function in neurons.
4) The role of mitochondrial quality control in skeletal muscle, examining how these processes govern adaptation, performance, and age-related decline.
Together, these talks will illustrate how mitochondrial mechanisms share physiological vulnerabilities and opportunities for intervention across diverse tissues. From PolG mutator models revealing how mtDNA fidelity governs metabolic tissue function, to evidence that mitochondrial function at fertilisation determines lifelong telomere length, the talks will highlight how early and ongoing mitochondrial regulation sets the trajectory of health and disease.
Chair: Dr. Adam Hagg, The University of Queensland
AuPS symposium
Gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) constitutes a key component of clinical care for trans and gender diverse individuals, supporting wellbeing by facilitating alignment between physical characteristics and affirmed gender. While testosterone and estrogen therapies drive physiological changes, significant gaps remain in understanding their mechanistic effects on the musculoskeletal system. This symposium integrates clinical, molecular, and pre clinical perspectives to address these gaps, bringing together experts in endocrinology, exercise physiology, and sex chromosome biology. Alongside emerging findings from the world first GAME study, which characterizes GAHT induced alterations in skeletal muscle and epigenetic profiles, this symposium incorporates evidence from preclinical hormone therapy models and the Sry modified seven genotype rat model to disentangle chromosomal and hormonal contributions to musculoskeletal, adipose, and bone biology, and to support translation of these insights into clinical care.
Chair: Dr Carlie Bauer, Victoria University
AuPS symposium
Advances in genomic sequencing have accelerated the identification of variants underlying skeletal muscle disease. However, translating genetic discovery into mechanistic understanding and effective therapy remains a major challenge. This symposium will explore how physiological approaches are central to bridging this gap. Speakers will discuss novel model systems for investigating skeletal muscle disease, functional assessment of variants of unknown significance and design of precision therapeutic approaches to restore muscle function. By highlighting the integration of genomics and disease modelling, this symposium will showcase how physiology underpins mechanism-guided use of precision medicine in skeletal muscle disease.
Chair: Dr Amy Hanna, University of Queensland
AuPS symposium
A sub-optimal in utero environment, due to placental insufficiency or poor living conditions (e.g., extreme heat), can change the trajectory of fetal development, leading to preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and neonates being more likely to require respiratory support due to a combination of immature lungs, poor cardiovascular and brain function. This symposium explores novel research aimed at better understanding the physiological adaptations of these systems to such events using preclinical sheep models. How these physiological insights, provided by novel advanced imaging and molecular techniques, are being used to develop potential interventions, such as novel glucocorticoid treatments and risk-detection methods, to improve outcomes in these vulnerable populations is also explored.
Chair: Dr Melanie Bertossa, Adelaide University
AuPS Education symposium
Assessment reform in physiology education has become increasingly urgent as expanding competency expectations, and generative artificial intelligence reshape how learning is demonstrated. Grounded in the principle that assessment steers learning, this symposium positions assessment as the anchor for educational reform and explores how standardised frameworks can align disciplinary values, curriculum design, and graduate outcomes. The session opens with international perspectives from the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS), highlighting global efforts to refine core concepts, competencies, and assessment alignment, including revisions to the HAPS Comprehensive Exam. Building on this context, presenters examine how AI is transforming assessment design and introduce an AI-aware rubric framework that prioritises reasoning, authenticity, and transparency. A complementary presentation presents structured practical skills and competency assessment criteria as a secure modality for evaluating applied physiological understanding. The symposium concludes by positioning core concepts of physiology as conceptual infrastructure needed to sustain reform and align curriculum, assessment, and learning progression.
Chair: Dr Suzanne Estaphan , ANU and Dr Trevor Lewis, UNSW
AuPS Education symposium
This symposium explores principles for and examples of embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' perspectives and knowledges within physiology and biomedical science curricula. The session will begin with an overview of the Australian Council of Deans of Science (ACDS) framework for integrating First Nations Australian content into science degrees, with discussion of how its principles can inform curriculum design in physiology. Presentations will then explore how Indigenous pedagogies can enrich the teaching of core physiological concepts. Speakers will demonstrate how educators can respectfully bridge knowledge systems and meaningfully integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into physiology learning. The symposium will also outline programmatic approaches developed at two universities with distinct educational contexts (The University of Queensland and Murdoch University) to progressively support the development of cultural capability, and examples of how to implement this. Together, these contributions outline key design principles and practical examples to support the meaningful and culturally sensitive embedding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' perspectives and knowledges within physiology curricula.
Chair: Dr Luli Faber, University of Queensland and A/Prof Sarah Etherington, Murdoch University
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