APrf Simran Sidhu
Associate Professor
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
College of Health
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
A/Prof Simran Sidhu is a teaching/research academic in the Discipline of Physiology and leader of the Integrative Human Neurophysiology Laboratory in the School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.Dr Sidhu was awarded her PhD in Neuroscience (School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, Australia). She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Integrative Physiology at The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA and during this time was also awarded the American Heart Association Fellowship. Dr Sidhu was appointed Lecturer in the Discipline of Physiology at The University of Adelaide in June 2015.Dr Sidhu's research bridges three disciplines: neuroscience, physiology, and exercise science – with a focus on elucidating neurophysiological mechanisms of exercise intolerance. Her research involves the application of non-invasive neurophysiological tools at the cutting edge of integrative neurophysiology, for e.g. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in healthy, aged, and clinical populations.
Overarching background to the available projects in my laboratory:
A hallmark of people with clinical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cancer and heart failure is premature fatigue, which not only impairs their quality of life, but also depicts a major source of morbidity. In advancing age, exercise intolerance and disability remains high. We understand little about the brain areas involved in the development of fatigue, and the impact of centrally driven fatigue on movements that are vital for interaction with our environment. Having a detailed understanding of the neural mechanisms and interactions that occur between the components in the brain during physical activity is critical to establish the neural sites of intervention that will reduce the effects of fatigue and increase movement tolerance. Furthermore, in many social and economic contexts, including vehicle driving, manual industrial operations and defence, physical fatigue has important influence on cognitive performance during goal directed movements. To improve human work productivity in health and disease, both the neurophysiological and psychophysical aspects of fatigue need to be addressed.
The series of projects implemented in my lab (details below) allow us to address the overarching aim of gaining a deep understanding of the role of exercise-related fatigue, lifestyle factors (including physical activity, diet and sleep) and neuroplasticity on motor-cognitive performance in health and disease.
Project 1:
- Title: Brain mechanisms underlying effects of exercise-related fatigue on physical and motor-cognitive performance
- Available for: Placement students/Honours/PhD/Masters
- Location: Helen Mayo South
- Research project availability: Semester 1/2
Project 2:
- Title: Neuromodulation, fatigue and lifestyle factors in multiple sclerosis
- Available for: Placement students/Honours/PhD/Masters
- Location: Helen Mayo South
- Research project availability: Semester 1/2
Project 3:
- Title: The Transcranial Magnetic stimulation for Chemotherapy-induced pain Study (TMaC Study)
- Available for: Placement students/Honours/PhD/Masters
- Location: Helen Mayo South
- Research project availability: Semester 1/2
Project 4:
- Title: Role of neuromodulation, fatigue and lifestyle factors in older adults
- Available for: Placement students/Honours/PhD/Masters
- Location: Helen Mayo South
- Research project availability: Semester 1/2
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Associate Professor | University of Adelaide |
| 2019 - ongoing | Senior Lecturer | University of Adelaide |
| 2015 - 2018 | Lecturer | University of Adelaide |
| 2012 - 2015 | Postdoctoral Fellow | University of Utah |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Fellowship | Fellow - Higher Education Academy (FHEA) | Advance HE | United Kingdom | - |
| 2018 | Award | 2018 Women's Research Excellence Award | The University of Adelaide | Australia | 5000 |
| 2016 | Recognition | American Physiological Society (APS) select award for distinction in scholarship | American Physiological Society (APS) | United States | - |
| 2014 | Fellowship | American Heart Association Fellowship | The University of Utah | United States | - |
| 2012 | Honour | Warren Walsh Memorial Award for outstanding academic performance during doctoral studies | The University of Queensland | Australia | - |
| 2007 | Achievement | Class I Honours In Physiology | The University of New South Wales | Australia | - |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 - 2012 | University of Queensland | Australia | PhD (Neuroscience/Neurophysiology) |
| 2007 | University of New South Wales | Australia | BSc Hons 1 (Exercise Neurophysiology) |
| 2003 - 2006 | National University of Singapore | Singapore | BSc (Biomedical Science) |
