Michelle Fitzmaurice
Dr Michelle Fitzmaurice is a Researcher at UNSW Microbiome Research Centre (MRC). Michelle is a Registered Nutritionist and has a PhD in Biochemistry with a special interest in early biomarkers for diagnosis of disease. Michelle is currently project manager for the Healthy Optimal Australian Microbiome Study,
Over the last 18 months, The “HOAM team” have been recruiting very healthy individuals form age 13 to 102. They have collected a library of various samples of stool, urine, blood and oral swabs to create a “healthy microbiome signature”.
This year they hope to create a signature for microbiome changes in obesity so we can compare the two and go on to create a therapeutic product to help tackle obesity.
Michelle has previously undertaken research under the guidance of Prof Aine Mckillop, Flatt lab Ulster, exploring the use of glycated insulin as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of diabetes. Interestingly this work shed light on the potential for this molecule to track beta-cell expansion during normal pregnancy.
In 2023, Michelle will be supervising an honours student investigating the role of the microbiome landscape in preconception and pregnancy, with a focus on GDM pregnancies. Also, a medical Honours student is investigating the changes to the microbiome in dementia and ageing. Both these projects stem from the HOAM Project Michelle is currently managing.
Abstracts this author is presenting: