Section: Overview
Overview
Key publications
Research funding
Supervising & teaching
Career

Key details

Areas of expertise

  • Epigenetics and adaptation to exercise in health and disease
  • Epigenetics and Ageing
  • Exercise/muscle physiology
  • Genetics and athletic performance

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

About Nir Eynon

Nir is a NHMRC Investigator Fellow (2021-2025), and former NHMRC Career Development Fellow (2018-2021), and an ARC DECRA Fellow (2014-2016). He is a group leader (Genetics, Epigenetics, and Exercise Group), at the Institute of Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University. Nir is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, and an Associate Editor in BMC Genomics, and European Journal of Sports Science. In 2020 he was the recipient of the Victorian Young Tall Poppy Science Award.

Nir earned his PhD degree with high distinction in 2010 from Porto University, Portugal.

His main area of research is Genetics, Epigenetic Aging and Exercise, and he is leading the multi-centre Gene SMART (Skeletal Muscle Adaptive Response to Training) study vu.edu.au/speed-gene.

Nir is currently supervising outstanding post-docs, PhD and honours students (including Dr Sarah Voisin recent recipient of NHMRC Early Career Fellow (2019-22). He has published more then 85 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, and 7 book chapters, and has more than 40 delivered key-note/invited presentations in international conferences

Qualifications

  • PhD, Porto University, Portugal, 2010
  • MPE, Zinman College, Wingate Institute, Israel, 2006
  • BEd, Zinman College, Wingate Institute, Israel, 2003

Key publications

Year Citation
2020 Turner, D. C., Gorski, P. P., Maasar, M. F., Seaborne, R. A., Baumert, P., Brown, A. D., Kitchen, M. O., Erskine, R. M., Dos-Remedios, I., & Voisin, S. (201201). DNA methylation across the genome in aged human skeletal muscle tissue and muscle-derived cells: the role of HOX genes and physical activity. Scientific Reports, 10(1),

doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-72730-z

2020 Voisin, S., Harvey, N. R., Haupt, L. M., Griffiths, L. R., Ashton, K. J., Coffey, V. G., Doering, T. M., Thompson, J. LM., Benedict, C., & Cedernaes, J. (200801). An epigenetic clock for human skeletal muscle. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 11(4), (887-898).

doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12556

2020 Jacques, M., Kuang, J., Bishop, D. J., Yan, X., Alvarez-Romero, J., Munson, F., Garnham, A., Papadimitriou, I., Voisin, S., & Eynon, N. (200201). Mitochondrial respiration variability and simulations in human skeletal muscle: The Gene SMART study. FASEB Journal, 34(2), (2978-2986).

doi: 10.1096/fj.201901997RR

2020 Hiam, D., Smith, C., Voisin, S., Denham, J., Yan, X., Landen, S., Jacques, M., Alvarez-Romero, J., Garnham, A., & Woessner, M. N. (200115). Aerobic capacity and telomere length in human skeletal muscle and leukocytes across the lifespan. Aging, 12(1), (359-369).

doi: 10.18632/aging.102627

2019 Jacques, M., Hiam, D., Craig, J., Barres, R., Eynon, N., & Voisin, S. (190703). Epigenetic changes in healthy human skeletal muscle following exercise- a systematic review. Epigenetics, 14(7), (633-648).

doi: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1614416

2019 Landen, S., Voisin, S., Craig, J. M., McGee, S. L., Lamon, S., & Eynon, N. (190603). Genetic and epigenetic sex-specific adaptations to endurance exercise. Epigenetics, 14(6), (523-535).

doi: 10.1080/15592294.2019.1603961

2019 Voisin, S., Jacques, M., Lucia, A., Bishop, D. J., & Eynon, N. (190101). Statistical Considerations for Exercise Protocols Aimed at Measuring Trainability. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 47(1), (37-45).

doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000176

2018 Houweling, P. J., Papadimitriou, I. D., Seto, J. T., Perez, L. M., Coso, J. D., North, K. N., Lucia, A., & Eynon, N. (181201). Is evolutionary loss our gain? The role of ACTN3 p.Arg577Ter (R577X) genotype in athletic performance, ageing, and disease. Human Mutation, 39(12), (1774-1787).