| Date | Title | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 - 2015 | Postdoctoral Fellowship (American Heart Association Fellowship) | University of Utah | United States |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Sidhu, S. (2020). Role of group III/IV muscle afferents on central nervous system responses to exhaustive cycling exercise. In Proceedings of the 25th European Congress of Sports Science. Virtual online: ECSS. |
| 2019 | Otieno, L. A., Semmler, J., & Sidhu, S. (2019). Age-related changed in GABA-mediated inhibition with fatiguing single joint exercise.. In Proceedings of the ANS Sensorimotor Control Satellite Meeting. Adelaide. |
| 2018 | Sidhu, S. K. (2018). Preconditioning tDCS facilitates effects of subsequent tDCS applied during cycling exercise on corticospinal excitability and working memory in young adults. In Proceedings of the European College of Sports Science. Dublin. |
| 2017 | Sidhu, S., Weavil, J., Thurston, T., Wang, E., Rosenberger, D., Jessop, J., . . . Amann, M. (2017). Fatigue modulates the effect of group III/IV muscle afferents On Gabab mediated inhibition and corticospinal excitability. In Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise Vol. 49 (pp. 695). Denver, Colorado: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ltd.. |
| 2017 | Lauber, B., Lichtwark, G., Sidhu, S. K., & Gollhofer, A. (2017). Effect of cadence on intracortical inhibition and facilitation during submaximal cycling. In European College of Sports Science. Ruhr University Bochum. |
| 2017 | Sidhu, S. K. (2017). Increasing motor cortex plasticity with spaced paired associative stimulation at different intervals in older adults. In Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference. Adelaide. |
| 2016 | Mangum, T. S., Hureau, T. J., Weavil, J. C., Sidhu, S. K., Thurston, T. S., Nelson, A. D., . . . Amann, M. (2016). Ascorbate Attenuates the Development of Fatigue During Exercise in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: 990 Board #306 June 1, 2: 00 PM - 3: 30 PM.. In Medicine and science in sports and exercise Vol. 48 (pp. 284). United States: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). DOI |
| 2016 | Hoeppli, M. E., Thurston, T. S., Sidhu, S. K., Mangum, T. S., Weavil, J. C., Hureau, T. J., . . . Schweinhardt, P. (2016). Differences in psychophysical responses to muscle stimulation in young and old healthy adults.. In The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society Vol. 17 (pp. S63). United States: Elsevier BV. DOI |
| 2016 | Weavil, J. C., Sidhu, S. K., Mangum, T. S., Thurston, T. S., Garten, R. S., Richardson, R. S., & Amann, M. (2016). Impact of Aging on Fatigue and Corticomotoneuronal Excitability during Small Muscle Mass Exercise. In FASEB JOURNAL Vol. 30 (pp. 2 pages). San Diego, CA: FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL. |
| 2016 | Mangum, T. S., Hureau, T. J., Weavil, J. C., Sidhu, S. K., Thurston, T. S., Nelson, A. D., . . . Amann, M. (2016). Ascorbate Attenuates the Development of Fatigue During Exercise in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. In MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE Vol. 48 (pp. 284). Denver, CO: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. DOI |
| 2015 | Sidhu, S. K., Weavil, J. C., Mangum, T. S., Rossman, M. J., Jessop, J. E., Richardson, R. S., . . . Amann, M. (2015). Group III IV mediated muscle reflexes restrain vascular conductance during exercise in patients with hypertension. In Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. San Diego, USA: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). |
| 2015 | Blain, G. M., Mangum, T. S., Sidhu, S. K., Weavil, J. C., Richardson, R. S., Hureau, T. J., . . . Amann, M. (2015). Group III/IV muscle afferents restrict intramuscular metabolic perturbation in exercising humans. In Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. San Diego USA: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). |
| 2015 | Mangum, T. S., Sidhu, S. K., Weavil, J. C., Hureau, T. J., Richardson, R. S., & Amann, M. (2015). The development of peripheral and central fatigue during self- paced endurance exercise.. In Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. San Diego: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). |
| 2015 | Weavil, J. C., Sidhu, S. K., Venturelli, M., Rossman, M. J., Jessop, J. E., Richardson, R. S., . . . Amann, M. (2015). Muscle Reflex Effects on the Autonomic Hemodynamic Response to Passive Leg Movement in an Aged Population. In The FASEB Journal. San Diego, USA: Federation of American Society of Experimental Biology (FASEB). |
| 2014 | Sidhu, S. K., Weavil, J. C., Venturelli, M., Rossman, M. J., Gmelch, B. S., Bledsoe, A. D., . . . Amann, M. (2014). Aging alters muscle reflex control of autonomic cardiovascular responses to rhythmic contractions in humans. In FASEB. San Diego, USA. |
| 2014 | Sidhu, S. K. (2014). Spinal µ-opioid receptor sensitive locomotor muscle afferents decrease responsiveness of motor cortical cells and diminish cortical voluntary activation.. In J. C. Weavil, T. S. Mangum, D. E. Morgan, J. E. Jessop, R. S. Richardson, & M. Amann (Eds.), The FASEB Journal. San Diego, USA: Federation of American Society of Experimental Biology (FASEB). |
