About
Dr Mark Holmes is a Senior Lecturer in Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC). He completed a PhD in metabolic biochemistry at the University of Western Australia in 1991, and then took up a lecturing position at Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, where he taught foundation science, clinical biochemistry and sports biochemistry to nursing and human movement students for 7 years.
In 1998, Mark moved to the Sunshine Coast and took up a lecturing position in nutritional biochemistry at UniSC. He was discipline leader for biomedical science from 2007-2015, during which time he managed major upgrades to the Bachelor of Biomedical Science program, introduced an Associate Degree in Medical Laboratory Science program, and developed a Bachelor of Medical Science (Pre-Medical) program that commenced in 2018. In addition, he was integral in the development of other major degree programs at UniSC, including nursing and paramedics. Mark was recipient of the Vice-Chancellor and President’s Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at UniSC in 2013 for the development of clinical placement opportunities for biomedical science students.
Mark's recent research activities have been focussed on the following areas:
- Associations between maternal nutritional factors and human milk oligosaccharides during lactation.
- Nutrition and health in Australian adults with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders.
- Introduction of 'Slow Food' principles and practices in the Qld primary school system.
- Nutritional value of legumes and their health benefits for the Australian population.
- Assessment of metabolic flexibility in high performance athletes and sedentary individuals.
- Challenges for infection protection and control practices in paramedic-led healthcare.
Mark is a core member of the Milk Banc research group within the Centre for Bioinnovation at UniSC, and has industry research collaborations with Agilent Technologies and Glycom A/S, a company of DSM (Denmark).