Professor Jeff Schwartz - Griffith University

Site Degrees

Jeff Schwartz PhD

Academic Manager Years 1 & 2

Contact details for Professor Jeff Schwartz

Biography

After receiving degrees at the Universities of Michigan (BS, Chemistry and Cellular Biology) and California (PhD, Endocrinology), Jeff Schwartz was a research fellow at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Salk Institute, and Prince Henry’s Institute of Medical Research. He was an academic staff member at the University of California at San Diego, Monash, Wake Forest University and the University of Adelaide. Since 2009, he has been the Academic Manager for years 1 and 2 of Griffith University School of Medicine.

His research can be characterised as defining new roles for old hormones and endocrine cells. This began with work on cardiovascular and other extrarenal actions of vasopressin, and continued with the characterization of functional cellular heterogeneity and cell-cell interactions within the anterior pituitary. More recently, he has applied novel approaches to understanding unexpected changes in fetal endocrine axes as they develop. His current research interests include the interactions between genetic and environmental factors in development of the endocrine system.

In addition to academic responsibilities, Professor Schwartz has also held numerous editorial posts; served on research-funding panels and governmental advisory committees; and consulted on biomedical educational programs.

Research interests

Heterogeneity and cell-cell interactions in the anterior pituitary
Impact of perturbations of the fetal environment on development of physiologicla regulatory systems
Interactions of genetic and environmental factors on endocrine development and function

Publications

Book chapter

Schwartz J, Carey LC (2006) Programming Effects of moderate and binge alcohol consumption. In: Early Life Origins of Health and Disease (Editors: EM Wintour and J Owens). Springer Science-Business Media, New York, 187-194.

Refereed journal articles

Szarek E, Cheah P-K, Schwartz J, Thomas P (2010) Molecular genetics of the developing neuroendocrine hypothalamus. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. 323(1):115-123.
Szarek E, Farrand K, McMillen IC, Young IR, Houghton D, Schwartz J (2008) Hypothalamic input is required for development of normal numbers of thyrotrophs and gonadotrophs, but not other anterior pituitary cells in late gestation sheep. Journal of Physiology. 586:1185-1194.
Farrand K, McMillen IC, Tanaka S, Schwartz J (2006) Subpopulations of corticotrophs in the sheep pituitary during late gestation: effects of development and placental restriction. Endocrinology. 147:4762-4771.
Gentili S, Schwartz JS, Waters MJ, McMillen IC (2006) Prolactin and the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 in the sheep adrenal gland before birth. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. 291:R1399-1405.
Schwartz J, Morrison J (2005) Impact and mechanisms of fetal physiological programming. American Journal of Physiology. 288:R11-R15.
McMillen IC, Schwartz J, Coulter CL, Edwards LJ (2004) Early embryonic environment, the fetal pituitary-adrenal axis and the timing of parturition. Endocrine Research. 30(4):845-850.

Current teaching areas