Professor Louise Maple-Brown
Deputy Director (Research); Senior Principal Research Fellow
Qualifications:
PhD, University of New South Wales, 2006; Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Sydney, 1996; Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 2003.
Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:
Principal Supervisor for PhD
Location:
Darwin - Royal Darwin Hospital campus
Biography:
Louise Maple-Brown is a Senior Endocrinologist at the Royal Darwin Hospital (NT, Australia), Deputy Director Research (April 2023) and Senior Principal Research Fellow at Menzies.
Louise established and leads the Diabetes across the Lifecourse: Northern Australian Partnership. The partnership includes several large NHMRC-funded projects, including the Youth Type 2 Diabetes Models of Care, Northern Territory and Far North Queensland Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership and The PANDORA (Pregnancy And Neonatal Diabetes Outcomes in Remote Australia) Cohort Study.
After completing the majority of her physician and endocrinology training at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Louise moved to Darwin in 2002 to pursue her passion of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to improve health outcomes. Louise was Head of Department of Endocrinology at Royal Darwin Hospital (2012-2022) and founded the NT Diabetes Network in 2018 (inaugural Chair 2018 -2022). She was a member of the Australian Diabetes Society Council (2014-2022) and the Council of the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (2011-2014). Louise has been providing clinical diabetes services to urban and remote NT communities for over 20 years. She is a current member of the NT Clinical Senate.
In 2020 Louise was awarded the Australian Diabetes Society Ranji and Amara Wikramanayake clinical Diabetes Mid-Career Research award and in 2021, Louise was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
- A life course approach to reduce intergenerational diabetes in remote northern Australia through improved systems of care and consumer engagement
- NT & FNQ Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership
- PANDORA
- Improving pre-conception health
- eGFR study: to improve the accuracy and precision of estimated GFR (eGFR) measurements in Indigenous Australians
- Youth diabetes
- Diabetes Prevention
- Maple-Brown, L.J., Graham, S., McKee, J., & Wickow, B. (2020). Walking the path together: incorporating Indigenous knowledge in diabetes research. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 8(7), 559-560.
- Maple-Brown, L.J., & Hampton, D. (2020). Indigenous cultures with similar colonisation history share the challenge of intergenerational diabetes. Lancet Global Health (Invited Commentary), 8(5), e619-e620. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(20)20072-3
- Maple-Brown, L., Hughes, J., Chatfield, M., Ward, L.C., Piers, L.S., Jones, G.D., et al. (2015). Adding measures of body composition to the CKD-EPI GFR estimating equation in Indigenous Australians: the eGFR study. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 65(4): 632-4.
- Edwards, L., Connors, C., Whitbread, C., Brown, A., Oats, J., & Maple-Brown, L. (2014). Improving health service delivery for women with diabetes in pregnancy in remote Australia: survey of care in the Northern Territory diabetes in pregnancy partnership. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 54(6): 534-40.
- Maple-Brown, L., Hughes, J.T., Lu, Z.X., Jeyaraman, K., Lawton, P., Jones, G.R.D., et al. (2014). Serum vitamin D levels, diabetes and cardio-metabolic risk factors in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome, 6: 78.
- Maple-Brown, L.J., Ekinci, E.I., Hughes, J.T., Chatfield, M., Lawton, P.D., Jones, G.R.D., et al. (2014). Performance of formulas for estimating glomerular filtration rate in Indigenous Australians with and without type 2 diabetes: the eGFR study. Diabetic Medicine, 31(7): 829-38.
- Maple-Brown, L.J., Brimblecombe, J., Connelly, P.W., Harris, S.B., Mamakeesick, M., Zinman, B., et al. (2013). Similarities and differences in cardiometabolic risk factors among remote Aboriginal Australian and Canadian cohorts. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 100: 133-141.
- Maple-Brown, L.J., Ye, C., Hanley, A.J., Connelly, P.W., Sermer, M., Zinman, B., et al. (2012). Maternal pre-gravid weight is the primary determinant of serum leptin and its metabolic associations in pregnancy, irrespective of gestational glucose tolerance status. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 97(11): 4148-55.
- Maple-Brown, L.J., Hughes, J.T., Lawton, P.D., Jones, G.R., Ellis, A.G., Drabsch, K., et al. (2012). Accurate Assessment of Kidney Function in Indigenous Australians: the eGFR Study. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 60(4): 680-682.