doi: 10.1002/humu.23663

2017 Eynon, N., Voisin, S., Lucia, A., Wang, G., & Pitsiladis, Y. (171114). Preface: Genomics and biology of exercise is undergoing a paradigm shift. BMC Genomics, 18

doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-4184-6

2017 Yan, X., Eynon, N., Papadimitriou, I. D., Kuang, J., Munson, F., Tirosh, O., O'Keefe, L., Griffiths, L. R., Ashton, K. J., & Byrne, N. (171114). The gene SMART study: Method, study design, and preliminary findings. BMC Genomics, 18

doi: 10.1186/s12864-017-4186-4

Research funding for the past 5 years

Please note:

  • Funding is ordered by the year the project commenced and may continue over several years.
  • Funding amounts for contact research are not disclosed to maintain commercial confidentiality.
  • The order of investigators is not indicative of the role they played in the research project.

Uncovering sex-specific epigenetic ageing molecules in response to exercise
From: Hevolution/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Aging Biology and Geroscience Research
For period: 2022-2025
$555,595
Examining the effects of gender affirming hormone therapies on fitness and muscle health in transgender Australians: The GAMES Study 
From: Department of Jobs, Precincts & Regions
Other investigators: Dr Sarah Voisin
For period: 2022-2024
$98,499

Does endogenous testosterone determine athletic performance in females?
From: International Olympic Committee
For period: 2021-2022
$7,950
Uncovering Sex-Specific, Epigenetic Biomarkers of Healthy Ageing for Targeted Exercise Interventions
From: NHMRC Investigator Grants
For period: 2021-2025
$1,449,800

Can Exercise Slow Down the Epigenetic Ageing Clock?
From: Australian Research Council - Discovery Project, Victoria University
Other investigators: Prof Itamar Levinger, Dr Sarah Voisin, Dr Severine Lamon
For period: 2020-2022
$534,000

Targeting the Genome & Epigenome of the Exercising Skeletal Muscle
From: Australian Research Council - Discovery Project
Other investigators: Dr Sarah Voisin
For period: 2019-2021
$302,500

Discovering and targeting genes regulating skeletal muscle function, metabolism, and adaptations to exercise interventions
From: NHMRC Career Development Fellowship, PVC (Research and Research Training), ISEAL
For period: 2018-2021
$731,000

HPRnet - Discovering 'combat genes' to help identify, and optimise the training of, the future soldier.
From: Defence Science and Technology Group, Australia, ISEAL
Other investigators: Prof David Bishop, Dr Sarah Voisin
For period: 2017-2022
$1,025,735

Supervision of research students at VU

Available to supervise research students

Available for media queries

Currently supervised research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
1 PhD Associate supervisor

Currently supervised research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (1) Associate supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

No. of students Study level Role
4 PhD Principal supervisor
1 PhD by Publication Principal supervisor

Completed supervision of research students at VU

Students & level Role
PhD (4) Principal supervisor
PhD by Publication (1) Principal supervisor

Other supervision of research students

Professor Eynon also co-supervise 3 PhD students at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Australia, University of Queensland (UQ) Australia, and the University of Brighton, UK.

Teaching activities & experience

  • AHE3100 Advanced exercise physiology

Key academic roles

Dates Role Department / Organisation
Jan 2021 - Present
NHMRC Investigator Fellow
Victoria University
Jan 2018 - Present
NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
Victoria University
Jan 2014 - Nov 2018
Group Leader (Genetics, Epigenetics, and Exercise Research Group)
Victoria University
May 2014 - May 2017
ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award
Victoria University
Show more academic roles
Dates Role & Department/Organisation
Jan 2021 -
Present
NHMRC Investigator Fellow
Victoria University
Jan 2018 -
Present
NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
Victoria University
Jan 2014 -
Nov 2018
Group Leader (Genetics, Epigenetics, and Exercise Research Group)
Victoria University
May 2014 -
May 2017
ARC Discovery Early Career Research Award
Victoria University
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Awards

Year Award
2020

Victorian Young Tall Poppy Science Award - Australian Institute of Policy and Science

2018

Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research and Research Training - Victoria University

2013

Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Excellence in Research & Research Training Early Career Researcher - Victoria University

2010

PhD with high distinction - University of Porto, Portugal

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Media appearances

12th November 2016

Genetic ID

ABC Catalyst

12th November 2015

Speed Gene

Channel 7 Today Tonight

12th November 2017

Genetic Key to Exercise Uncovered

Herald Sun

08th January 2019

Mind and Muscles – How to age well

Cosmos Magazine