Overview
Moe Thuzar (MBBS, FRCP UK, FRACP, PhD) is an Endocrinologist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane. She has a strong research interest in the Neuroendocrine Regulation of Metabolism and Cardiovascular Health in Humans. After completing her specialist training and receiving FRACP (Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians) in early 2014, she undertook her PhD study (2014-2018, UQ) investigating the role of adrenal neuroendocrine system in the regulation of human brown adipose tissue and energy metabolism under the primary supervision of Professor Ken Ho. Moe then joined the Endocrine Hypertension Unit of Professor Michael Stowasser at the UQDI, pursuing further research in Cardiovascular Endocrinology, in particular, elucidating the role of the mineralocorticoid system in the regulation of cardiometabolic health and its interplay with other systems in humans, and investigating optimal diagnostic and management strategies for primary aldosteronism.
She has received numerous awards for her work including US Endocrine Society’s Outstanding Abstract Award (2016) and Presidential Awards for Excellence in Cardiovascular Endocrinology Research (2017) and in Adipocyte Biology Research (2017), Early Career Researcher Award from the Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society (2016), Australasian Women in Endocrinology Young Investigator Award (2017), Queensland Health & Medical Research Award (Previously “Premier’s award”, finalist, 2017), Young Investigator Award, International Aldosterone Conference (runner-up, 2019). She is a Principal Investigator (PI) or Chief Investigator (CI) of a number of successful competitive grants, totalling ~4 millions to date, which include Royal Australasian College of Physicians-Australian Diabetes Society Research Establishment Fellowship (2023), MRFF Clinician Researchers Project Grant (CI, 2022-2025), Metro South Research Support Scheme Program Grant (PI, 2021-2023), Diabetes Australia Project Grant (PI, 2019-2021), Metro South Research Support Scheme Early Career Researcher Grant (PI, 2019-2022), High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia International Travel Grant (2021), Endocrine Society of Australia Postdoctoral Fellowship (2019). She has served as an expert reviewer for Grant review panels including NHMRC Project Grants Scheme and for top journals in the field, and held editorial roles for a number of journals including the Frontiers in Endocrinology, Metabolites.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Publications
-
Journal Article: Editorial: Adrenal neuroendocrine system and cardiometabolic health: pathophysiology and clinical implications
Thuzar, Moe, Hannah-Shmouni, Fady and Stowasser, Michael (2023). Editorial: Adrenal neuroendocrine system and cardiometabolic health: pathophysiology and clinical implications. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14 1295655, 1295655. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1295655
-
Journal Article: Adrenal surgery for bilateral primary aldosteronism: an international retrospective cohort study
Williams, Tracy Ann, Gong, Siyuan, Tsurutani, Yuya, Tezuka, Yuta, Thuzar, Moe, Burrello, Jacopo, Wu, Vin-Cent, Yamazaki, Yuto, Mulatero, Paolo, Sasano, Hironobu, Stowasser, Michael, Nishikawa, Tetsuo, Satoh, Fumitoshi and Reincke, Martin (2022). Adrenal surgery for bilateral primary aldosteronism: an international retrospective cohort study. The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, 10 (11), 769-771. doi: 10.1016/s2213-8587(22)00253-4
-
Journal Article: The metabolic phenotype of patients with primary aldosteronism: impact of subtype and sex – a multicenter-study of 3566 Caucasian and Asian subjects
Spyroglou, Ariadni, Handgriff, Laura, Müller, Lisa, Schwarzlmüller, Paul, Parasiliti-Caprino, Mirko, Fuss, Carmina Teresa, Remde, Hana, Hirsch, Anna, O’Toole, Samuel Matthew, Thuzar, Moe, Petramala, Luigi, Letizia, Claudio, Deflorenne, Elisa, Amar, Laurence, Vrckovnik, Rok, Kocjan, Tomaz, Zhang, Catherine D, Li, Dingfeng, Singh, Sumitabh, Katabami, Takuyuki, Yoneda, Takashi, Murakami, Masanori, Wada, Norio, Inagaki, Nobuya, Quinkler, Marcus, Ghigo, Ezio, Maccario, Mauro, Stowasser, Michael, Drake, William M ... Beuschlein, Felix (2022). The metabolic phenotype of patients with primary aldosteronism: impact of subtype and sex – a multicenter-study of 3566 Caucasian and Asian subjects. European Journal of Endocrinology, 187 (3), 361-372. doi: 10.1530/eje-22-0040
