Professor Melinda Coughlan has a BSc (Biology) with Honours in Nutrition from Deakin University, and a PhD in Metabolism from the University of Melbourne. Her PhD focused on mediators of inflammation and oxidative stress in the development of gestational diabetes (Mercy Hospital for Women). After completing her PhD, Melinda joined the Baker Heart Research Institute as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof Mark Cooper’s Diabetes Complications Division. In 2012, she became the Head of the Glycation, Nutrition and Metabolism Laboratory at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute. In Nov 2016, she was recruited to Monash University’s School of Translational Medicine as one of the key recruits to help establish the Department of Diabetes. Professor Coughlan has recently held a REDI Fellowship from the MRFF partnering with AstraZeneca Cambridge, and has research grants from the NHMRC, JDRF and Diabetes Australia.

Dietary factors in the initiation of diabetes and its complications:

• Incretin (GLP-1) pathway signaling
• Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs)
• Ultraprocessed foods and gut barrier function

Mitochondrial health in diabetes:

• Mapping the mitochondrial bioenergetic signature of individuals with diabetic kidney disease
• Validation of mitochondria-targeted therapies in pre-clinical models

Identification of novel targets of therapy for chronic kidney disease:

• Multiomic profiling of human kidney biospecimens from subjects with diabetes and kidney disease
• Complement pathway and disease pathogenesis

Achievements and Awards

• Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry initiative Fellowship Program (REDI)- Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)

• JDRF Career Development Award

• Nutrition Society of Australia Mid Career Research Award
• Roche-Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology Senior Scientist Career Development Award
• Australian Diabetes Society Skip Martin Early Career Fellowship
• National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) New Investigator Project Grant
• Registered Nutritionist (Nutrition Society of Australia)

Bladder and Kidney Health Discovery Program Leadership Team. Theme Leader: Chronic Kidney Diseases. School of Translational Medicine June 2022- 

Chair of Graduate Research Milestone Committee. School of Translational Medicine. May 2022-

Honours Coordinator, Med4301 M3701, Bachelor of Medical Science, School of Translational Medicine (Alfred Health), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. 2024-

Unit Coordinator, TRM5007/TRM6007, Translational Research & Medicine for Metabolic Disorders, School of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. 2023