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  • Dr Cassandra Smith

    Dr Cassandra Smith

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Dr Cassandra Smith

Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow

Staff Member Details
Email: cassandra.smith@ecu.edu.au

Cassandra is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Medical and Health Sciences within the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute (NHIRI). Her research aims to investigate the link between musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disease. Cassandra has a particular interest in biomarkers of ageing, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disease. Her work also focusses on lifestyle strategies such as physical activity and exercise to improve musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health in older adults, and related health outcomes (function, falls and cardiovascular disease events and hospitalisations). Her research has been published in leading journals in the bone and sports medicine field, including with the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Bone and Sports Medicine as well as a review paper in Ageing Research Reviews.

Background

Cassandra received her PhD from Victoria University in October 2022. Cassandra’s doctoral research investigated the role of novel bone-derived peptides involved in bone-muscle crosstalk with a focus in sarcopenia and ageing and how exercise influences this crosstalk. She is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Scientist (ESSAM AEP/AES) with over 10 years clinical practice, delivering exercise to a broad range of clinical populations in both a public and private sector. Cassandra’s research program is focussed on understanding biomarkers of musculoskeletal health that drive cardiovascular disease, or vice versa and how to optimise lifestyle strategies in populations at high risk for cardiovascular disease, related events, hospitalisations and death. Her research is based at the Royal Perth Hospital, Medical Research Foundation, and is supported by her expertise in design, coordination and conduct of RCTs. Cassandra is the elected student member of the council of the Australian Physiological Society, and is on the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Early Stage Investigator Subcommittee.

Professional Associations

  • May 2022 - Core Member, Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute (NHIRI)
  • 2011 - current - Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Scientist with Exercise and sports Science Australia (ESSA)
  • All others current - Member American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR); Australia and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society (ANZBMS); Australia and New Zealand Society Sarcopenia and Frailty (ANZSSFR); Australia Physiological Society (AuPS)

Awards and Recognition

  • 2022 - Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Travel Award
  • 2020 - American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, Young Investigator Award
  • 2019 - Australian and New Zealand Bone and Mineral Society, Travel Award
  • 2019 - European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Australia, EMBL Facing Future symposia, Travel Award
  • 2019 - Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Sciences, Travel Award
  • 2019 - Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS) Symposium - Best oral presentation
  • 2019 - Victoria University, Higher Degree by Research Conference, 1st Place,best short-talk oral presentation
  • 2017 - Graduate of the year: Masters of Clinical Exercise & Sport Science, Victoria University
  • 2017 - Doctor of Philosophy, Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship, Victoria University
  • 2010 - Golden Key Society for recognition of High Achievement in Academic grades

Research Areas & Interests

  • Musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disease in older persons
  • Benefits of lifestyle interventions with a focus on exercise, but including diet, on the prevention and management of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health in older persons
  • Biomarkers of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health
  • Bone, muscle and vascular interactions

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosphy, Victoria University, 2022.
  • Master of Clinical Exercise Science and Rehabilitation, Victoria University, 2017.

Research Outputs

2024

Journal Articles

  • Smith, C., Sim, M., Dalla Via, J., Gebre, A., Zhu, K., Lim, W., Teh, R., Kiel, DP., Schousboe, JT., Levinger, I., Von Haehling , S., Woodman, R., Coats, AJ., Prince, RL., Lewis, J. (2024). Extent of abdominal aortic calcification is associated with incident rapid weight loss over five years: the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 44(2), 54-64. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.123.320118.
  • Schousboe, J., Lewis, J., Monchka, B., Reid, S., Davidson, M., Kimelman, D., Jozani, M., Smith, C., Sim, M., Gilani, Z., Suter, D., Leslie, W. (2024). Simultaneous automated ascertainment of prevalent vertebral fracture and abdominal aortic calcification in clinical practice: role in fracture risk assessment. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2024(Article in press), Article number zjae066. https://doi.org/10.1093/jbmr/zjae066.
  • Dent, E., Dalla Via, J., Bozanich, T., Hoogendijk, E., Gebre, A., Smith, C., Zhu, K., Prince, R., Lewis, J., Sim, M. (2024). Frailty increases the long-term risk for fall and fracture-related hospitalizations and all-cause mortality in community-dwelling older women. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2024(Article in press), 9 pages. https://doi.org/10.1093/jbmr/zjad019.
  • Smith, C., Lin, X., Parker, L., Yeap, BB., Hayes, A., Levinger, I. (2024). The role of bone in energy metabolism: A focus on osteocalcin. Bone, 188(2024), article number 117238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2024.117238.

