Dr Craig McFarlane is a research scientist and senior lecturer in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology.  He completed his PhD in 2007 in New Zealand and has undertaken postdoctoral studies at AgResearch in New Zealand and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. As a principal investigator he established a research group in the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, an Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) institute. He has published his research in several highly ranked international journals, including: Nature Communications, PLOS Biology, Diabetes, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Cell Research and International Journal of Obesity.  Dr McFarlane moved to Australia in 2017 to take up his new role in James Cook University and his current research focuses on understanding mechanisms that regulate skeletal muscle growth and repair and the role of skeletal muscle function in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism during obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.

Specialities

Dr McFarlane has extensive experience in utilising mouse models and in vitro cell culture model systems to study and identify mechanisms linked to muscle stem cell function and muscle wasting associated with chronic diseases. In addition, he has undertaken studies to identify genetic and epigenetic pathways that transduce the adverse effect of high caloric diet nutrition on the development of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.  He has also identified mechanisms through which skeletal muscle can influence the function of other tissues in the body, including white adipose tissue, to regulate whole body energy expenditure and utilisation. 

Teaching

• BC2013: Principles of Biochemistry (Level 2; TSV)
• BC3203: Bioinformatics (Level 3; TSV)
• BC5203: Advanced Bioinformatics (Level 5; TSV)
• BM1201: Energy Metabolism: Powering Life (Level 1; TSV)
• MD1010: Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 1 of 2 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
• MD1020: Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 2 of 2 (Level 1; TSV)
• RM8501: Research Planning (Level 8; CNS & TSV)
• RM8502: Research Project (Level 8; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Research

• Molecular mechanisms that regulate postnatal myogenesis
• Skeketal muscle wasting and cachexia
• Skeletal muscle secreted growth factors
• Muscle stem cells
• Skeletal muscle regeneration
• Glucose tolerance
• Insulin resistance
• Molecular mechanisms associated with type 2 diabetes
• Browning of white adipose tissue

Experience

• 2018 to present - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville, Australia)
• 2012 to 2017 - Principal Investigator, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (Singapore)
• 2009 to 2012 - Assistant Principal Investigator, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (Singapore)
• 2007 to 2009 - Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
• 2006 to 2007 - Post Doctoral Fellow, AgResearch (Hamilton, New Zealand)
• 2003 to 2007 - PhD, University of Waikato (Hamilton, New Zealand)
• 2001 to 2003 - MSc, University of Waikato (Hamilton, New Zealand)
• 1996 to 2000 - Undergraduate BSc (Tech), University of Waikato (Hamilton, New Zealand)

Research Disciplines

• Biochemistry and cell biology (3101)
• Oncology and carcinogenesis (3211)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Expanding knowledge (2801)
• Clinical health (2001)

Awards

• 2017 - EpiGen Project Seed Fund
• 2015 - NMRC Cooperative Basic Research Grant
• 2013 - Received the National Junior College Partner Award
• 2013 - NMRC Bedside & Bench Grant
• 2012 - Received the National Junior College Partner Award
• 2006 - LYMN Foundation New Investigator Recognition Award.

Fellowships

• 2004 - Foundation for Research Science and Technology Bright Futures Enterprise Scholarship.
• 2001 - AgResearch scholarship for MSc studies.

Other

• 2015 - Invited to give an oral presentation at the NHMRC A*STAR Molecular Mechanisms of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases Scientific Symposium, Sydney
• 2014 - Food & Nutrition session chair at A*STAR scientific conference.
• 2014 - Co-organizer of the A*STAR Scientific Conference
• 2014 - Grant reviewer for Association Française contre les Myopathies (AFM)-Téléthon
• 2014 - Metabolic Regulation session chair at the 10th International Diabetes Federation-Western Pacific Region Congress/6th Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes scientific meeting
• 2013 - Selected to participate in the inaugural scientific debate team at the A*STAR scientific conference
• 2013 - Aging & Metabolism session chair at A*STAR scientific conference.
• 2013 - Grant reviewer for Association Française contre les Myopathies (AFM)-Téléthon
• 2012 - Grant reviewer for Association Française contre les Myopathies (AFM)-Téléthon
• 2012 - Selected to give an oral presentation at the FASEB Skeletal Muscle Satellite & Stem Cells conference.
• 2011 - Grant reviewer for Association Française contre les Myopathies (AFM)-Téléthon
• 2011 - Selected to give an oral presentation at the FASEB Glucose transporters, signaling, and diabetes conference
• 2010 - Selected to give an oral presentation at the FASEB Skeletal Muscle Satellite & Stem Cells conference.

