Professor Michael McKenna

Michael is an internationally recognised researcher with a distinguished record in senior research leadership at VU. His previous roles have included:

• Executive Director (Inaugural) of the Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS) (2018-20)
• Member of the VU Research Executive (2018-20)
• Director (2013–17) and Research Director (Inaugural, 2010–2012) of the former Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL)
• Research Director of the College of Sport and Exercise Science (2013-15).

He was responsible for establishing both ISEAL and iHeS. He led development of the world-class Sport & Exercise Science facilities and also the Exercise Lifestyle Research facility associated with the 2025 Footscray Hospital. His focus has been on successfully developing world-class research in Health and Sport at VU, now ranked #9 globally in Sport Science (2020 AWRU), and rated extremely highly by the Australian Government (2018 ERA). He has fostered development of strong local, national and international partnerships. Michael was awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Recognition of Outstanding Service to VU (2020), the VU Centenary Medal (2016) and the Vice-Chancellor’s Peak Award for Outstanding Service to VU (2010). He was a Guest Professor at Guangzhou Sport University, China (2017-19).

Michael has an internationally recognised track record in muscle and exercise physiology, through integrative human physiology research, including his research investigating exercise, potassium and sodium-potassium pumps in skeletal muscle in humans. His research has largely focused on muscle function, fatigue, adaptability with training, ageing and inactivity, exercise limitations in chronic disease including patients with chronic kidney failure, lung transplants and osteoarthritis. He has made important contributions to understanding this field, including investigation of molecular and contractile regulation in single muscle cells in humans, in muscle biopsies obtained from young and older adults.

Michael's career highlights include:

• being Chairman (2005-12) of the MyoNaK international research interest group investigating sodium/potassium regulation in heart and muscle, with ~70 scientists, including many world leaders in their field, and four international conferences
• successful completions of 21 PhD, 10 Masters and 9 Honours students, and supervision of 3 postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have gone onto successful academic and industry careers
• external research funding as a Chief Investigator totalling more than $AUD11.0 million, from competitive grants, government and industry sources
• an h-index of 41 (Scopus), having published 114 papers (most as first or senior author) that have attracted more than 4,930 citations, as well as 10 book chapters and various scientific/industry reports.