| 2014 | Weavil, J. C., Sidhu, S. K., Mangum, T. S., Rossman, M. J., Garten, R. S., Richardson, R. S., & Amann, M. (2014). Influence of locomotor muscle fatigue on modulating the responsiveness of the corticospinal pathway.. In Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. Florida, USA: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). |
| 2014 | Weavil, J. C., Sidhu, S. K., Mangum, T. S., Rossman, M. J., Garten, R. S., Richardson, R. S., & Amann, M. (2014). Influence Of Peripheral Fatigue And Descending Drive On The Responsiveness Of The Corticospinal Pathway During Cycling Exercise. In MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE Vol. 46 (pp. 858). Atlanta, GA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. DOI |
| 2013 | Sidhu, S. K., Weavil, J. C., Venturelli, M., Richardson, R. S., Rossman, M. J., Garten, R. S., & Amann, M. (2013). Cortical voluntary activation and responsiveness of corticospinal tract to a remote muscle during cycling exercise sustained to task failure. In Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Society for Neuroscience Meeting. San Diego, USA. |
| 2013 | Marinovic, W., Tresilian, J., de Rugy, A., Sidhu, S. K., & Riek, S. (2013). The effects of loud auditory stimuli on corticospinal excitability during movement preparation. In Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, USA. |
| 2013 | Marinovic, W., Tresilian, J., de Rugy, A., Sidhu, S. K., & Riek, S. (2013). Corticospinal excitability and the early release of prepared responses by sound. In Proceedings of the Motor Control and Human Skill Conference. Melbourne, Australia. |
| 2012 | Sidhu, S. K., Lauber, B., Cresswell, A. G., & Carroll, T. J. (2012). Increased Intracortical Inhibition during 30 mins of sustained cycling exercise. In Proceedings of the "XIX Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology. Brisbane, Australia. |
| 2011 | Sidhu, S. K., Cresswell, A. G., & Carroll, T. J. (2011). Excitability of motor cortical neurons decreases during fatiguing cycling exercise. In Proceedings of "The future of Fatigue- Defining the Problem" Symposium.. Charles Stuart University, Bathurst, Australia. |
| 2011 | Sidhu, S. K., Cresswell, A. G., & Carroll, T. J. (2011). Modulation of corticospinal tract excitability in the knee extensor and flexor muscles during bicycling. In Proceedings of the Australian Society of Medical Research Conference. Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia. |
| 2010 | Sidhu, S. K., Cresswell, A. G., & Carroll, T. J. (2010). Modulation of corticospinal tract excitability in the knee extensor and flexor muscles during bicycling. In Proceedings of the 40th Annual Society for Neuroscience Meeting. San Diego, USA. |
| 2009 | Cresswell, A. G., Hoffman, B. W., Sidhu, S. K., Oya, T., & Carroll, T. J. (2009). Central Fatigue and Changes in Corticospinal Responsiveness Induced by Submaximal Lower Limb Exercise. In ANS Sensorimotor Control Satellite Meeting: “The Jaw and More”. ANU, Canberra, Australia. |
| 2008 | Sidhu, S. K., Bentley, D. J., & Carroll, T. J. (2008). Long Lasting Impairments in the Capacity of the Human Motor Cortex to Voluntarily Activate Knee Extensor Muscles Following Cycling Exercise. In Proceedings of the 26th International Australasian Winter Conference on Brain Research, Volume 26, Abstract 10.5. Queenstown, New Zealand. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Sidhu, S. K., Weavil, J. C., Thurston, T. S., Wang, E., Rosenberger, D. S., Jessop, J. E., . . . Amann, M. (2017). Fatigue Modulates The Effect Of Group III/IV Muscle Afferents On GABAB-Mediated Inhibition And Corticospinal Excitability. Poster session presented at the meeting of MEDICINE AND SCIENCE IN SPORTS AND EXERCISE. Denver, CO: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. DOI |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Sidhu, S. K. (2012). Effects of sustained cycling exercise on corticospinal responsiveness. (The University of Queensland, Australia). |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Boda, M., Otieno, L., Smith, A., Goldsworthy, M., & Sidhu, S. (2024). Metaplastic neuromodulation via transcranial direct current stimulation has no effect on corticospinal excitability and neuromuscular fatigue. DOI |
My research has been funded by the following schemes and/or funding bodies:
- Barbara Kidman Fellowship (2025)
- The Hospital Research Foundation (2024-2026)
- Adelaide-Nottingham Alliance Research Seed Fund (2023)
- MS Research Australia (2020-21)
- The University of Adelaide Women’s Research Excellence Award, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2019)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Infrastructure Funding Awards, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2017-2023)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Committee Early Career Researcher Mentored Project Development Program, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2017-18)
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Travel Awards, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2017-2023)
- German Research Foundation (DFG) International Collaboration Grant (2017)
- Adelaide Medical School Equipment Grant, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2016)
