Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Obesity rates continue to grow signifying the need to identify new therapeutic approaches.Different sized bioactive lipids (ceramide) have been associated with metabolic diseases and are currently being used as markers of heart disease and type II diabetes mellitus. Ceramide production is regulated by Ceramide Synthase enzymes which are vital for exclusive individual sized ceramide manipulation. From my own work, I believe that targeting a specific ceramide specie, could provide new avenues of treatment to help combat obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
My current research objective is to decipher the regulatory principles of how intestinal ceramides are packaged and circulate the body to influence lipid metabolism and contribute to the onset of obesity, type II diabetes mellitus and colorectal cancer pathogenesis.
Biography
Dr. Sarah Turpin-Nolan is currently a Research Fellow in the Cellular and Molecular Metabolism at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), Monash University. Her research focuses upon the role of ceramides during metabolic disease, namely in the gastrointestinal tract, lymphatic and circulatory transport systems.
Previously, Dr Turpin-Nolan discovered that reducing a specific ceramide specie in the liver could prevent diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus during her postdoctoral traiing in Prof. Jens Bruening's Laboratory at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research. This work led to the development of inhibitors to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Dr Sarah Turpin-Nolan completed her PhD in the Biology of Lipid Metabolism Laboratory supervised by Prof. Matthew Watt. Her PhD investigated the Metabolic consequences of lipid-oversupply in key glucoregulatory tissues and was awarded by The University of Melbourne (Dept of Medicine & Health Sciences).
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Metabolic consequences of lipid-oversupply in key glucoregulatory tissues, University of Melbourne
2006 → 2010
Award Date: 9 Jun 2010
Bachelor of Applied Science (Biotechnology & Biomedical Science) Honours, “Apoptosis in skeletal muscle myotubes is induced by ceramides and is positively related to insulin resistance., RMIT University
2005
Award Date: 23 Dec 2005
Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Biology), RMIT University
2002 → 2004
Award Date: 24 Dec 2004
External positions
Victorian Representative, Australian Association of von Humboldt Fellows
2020 → …
Research area keywords
- sphingolipids
- overweight/obesity
- Lipid Metabolism
- lymphatics
- ceramides
- glucose metabolism
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
-
Are lymphatics a regulator of skeletal muscle growth, metabolism & renewal?
Trevaskis, N. & Turpin-Nolan, S.
1/02/25 → 31/01/28
Project: Research
-
Targeting gut ceramides - a new way to improve systemic insulin sensitivity
Turpin-Nolan, S. & Febbraio, M.
15/01/24 → 14/01/25
Project: Research
-
The role of ceramides in metabolic disorders: when size and localization matters
Turpin-Nolan, S. M. & Brüning, J. C., 1 Apr 2020, In: Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 16, 4, p. 224-233 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
130 Citations (Scopus) -
Can microbes increase exercise performance in athletes?
Turpin-Nolan, S. M., Joyner, M. J. & Febbraio, M. A., 1 Nov 2019, In: Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 15, 11, p. 629-630 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
4 Citations (Scopus) -
CerS6-Derived Sphingolipids Interact with Mff and Promote Mitochondrial Fragmentation in Obesity
Hammerschmidt, P., Ostkotte, D., Nolte, H., Gerl, M. J., Jais, A., Brunner, H. L., Sprenger, H. G., Awazawa, M., Nicholls, H. T., Turpin-Nolan, S. M., Langer, T., Krüger, M., Brügger, B. & Brüning, J. C., 30 May 2019, In: Cell. 177, 6, p. 1536-1552 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
211 Citations (Scopus) -
CerS1-Derived C18:0 Ceramide in Skeletal Muscle Promotes Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance
Turpin-Nolan, S. M., Hammerschmidt, P., Chen, W., Jais, A., Timper, K., Awazawa, M., Brodesser, S. & Brüning, J. C., 2 Jan 2019, In: Cell Reports. 26, 1, p. 1-7 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile128 Citations (Scopus) -
Obesity-induced CerS6-dependent C16:0 ceramide production promotes weight gain and glucose intolerance
Turpin, S. M., Nicholls, H. T., Willmes, D. M., Mourier, A., Brodesser, S., Wunderlich, C. M., Mauer, J., Xu, E., Hammerschmidt, P., Brönneke, H. S., Trifunovic, A., Losasso, G., Wunderlich, F. T., Kornfeld, J-W., Blüher, M., Krönke, M. & Brüning, J. C., 7 Oct 2014, In: Cell Metabolism. 20, 4, p. 678-686 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile542 Citations (Scopus)