-
Journal Article: Diagnosis of primary aldosteronism by seated saline suppression test - variability between immunoassay and HPLC-MS/MS
Thuzar, Moe, Young, Karen, Ahmed, Ashraf H., Ward, Greg, Wolley, Martin, Guo, Zeng, Gordon, Richard D., McWhinney, Brett C., Ungerer, Jacobus P. and Stowasser, Michael (2019). Diagnosis of primary aldosteronism by seated saline suppression test - variability between immunoassay and HPLC-MS/MS. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 105 (3) dgz150, e477-e483. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgz150
-
Journal Article: Mineralocorticoid antagonism enhances brown adipose tissue function in humans: a randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study
Thuzar, Moe, Law, W. Phillip, Dimeski, Goce, Stowasser, Michael and Ho, Ken K. Y. (2019). Mineralocorticoid antagonism enhances brown adipose tissue function in humans: a randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 21 (3), 509-516. doi: 10.1111/dom.13539
-
Journal Article: Glucocorticoids suppress brown adipose tissue function in humans: a double-blind placebo-controlled study
Thuzar, Moe, Law, W. Phillip, Ratnasingam, Jeyakantha, Jang, Christina, Dimeski, Goce and Ho, Ken KY (2018). Glucocorticoids suppress brown adipose tissue function in humans: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 20 (4), 840-848. doi: 10.1111/dom.13157
Grants
-
(2019–2021) Diabetes Australia Research Program
Supervision
-
Defining The Role Of Mineralocorticoid Receptor In Cardiometabolic Health & Inflammation & Optimising The Diagnostic Approach For Aldosterone-producing Adenoma
Doctor Philosophy
Available Projects
-
Defining the Novel Effects of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonism on Metabolism in Humans
This project involves a randomised clinical trial designed to investigate the potential novel metabolic benefits of Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonism and to elucidate the mechanistic changes underlying the metabolic benefits conferred by MR antagonism in humans.
MRs are hormone receptors present in high abundance on fat cells of obese subjects. Metabolic syndrome is commonly found with mineralocorticoid hormone excess (primary hyperaldosteronism) and in the general population, mineralocorticoid level is predictive of obesity and metabolic diseases. There is strong evidence in animals that blocking MRs (MR antagonism) protects against obesity and metabolic complications. It is not known if similar mechanisms operate in humans.
This project will help define the novel therapeutic potential of MR antagonists for management of obesity and metabolic diseases in overweight/obese humans. The results may also offer unique physiological insights into the underlying mechanisms modulating metabolic health for future research and development.
-
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist To Counteract Cardiometabolic Adverse Effects of Steroids/Glucocorticoids
Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases are common side effects of steroids/glucocorticoids such as prednisolone, widely used for inflammatory diseases; there is no specific agent to counteract these adverse effects. There is evidence that these side effects are likely mediated by closely-related hormone receptors called mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), present in fat and cardiac tissues and immune cells. We have previously discovered in healthy humans that MR antagonists exert opposing effects to those of glucocorticoids on adipose tissue metabolism.
This project will examine if blocking the MRs by spironolactone can counteract metabolic and cardiac side effects without compromising beneficial antiinflammatory effects in people requiring prednisolone.
