Alan Hayes

Professor Alan Hayes serves as Acting Director of the Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences (AIMSS) within Victoria University's College of Sport, Health & Engineering. With over 120 publications and an h-index of 44, his academic career spans more than 25 years since joining Victoria University in 1997. His research has significantly advanced understanding in muscle physiology, particularly regarding muscular dystrophy and age-related muscle wasting conditions.

Hayes completed his academic foundation at The University of Melbourne, earning both his BSc(Hons) in 1991 and PhD in Physiology in 1995. His doctoral work pioneered research on exercise in models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, demonstrating beneficial effects even in older animals. In 2021, he furthered his educational credentials with a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Education from Victoria University.

Professor Hayes' research program centers on the principle that 'Muscle Mass Matters,' investigating mechanisms of muscle wasting and potential therapeutic interventions. His early work established foundational knowledge on beta-agonists like clenbuterol for muscular dystrophy treatment. He later published seminal papers on protein supplementation timing for resistance training outcomes, winning a Victorian State Government award. His discovery that mitochondria contribute significantly to muscular dystrophy phenotype has driven numerous clinical trials. Current research focuses on drug repurposing for muscular dystrophy, age-related loss of bone and muscle mass, and developing physiological models for muscle wasting conditions.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a sophisticated research trajectory spanning basic science to clinical applications. His work demonstrates strong translational focus, from laboratory models of muscular dystrophy to human studies on sarcopenia and osteosarcopenia. The publications reflect interdisciplinary collaboration across physiology, endocrinology, geriatrics, and pharmacology, with consistent emphasis on therapeutic interventions including exercise, nutrition, and pharmacological approaches.

• Victorian State Government award for Applied Research
• Vice Chancellor's Citation for Research Excellence in Research Supervision (2011)

Hayes actively supervises Masters Research and PhD students across Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (FOR 32), Health Sciences (FOR 42), Biological Sciences (FOR 31), and Education (FOR 39). He designed a unique three-way research partnership between The University of Melbourne, Victoria University, and Western Health, co-locating basic science with clinical trials at Sunshine Hospital. As a regular reviewer for Australian and International grants and over 30 journals, he contributes significantly to research evaluation. He also serves as Victoria and Tasmania council representative for the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research.

Professor Hayes leads the Biomedical and Life Sciences program at Victoria University and previously served as Head of the Exercise Metabolism Unit. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Western Centre for Health Research and Education and currently serves as Acting Director of AIMSS. His work extends to curriculum development, having contributed to implementing core concepts of physiology across Australian educational institutions.