Cong Xie

Cong Xie

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Dr Cong Xie is a postdoctoral research fellow (Royal Adelaide Hospital Early Career Fellow) in the Centre of Research Excellence in Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide. His research focuses on understanding the important role of the gut in glucose metabolism in both health and type 2 diabetes and the translation of these novel insights into improved therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, amputations, heart disease and kidney disease. Up to a third of Australians will develop type 2 diabetes in their lifespan, which can impose a ~6 years decrease in life expectancy and a 3-4 fold increase in healthcare costs within Australia. As the key interface between ingested nutrients and the body, the gastrointestinal tract is now recognised to play a central role in regulating postprandial metabolism. Dr Xie's research focuses on the pivotal role of gastrointestinal (GI) function, particularly gastric emptying and GI hormones (e.g. glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)), in the regulation of postprandial glycaemia, energy expenditure and energy intake in both health and type 2 diabetes (T2D). He is particularly interested in the role of bitter taste and bile acid signalling in metabolic homeostasis.

He has been actively involved in 10+ clinical research projects and is responsible for driving 10+ clinical studies relating to gastrointestinal function and metabolic control in health and type 2 diabetes. With the great support from senior research leaders (A/Prof Tongzhi Wu and Profs Chris Rayner and Michael Horowitz), he is now determining: the roles of bitter taste and bile acid signalling in the regulation of gastrointestinal function, and postprandial glycaemia in cohorts of healthy participants and patients with T2D. These studies would provide clear views of the physiology and pathophysiology of T2D and have a high potential to establish novel, safe and cost-effective strategies to improve the management of T2D.

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2022 - ongoing RAH Early Career Fellowship Royal Adelaide Hospital
    2021 - ongoing Clinical Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2015 - 2017 Physician Trainee Zhongda Hospital Southeast University
    2014 - 2015 Intern Southeast University
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2022 Fellowship Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Committee Early Career Fellowship Royal Adelaide Hospital Australia -
    2021 Award Adelaide Medical School Research Support Award The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2021 Award Australia Diabetes Society Registration Grant Australia Diabetes Society Australia -
    2020 Award Clinical Poster Award (Finalist) Australia Diabetes Society Australia -
    2019 Award Travel Grant European Association for the Study of Diabetes Italy -
    2018 Award Travel Grant European Association for the Study of Diabetes Italy -
    2018 Achievement Clinical Poster Award (Finalist) Australia Diabetes Society Australia -
    2018 Award The Hospital Research Foundation Research Travel Awards The Hospital Research Foundation Australia -
    2018 Award Adelaide Medical School Research Travel Award The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2018 Scholarship Postgraduate Supplementary Scholarship National Health and Medical Research Council Grant Australia -
    2017 Scholarship Postgraduate scholarship China Scholarship Council China -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2017 - 2021 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    2015 - 2017 Southeast University China Master
    2010 - 2015 Southeast University China Bachelor
  • Research Interests

Dr Xie has supervised five medical undergraduates on research placement and summer scholarship projects. He has also provided technical training to a number of Honours students and junior HDR students within his research centre.

  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2018 - ongoing Member Australian Diabetes Society Australia
    2018 - ongoing Member European Association for the Study of Diabetes Italy

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