QUT - Academic profiles - Professor Martin Sillence

Biography

Martin Sillence is Academic Lead (Research), responsible for developing research capacity and capability in Biological and Environmental Sciences at QUT. He has previously served as Assistant Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Science (2007-2009), and the Faculty of Science and Technology (2009-2012), as well as Academic Program Director (2014-2018), responsible for overseeing all undergraduate science courses at QUT.

His other leadership roles have included Discipline Leader (Biological Sciences) and Acting Head of School (Environmental and Biological Sciences). He also currently serves the Australian Government, Department of Health, as a member of the Gene Technology Scheme Implementation Expert Reference Panel.

Prior to joining QUT, Professor Sillence held a personal research chair in Animal Science at Charles Sturt University NSW, where he worked for 11 years, helping to establish a new Veterinary Science course, while creating and managing a vaccine research centre. Before that, he served 9 years with CSIRO in Queensland, based in the Division of Livestock Industries.

With degrees in pharmacology and animal physiology & nutrition from the University of Leeds (UK), Sillence gained further research experience in the US, before establishing his own research team. He continues to lead an active research group focused on animal physiology and pharmacology, with particular strengths in equine health and medicine.

Dr Sillence has enjoyed a diverse research career, publishing over 100 scientific papers in the fields of pharmacology, forensic chemistry, endocrinology, animal science and equine science, winning a Literary Prize from the Journal of Veterinary Science in 2004 for his scientific writing and a Vice-Chancellor's award from Central Queensland University for excellence in postgraduate student supervision. He has also served as a research consultant to major animal health companies, and has held several patents concerning the use of vaccines to improve the efficiency of food utilization in livestock.

+61 7 3138 2565

martin.sillence@qut.edu.au

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Personal details

Positions

Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Biology & Environmental Science

Keywords

Endocrinology, Equine, Forensic, Hormones, Insulin, Laminitis, Livestock, Metabolism, Nutrition, Pharmacology

Research field

Animal production, Veterinary sciences

Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020

Qualifications

PhD (University of Leeds)
Grad Cert university leadership and management (Charles Sturt University)

Teaching

Professor Sillence currently teaches undergraduate topics in pharmacology, animal biology, animal welfare and food security.

Previous teaching experience includes units in: Animal Science, Animal Health and Welfare, Veterinary Pharmacology, Physiology, Endocrinology, Nutritional Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Animal Production Systems and Advanced Animal Nutrition.

Experience

Professor Sillence has 38 years experience in research, with 30 years experience in research training and research management. He is an active researcher in the fields of veterinary and animal science, with a career total of over $12 million in research grants and three recent projects @ $1.3 million concerning laminitis, the pharmacokinetics of equine medications and metabolic syndrome.

Professor Sillence has held four provisional patents and produced more than 100 refereed publications in international scientific journals. One of his papers concerning equine laminitis has achieved a higher citation rate than any paper on this topic published in the past 15 years.

With a chief interest in animal endocrionology, growth and metabolism, Professor Sillence also has some experience in veterinary pharmacology, physiology, immunology, chemistry, forensic science, animal behaviour and animal nutrition.

As a research leader, Professor Sillence has developed some expertise in research career development, coaching and mentoring, assisting the Faculty to achieve outstanding success in research performance.

Publications

De-laat, M., Kyaw-Tanner, M., Sillence, M., McGowan, C. & Pollitt, C. (2012). Advanced glycation endproducts in horses with insulin-induced laminitis. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 145(1 - 2), 395–401. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/51408
De-laat, M., Pollitt, C., Walsh, D., McGowan, C. & Sillence, M. (2012). Persistent digital hyperthermia over a 48 h period does not induce laminitis in horses. The Veterinary Journal, 192(3), 435–440. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/51405
De-laat, M., Sillence, M., McGowan, C. & Pollitt, C. (2012). Continuous intravenous infusion of glucose induces endogenous hyperinsulinaemia and lamellar histopathology in Standardbred horses. The Veterinary Journal, 191(3), 317–322. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/51407
De-laat, M., van Eps, A., McGowan, C., Sillence, M. & Pollitt, C. (2011). Equine Laminitis: Comparative histopathology 48 hours after experimental induction with insulin or alimentary oligofructose in standardbred horses. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 145(4), 399–409. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/52217
Tinworth, K., Harris, P., Sillence, M. & Noble, G. (2010). Potential treatments for insulin resistance in the horse: A comparative multi-species review. The Veterinary Journal, 186(3), 282–291. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/42829
Tinworth, K., Boston, R., Harris, P., Sillence, M., Raidal, S. & Noble, G. (2012). The effect of oral metformin on insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant ponies. The Veterinary Journal, 191(1), 79–84. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/51411
Asplin, K., Patterson-Kane, J., Sillence, M., Pollitt, C. & McGowan, C. (2010). Histopathology of insulin-induced laminitis in ponies. Equine Veterinary Journal, 42(8), 700–706. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/42635
Asplin, K., Sillence, M., Pollitt, C. & McGowan, C. (2007). Induction of laminitis by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia in clinically normal ponies. The Veterinary Journal, 174(3), 530–535. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/45255
Asplin, K., Curlewis, J., McGowan, C., Pollitt, C. & Sillence, M. (2011). Glucose transport in the equine hoof. Equine Veterinary Journal, 43(2), 196–201. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/43149
De-laat, M., McGowan, C., Sillence, M. & Pollit, C. (2010). Equine laminitis: Induced by 48 h hyperinsulinaemia in Standardbred horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 42(2), 129–135. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/43108

QUT ePrints

For more publications by Martin, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).

