Dr Michelle Fitzmaurice
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PhD, Clinical Biochemistry
Ulster University, United Kingdom -
BSc (Hons), Human Nutrition
Ulster University, United Kingdom
Dr Michelle Fitzmaurice is a translational researcher specialising in metabolic signalling and glycation biology, with a focus on clinically relevant biomarker development.
Her research examines how metabolic and hormonal signals are modified across biological systems, and how early molecular changes contribute to disease risk and progression. She integrates endocrinology, glycation biology and microbiome science to investigate how post-translational modifications and metabolic interactions influence health across the lifespan.
Her work centres on developing analytically robust, clinically implementable biomarkers using routinely collected biospecimens and well-characterised patient cohorts, with applications in pregnancy, metabolic disease, neurodegeneration and healthy ageing.
Dr Fitzmaurice is based within the Microbiome Research Centre, St George campus, School of Clinical Medicine, and holds cross-appointments supporting translational research, ethics and governance across hospital and university environments.
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Dr Fitzmaurice has been awarded competitive research funding to support translational investigations into metabolic signalling, biomarker development, and host–microbiome interactions.
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Competitive philanthropic research grant (2024; $50,000)
Funding supported the characterisation of glycated peptide biomarkers and the development of translational diagnostic approaches using clinical biospecimens, leveraging established research infrastructure. -
Dementia Research Community Grant (2024; $79,994)
Funding supported a translational microbiome and biomarker study nested within the Healthy Optimal Australian Microbiome (HOAM) program, examining early molecular changes associated with dementia and healthy ageing using well-characterised clinical cohorts. -
Competitive research grant (2024; $500,000)
Funding supported translational research investigating metabolic signalling and early disease trajectories within a broader multi-system research program.
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Microbiome Research Centre Director’s Award for Research Excellence (2023)
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PhD Scholarship, Department of Education and Learning, Northern Ireland
Dr Fitzmaurice’s research activities focus on understanding how metabolic and hormonal signals are modified across biological systems, and how early molecular changes influence disease risk and progression. Her work centres on mechanistic investigation, biomarker development and translational application using clinical biospecimens.
Her current research activities include:
- Characterising glycated hormones and peptides to determine how post-translational modifications alter biological signalling and metabolic responses
- Investigating host–microbiome metabolic interactions and their role in shaping endocrine and inflammatory pathways
- Identifying early biomarkers of metabolic dysfunction using routinely collected clinical samples and well-characterised patient cohorts
- Integrating biochemical and multi-omic data to examine early disease progression and identify opportunities for intervention
- Developing and validating diagnostic pipelines that are analytically robust and clinically implementable
These activities are undertaken in close collaboration with clinicians, laboratory scientists and industry partners, with the aim of strengthening early detection strategies and improving clinical decision-making.