ProfessorSean McGee

Professor, Medical Biology

Faculty of Health/School of Medicine/Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation

  • Professor, Medical Biology
    Faculty of Health/School of Medicine/Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation
  • +61 3 522 72519 (Work)
  • Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, 75 Pigdons Road, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Chronic over-nutrition is driving an epidemic of chronic diseases that includes obesity and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Cellular metabolic reprogramming underpins the pathogenesis of all of these diseases. Our laboratory aims to understand the mechanisms that mediate metabolic reprogramming in these diseases and seeks to leverage this knowledge to develop therapies to combat the chronic disease epidemic.

Knowledge Areas
Metabolism, cell signalling, transcription, obesity and type 2 diabetes, cardiac metabolism, cancer metabolism

GRANTS

  • GRANT
    Foundations of a Resilient Microbiome: The Barwon Infant Study
    2 Mar 2026 - 1 Mar 2027
    People funded by this grant:
    Wellcome Leap - Foundations of a Resilient Microbiome (FORM) - $1,738,640.00
  • GRANT
    VCCC Study Coordinator Internship - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
    9 Feb 2026 - 13 Nov 2026
    People funded by this grant:
    Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute - $36,000.00
  • GRANT
    Biomarkers of negative symptoms, cognitive impairment and metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenia
    1 Oct 2022 - 1 Apr 2024
    People funded by this grant:
    Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Foundation Catalyst Grants - $4,980.00
  • GRANT
    STUDENT APPLICATION: Clinical Biomarker Shoulder Study: Transcriptomic differences between inflammatory conditions of the shoulder: osteoarthritis and rotator cuff tears -The SHOaW Study.
    19 Aug 2022 - 31 Aug 2025
    People funded by this grant:
    Australian Orthopaedic Association Research Foundation - 18085 - $19,976.00
  • GRANT
    Fasting hyperinsulinemia remodels adipose tissue metabolism to drive obesity and insulin resistance
    1 Jun 2021 - 31 May 2022
    People funded by this grant:
    Diabetes Australia Research Program Grant - Y21G-SHAC - $59,895.00
  • GRANT
    Clinical biomarker shoulder study: transcriptomic differences between osteoarthritis of the shoulder, capsulitis and rotator cuff tears
    1 Feb 2021 - 31 Jan 2023
    People funded by this grant:
    Australian Orthopaedic Association Research Foundation - $50,000.00
  • GRANT
    Using 'omics to unravel the pathophysiology and repurpose drugs to treat ME/CFS
    1 Nov 2020 - 31 Oct 2025
    People funded by this grant:
    NHMRC Targeted Call for Research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Grant Opportunity - APP1199363 - $1,083,010.00
  • CONTRACT RESEARCH
    New therapies for obesity-induced heart disease.
    1 Jun 2020 - 31 Dec 2020
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sean Mcgee
    Ambetex Pty Ltd - CONTR2020/00884 - $83,216.00
  • GRANT
    A novel approach to target beta-cells to enhance survival and function
    1 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2020
    People funded by this grant:
    DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust) - Y20G-ASTK - $59,756.00
  • GRANT
    Role of protein kinase D in adiposity and the regulation of body weight
    1 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2021
    People funded by this grant:
    • Mcgee S,
    • Andrews Z,
    • James D
    NHMRC Project Grant - APP1163238 - $777,804.85
  • GRANT
    Development of new exercise mimetics for better treatment of metabolic and heart diseases
    6 Dec 2018 - 6 Jun 2020
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sean Mcgee
    DHHS - Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund - $100,000.00
  • GRANT
    Development of new exercise mimetics for better treatment of metabolic and heart diseases
    6 Dec 2018 - 6 Jun 2020
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sean Mcgee
    Imitex Pty Ltd - $100,000.00
  • GRANT
    The role of GAPDH acetylation and HDAC6 in liver metabolism and type 2 diabetes
    1 Jan 2017 - 31 Dec 2019
    People funded by this grant:
    NHMRC Project Grant - APP1127059 - $655,473.45
  • GRANT
    The role of the Alzheimer's disease protein amyloid beta 42 in diabetic cardiomyopathy
    1 Jan 2017 - 31 Dec 2017
    People funded by this grant:
    DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust) - Y17G-MCGS1 - $59,962.00
  • GRANT
    Identifying the role of altered mitochondrial metabolism in malignant rhabdoid tumours and evaluating potential epigenetic therapies
    1 Jan 2016 - 31 Dec 2016
    People funded by this grant:
    • Ashley D,
    • Mcgee S,
    • Cain J
    Sarcoma Research Grants - $23,000.00
  • GRANT
    The role of GAPDH acetylation in the regulation of liver metabolism
    1 Jan 2016 - 31 Dec 2016
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sean Mcgee
    DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust) - Y16G-MCGS - $59,983.00
  • GRANT
    Targeting class IIa histone deacetylases to impair breast cancer cell metabolism and survival
    9 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2016
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sean Mcgee
    National Breast Cancer Foundation Innovator Grant - IN-15-061 - $196,380.00
  • GRANT
    HDAC Inhibition as a Potential Therapy for Preventing the Progression of Type 2 Diabetes
    1 Jan 2015 - 31 Jan 2016
    People funded by this grant:
    CASS Grant - Research - The CASS Foundation Limited - SM/14/5338 - $55,000.00
  • GRANT
    Targeting protein kinase D to treat diabetic cardiomyopathy
    1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2015
    People funded by this grant:
    • Mcgee S,
    • Vernados K
    DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust) - Y15G-MCGS - $58,592.00
  • GRANT
    Transforming fat to increase energy expenditure
    1 Jan 2013 - 31 Dec 2013
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sean Mcgee
    DART Grant - Research - Diabetes Australia - Victoria (Research Trust) - Y13-G MCGS - $59,312.00
  • FELLOWSHIP
    Targeting the class IIa histone deacetylases in metabolic disease
    1 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2015
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sean Mcgee
    NHMRC CDF - Career Development Fellowship - APP1030474 - $408,388.01
  • GRANT
    The role of amyloid beta in insulin resistance
    1 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2014
    People funded by this grant:
    NHMRC Project Grant - APP1027226 - $415,322.14
  • GRANT
    Understanding the role of class IIa histone deacetylases in metabolic disease
    1 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2014
    People funded by this grant:
    NHMRC Project Grant - APP1027227 - $469,779.15
  • GRANT
    Activation of HSP72 in skeletal muscle as a therapeutic target for obesity
    1 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2013
    People funded by this grant:
    • Febbraio M,
    • Bruce C,
    • Mcgee S,
    • Hargreaves M
    NHMRC Project Grant - APP1004441 - $40,000.00
  • GRANT
    Mechanistically linking type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease
    28 Sep 2010 - 31 Dec 2012
    People funded by this grant:
    • Sean Mcgee
    Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation Grant - Research - 3108/2010 - $74,290.00