David Torpy

David Torpy

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Professor Torpy is Senior Endocrinologist and Deputy Director, Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital. He is also Professor of Medicine at the University of Adelaide School of Medicine. His research interests predominantly involve studies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and stress. Recent specific areas have included corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) genetic variants and their effect on the stress response, immune-HPA interactions involving CBG in inflammatory states, adrenal function in septic shock, maternal cortisolaemia in complicated pregnancies, inherited forms of adrenal dysfunction causing Cushing’s, adrenocortical carcinoma, opioids and adrenal function, the stress axis in hypoglycaemia unawareness, and cortisone dosing and well-being in Addison’s disease.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2012 - ongoing Professor, Discipline of Medicine University of Adelaide
    2011 - ongoing Deputy Director, Endocrine & Metabolic Unit Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide
    2002 - ongoing Senior Consultant Endocrinologist Royal Adelaide Hospital
    2002 - 2012 Associate Professor, Discipline of Medicine University of Adelaide

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2012 Award Prof Derek Frewin AO Citation for Clinical Teaching – Recognised by MBBS students, School of Medicine University of Adelaide Australia -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    1996 University of Queensland Australia PhD
    1991 Royal Australasian College of Physicians Australia Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians
    1984 University of Adelaide Australia MBBS

  • Postgraduate Training
    Date Title Institution Country
    1995 - 1998 PhD University of Queensland Australia

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    1993 ECFMG Certification Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates United States

  • Research Interests
    Endocrinology
Grants
2011 ACTH-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia. Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Grant. Gagliardi L, Scott H, Torpy DJ, Hahn C. $25,000
2012 A randomized placebo controlled crossover pilot study of cortisol replacement in chronic pain patients. Royal Adelaide Hospital Clinical Research Grant. Torpy DJ, Rolan P. $30,000
2013 Effect of depletion of cleaved CBG on inflammation in preeclampsia, rheumatoid arthritis and sepsis.  Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Grant.  Nenke M, Lewis J, Torpy DJ. $50,000
2015 Obesity, Stress and the Metebolic Syndrome: Effect of cognitive behavior stress management (CBSM) on the extent and durability of diet-induced weight loss. Role of the biological stress system. Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) Foundation.  Seeding Grant.  Licinio J, Torpy DJ. $15,000
2015 Effect of plasma corticosteroid binding globulin on noradrenaline weaning in septic shock. RAH Research Grant.    $40,000
2016 High-affinity corticosteroid binding globulin depletion in septic shock: clinical implications NHMRC Near Miss grant.  RAH Special purposes fund.       $40,000
2019 Adrenal cell transplantation for Addison’s disease using biodegradable temporizing matrix technology.  RRC Clinical Project Grant.  Torpy, DJ $48,000
2020 Development of new approaches to measure proteolysis and glycosylation profiling of high and low affinity corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) in septic shock using mass spectrometry. RRC Clinical Project Grant.    $47,840
2020 Purification of CBG for glycosylation analysis in sepsis and distribution studies Near Miss Funding   $50,000/FHMS $30,511/SAHMRI $19,489

          

Teaching

In addition to the teaching activities below, Prof. Torpy has supervised 11 HDR students to completion from 2001-2021 and currently supervises 5 HDR students. 

Undergraduate:
1988 – 1991  Bedside teaching and small group tutorials to undergraduate medical students at the Universities of Adelaide and Queensland in my capacities as Senior Medical Registrar.
1992 – 1995   Clinical Instructor in Medicine
1998 Clinical Senior Lecturer in Medicine
1997 – 1998   Teaching in the field of clinical endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health, USA. Supervision of junior scientific staff in specific laboratory procedures at the NIH.
1997 - 1998   Lecturer in Endocrinology – MBBS Course Year 2. Includes provision of web-based learning materials.
2000 – 2001   Supervision of foreign elective students in endocrinology – clinical and research, through postgraduate Medical Education Association of Queensland.
2000 - 2001 

Problem Based Learning Tutor, Graduate Medical Course, University of Queensland.

Provision of case wraps / end core based learning in endocrine related cases University of Adelaide Year 4 students.
2002-  Group based tutorials University of Adelaide Year 4 students diabetes topics.

