Background
Marc is an Associate Professor in Nutrition and Musculoskeletal Health at the Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute (NHIRI) within the School of Medical and Health Sciences. He established and leads the Falls Free Future Program within NHIRI and is the Deputy Lead for the Disorders of Mineralisation Research Group at ECU. Marc has held Fellowships from the Royal Perth Hospital Research Foundation and the Future Health Research and Innovation Fund (Department of Health, WA). He is the Coordinating Principal Investigator for the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women.
Marc received his PhD (Deans List) from The University of Western Australia in 2014 investigating the effect of exercise on iron metabolism. He is an accredited Exercise and Sport Scientist (Level 2) and registered Nutritionist. Previously, Marc worked as a Sports Physiologist at the Western Australian Institute of Sport.
His research program examines the role of nutrition, physical activity and its impact on disease progression, more specifically musculoskeletal function and structure. Another key interest is the nexus between cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health, including the application of AI to bone density images. Marc’s musculoskeletal research program is supported by his expertise in the design, coordination and conduct of clinical trials, as well as advanced biostatistics specific to cohort studies. Collectively, his research is targeted at reducing falls and fracture in older populations.
Marc currently serves on Council for the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS). He has been part of the Australia and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) Taskforce which operationalised a clinical definition for sarcopenia currently used nationally. He is also a member of the Outcomes Working Group for the Global Leaders Initiative in Sarcopenia (GLIS).
Awards and Recognition
- 2025 Nutrition Society of Australia, Mid-Career Research Award
- 2025 International Osteoporosis Foundation & European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Young Investigator Award
- 2024 European Calcified Tissue Society, Allied Health Award
- 2024 Edith Cowan University, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Early-Mid Career Researcher Publication Prize
- 2023 Young Tall Poppy Science Award (Western Australia)
- 2023 European Calcified Tissue Society Allied Health Award
- 2023 European Calcified Tissue Society Best Clinical Poster Forum Award: Dietary Vitamin K1 intake is associated with lower long-term injurious fall and fracture risk: The Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women
- 2022 Royal Perth Hospital Research Foundation, Best Publication for an Early Career Researcher "Abdominal aortic calcification on lateral spine images captured during bone density testing and late-life dementia risk in older women"
- 2022 Western Australia Cardiovascular Researchers Alliance, Best Publication Prize by an Early Career Researcher: "Abdominal aortic calcification on lateral spine images captured during bone density testing and late-life dementia risk in older women"
- 2022 World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease. International Osteoporosis Foundation Nutrition Award: "Dietary Vitamin K1 intake is associated with lower long-term fracture-related hospitalisation risk: the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women.
- 2021 Bridging Overseas Networking and Exchange (B.O.N.E) program exchange with the Bone Research Society (UK). Selected representative for the Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society.
- 2021 Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Kyowa Kirin Best Clinical Presentation: "Creatinine to cystatin C ratio: a novel biomarker of sarcopenia measures and falls risk in community-dwelling older women?".
- Edith Cowan University Early and Mid-Career Researcher Network (EMCRN) Symposium 2020, Best Presentation for Research in Health. Higher dietary nitrate intake is associated with better muscle function in men and women independent of physical activity levels.
- Australia and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research Bright Star Publication Award for the paper titled: 'Higher dietary nitrate intake is associated with better muscle function in older women', 2019.
- Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society Travel Award, 2019.
- Australian Postgraduate Award, 2010-2014.
- Bruce and Betty Green Science Prize, The University of Western Australia, 2010.
- Postgraduate Research Travel Award, The University of Western Australia, 2011 & 2013.
- Edith Cowan University Platinum Prize, Australian Society for Medical Research Symposium. For the oral presentation entitled: ‘Effect of exercise modality and intensity on post-exercise interleukin-6 and hepcidin levels’, 2012.
- The University of Western Australia Deans List Award for the Doctoral Thesis: ‘Effect of exercise on inflammation, hepcidin regulation and iron metabolism’, 2014.
- Valedictorian, The University of Western Australia, March 2015.
Research Areas and Interests
- Fall and fracture prevention in older populations
- Benefits of physical activity and nutrition on the vasculature as well as musculoskeletal function/structure
- Nutritional supplements to improve human performance
- Iron regulation in active populations
Other research projects
- Transforming Health and Resilience for Healthy Lives (THRIVE) Project, Catalyst Grant, Canadian Institute of Health Research, 2025-2026 ~$77,710 AUD.
- Health effects of Vitamin K: towards evidence-based nutrition recommendations and prevention. Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond, 2023-2027, Independent Research Fund Denmark, ~$1,089,000 AUD