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2025

Galinelli, N. C., Bamford, N., Erdody, M. L., Warnken, T., de Laat, M., Sillence, M., Harris, P. A. & Bailey, S. R. (2025). Physiological and metabolic effects of short-term dopamine reduction in healthy horses using a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor (alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine). Domestic Animal Endocrinology, Article 106891, 90. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/252598
Galinelli, N. C., Bamford, N. J., Erdody, M. L., Warnken, T., de Laat, M. A., Sillence, M. N., Harris, P. A. & Bailey, S. R. (2025). Effect of short-term dopamine reduction on insulin sensitivity and post-prandial insulin and glucose responses in Standardbred horses. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, Article 106893, 90. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/254176

2024

Sibthorpe, P. E. M., Fitzgerald, D. M., Sillence, M. N. & de Laat, M. A. (2024). Associations between feeding and glucagon-like peptide-2 in healthy ponies. Equine Veterinary Journal, 56(2), 309–317. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/244417
Fitzgerald, D. M., Cash, C. M., Dudley, K. J., Sibthorpe, P. E. M., Sillence, M. N. & de Laat, M. A. (2024). Expression of the GCG gene and secretion of active glucagon-like peptide-1 varies along the length of intestinal tract in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 56(2), 352–360. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/244419
Galinelli, N. C., Bamford, N. J., de Laat, M., Sillence, M., Harris, P. A. & Bailey, S. R. (2024). Evidence for dopamine production and distribution of dopamine D2 receptors in the equine gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreas. PLoS One, Article e0298660, 19(2). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/247154
Sibthorpe, P. E. M., Fitzgerald, D. M., Sillence, M. N. & de Laat, M. A. (2024). Studies in vitro of equine intestinal glucagon-like peptide-2 secretion. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, Article 105179, 142. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/252436
Steel, R., Timms, M., Bamford, N., Spence, R. & Sillence, M. (2024). The detection of ACTH and insulin in equine plasma by solid-phase extraction and micro-flow LC/MSMS. Drug Testing and Analysis. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/254724

2023

Li, F. I., Spence, R. J., de Laat, M. A., Harris, P. A., Sonntag, J., Menzies-Gow, N. J., Durham, A. E., Bailey, S. R. & Sillence, M. N. (2023). Association between insulin dysregulation and adrenocorticotropic hormone in aged horses and ponies with no clinical signs of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Equine Veterinary Journal, 55(6), 1003–1011. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/238216
de Laat, M. A., Warnken, T., Delarocque, J., Reiche, D. B., Grob, A. J., Feige, K., Carslake, H. B., Durham, A. E., Sillence, M. N., Thane, K. E., Frank, N., Brojer, J., Lindase, S. & Sonntag, J. (2023). Carbohydrate pellets to assess insulin dysregulation in horses. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 37(1), 302–314. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/238217
de Laat, M. A. & Sillence, M. N. (2023). Diagnosis of equine endocrinopathies: The value of measuring blood glucose during an oral glucose test. Veterinary Journal, Article 106034, 300-302. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/244418

2022

Sillence, M., Meier, A., de Laat, M., Klee, R. & Reiche, D. (2022). Demographic, morphologic, hormonal and metabolic factors associated with the rate of improvement from equine hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis. BMC Veterinary Research, Article 49, 18(1). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/232508
Sibthorpe, P., Fitzgerald, D. M., Chen, L., Sillence, M. & de Laat, M. (2022). A starch-rich treat affects enteroinsular responses in ponies. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 260(S3), S94-S101. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/235553

2021

Meier, A., McGree, J., Klee, R., Preuß, J., Reiche, D., de Laat, M. & Sillence, M. (2021). The application of a new laminitis scoring method to model the rate and pattern of improvement from equine endocrinopathic laminitis in a clinical setting. BMC Veterinary Research, Article 16, 17. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209177
Rahnama, S., Spence, R., Vathsangam, N., Baskerville, C. L., Bailey, S. R., de Laat, M. A., Anderson, S. T., Pollitt, C. C. & Sillence, M. N. (2021). Effects of insulin on IGF-1 receptors in equine lamellar tissue in vitro. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, Article 106530, 74. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209178
Rahnama, S., Vathsangam, N., Spence, R., Anderson, S. T., de Laat, M. A., Bailey, S. & Sillence, M. N. (2021). Identification of monoclonal antibodies suitable for blocking IGF-1 receptors in the horse. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, Article 106510, 74. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209179

A complete list of publications is available at: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/martin.sillence

Selected research projects

Title: Determining Reliable Excretion Times for Therapeutic Drugs in Horses
Primary fund type: CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
Project ID: PRJ-000255
Start year: 2007
Keywords: Veterinary; Pharmacology; Drugs; Forensics; Horses

Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.

Professor Martin Sillence