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Harkus U, Wankell M, Palamuthusingam P, McFarlane C and Hebbard L (2022) Immune checkpoint inhibitors in HCC: Cellular, molecular and systemic data. Seminars in Cancer Biology, 86 (3). pp. 799-815
• Antoun E, Migliavacca E, Garratt E, Barton S, Titcombe P, Westbury L, Baczynska A, Dodds R, Roberts H, Sayer A, Shaw S, Syddall H, Sheppard A, McFarlane C, Karnani N, Forrester T, Cooper C, Feige J, Patel H, Godfrey K, Lillycrop K and EpiGen Global Research Consortium (2021) Altered H19/miR‐675 expression in skeletal muscle is associated with low muscle mass in community‐dwelling older adults. JCSM Rapid Communications, 4 (2). pp. 207-221
• Krishnan A, Chilton E, Raman J, Saxena P, McFarlane C, Trollope A, Kinobe R and Chilton L (2021) Are interactions between epicardial adipose tissue, cardiac fibroblasts and cardiac myocytes instrumental in atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation? Cells, 10 (9).
• Leow M, Dogra S, Ge X, Chuah K, Liew H, Loke K and McFarlane C (2021) Paraneoplastic secretion of multiple phosphatonins from a deep fibrous histiocytoma causing oncogenic osteomalacia. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 106 (5). pp. e2299-e2308
• Sun E, Wankell M, Palamuthusingam P, McFarlane C and Hebbard L (2021) Targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomedicines, 9 (11).
• Taylor L, Wankell M, Saxena P, McFarlane C and Hebbard L (2021) Cell adhesion an important determinant of myogenesis and satellite cell activity. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Molecular Cell Research, 1869 (2).
• Manfredi L, Ang J, Peker N, Dagda R and McFarlane C (2019) GRK2 regulates mitochondrial bioenergetics and impairs myostatin-mediated autophagy in muscle cells. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 317 (4). pp. C674-C686
• Migliavacca E, Tay S, Patel H, Sonntag T, Civiletto G, McFarlane C, Forrester T, Barton S, Leow M, Antoun E, Charpagne A, Seng Chong Y, Descombes P, Feng L, Francis-Emmanuel P, Garratt E, Giner M, Green C, Karaz S, Kothandaraman N, Marquis J, Metairon S, Moco S, Nelson G, Ngo S, Pleasants T, Raymond F, Sayer A, Ming Sim C, Slater-Jefferies J, Syddall H, Fang Tan P, Titcombe P, Vaz C, Westbury L, Wong G, Wu Y, Cooper C, Sheppard A, Godfrey K, Lillycrop K, Karnani N and Feige J (2019) Mitochondrial oxidative capacity and NAD+ biosynthesis are reduced in human sarcopenia across ethnicities. Nature Communications, 10.
• Peker N, Donipadi V, Sharma M, McFarlane C and Kambadur R (2018) Loss of Parkin impairs mitochondrial function and leads to muscle atrophy. American Journal of Physiology: cell physiology, 315 (2). pp. C164-C185
• Ge X, Sathiakumar D, Lua B, Kukreti H, Lee M and McFarlane C (2017) Myostatin signals through miR-34a to regulate Fndc5 expression and browning of white adipocytes. International Journal of Obesity, 41. pp. 137-148
• Julien S, Kim S, Brunmeir R, Sinnakannu J, Ge X, Li H, Ma W, Yaligar J, Prakash B, Velan S, Röder P, Zhang Q, Sim C, Wu J, Garcia-Miralles M, Pouladi M, Xie W, McFarlane C, Han W, Xu F and (2017) Narciclasine attenuates diet-induced obesity by promoting oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle. PLoS Biology, 15 (2).
• Musarrat M, Subramaniyam N, Sim C, Ge X, Sathiakumar D, McFarlane C, Sharma M and Kambadur R (2017) Irisin is a pro-myogenic factor that induces skeletal muscle hypertrophy and rescues denervation-induced atrophy. Nature Communications, 8.

More

ResearchOnline@JCU stores 40+ research outputs authored by Dr Craig McFarlane from 2004 onwards.

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

• Developing a new treatment regime for hepatocellular carcinoma (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
• Sarcopenia in patient undergoing cardiac surgery (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Completed

• The role of T-cadherin in regulating skeletal muscle myogenesis (2024, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.