Dr Mitchell Sullivan is a Mater Research Career Track Fellow and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) CJ Martin Fellow, working in the Glycation and Diabetes research group lead by Professor Josephine Forbes.

Mitchell believes that by investigating the processes involved in how our bodies store the sugar in our tissues, it will be possible to unravel the origin and potential treatments of metabolic diseases such as Diabetes. He has a keen interest in the role of a molecule named glycogen, which is a readily mobilized storage form of blood-sugar present in tissues like the liver and kidneys.

Using techniques he specifically developed in his PhD, Mitchell has made important discoveries regarding the relationship between the glycogen structure and its properties and function, particularly in the context of Diabetes. One of these discoveries was that diabetic glycogen is much more fragile than healthy glycogen and degrades faster, and this may lead to a faster glucose release, and possibly higher blood sugar levels.

Prior to joining Mater, Mitchell performed a two-year research at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, to investigate glycogen’s role in nervous system disorders such as Lafora disease and Adult Polyglucosan Body Disease.

Mitchell is currently expanding his research in the field of chronic health, particularly diabetic kidney disease, and he currently collaborates with research groups in China, Canada, Sweden, Spain and the US. He is also interested in determining placental glycogen’s role in embryonic development, especially in relation to perturbed pregnancies. This may have implications for various complications including those resulting from alcohol exposure.

Mitchell is passionate about mentoring and training. He is a representative on the Mater Student Research Committee and the Translational Research Institute Mentoring Development Committee. He also aims to help inspire the next generation of scientists and is currently working with the Office of the Chief Scientist of Queensland in the “Scientist in the School” program.

“I thoroughly enjoy the privilege of being able to pursue research questions I am passionate about and to add new information and insights into the shared knowledge pool of the global scientific community. I will continue to relish these opportunities and strive to perform research to the best of my ability, with the goal of maximising a beneficial impact and support my colleagues, helping foster a collaborative and fruitful environment to perform research.”