Associate Professor
Melody de Laat
Faculty of Science,
School of Biology & Environmental Science
Biography
Metabolic diseases are occurring at an increasing rate, and this problem isn't just affecting people. Animals are increasingly obese, and suffering from debilitating problems associated with over-eating. The health and welfare of these animals is a primary concern for Dr. Melody de Laat. As a clinical and research veterinarian with over 18 years experience in both clinical veterinary practice and veterinary research, she is passionate about improving animal health and welfare. Her research interests encompass novel drug development and testing, disorders of metabolism and nutrition, incretin biology, endocrine dysfunction, equine lameness and Australian wild horse health and ecology. Currently, Melody is working on a number of diverse research questions which include: 1) what role do incretins play in equine metabolic disorders; 2) what is the recurrence rate of laminitis; 3) can dynamic feeding systems reduce obesity and 4) how does insulin cause lameness? Melody and her team of researchers have published extensively on disorders of metabolism and laminitis in horses and her seminal publication on insulin toxicity in horses has been listed by Thomson’s ISI among the top 1% of papers published in the plant and animal sciences category since 2010 and was the most cited article in the journal in 2012. She also received, and completed, a Discovery Early Career Research Award to continue her research into incretin biology. A keen interest in teaching led Melody to become a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. As the Honours coordinator for Biology she enjoys working with, and developing the capabilities of, young researchers. In addition to her research and teaching commitments she is a member of the University Animal Ethics Committee.Personal details
Positions
- Associate Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Biology & Environmental Science
Keywords
Animal physiology, Pharmacology, Insulin, Metabolic syndrome, Obesity, Incretin, Growth factors, Laminitis
Research field
Other Biological Sciences, Veterinary Sciences
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- PhD (University of Queensland)
- BVSc (Hons) (University of Queensland)
Professional memberships and associations
Past President, Pharmacology Chapter, Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Surgeons Deputy Chair, University Animal Ethics Committee, QUT
Teaching
Under-graduate
- ST10 Course Co-ordinator (Faculty of Science)
- Discipline Co-ordinator (Biology) for Honours
- Research Methods in Biological and Environmental Sciences I and II
- Animal biology
- Drug action
Post-graduate HDR students
- Murad Kheder: Investigation of equine incretins
- Sacha Nanayakkara: Equine IGF-1 Receptor Physiology
- Danielle Fitzgerald: The effect of pasture grazing on metabolic health in ponies
- Alexandra Meier: The efficacy of velagliflozin for preventing equine laminitis
- Samira Rahnama: The role of the IGF-1 receptor in equine laminitis pathophysiology
- Poppy Sibthorpe: Mechanisms for increased glucose uptake in insulin dysregulation
- Christina Cash: Risk alleles for equine metabolic syndrome
- Katherine Andrews: Ghrelin and appetite in ponies
- Fang Li: Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction Pathogenesis
Publications
- de Laat, M. & McGowan, C. (2020). Endocrinopathic laminitis. Large Animal Internal Medicine, 1373–1376. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/128441
- Fitzgerald, D., Spence, R., Stewart, Z., Prentis, P., Sillence, M. & De Laat, M. (2020). The effect of diet change and insulin dysregulation on the faecal microbiome of ponies. Journal of Experimental Biology, 223. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/202102
- Sillence, M., McGree, J., de Laat, M. & Reiche, D. (2019). Incidence and risk factors for recurrence of endocrinopathic laminitis in horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33(3), 1473–1482. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/128442
- Fitzgerald, D., Walsh, D., Sillence, M., Pollitt, C. & de Laat, M. (2019). Insulin and incretin responses to grazing in insulin-dysregulated and healthy ponies. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33(1), 225–232. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/123959
- de Laat, M., Sillence, M. & Reiche, D. (2019). Phenotypic, hormonal, and clinical characteristics of equine endocrinopathic laminitis. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33(3), 1456–1463. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/125550
- Fitzgerald, D., Anderson, S., Sillence, M. & de Laat, M. (2019). The cresty neck score is an independent predictor of insulin dysregulation in ponies. PLoS One, 14(7). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/132458
- Bertin, F. & de Laat, M. (2017). The diagnosis of equine insulin dysregulation. Equine Veterinary Journal, 49(5), 570–576. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/108234
- de Laat, M., McGree, J. & Sillence, M. (2016). Equine hyperinsulinemia: investigation of the enteroinsular axis during insulin dysregulation. American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism, 310(1). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/91059
- De-laat, M., Sillence, M., McGowan, C. & Pollitt, C. (2012). Continuous intravenous infusion of glucose induces endogenous hyperinsulinaemia and lamellar histopathology in Standardbred horses. The Veterinary Journal, 191(3), 317–322. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/51407
- De-laat, M., McGowan, C., Sillence, M. & Pollit, C. (2010). Equine laminitis: Induced by 48 h hyperinsulinaemia in Standardbred horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 42(2), 129–135. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/43108
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Melody, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- Best Research with Real World Impact (SEF)
- Type
- Advisor/Consultant for Industry
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- Consultant
- Type
- Appointment to Prestigious Positions
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- President-Elect, 2020President 2021
- Type
- Committee Role/Editor or Chair of an Academic Conference
- Reference year
- 2020
- Details
- Scientific committee member and Chair of meeting
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- Voorjaarsdagen Award
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- John Burke Literary Award
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- Vice Chancellor's Performance Award
- Type
- Recipient of a Nationally Competitive Research Fellowship
- Reference year
- 2014
- Details
- Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2012
- Details
- Gold Award, Best Poster
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2009
- Details
- Fred Z. Eager Prize for Research in Veterinary Medicine
Selected research projects
- Title
- Improving Diagnostic Accuracy and Treatment Options for Equine PPID
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP180101000
- Start year
- 2020
- Keywords
- Title
- Gastrointestinal Hormones: Linking Insulin Dysregulation and Laminitis
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP180102418
- Start year
- 2018
- Keywords
- Title
- Treating Equine Laminitis
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP150101025
- Start year
- 2016
- Keywords
- Title
- Understanding equine incretins: a novel approach to laminitis prevention
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DE140100135
- Start year
- 2014
- Keywords
- Equine; Pharmacology; Veterinary
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.