Faculty Member
Rachel Davey
- Email Address(es)
- r.davey(at)unimelb.edu.au
- Website(s)
- ,
- Division(s)/Institute(s)
- Epidemiology Division
- Position
- Associate Professor
- SGS Status
- Associate Member
- Appointment Status
- Status Only
Research Interests
A/Professor Davey has a strong interest in understanding the physiological actions of hormones to regulate the musculoskeletal system with a particular focus on the sex steroids and calcitonin. Rachel’s research uses the combination of physiology and novel genetically modified pre-clinical models to provide insight into the cellular and molecular pathways through which hormones act with the goal to identify new pathways for the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. Her current research focusses on the effects of gender affirming hormone therapy on bone cell metabolism, structure and strength, as well as the actions of testosterone in bone marrow progenitor cells to negatively regulate fat mass. Her laboratory uses a range of techniques including microCT, histomorphometry, histology and immunohistochemistry, in addition to a wide range of biochemical and molecular analyses.
A/Professor Rachel Davey completed her PhD in Physiology at The University of Adelaide in 1998, studying the effects of estrogens and androgens on bone cell metabolism. Associate Professor Davey is currently Head of the Molecular Endocrinology and Musculoskeletal Research Group in the Department of Medicine, Austin Health at the University of Melbourne.
In recognition of her research and teaching achievements, she was the first Australian to be awarded the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research Early Career Teaching Award in 2008, was the inaugural recipient of the Endocrine Society of Australia Mid-Career Award in 2009, awarded the Australia and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society Mid-Career Fellowship in 2017 and was named a Fellow of the American Bone and Mineral Society in 2021. Associate Professor Davey has been a Chief Investigator on 8 successful National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Project Grants since 2002, has supervised 5 PhD, 1 MSc and 5 honours students to completion and was academic coordinator of the BSc Honours program for the University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, Austin Health from 2005 to 2011.