Associate Professor Jeff Coombes
BEd(Hons), BAppSc, MEd(UTas), PhD(Florida)
- Associate Professor in Exercise Science
- Co-ordinator of Professional Preparation - Exercise Science Stream
Contact details
Rm 520
Phone: (+61) 7 3365 6767
Fax: (+61) 7 3365 6877
E-mail: jcoombes@hms.uq.edu.au
Background
Jeff Coombes is an Associate Professor in the School of Human Movement Studies. He completed undergraduate degrees in applied science and education and a research Masters at the University of Tasmania before gaining a PhD from the University of Florida. After completing his PhD he returned to Australia to spend two years in an academic position at the University of Tasmania before moving to the University of Queensland in 2000.
Research Interests
Dr Coombes has a broad range of research interests in exercise and sport science as well as cardiovascular and renal disease. He has established two research groups; the Exercise and Oxidative Stress Research Group (EOSRG) (http://www.hms.uq.edu.au/biochem/index.html) and Renal Research Tasmania (RRT) (http://renalresearchtasmania.org.au ). The aims of the groups are to investigate the effects of interventions such as exercise, antioxidant supplements and pharmaceuticals on health, disease and exercise performance. Further aims are to understand mechanisms related to these effects. The underlying theme through the majority of the research projects in the two groups is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a condition where the generation of free radicals overwhelms the body's antioxidant defences. This leads to disease and a decrease in exercise performance. Therefore, this research theme is well suited to cross many research areas. The EOSRG comprises around 20 researchers including clinicians, post doctoral fellows, scientists, fellow academics and research students. The group is based in the School of Human Movement Studies and use the extensive resources of the exercise physiology and exercise biochemistry laboratories in the school. RRT was established in collaboration with Professor Robert Fassett at the Launceston General Hospital . It employs a number of clinical trial staff and is currently undertaking approximately 10 investigator initiated trials. Current research projects of the two groups include;
- Antioxidant efficacy of oral bile pigment administration
- Antioxidant enzyme genotype in chronic kidney disease
- Antioxidant supplementation and fatigue in females
- Antioxidant supplementation in haemodialysis patients
- Biochemical assays for measuring oxidative stress
- Caffeine supplementation and rowing performance
- Central blood pressure and exercise intensity in patients with type II diabetes
- Effect of exercise physiologist intervention on cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary artery disease
- Exercise training and oxidative stress in exertional dyspnoea with increased filling pressure
- Exercise training and oxidative stress in haemodialysis, chronic kidney disease and diabetic patients
- Exercise, oxidative stress, arterial stiffness and pulse pressure amplification
- Fish oil and inflammation in chronic kidney disease
- Immunosuppressive therapy, oxidative stress and vascular function
- Lipid lowering and progression of kidney disease
- Lipid lowering therapy, oxidative stress and progression of renal disease
- Molecular mechanisms of exercise cardioprotection: relations with oxidative stress
- Nutritional supplementation, oxidative stress, immune function and performance
- Optimising intravenous rehydration with oral glycerol
- Physiological indicators related to triathlon performance
- TRPv1 and TRPv2 in chronic kidney disease
Dr Coombes is a director of the NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in cardiovascular and metabolic disorders based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. The Centre is conducting a lifestyle intervention program in collaboration with the School of Human Movement Studies in type II diabetics.
Currently Dr Coombes is principal supervisor of over ten postgraduate students at both Masters and PhD level. Five of his students have been awarded full Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA), with another two on School-based scholarships. Since completing his PhD (1998) he has published over seventy articles, two book chapters and presented at over thirty international conferences.
Publications and Research Projects
For a full list of Dr Coombes' publications and current and past research projects, please refer to the UQreSEARCHers website.
Peake, J.M., Suzuki, K., & Coombes, J.S. (in press). The influence of antioxidant supplementation on markers of inflammation and the relationship to oxidative stress after exercise. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.
Bulmer, A.C., Ried, K., Coombes, J.S., Blanchfield, J.T., Toth, I. & Wagner, K-H. (2007). The potential antimutagenic and antioxidant effects of bile pigments in the Ames Salmonella test. Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis 2007 Feb 11; [Epub ahead of print]
Research Students
Further details on theses topics can be found on the UQreSEARCHers website.
Doctor of Philosophy (Principal)
- Andrew Bulmer
- Robert Fassett
- Matthew Hordern
- Simon van Rosendal
- Natalie Strobel
- Aya Matsumoto
Doctor of Philosophy (Associate)
- Tania Brancato
- Daniel Green
Master of Philosophy (Principal)
- David Holland
Master of Philosophy (Associate)
- Tina Skinner