Publications
Featured Publications
-
Thuzar, Moe, Hannah-Shmouni, Fady and Stowasser, Michael (2023). Editorial: Adrenal neuroendocrine system and cardiometabolic health: pathophysiology and clinical implications. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14 1295655, 1295655. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1295655
-
Adrenal surgery for bilateral primary aldosteronism: an international retrospective cohort study
Williams, Tracy Ann, Gong, Siyuan, Tsurutani, Yuya, Tezuka, Yuta, Thuzar, Moe, Burrello, Jacopo, Wu, Vin-Cent, Yamazaki, Yuto, Mulatero, Paolo, Sasano, Hironobu, Stowasser, Michael, Nishikawa, Tetsuo, Satoh, Fumitoshi and Reincke, Martin (2022). Adrenal surgery for bilateral primary aldosteronism: an international retrospective cohort study. The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, 10 (11), 769-771. doi: 10.1016/s2213-8587(22)00253-4
-
Spyroglou, Ariadni, Handgriff, Laura, Müller, Lisa, Schwarzlmüller, Paul, Parasiliti-Caprino, Mirko, Fuss, Carmina Teresa, Remde, Hana, Hirsch, Anna, O’Toole, Samuel Matthew, Thuzar, Moe, Petramala, Luigi, Letizia, Claudio, Deflorenne, Elisa, Amar, Laurence, Vrckovnik, Rok, Kocjan, Tomaz, Zhang, Catherine D, Li, Dingfeng, Singh, Sumitabh, Katabami, Takuyuki, Yoneda, Takashi, Murakami, Masanori, Wada, Norio, Inagaki, Nobuya, Quinkler, Marcus, Ghigo, Ezio, Maccario, Mauro, Stowasser, Michael, Drake, William M ... Beuschlein, Felix (2022). The metabolic phenotype of patients with primary aldosteronism: impact of subtype and sex – a multicenter-study of 3566 Caucasian and Asian subjects. European Journal of Endocrinology, 187 (3), 361-372. doi: 10.1530/eje-22-0040
-
Thuzar, Moe, Young, Karen, Ahmed, Ashraf H., Ward, Greg, Wolley, Martin, Guo, Zeng, Gordon, Richard D., McWhinney, Brett C., Ungerer, Jacobus P. and Stowasser, Michael (2019). Diagnosis of primary aldosteronism by seated saline suppression test - variability between immunoassay and HPLC-MS/MS. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 105 (3) dgz150, e477-e483. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgz150
-
Thuzar, Moe, Law, W. Phillip, Dimeski, Goce, Stowasser, Michael and Ho, Ken K. Y. (2019). Mineralocorticoid antagonism enhances brown adipose tissue function in humans: a randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 21 (3), 509-516. doi: 10.1111/dom.13539
-
Thuzar, Moe, Law, W. Phillip, Ratnasingam, Jeyakantha, Jang, Christina, Dimeski, Goce and Ho, Ken KY (2018). Glucocorticoids suppress brown adipose tissue function in humans: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 20 (4), 840-848. doi: 10.1111/dom.13157
Journal Article
-
Thuzar, Moe, Hannah-Shmouni, Fady and Stowasser, Michael (2023). Editorial: Adrenal neuroendocrine system and cardiometabolic health: pathophysiology and clinical implications. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 14 1295655, 1295655. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1295655
-
Keating, Shelley E., Croci, Ilaria, Wallen, Matthew P., Cox, Emily R., Thuzar, Moe, Pham, Uyen, Mielke, Gregore I., Coombes, Jeff S., Macdonald, Graeme A. and Hickman, Ingrid J. (2022). High-intensity interval training is safe, feasible and efficacious in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: a randomized controlled trial. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 68 (5), 1-17. doi: 10.1007/s10620-022-07779-z
-
Adrenal surgery for bilateral primary aldosteronism: an international retrospective cohort study
Williams, Tracy Ann, Gong, Siyuan, Tsurutani, Yuya, Tezuka, Yuta, Thuzar, Moe, Burrello, Jacopo, Wu, Vin-Cent, Yamazaki, Yuto, Mulatero, Paolo, Sasano, Hironobu, Stowasser, Michael, Nishikawa, Tetsuo, Satoh, Fumitoshi and Reincke, Martin (2022). Adrenal surgery for bilateral primary aldosteronism: an international retrospective cohort study. The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, 10 (11), 769-771. doi: 10.1016/s2213-8587(22)00253-4
-
Spyroglou, Ariadni, Handgriff, Laura, Müller, Lisa, Schwarzlmüller, Paul, Parasiliti-Caprino, Mirko, Fuss, Carmina Teresa, Remde, Hana, Hirsch, Anna, O’Toole, Samuel Matthew, Thuzar, Moe, Petramala, Luigi, Letizia, Claudio, Deflorenne, Elisa, Amar, Laurence, Vrckovnik, Rok, Kocjan, Tomaz, Zhang, Catherine D, Li, Dingfeng, Singh, Sumitabh, Katabami, Takuyuki, Yoneda, Takashi, Murakami, Masanori, Wada, Norio, Inagaki, Nobuya, Quinkler, Marcus, Ghigo, Ezio, Maccario, Mauro, Stowasser, Michael, Drake, William M ... Beuschlein, Felix (2022). The metabolic phenotype of patients with primary aldosteronism: impact of subtype and sex – a multicenter-study of 3566 Caucasian and Asian subjects. European Journal of Endocrinology, 187 (3), 361-372. doi: 10.1530/eje-22-0040
-
Outcomes of a co-located approach for metabolic health care for people with schizophrenia
Siskind, Dan, Yen, Wesley, Thuzar, Moe, Russell, Anthony, Warren, Nicola, Kisely, Steve, Kar Ray, Manaan and Motamarri, Balaji (2022). Outcomes of a co-located approach for metabolic health care for people with schizophrenia. Australasian Psychiatry, 30 (4), 103985622210807-522. doi: 10.1177/10398562221080742
-
Eley, Victoria A., Thuzar, Moe, Navarro, Séverine, Dodd, Benjamin R. and van Zundert, André A. (2021). Obesity, metabolic syndrome, and inflammation: an update for anaesthetists caring for patients with obesity. Anaesthesia Critical Care and Pain Medicine, 40 (6) 100947, 100947. doi: 10.1016/j.accpm.2021.100947
-
The mineralocorticoid receptor-an emerging player in metabolic syndrome?
