David Saint

David Saint

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences


Current projects in the laboratory
• The mechanisms underlying mechanoelectric feedback and arrhythmias in cardiac tissue
• Cardioprotection using novel therapeutic targets
• The mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation
• The use of heart rate variability (HRV) as a diagnostic marker, and mechanisms of HRV

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2005 - ongoing Associate Professor University of Adelaide
    2004 - 2006 CEO Verona Pharma Ltd
    1999 - 2004 Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    1996 - 1999 NH&MRC Senior Research Officer University of Adelaide
    1996 - 1999 Visiting Fellow Australian National University
    1995 - 1996 Senior Toxicologist Australian Government
    1992 - 1995 NH&MRC Senior Research Officer University of Canberra
    1992 - 1995 Visiting Fellow Australian National University
    1987 - 1992 Research Fellow Australian National University
    1982 - 1987 Post-Doctoral Fellow/Research Associate University of British Columbia
  • Awards and Achievements

    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2012 Award The Michael Roberts Excellence in Physiology Education Award Australian Physiological Society Australia -
    2012 Award The Executive Dean’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching University of Adelaide Australia -
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    2003 University of Adelaide Australia MBA (Advanced)
    1978 - 1982 University of St. Andrews Scotland PhD
    1973 - 1978 University of Leeds United Kingdom BSc (Hons)
  • Certifications

    Date Title Institution name Country
    2012 GAICD Australian Institute of Company Directors Australia
  • Research Interests

My total grant funding to date has been over $4.5 million, largely from the NHMRC and NHF, with me as principle researcher, or part of a small team.  In addition, I was part of a consortium awarded $1.3 million as an ARC LIEF grant (2005).   In the commercial sphere, I have been co-founder and CEO of start-up biotechnology  companies that have raised approx. $6 million in equity investment.  I’m currently CID on NHMRC Project grant 1108013 ($949,956: 2016-19).

 Large group teaching (traditional lecture format)

Date Course Title  Course Level/ Code
2006-2009

Biology: Human perspectives                                            

Biology 1201

2000- 2008 Dental students                
 
Dent I   
2000-present 2nd year BSc and Biomed Sci students                                                                                                Physiol 2510
2000-present

3rd year BSc and Biomed Sci students                                                                                            

Physiology III 
2007-present

1st year MBBS students ~100/class)                                                                                                       

MBBS 1

Small group teaching (Tutorials)

Date Course Title Course Level/ Code
 2000

2nd year Biomedical science students     

Biomedical Sci II 
2002

2nd year BSc students                                                                

Physiol II 
2001-present

3rd year BSC students ~75/class- in tutorial groups of 2 to 4          

Physiology in Action

Small group teaching (PBL format)

Date Course Title Course Level/ Code
2000, 2006

1st year medical students                                                                      

Med I
2002, 2003

3rd year medical students                                    

Med III  
2004, 2006

PBL case studies

Biomed Sci III 

Practical classes

Date Course Title Course Level/ Code
2000-present

Neuromuscular physiology practical ~70 1st year Dental students                                                          

Dent 1
2003 Research project based practical 10 2nd year Biomed Sci students                                                         Biomedical Sci II
2004,6

Cardiovascular practical classes.  ~45 2nd year Physiology students                                                    

Physiology II
2007-present

Respiration practical classes                                                                            

Physiology II

 Postgraduate Reviews

Date Course Title

2004, 2006

2009-present

Progress reviews with PhD students  to assess progress and facilitate timely completion: 3rd year students 1st year students

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Perinatal Programming of Metabolic Health in Guinea Pigs Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Dane Horton
    2014 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Investigating the role of Toll-like receptor 4 in myocardial ischaemic-preconditioning and ischaemic-reperfusion injury Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Sam Man Lee
    2011 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Polysomnographic signal processing for advanced diagnostics of paediatric sleep disordered breathing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Sarah Anita Immanuel
    2011 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Cardiac Remodelling Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Diabesity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Wei Wen Lim
    2010 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Atrial Electrophysiological and Structural Changes in Obesity & Diabetes Mellitus Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Melissa Neo
    2010 - 2015 Co-Supervisor DNA Damage and Nutrient Status as Risk Factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Sau Lai Lee
    2010 - 2013 Principal Supervisor The Modification of Heart Rate Variability in Normal, Overweight and Type 2 Diabetic Patients Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Nick Sjoberg
    2009 - 2015 Principal Supervisor An Examination of the Nature of Sleep Fragmentation in Children with Upper Airway Obstruction Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Scott Coussens
    2006 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Substrate for Atrial Fibrillation in Cardiomyopathies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Prof Dennis Lau
    2005 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Calcium Channel Distribution in the Arterial Vascular Tree and its Relation to Function Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Christine Smith
    2003 - 2006 Principal Supervisor The Expression and Function of Stretch-Activated 2P-4TMD Potassium Channel in Heart Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Haipeng Zhu
    2003 - 2007 Co-Supervisor DHA-Rich Fish Oil and Regular Moderate Exercise: A Combined Intervention to Improve Cardiovascular, Metabolic and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Obesity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Alison Hill
    2003 - 2008 Principal Supervisor Mechanoelectric Feedback in the Mammalian Heart Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Douglas Kelly
    2001 - 2009 Principal Supervisor An Examination of the Role of Atrial Stretch in the Genesis of Atrial Fibrillation and the Antiarrhythmic Effects of Dietary Fish Oil Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Daniel Ninio
    2000 - 2005 Co-Supervisor Gating of the CIC-1 Chloride Channel Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Michael Duffield
    1999 - 2003 Principal Supervisor Dietary and Free n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids modify calcium handling mechanisms in the heart Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Bonny Honen
    1999 - 2003 Principal Supervisor Mechanosensitive TREK-1 Channels in the Heart Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Hui Tan
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2013 - ongoing Representative INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES - United Kingdom
    2010 - ongoing Member Australian Physiological Society (AuPS), and Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB) - Australia
    2010 - ongoing Chair Education Symposium Australian Physiological Society (AuPS) and Australian Society for Biophysics (ASB) Australia
    2005 - ongoing Member School of Molecular and Biomedical Science Research Symposium University of Adelaide Australia
    2005 - ongoing Representative INTERNATIONAL UNION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES - United States
    2000 - ongoing Chair Finding Workable Solutions (FWS) - Australia
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2012 - ongoing - Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (FCSANZ) Australia
    2011 - ongoing Member NHMRC translational council Australia
    2010 - ongoing Council Australian Physiological Society (AuPS) Australia
    2010 - 2014 Member International Society for Heart Research -
    2010 - ongoing Member British Pharmacological Society United Kingdom
    2010 - ongoing Member American Physiological Society United States
    2010 - ongoing Member South Australia Cardiovascular Research Network Australia
    2010 - 2012 President International Society for Heart Research Australia
    2003 - 2007 Secretary International Society for Heart Australia
    2003 - 2007 Representative International Society for Heart Research Australia
    2002 - ongoing Representative Australian Society for Biophysics Australia
    2002 - 2007 Secretary Australian Physiological and Pharmacological Society Australia
    2000 - ongoing Director Centre for Biomedical Engineering (CBME), Adelaide University Australia
    2000 - ongoing Chair BioAngels Ltd. -
  • Editorial Boards

    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2013 - ongoing Editor-In-chief American Institute of Mathematical Sciences Biophysics - -

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