HA Lecture: Colin I Johnston Lecturer I Prof Francine Marques
| Thursday, December 11, 2025 |
| 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM |
| Hall C Lower Section |
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Sponsored By:
Medtronic Australia
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Details
Cardiovascular disease and stroke account for 32% of all deaths globally. A key risk factor for these diseases is high blood pressure. Diet is an essential player in preventing these diseases – for example, diets high in salt are associated with higher blood pressure, while diets high in fibre are associated with lower blood pressure. Besides decades of clinical and epidemiological evidence, the mechanisms driving the association between dietary fibre and lower rates of cardiovascular disease and stroke remained unclear. Our research has pioneered the concept that dietary fibre protects against these diseases by manipulating the gut microbiota. Here, we will present key evidence from a combination of experimental and human studies of how gut microbiota-derived metabolites called short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) facilitate gut-to-host communication that affects the immune system and results in an increase in blood pressure. These new mechanisms, primarily regulated by two classes of G-protein-coupled receptors, represent novel treatment targets for hypertension and associated diseases.
Speaker
Prof Francine Marques
Monash University
Rewriting blood pressure control through the gut microbiome: A translational odyssey
Biography
Professor Francine Marques is a Fellow of the NHMRC (Emerging Leader 2), the Viertel Charitable Foundation, and the National Heart Foundation (Future Leader 2). She earned her PhD in genomics from the University of Sydney in 2012, followed by postdoctoral training supported by prestigious fellowships from the NHMRC and the Heart Foundation. Since 2018, she has led the Hypertension Research Laboratory at Monash University, Australia, now based at the Victorian Heart Institute, where she also serves as Deputy Director (Discovery). Her research focuses on improving cardiovascular health by building exceptional researchers and exploring innovative, translational strategies to lower blood pressure through the gut microbiome. Professor Marques has secured $12 million in competitive funding and published more than 150 peer-reviewed papers. Her work has been recognised with 37 awards, including the 2019 AHA Hypertension Council Goldblatt Award, the 2021 Australian Academy of Science Gottschalk Medal, the 2024 Australian Society for Medical Research Peter Doherty Leading Light Award, the 2025 Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Jian Zhou Medal, and the 2026 International Society for Heart Research Outstanding Investigator Award.
Chair
Markus Schlaich
Dobney Chair In Clinical Research
Royal Perth Hospital - University of Western Australia
