Sarah Valkenborghs

Dr Sarah Valkenborghs is a Lecturer in Human Physiology at the University of Newcastle's School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy. Her research focuses on the physiological effects of exercise on brain health and mental health across populations such as adolescents, pregnant women, stroke survivors, and individuals with depression or multiple sclerosis. She leads the MRI component of the NHMRC-funded 'Burn 2 Learn' trial, which investigates high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in school settings to improve brain development. Collaborations include Professor Craig Pennell (NEW1000 pregnancy cohort study) and Professor David Lubans.

Education: PhD in Human Physiology from the University of Newcastle (2019). Research emphasizes neuroimaging (MRI/MRS) to study brain structure/function changes linked to exercise. Current projects explore prenatal exercise's impact on fetal brain development and the role of physical activity in mitigating obesity-associated asthma.

Research Areas:
- Exercise and neurodevelopmental outcomes
- HIIT and adolescent brain health
- MRI-based metabolite analysis
- Exercise interventions in clinical populations (asthma, stroke)
- Intergenerational effects of parental activity

Grants: Over $2.6M in funding, including MRFF grants for obesity-asthma management and walk-and-talk therapy trials. Notable grants include the 'IDEAL Study' ($1.5M) and 'IMPACT study' ($30K).

Awards: 2023 University of Newcastle Early Career Research Excellence Award, multiple Sports Medicine Australia accolades, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2025).

Labs/Teams: Co-leader of the Nutrition and Exercise research theme in the Centre for Active Living and Learning. Active in MRI-based neuroimaging teams and interdisciplinary collaborations with clinicians, psychologists, and educators.