- Maple-Brown, L., Sinha, A.K., & Davies, E.A. (2010). Type 2 diabetes in Indigenous Australian children and adolescents. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 46(9): 487-90.
- Maple-Brown, L., Cunningham, J., Barry, R.E., Leysley, L., O’Rourke, M.F., Celermajer, D.S., et al. (2009). Impact of dyslipidaemia on arterial structure and function in urban Indigenous Australians. Atherosclerosis, 202(1): 248-54.
- Maple-Brown, L., Cunningham, J., Dunne, K., Whitbread, C., Howard, D., Weeramanthri, T., et al. (2008). Complications of diabetes in urban Indigenous Australians: the DRUID study. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 80: 455-462.
Click here to view more Louise Maple-Brown publications in PubMed.
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MEDIA RELEASE | Global study highlights Menzies’ program as a leading example of diabetes best practice
A series looking at how structural racism and global inequity affect diabetes has highlighted an Australian diabetes program as an example of best practice to address the issue.
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MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies’ researchers contribute to global studies on structural racism’s impact on unequal diabetes cases and care
A new series on diabetes research published in The Lancet and The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journals has found diabetes is pervasive, growing in prevalence and outpacing most diseases globally.
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MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies appoints new Deputy Directors Research
Partnerships and innovation are the focus of the newly appointed Deputy Directors Research at Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies), Professor Louise Maple-Brown and Professor Anna Ralph.
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$20m Committed to Launch Leading National Research Centres for Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
Bringing together a team of internationally renowned Australian researchers and institutions, ASHRA is a partnership between Monash University, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, The George Institute for Global Health (Australia), University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, Menzies School of Health Research, University of Melbourne and Australian National University.
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Aboriginal women with gestational diabetes at increased risk of developing type 2 form, new research shows
New research, led by Darwin's Menzies School of Health Research, shows that Aboriginal women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, will have a one-in-four chance of developing type 2 diabetes within two and a half years after giving birth.
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Media Release | Gestational diabetes an important indicator of developing type 2 diabetes for Aboriginal women
A new study has found that Aboriginal women with gestational diabetes (GDM) are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes within a short timeframe after pregnancy than non-Indigenous women.
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The Australian | Spotlight on Indigenous diabetes crisis
A new study has found Indigenous children in Northern Australia suffer youth-onset type two diabetes at rates at least 10 times higher than previously thought, and possibly above those anywhere else in the world.
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ABC Darwin | New research shows northern Australia leads the world for type 2 diabetes in young people
She's still learning the rules on-court, but off-court six-year-old Kudin Brogan has already mastered complex systems governing her health and fitness.
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Youth-onset type 2 diabetes in the NT exceed international figures
The study uncovered what is arguably the highest reported prevalence in any population of youth internationally within the past 25 years and ten times higher than previously reported in Australia.
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ABC Online | Amputee Crystal Love Johnson set for stage comeback after long battle with diabetes
Transgender celebrity Crystal Love Johnson says she is ready to return to the stage after a long battle with diabetes that has included having one of her legs amputated below the knee.
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Diabetes in poverty-stricken pregnant women in the NT, highest in the world
Researcher and lead author Dr Matthew Hare said, for these women, poverty stricken and living in some of the most isolated regions of Australia, fresh and healthy food is often not for sale where they live or it is unaffordable.
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NT News | Diabetes concern for mums-to-be
A new study shows diabetes in pregnant women has grown substantially in the Territory.
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Media release | The Hon Greg Hunt MP
$27 million to boost research in preventive and public health. A media release about an Australian Government investment in vital research to help promote better health and prevent people from getting ill.
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Media release | Rates of diabetes in pregnancy continue to rise in the NT
The burden of diabetes in pregnancy has grown substantially in the Northern Territory (NT) over three decades and is contributing to more babies being born at higher than expected birthweights according to a new study.
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$5.6m on health research
Health Minister Greg Hunt Says Federal Government will invest $5.6 million in the NT for medical research.
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NT News | Funds for critical health issue studies
Report on Menzies NHMRC and MRFF Investigator grants.
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Five medical research projects recognised in the Northern Territory
Five researchers based at Menzies have received recognition in the form of Investigator Grants from the NHMRC and the MRFF.
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$400 million funding boost for health and medical research
Including Menzies School of Health Research work towards the elimination of chronic hepatitis B in the Northern Territory.
