Personal information
Biography
Professor Michael J. McKenna (BSc(Hons), DipEd, MSc, PhD (University of Melbourne)
Michael is an Emeritus Professor (Muscle and Exercise Physiology) at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia. His academic training was conducted at the University of Melbourne and also included 13 months studying on at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His academic career encompassing teaching, research and administration spanned 34½ years across three institutions, initially 2 years as a tutor at the University of Melbourne, 2½ years as a Lecturer at the University of Sydney, then ~30 years continuously at Victoria University.
Michael has a distinguished 12 year record in senior research leadership at Victoria University. This includes as Executive Director (Inaugural) of the Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS, 2018-20) which in 2020 comprised ~120 research staff, ~200 PhD students and an annual budget of $14.6 M. The Institute for Health and Sport undertakes research through four interdisciplinary Research Programs, comprising 22 Research Groups. The Institute in 2020 received an external research income of $6.16 M , produced a total of 358 publication outputs comprising 273 journal articles; 23 book chapters; 10 books; 1 edited book; 8 conference papers; 42 commissioned reports and 1 NTRO Portfolio, with 4083 total citations. Michael was also a foundation member of the Victoria University Research Executive (2018-20), responsible for managing all aspects of research and research training within the university.
Michael was a Professorial Research Fellow in iHeS in 2021-22. Prior to that Michael was Director (2013–17) and Research Director (Inaugural, 2010–2012) of the former Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), as well as Research Director of the College of Sport and Exercise Science (2013-15). He has supervised and mentored a large number of senior and developing researchers throughout this period. His focus has been on successfully developing world-class research in Health and Sport at Victoria University, now ranked #9 globally in Sport Science (2020 AWRU), and rated extremely highly by the Australian Government (2018 ERA) in disciplines in Health and Sport, including “well above world standard” in Human Movement & Sport Science, Medical Physiology, Nursing, Public Health & Health Services; “above world standard” for Biochemistry & Cell Biology and “at world standard” for 8 other areas. He has fostered development of strong local, national and international partnerships. He has been highly engaged in developing strategic partnerships in Sport and Health. He was responsible for establishing both ISEAL and iHeS. He led development of the world-class $68.5M Sport and Exercise Science facilities at Victoria University, VU at Whitten Oval and also planning of the ~$70 M VU exercise lifestyle research facility co-located with the 2025 Footscray Hospital (2019-2020). Michael was the recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Service to Victoria University in 2020, the VU Centenary Medal in 2016 and the Vice-Chancellor’s Peak Award for Outstanding Service to Victoria University in 2010. He was a Guest Professor at Guangzhou Sport University, China (2017-19), prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michael has an internationally recognised research track record in muscle and exercise physiology, through integrative human physiology research, specialising in potassium, sodium and calcium regulation in skeletal muscle and blood with exercise in humans. His research includes specialisation on exercise, potassium regulation and muscle sodium-potassium pumps in humans. This 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 was Chairman of the MyoNaK international research interest group investigating sodium/potassium regulation in heart and muscle, which comprised 70 scientists, many world leaders in their field, and held 4 international conferences from 2005-12. He has supervised to completion 21 PhD, 10 Masters, 9 Honours students and supervised 4 postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have gone onto successful academic and industry careers. His external research funding as a Chief Investigator exceeds $AUD11.1 M, from each of competitive grants, government and industry sources. He has published 120 papers, most as senior author, that have attracted >5,400 citations with an h-index of 43 (Scopus; Google Scholar: >10,100 citations, h-index 56), 10 book chapters, various scientific / industry reports.
Activities
Works (50 of 134)
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