  

Postgraduate:
1998 - 1999   Responsibilities for coordinating an internal medicine training program for basic physician trainees.
2000 – 2001   Co-supervision of RACP advanced trainees in endocrinology (core year).
2002 – 2012  Provision of endocrinology tutorials for basic physician trainees.
2002 – 2012   Supervision of RACP advanced trainees in endocrinology (required year).
2002 - 2012 Participation in postgraduate teaching of advanced trainees, weekly long cases, and trial exam program.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Co-Supervisor Harnessing a native corticosteroid-binding globulin to treat life-threatening septic shock Master of Clinical Science Master Part Time Mr Benjamin James Young
    2021 Principal Supervisor Optimization of diagnosis and treatment of adrenal insufficiency: using mass spectrometry for assessment of hair steroid concentration in steroid treated patients, and measurement of CBG cleavage and glycosylation status in the setting of sepsis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Jessica Lee

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Understanding the Relationship of Incretin Hormones, Gastric Emptying and the Glucoregulatory Responses to Nutrients Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Ryan Joseph Jalleh
    2017 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin in Inflammation and Septic Shock Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Emily Jane Meyer
    2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Clinical and Genetic Aspects of Prolactin Hypersecretion Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time APrf Sunita Maria Christina De Sousa
    2015 - 2017 Co-Supervisor The Effect of Dairy 0n Insulin Sensitivity Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Jordan Linley Peters
    2014 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin – a Targeted Delivery System for Cortisol. Physiology and Responses to Acute and Chronic Inflammation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Marni Anne Nenke
    2010 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Neuro-endocrine Function in Older Men with Chronic Pain - Effects of Chronic Opioid Usage Master of Medical Science Master Part Time Ms Clare Haylock
    2010 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Tri-iodothyronine (T3) Therapy in a Pre-Clinical Model of Septic Shock Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Matthew Jerome Maiden
    2008 - 2011 Principal Supervisor Regulation of Cortisol Secretion in Humans; Relation to Vasopressin Action at the Adrenals in Macronodular and Micronodular Adrenocortical Tumours and Well-Being in Addison's Disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Lucia Gagliardi
    2004 - 2007 Principal Supervisor Nutrition and Vascular Function Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Jennifer Keogh
    2004 - 2007 Principal Supervisor Corticosteroid Binding Globulin: High Resolution Separation of Glycan Isoforms from Plasma of Pregnant Women and Women taking the Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill Master of Medical Science Master Full Time Miss Elizabeth Mitchell
    2004 - 2007 Principal Supervisor Cortisol and Blood Pressure Perturbation in the Pathophysiology of Septicaemia, Complicated Pregnancy and Weight Loss/Obesity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Jui Ho

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2011 - 2014 Co-Supervisor The effects of dietary salt restriction and potassium augmentation on diabetes mellitus and hypertension University of South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Kristina Petersen

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2010 - 2012 Chair Organising Committee Annual Endocrine Clinical Education Weekend Update (SA). Australia
    2009 - 2012 Member Program Organising Committee Endocrine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2003 - ongoing Member Hanson Institute of Medical Research Australia
    1994 - ongoing Member The Endocrine Society (US) United States
    1991 - ongoing Member Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Australia
    1990 - ongoing Member Endocrine Society of Australia Australia
    1984 - ongoing Member Australian Medical Association Australia

  • Editorial Boards
    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2016 - ongoing Board Member Journal of the Endocrine Society Oxford University Press United Kingdom
    2011 - 2016 Associate Editor Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism Oxford University Press United Kingdom
    2010 - 2014 Board Member Hormone and Metabolic Research Thieme India

  • Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
    Date Title Type Institution Country
    2012 - 2012 Cancer Grant Reviewer Grant Assessment Pfizer Australia
    2009 - 2012 Abstract reviewer Conference Review Endocrine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting Australia
    2001 - ongoing Grant reviewer Grant Assessment National Heart Foundation Australia
    2000 - 2000 Grant reviewer Grant Assessment Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, University of Otago New Zealand
    1999 - 1999 Grant reviewer Grant Assessment The Royal Adelaide Hospital Project Grant Committee Australia
    1998 - 2018 Abstract reviewer Conference Review The Endocrine Society (US) Annual Scientific Meeting United States
    1997 - ongoing Grant reviewer Grant Assessment National Health and Medical Research Council Australia
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