Ayse Zengin

Dr Ayse Zengin joined the School of Clinical Sciences as a Research Fellow in the Muscle and Bone Health Group in September 2016.

Ayse completed her PhD in a joint project between the Bone Biology and Neuroscience programs at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia in 2012. Upon completion, Ayse worked as a postdoc in the Endocrinology Department of the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich (Germany) until December 2013. Ayse then moved to Cambridge (UK) where she was a Postdoctoral Scientist at the MRC Human Nutrition Research Unit, Cambridge University where she worked with the MRC Unit in The Gambia (Africa) on a musculoskeletal study in ageing men and women. 

Ayse’s main research interests are investigating the muscle-bone relationship within the ageing population, imaging bone with advanced technology and the role of nutrition on skeletal health in the elderly across ethnic populations. 

• Global health of musculoskeletal diseases (osteoporosis and sarcopenia)
• Fall and fracture prevention in disadvantaged populations (e.g The Gambia, India, Aboriginal Australians)
• Lifestyle effects (diet, nutrition, physical activity etc) on bone and muscle health
• Effects of chronic co-morbidities (cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes) on bone and muscle health

1. Study of Indigenous Muscle & Bone Ageing (SIMBA): longitudinal study to determine why fall & fracture risk are increased in Indigenous Australians?
2. Effects of diet/nutrtion on bone and muscle health in ageing Indian and Gambian adults
3. Understanding the associations between cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health in ageing Indian men and women
4. Sex-differences in the associations of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health in South African older adults
5. Ethnic differences in muscle function decline in Indian, Gambian and South African older adults

Co-chair of European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) Young Endocrinologists & Scientists (EYES): Jan 2019 - present

Upon taking the role as Co-Chair, Ayse has developed new early career initiatives including a mentor program, Clinical Observership Program and created a quarterly newsletter focused at showcasing early career investigators within the field, that is distributed to all members within ESE. Ayse has helped to grow the EYES community by engaging with early career investogators and providing these new initiatives - there are now have >500 early career investigators within the EYES community. Prior to being elected as Co-Chair, Ayse served as the EYES Secretary from 2016-2018 and organised the symposia session at the annual European Congress of Endocrinology which was held in May 2017, Lisbon Portugal. In addition, together with the local organising committee, Ayse has organised the annual EYES conference that was held in Porto, Portugal in September 2017. This involved marking abstracts, organising the program, inviting outstanding early career investigators as plenary speakers, and practicalities of the conference. 

Co-chair of Early Career Investigator Committee (ECIC) of Australia & New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS) - Sept 2018 - present

As Co-Chair, Ayse has organised & led committee meetings, organised & hosted the ECIC networking events at the annual ANZBMS congress, developed an early career investigator exchange initiative with the European Calcified Tissue Society and have implemented career development opportunities for early career investigators within the ANZBMS. Ayse also contributes to the quarterly ECIC newsletter which was created in Aug 2019, with an aim to increase the visibility of early career investigators and facilitate networking across members within ANZBMS. As Co-Chair, Ayse meets with the ANZBMS Council twice per year and hold ECIC meetings bi-monthly. 

Bone Banter Podcast: seeks to increase awareness of musculoskeletal health among the public with a new episode weekly.

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Professional Memberships

- American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)

- Australia & New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS)

- European Society of Endocrinology (ESE)