2023

Journal Articles

  • Sim, M., Smith, C., Bondonno, N., Radavelli Bagatini, S., Blekkenhorst, L., Dalla Via, J., McCormick, R., Kun, Z., Hodgson, J., Prince, R., Lewis, J. (2023). Higher Dietary Vitamin K Intake is Associated with Better Physical Function and Lower Long-Term Injurious Falls Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Women. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 27(1), 38-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-022-1866-9.
  • Healy, RD., Smith, C., Woessner, MN., Levinger, I. (2023). Relationship between VO2peak, VO2 Recovery Kinetics, and Muscle Function in Older Adults. Gerontology, 69(11), 1278-1283. https://doi.org/10.1159/000533920.
  • Gebre, A., Sim, M., Dalla Via, J., Smith, C., Rodríguez , A., Hodgson, J., Bondonno, C., Lim , W., Byrnes , E., Thompson, P., Prince, R., Lewis, J. (2023). Association between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and fall-related hospitalization in women aged over 70 years. Heart, 2023(Article in press), -. https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2023-322861.
  • Webster, J., Dalla Via, J., Langley , C., Smith, C., Sale, C., Sim, M. (2023). Nutritional strategies to optimise musculoskeletal health for fall and fracture prevention: looking beyond calcium, vitamin D and protein. Bone Reports, 2023(Article in press), Article number 101684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bonr.2023.101684.
  • Smith, C., Sim, M., Dalla Via, J., Levinger, I., Gustavo, D. (2023). The Interconnection Between Muscle and Bone: A Common Clinical Management Pathway. Calcified Tissue International, 113(5), 14 pages. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-023-01146-4.
  • Lin, X., Smith, C., Moreno-Asso, A., Zarekookandeh, N., Brennan-Speranza, T., Duque, G., Hayes, A., Levinger, I. (2023). Undercarboxylated osteocalcin and ibandronate combination ameliorates hindlimb immobilization-induced muscle wasting. The Journal of Physiology, 601(10), 1851–1867. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP283990.
  • Dalla Via, J., Gebre, A., Smith, C., Gilani, Z., Suter, D., Sharif, N., Szulc, P., Schousboe, J., Kiel, D., Zhu, K., Leslie, W., Prince, R., Lewis, J., Sim, M. (2023). Machine-Learning Assessed Abdominal Aortic Calcification is Associated with Long-Term Fall and Fracture Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Australian Women. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2023(Article in press), 10 pages. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.4921.

2022

Journal Articles

  • O’bryan, S., Giuliano, C., Woessner, M., Vogrin, S., Smith, C., Duque, G., Levinger, I. (2022). Progressive Resistance Training for Concomitant Increases in Muscle Strength and Bone Mineral Density in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, 52(8), 1939-1960. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-022-01675-2.
  • Patten, R., Tacey, A., Bourke, M., Smith, C., Pascoe, M., Vogrin, S., Parker, A., McKenna, M., Tran, P., De Gori, M., Said, C., Apostolopoulos, V., Lane, R., Woessner, M., Levinger, I. (2022). The impact of waiting time for orthopaedic consultation on pain levels in individuals with osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 30(12), 1561-1574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2022.07.007.
  • Bauer, C., Tacey, A., Garnham, A., Smith, C., Woessner, M., Lin, X., Zarekookandeh, N., Hare, D., Lewis, J., Parker, L., Levinger, I. (2022). The Effects of Acute High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Hyperinsulinemic-Euglycemic Clamp on Osteoglycin Levels in Young and Middle-Aged Men. JBMR Plus, 6(11), article number e10667. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm4.10667.
  • Smith, C., Woessner, M., Sim, M., Levinger, I. (2022). Sarcopenia definition: does it really matter? Implications for resistance training?. Ageing Research Reviews, 78(June 2022), article number 101617. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2022.101617.
  • Smith, C., Hiam, D., Tacey, A., Lin, X., Woessner, M., Zarekookandeh, N., Garnham, A., Chubb, P., Lewis, J., Sim, M., Herrmann, M., Duque, G., Levinger, I. (2022). Higher bone remodeling biomarkers are related to a higher muscle function in older adults: Effects of acute exercise. Bone, 165(2022), article number 116545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2022.116545.

Research Projects

  • Investigating genetic and lifestyle determinants of abdominal aortic calcification, and their relationship with cardiovascular disease, National Health and Medical Research Council, MRFF - Cardiovascular Health Mission, 2023 ‑ 2026, $1,202,213.
  • Better identification, understanding and prevention of advanced blood vessel disease in women, Heart Foundation, NHF - Postdoctoral Fellowships, 2024 ‑ 2026, $151,200.
  • Closing the sex disparity gap for cardiovascular disease, Department of Health WA, WA Near-miss Awards: Emerging Leaders Program, 2024 ‑ 2025, $100,000.

Research Student Supervision

Current Supervisions

Co-principal Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Exploring the link between osteoporosis medications and vascular calcifications

Associate Supervisor

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Lower-level laser acupuncture for frozen shoulder in adults: A randomised crossover feasibility trial
  • Master of Medical and Health Science by Research, Nutritional factors influencing frailty in older adults

Completed Supervisions

No data available
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