Sport & exercise biochemistry labs
The sport and exercise biochemistry & molecular biology laboratories offer a series of integrated laboratories to analyse cells and tissues.
It’s used to understand the key processes controlling or modulating muscle and cellular function.
The labs produce unique research in athlete talent identification, monitoring training and recovery, muscle adaptability, intracellular signalling in response to exercise, training, nutritional interventions, and health and disease.
Laboratories
The laboratories we use for sport and biochemistry research include:
Analytical biochemistry lab
This large laboratory is used for bench top analytical measurements of tissues, including metabolites, enzymes, and electrolytes.
Cell culture lab
The cell culture lab is used to artificially grow cells from muscles and study how they respond to various stresses like contraction, hormones, or drugs.
Microscopy lab
We use sophisticated microscopes to take detailed measurements of cell types, structures, organisation, and adaptability.
Molecular biology lab
We measure gene and protein expression in this lab.
- Gene expression: to examine tiny amounts of gene products from tissues and measure which genes are "switched-on/off" with exercise, inactivity, and dietary interventions.
- Protein expression: to measure which proteins are found in tissues, how they are controlled, and whether their expression is increased/decreased with different interventions.
Isolated muscle function lab
In this lab we perform detailed assessment of isolated muscle function.
Radiation "Hot" Laboratory
For measurement of proteins or hormones present in extremely low concentrations in blood, muscle, or other tissues.