Thuzar, Moe and Stowasser, Michael (2021). The mineralocorticoid receptor-an emerging player in metabolic syndrome?. Journal of Human Hypertension, 35 (2), 117-123. doi: 10.1038/s41371-020-00467-3
-
Guo, Zeng, Nanba, Kazutaka, Udager, Aaron, McWhinney, Brett C., Ungerer, Jacobus P. J., Wolley, Martin, Thuzar, Moe, Gordon, Richard D., Rainey, William E. and Stowasser, Michael (2020). Biochemical, histopathological and genetic characterization of posture responsive and unresponsive APAs. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 105 (9), e3224-e3235. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa367
-
Wolley, Martin, Thuzar, Moe and Stowasser, Michael (2020). Controversies and advances in adrenal venous sampling in the diagnostic workup of primary aldosteronism. Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 34 (3) 101400, 101400. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2020.101400
-
Thuzar, Moe, Young, Karen, Ahmed, Ashraf H., Ward, Greg, Wolley, Martin, Guo, Zeng, Gordon, Richard D., McWhinney, Brett C., Ungerer, Jacobus P. and Stowasser, Michael (2019). Diagnosis of primary aldosteronism by seated saline suppression test - variability between immunoassay and HPLC-MS/MS. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 105 (3) dgz150, e477-e483. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgz150
-
Thuzar, Moe, Law, W. Phillip, Dimeski, Goce, Stowasser, Michael and Ho, Ken K. Y. (2019). Mineralocorticoid antagonism enhances brown adipose tissue function in humans: a randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 21 (3), 509-516. doi: 10.1111/dom.13539
-
Thuzar, Moe, Law, W. Phillip, Ratnasingam, Jeyakantha, Jang, Christina, Dimeski, Goce and Ho, Ken KY (2018). Glucocorticoids suppress brown adipose tissue function in humans: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 20 (4), 840-848. doi: 10.1111/dom.13157
-
An Adrenocortical Carcinoma Evolving From A Small Adrenal Incidentaloma After Years Of Latency
Thuzar, Moe, Perry-Keene, Donald A, d'Emden, Michael C and Duncan, Emma L (2018). An Adrenocortical Carcinoma Evolving From A Small Adrenal Incidentaloma After Years Of Latency. AACE Clinical Case Reports, 4 (1), e65-e69. doi: 10.4158/EP171931.CR
-
MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: brown adipose tissue in humans: regulation and metabolic significance
Thuzar, Moe and Ho, Ken K. Y. (2016). MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: brown adipose tissue in humans: regulation and metabolic significance. European Journal of Endocrinology, 175 (1), R11-R25. doi: 10.1530/EJE-15-1217
-
Extreme hypertriglyceridemia managed with insulin
Thuzar, Moe, Shenoy, Vasant V., Malabu, Usman H., Schrale, Ryan and Sangla, Kunwarjit S. (2014). Extreme hypertriglyceridemia managed with insulin. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 8 (6), 630-634. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2014.09.004
-
Infrared thermography in the detection of brown adipose tissue in humans
Jang, Christina, Jalapu, Sandya, Thuzar, Moe, Law, Phillip W., Jeavons, Susanne, Barclay, Johanna L. and Ho, Ken K. Y. (2014). Infrared thermography in the detection of brown adipose tissue in humans. Physiological Reports, 2 (11) e12167, e12167.1-e12167.7. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12167
-
Use of a standardised diabetic ketoacidosis management protocol improved clinical outcomes
Thuzar, Moe, Malabu, Usman H., Tisdell, Ben and Sangla, Kunwarjit S. (2014). Use of a standardised diabetic ketoacidosis management protocol improved clinical outcomes. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 104 (1), E8-E11. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2014.01.016
Conference Publication
-
Thuzar, Moe, Lo, Yu-Chin, Guo, Zeng, Inder, Warrick J. and Stowasser, Michael (2020). Relationship between the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity and the characteristics of aldosterone-producing adenomas. 22nd European Congress of Endocrinology, Online, 5 - 9 September 2020. Bristol, United Kingdom: Bioscientifica. doi: 10.1530/endoabs.70.aep47
