Associate Professor François-René Bertin

Honorary Associate Professor

School of Veterinary Science
Faculty of Science

Overview

Dr François-René Bertin (DVM, MS, PhD, dipl.ACVIM (LAIM)) is an equine internist with expertise in clinical endocrinology.

François-René completed a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (University of Nantes, France), an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) residency in equine internal medicine (Purdue University, USA) and a PhD in physiology (McGill University, Canada). He moved to the School of Veterinary Science at UQ in 2016.

François-René’s research interests lie in the pathophysiology of hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis and the disorders of the equine hypothalamo-pituitary adrenocortical axis. Some of his current projects examine the regulators of pancreatic b-cell activity and the mechanisms of pituitary gland senescence. François-René has received awards from the School of Veterinary Science and the Faculty of Science for his contribution to Research and HDR student supervision.

François-René teaches equine internal medicine into the veterinary science and veterinary technology programs and coordinates the Equine Clinical Studies course. He has received Teaching and Learning Faculty Awards.

Research Interests

  • Equine endocrinology
  • Pancreatic b-cell activity
    Understanding the mechanisms associated with hyperinsulinaemia and the development of equine laminitis.
  • Hypothalamo-pituitary adrenocortical axis senescence
    Understanding the age-associated changes of the equine pituitary gland.
  • Clinical diagnostic testing
    Improving diagnostic testing of endocrine disorders in horses.

Qualifications

  • Fellow, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
  • Doctor of Philosophy, McGill University
  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, Purdue University
  • Doctoral Diploma of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Nantes

Publications

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Supervision

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Available Projects

  • Insulin dysregulation is the hallmark of equine metabolic syndrome and has received attention because of its direct association with laminitis. In the absence of an adequate treatment for laminitis, our research focuses on the mechanisms leading to laminitis as well as on the early detection of individuals at risk of developing laminitis.

  • The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis is a major regulator of homeostasis. With sickness or with age, this axis can be dysregulated leading to critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency or to pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) respectively. The latter is a common condition of older horses that can result in laminitis and our research focuses on the detection and management of horses developping PPID.

View all Available Projects

Publications

Featured Publications

Book

Book Chapter

  • Kritchevsky, Janice E. and Bertin, François-René (2020). Endocrine system. Equine clinical medicine, surgery and reproduction. (pp. 901-922) edited by Munroe, Graham A.. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group.

  • Bertin, François-René (2020). Neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy. Blackwell's five-minute veterinary consult: Equine. (pp. 509-510) edited by Jean-Pierre Lavoie. Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley and Sons.

  • Bertin, F. R., Tamzali, Y. and Lussot-Kervern, I. (2014). Les medicaments anti-tumoraux. Guide de Thérapeutique équine. (pp. 138-148) edited by J. Bardies. Rueil-Malmaison, France: Point Vétérinaire.

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

Completed Supervision

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Insulin dysregulation is the hallmark of equine metabolic syndrome and has received attention because of its direct association with laminitis. In the absence of an adequate treatment for laminitis, our research focuses on the mechanisms leading to laminitis as well as on the early detection of individuals at risk of developing laminitis.

  • The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis is a major regulator of homeostasis. With sickness or with age, this axis can be dysregulated leading to critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency or to pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) respectively. The latter is a common condition of older horses that can result in laminitis and our research focuses on the detection and management of horses developping PPID.