11 March 2014

MEDIA ALERT

An expert in kidney disease and lifestyle intervention is available to speak to media in conjunction with World Kidney Day, Thursday March 13.

Professor Jeff Coombes from The University of Queensland School of Human Movement Studies is leading research that aims to reduce the high mortality rate associated with kidney disease through exercise interventions.

Professor Jeff Coombes

Phone: 07 3365 6767

Email: jcoombes@uq.edu.au

Areas of expertise include: High-intensity interval training in patients with chronic kidney disease, multi-disciplinary lifestyle intervention in patients with chronic kidney disease. 

Professor Coombes was recently awarded a Kidney Health Australia Grant to study the most effective type of exercise training for people with chronic kidney disease.

He is lead researcher at the Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health, and Co-Director of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney diseases, based at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

UQ is involved in other kidney research, including how a salt-reduced diet can improve the heart and kidney health of chronic kidney disease patients.

One in five people aged 65 or older have chronic kidney disease. The most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistic show that over 54 Australians die every day from a kidney-related disease.

Media: Caroline Day, UQ School of Human Movement Studies, W 07 3365 6989, Kirsten O’Leary, UQ Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, M 0412307594, W 07 3346 4713.