-
Thuzar, M., Young, K., Ahmed, A., Wolley, M., Guo, Z., Ward, G., McWhinney, B., Ungerer, J. and Stowasser, M. (2019). Defining the optimal cut-off plasma aldosterone level measured by immunoassay for the diagnosis of primary aldosteronism using seated salines suppression test. 29th European Meeting of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection of the European-Society-of-Hypertension (ESH), Milan, Italy, 21-24 June 2019. Philadelphia, PA United States: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000570272.55373.54
-
Thuzar, Moe, Law, W. Phillip, Dimeski, Goce, Stowasser, Michael and Ho, Ken K. Y. (2018). Effect of mineralocorticoid blockade on human brown fat-a randomised placebo-controlled cross-over study. Joint Annual Scientific Meetings of Endocrine-Society-of-Australia (ESA) and Society-for-Reproductive-Biology (SRB), Perth Australia, Aug 27-30, 2017. HOBOKEN: WILEY.
-
Thuzar, Moe, Law, W. Phillip, Ratnasingam, Jeyakantha, Franklin, Michael, Dimeski, Goce and Ho, Ken K. Y. (2017). Effect of formoterol, a selective beta(2)-adrenergic agonist, on brown adipose tissue function in humans: a double-blind placebo controlled study. HOBOKEN: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
Other Outputs
-
Regulation and metabolic significance of brown adipose tissue in humans
Thuzar, Moe (2018). Regulation and metabolic significance of brown adipose tissue in humans. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.397
Grants (Administered at UQ)
-
(2019–2021) Diabetes Australia Research Program
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
-
Defining The Role Of Mineralocorticoid Receptor In Cardiometabolic Health & Inflammation & Optimising The Diagnostic Approach For Aldosterone-producing Adenoma
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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.
-
Defining the Novel Effects of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonism on Metabolism in Humans
This project involves a randomised clinical trial designed to investigate the potential novel metabolic benefits of Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonism and to elucidate the mechanistic changes underlying the metabolic benefits conferred by MR antagonism in humans.
MRs are hormone receptors present in high abundance on fat cells of obese subjects. Metabolic syndrome is commonly found with mineralocorticoid hormone excess (primary hyperaldosteronism) and in the general population, mineralocorticoid level is predictive of obesity and metabolic diseases. There is strong evidence in animals that blocking MRs (MR antagonism) protects against obesity and metabolic complications. It is not known if similar mechanisms operate in humans.
This project will help define the novel therapeutic potential of MR antagonists for management of obesity and metabolic diseases in overweight/obese humans. The results may also offer unique physiological insights into the underlying mechanisms modulating metabolic health for future research and development.
-
Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonist To Counteract Cardiometabolic Adverse Effects of Steroids/Glucocorticoids
Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases are common side effects of steroids/glucocorticoids such as prednisolone, widely used for inflammatory diseases; there is no specific agent to counteract these adverse effects. There is evidence that these side effects are likely mediated by closely-related hormone receptors called mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs), present in fat and cardiac tissues and immune cells. We have previously discovered in healthy humans that MR antagonists exert opposing effects to those of glucocorticoids on adipose tissue metabolism.
This project will examine if blocking the MRs by spironolactone can counteract metabolic and cardiac side effects without compromising beneficial antiinflammatory effects in people requiring prednisolone.
