Professor David Cameron-Smith

PhD

Professor

In: Liggins Institute

Biography

Professor Cameron-Smith obtained his PhD in nutritional biochemistry from Deakin University, Australia. He undertook postdoctoral training at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, investigating endocrine disturbances and lipid metabolism in obesity. Returning to Deakin University, he established a clinical research programme focusing on the dynamic gene and signaling responses to nutrition and exercise.

His appointment to the Chair in Nutrition at The University of Auckland complements the diverse nutritional research interests within the Liggins Institute and adds to the strategic growth of the University’s trans-disciplinary Food and Health Programme.

Research | Current

Understanding how nutrition regulates genes and the biochemical pathways that are essential for optimal human health. Research is directed towards understanding:

The importance of nutrition in the maintenance of optimal health in an ageing population.
The impact of nutrition in regulating the function of muscles to promote muscle growth and minimize fat gain.
Where nutrients go after a meal and how these nutrients control genes and regulate metabolism.

Teaching | Current

Teaching in several papers, including:

BIOSCI 358 Nutrition, Diet and Gene Interactions
MEDSCI 710 – Nutrition Mechanisms
MEDSCI 712 – Critical Evaluation of Nutritional Therapies

Current collaborations

New Zealand - with researchers at Massey University, Plant and Food Research, The National Research Centre for Growth and Development, School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland.

International Collaborations
Australia - with Deakin University, University of South Australia, Edith Cowen University, RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) University, LaTrobe University, Victoria University (Melbourne), Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
Further International collaborations include Wayne State University (USA), McMaster University (Canada) and University of Vienna (Austria).

Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)

Bjørnsen T, Wernbom, M., Kirketeig, A., Paulsen, G., Samnøy L, Bækken L, ... Raastad, T. (2019). Type 1 Muscle Fiber Hypertrophy after Blood Flow-restricted Training in Powerlifters. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 51 (2), 288-298. 10.1249/mss.0000000000001775
Prodhan, U. K., Milan, A. M., Thorstensen, E. B., Barnett, M. P. G., Stewart, R. A. H., Benatar, J. R., & Cameron-Smith, D. (2018). Altered Dairy Protein Intake Does Not Alter Circulatory Branched Chain Amino Acids in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 10 (10).10.3390/nu10101510
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Amber Milan, Utpal Prodhan, Eric Thorstensen
Milan, A. M., Hodgkinson, A. J., Mitchell, S. M., Prodhan, U. K., Prosser, C. G., Carpenter, E. A., ... Cameron-Smith, D. (2018). Digestive Responses to Fortified Cow or Goat Dairy Drinks: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 10 (10).10.3390/nu10101492
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Amber Milan, Utpal Prodhan
D'Souza RF, Woodhead, J. S. T., Zeng, N., Blenkiron, C., Merry, T. L., Cameron-Smith, D., & Mitchell, C. J. (2018). Circulatory exosomal miRNA following intense exercise is unrelated to muscle and plasma miRNA abundances. American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism, 315 (4), E723-E733. 10.1152/ajpendo.00138.2018
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Nina Zeng, Cherie Blenkiron
Brown, E. L., Foletta, V. C., Wright, C. R., Sepulveda, P., Konstantopoulos, N., Sanigorski, A., ... Russell, A. P. (2018). PGC-1 alpha and PGC-1 beta Increase Protein Synthesis via ERR alpha in C2C12 Myotubes. FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY, 910.3389/fphys.2018.01336
Galante, L., Milan, A. M., Reynolds, C. M., Cameron-Smith, D., Vickers, M. H., & Pundir, S. (2018). Sex-Specific Human Milk Composition: The Role of Infant Sex in Determining Early Life Nutrition. Nutrients, 10 (9).10.3390/nu10091194
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Laura Galante, Amber Milan, Clare Reynolds, Mark Vickers, Shikha Pundir
Zeng, N., D'Souza RF, Mitchell, C. J., & Cameron-Smith, D. (2018). Sestrins are differentially expressed with age in the skeletal muscle of men: A cross-sectional analysis. Experimental gerontology, 110, 23-34. 10.1016/j.exger.2018.05.006
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Nina Zeng, Randall D'Souza
Pileggi, C. A., Hedges, C. P., D'Souza RF, Durainayagam, B. R., Markworth, J. F., Hickey, A. J. R., ... Cameron-Smith, D. (2018). Exercise recovery increases skeletal muscle H2O2 emission and mitochondrial respiratory capacity following two-weeks of limb immobilization. Free radical biology & medicine, 124, 241-248. 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.06.012
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Chris Hedges, Randall D'Souza, Tony Hickey