John Hawley

Professor John Hawley is a leading academic and research director at the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne. He serves as Head of the Exercise & Nutrition Research Program, where his work integrates exercise physiology and nutritional science to improve metabolic health. His research has global impact, with collaborations across Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Karolinska Institute.

His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which exercise and diet regulate fat and carbohydrate metabolism, particularly in skeletal muscle. Key interests include insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cancer prevention through lifestyle interventions. He has pioneered work in chrono-nutrition, time-restricted feeding, and high-intensity interval training, exploring how timing of food and exercise influences metabolic outcomes.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong trend in circadian metabolism, exercise mimetics, and the interplay between diet, physical activity, and metabolic disease. His work spans from molecular biology to clinical trials, often bridging animal models with human studies. Topics include AMPK signaling, gut microbiota interactions, muscle anabolism, and inflammation during pandemics.

• Medical Research Council of South Africa, RC Scholarship (Outstanding Foreign Researcher) (1990 - 1992)
• University of Cape Town (JW. Jagger Postgraduate Scholarship) (1991 - 1992)
• Ball State University Graduate School (Deans Special Award) (1986)

Professor Hawley has mentored 23 PhD students to completion and trained numerous postdoctoral scientists who have gone on to independent careers. He has secured continuous funding from major national and international agencies including the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC), Australian Research Council (ARC), Diabetes Australia, and the Welcome Trust UK. His grant review roles further underscore his leadership in the research community.

His research is conducted through the Exercise & Nutrition Research Program, a multidisciplinary team investigating metabolic regulation via exercise and diet. The lab employs cutting-edge techniques in metabolomics, molecular biology, and human clinical trials, with an emphasis on translating findings into practical health interventions.