- Priority Partner Grant, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2015)
- School of Medical Sciences Kick-Start Funding, The University of Adelaide, Australia (2015)
- American Heart Association Fellowship Grant, American Heart Association, USA (2014-2015)
- The University of Utah Postdoctoral Travel Grant (2013)
- Technische Universität München, Germany. Research Opportunity Grant (2013)
- Sports Medicine Australia Research Foundation Grant, Sports Medicine Australia, Australia (2011)
- School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland Postgraduate Travel Grant (2008)
- The University of Queensland Postgraduate Research Scholarship, The University of Queensland, Australia (2008-2012)
- Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship, Department of Education, Australia (2008-2012)
Teaching Interests: Neurophysiology, Human Motor Behavior and Learning, Exercise Science, Integrative Human Physiology, Research-Based Learning, Work Integrated Learning
Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences Course Coordination & Teaching:
- Biomedicine Honours (Semester 1 & 2)
- Human Motor Behaviour and Learning (Semester 2)
- Research Placement Part 1 (Semester 1 & 2)
- Research Placement Part 2 (Semester 1 & 2)
- Research Integrated Learning (Semester 1 & 2)
- Exercise, Nutrition and Metabolism (HLTH SC 3100; Semester 1)
- Placements/Honours/HDR Supervisor
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Impact of yoga on Neuroplasticity | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Keirrthana Jothy |
| 2025 | Principal Supervisor | Impact of yoga on Neuroplasticity | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Keirrthana Jothy |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | The Transcranial Magnetic stimulation for Chemotherapy-induced pain Study (TMaC Study) | Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) | Master | Full Time | Mrs Eva Kate Moore |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | The Transcranial Magnetic stimulation for Chemotherapy-induced pain Study (TMaC Study) | - | Master | Full Time | Mrs Eva Kate Moore |
| 2022 | Principal Supervisor | The interaction between diet, physical activity and neuroplasticity in multiple sclerosis | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Madison Boda |
| 2022 | Principal Supervisor | The interaction between diet, physical activity and neuroplasticity in multiple sclerosis | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Miss Madison Boda |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Impact of Fatiguing Exercise on Corticospinal Excitability and Motor Performance in Young and Older Adults | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Lavender Achieng Otieno |
| 2018 - 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Motor Cortex Plasticity and Skill Acquisition in Endurance-Trained Athletes | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Brodie Hand |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - ongoing | External Supervisor | Neural contributions to motor impairment in people with painful knee osteoarthritis | University of South Australia | MPhil | Master | Part Time | Johanna Paddick |
| 2019 - 2020 | External Supervisor | The interaction between neuromodulation and fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis | The University of Verona, Italy | MSc | Master | Full Time | Chiara Barbi |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - ongoing | Member | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences HDR | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2020 - ongoing | Chair | Florey Undergraduate Research Conference | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2020 - ongoing | Chair | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences SSP | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences - Health Safety and Wellbeing Committee | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2017 - 2023 | Member | Low-Risk Human Research Ethics Committee | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | National Science Week Committee (South Australia) | - | Australia |
| 2013 - 2015 | Board Member | The University of Utah Postdoctoral Association | The University of Utah | United States |
| 2010 - 2011 | Chair | School of Human Movement Studies Postgraduate Students Executive Committee | The University of Queensland | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - ongoing | Member | Australasian Neuroscience Society | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | Exercise and Sports Science Australia | Australia |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | American College of Sports Medicine | United States |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | Society for Neuroscience | United States |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | American Heart Association | United States |
| Date | Role | Editorial Board Name | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - ongoing | - | Frontiers in Physiology (Exercise Physiology) | Frontiers | - |
| 2019 - ongoing | - | Brain Sciences | MDPI | Switzerland |
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