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Q&A with Menzies endocrinologist, Professor Louise Maple-Brown
Prof Louise Maple-Brown discusses new diabetes guidelines during COVID-19.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in focus at rural health symposium
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is the theme of a plenary session at the 7th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium in Alice Springs in May.
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In remote communities, where more health workers are needed, chronic disease is rising
The community's battle is an example of what Menzies diabetes researcher Louise Maple-Brown says is a growing problem in the Northern Territory.
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Mix 104.9 | Diabetes Symposium in Darwin
This is the seventh annual gathering of diabetes researchers, health workers and stakeholders to discuss a ‘lifecourse approach’ to preventing and managing diabetes.
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NT News | Diabetes given centre stage
Menzies School of Health Research will host diabetes experts and health professional from across Northern Australia.
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Media Alert | Health experts in Darwin to discuss diabetes in pregnancy
Menzies - Diabetes across the Lifecourse: Northern Australia Partnership – Annual Educational Symposium on Friday, 27 September.
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Sport a boost to Menzies Indigenous health research
Charles Darwin University E-news | Issue 2 Monday, 01 April 2019
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$6.57 MILLION TO KICK GOALS FOR YOUTH AND DIABETES HEALTH
$6.57 million in extensive and exciting programs to tackle chronically high levels of Type 2 diabetes, and boost health and wellbeing through sport among Top End and Central Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
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Metformin appears safe in treating hyperglycemia during pregnancy
Among indigenous and nonindigenous women in Australia, the use of metformin in treating hyperglycemic conditions during pregnancy, does not lead to serious adverse events.
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Medical Republic | Alarming rates of T2 diabetes in our young indigenous
Ten years after the “Closing the Gap” targets were laid out, a health disaster is emerging.
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NACCHO Aboriginal Health | #Obesity #Diabetes News
Type 2 Diabetes is a particular concern as there is a global trend of increasing numbers of young people being diagnosed, there is limited data available in Australia but anecdotally numbers are rising rapidly amongst young Indigenous Australians.
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Intervention needed to reduce Type 2 Diabetes in young Indigenous Australians
Researchers are calling for immediate action to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes in Indigenous children and young people.
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Roundtable Towards Roadmap For Renal Health - Media Release
A renal roundtable convened by Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt AM in Darwin began charting the roadmap this week.
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Diabetes researcher reminds mums with diabetes to focus on their health
In conjunction with World Diabetes Day on 14 November, Menzies School of Health Research principal research fellow Associate Professor Louise Maple-Brown reminded mothers and health professionals that women’s health is important, especially when complicated by diabetes.
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Territory Q features HOT NORTH
Read about our HOT NORTH collaboration in the latest Territory Q Magazine.
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New research may help break the cycle of intergenerational diabetes
New research, at Menzies within the NT Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership Project led by Associate Professor Louise Maple-Brown will be funded by Diabetes Australia. Researches will investigate the barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers accessing optimal healthcare during pregnancy and may help to address the intergenerational cycle of diabetes.
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Funding boost to tackle health challenges in northern Australia
Work will begin to help close critical gaps in healthcare across northern Australia as the result of a $6m grant awarded today to Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
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Powerful predictor for the progression of kidney disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations
Study reveals powerful predictor for the progression of kidney disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations
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NT joins global effort to combat diabetes effecting more and more mothers and babies around the world
One of Australia’s leading diabetes specialists has been awarded a research grant as part of a global effort to combat the growing incidence of type 2 diabetes.
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TerritoryQ: Dedicated Life, Assoc Prof Louise Maple-Brown
A/Prof Louise Maple-Brown is dedicating her life to a grim epidemic - diabetes among Indigenous people. She particularly focuses on diabetes in pregnant women.
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NHMRC fellowship snapshot: Associate Professor Louise Maple-Brown
Menzies’ Associate Professor Louise Maple-Brown was recently awarded a Practitioner Fellowship as part of the National Health and Medical Research Council’s latest multi-million dollar funding round.
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Specialists calls for greater focus on diabetes in pregnancy this National Diabetes Week
To mark National Diabetes Week 2014 (13-19 July), one of Australia’s leading diabetes specialists has called for greater awareness about the importance of early screening for high-risk women in order to diagnose type 2 diabetes in pregnancy.
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Research endorses national standard for assessment of kidney function in Indigenous Australians
A new Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) study has backed the nation’s standard kidney function test for Indigenous Australians, deeming it accurate and valid.