Integrating microbes, genetics, and molecular biology to prevent cardiovascular disease
The Hypertension Research Laboratory
Meet our amazing team
We are a multidisciplinary and diverse team who are passionate about improving cardiovascular health
Lab Head & Deputy Director (Discovery) of the Victorian Heart Institute
Francine Marques
Professor Francine Marques is a Senior Medical Research Fellow from the Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Emerging Leader (Level 2, upcoming L1), and head of the Hypertension Research Laboratory at Monash University. She was awarded her PhD in 2012 at the University of Sydney, in the field of the molecular genomics of hypertension. She was previously an NHMRC and Heart Foundation early career fellow during 2012-2016, and a Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow (Level 1-2) during 2017-2025. She has won over 30 awards, including the 2021 Australian Academy of Science Gottschalk Medal and the 2025 Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Jian Zhou Medal.
Outside the lab, she loves gardening, taking the dogs to the park, baking, and she is the queen of DIYs.
Deputy Lab Head
Group Leader
Joanne O'Donnel
Dr Joanne O'Donnell is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellow in the Marques lab, and is Deputy Lab Head. Previously, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA (2014-2017). Joanne completed her PhD at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (2011-2014), under an NHMRC Dora Lush Fellowship.
Outside the lab, she loves spending time with her family and travelling.
Affiliate Group Leader
ECU Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow
Matthew Snelson
Dr Matthew Snelson is an advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, a Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow and chair of the Australasian Human Microbiome Research Network. His research investigates the role of diet in altering chronic disease states via modulation of the gut microbiota and intestinal homeostasis.
Outside the lab, he enjoys trail running, making music and spending time with his family
Lab Manager
Simona Antonacci
Dr Simona Antonacci is the Lab Manager of the Hypertension Research Lab. She received a Master of Science in Biotechnology (2004) and PhD in Plant Biology (2010) from the Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. Over the years, Simona’s research shifted towards human biology and she worked for several academic and private institutions in the United States that allowed her to expand her cellular and molecular skills in mouse and human studies. During her time at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (2020-2023), she worked on microbiota, epigenetics, and IBD, and became interested in the impact of gut bacteria on our health. She is passionate about teamwork, mentoring, and learning new things.
Outside the lab, Simona enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking in nature, trying new recipes, and growing way too many plants.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Liz Vecchio
Dr. Elizabeth Vecchio is a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellow in the Hypertension Research Lab with expertise in GPCR molecular pharmacology. She previously worked as a clinical pharmacist prior to completing her PhD at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science in 2017. Her PhD thesis explored the pharmacology of the adenosine A2B receptor with a focus on constitutive activity and signalling bias.
When not in the lab, her time is spent being a mum to three kids, reading, walking and dreaming of her next holiday.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Rikeish R Muralitharan
Dr Rikeish Muralitharan completed his PhD at the Hypertension Research lab in 2023, co-supervised by Prof Charles Mackay. His PhD focused on the role of host receptors which activate a group of beneficial microbial byproducts called short-chain fatty acids. Prior to starting his PhD focusing on discovery science where his passion lies, Rikeish completed his medical degree and underwent compulsory clinical training in Malaysia. He also worked in an immunopathology lab as a medical officer and was involved in genetic studies of patients with inborn errors of immunity.
When Rikeish is not in the lab, he enjoys going for walks, trying out new food places, and travelling.
Affiliate Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Leticia Camargo Tavares
Dr Leticia Camargo Tavares obtained her PhD degree in the field of Computational Biology & Genomic Medicine from Monash University in December 2023. Her PhD project focused on uncovering genetic risk factors associated with gastrointestinal disorders (including irritable bowel syndrome and gastroparesis), by exploiting and integrating phenotypic and genetic data from international cohorts and large-scale biobanks using high-performance computing and coding skills. Leticia also holds a master’s degree (MSc) in Pharmacogenetics & Precision Medicine and a bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Biomolecular Sciences, both obtained from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Besides being a passionate scientist, Leticia is graduated in classical ballet. Outside the work, she loves travelling and spending time outdoors whenever she gets the chance.
Affiliate Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Smriti Shrestha
Dr Smriti Shrestha obtained her PhD degree in Chemical Engineering & Bioprocess Technology from Monash University in December 2023. Her PhD research focused on exploring the molecular and structural dynamics of the different plant proteins (globulins), and their influence on protein gelation as well as the anisotropic structure development during high moisture extrusion. Smriti also holds a master’s degree (MSc) in Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. Her interdisciplinary background equips her to address complex challenges in food engineering and bioprocess technology.
When not immersed in research, Smriti enjoys swimming and travelling in her moments of leisure. She also loves spending quality time with family and exploring new recipes in cooking.
Affiliate Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Camila Gazolla Volpiano
Dr Camila Gazolla Volpiano is a postdoctoral researcher in the Systems Medicine and Bioinformatics Laboratory at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute. She works with large, deeply phenotyped cohorts to identify multi-omic markers of cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes. Alongside this, she is affiliated with the Méric Lab at the University of Bath, UK, where she studies the infant airway microbiome, the clinical relevance of gut archaea, and microbial markers of liver disease. She completed a MSc (2017) and PhD (2021) in Genetics and Molecular Biology at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), where she worked on bacterial genomics. From 2019 to 2022 she co-founded Agrega, a Brazilian biotechnology company. She holds honorary appointments at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Bath and the University of Turku.
Outside the HPC, Camila reads graphic novels, plays video games, watches films, and is teaching herself the synthesiser with bad results.
Research Officer
Evany Dinakis
Dr Evany Dinakis is a research officer who completed her PhD in exploring acid-sensing mechanisms in the context of high blood pressure and stroke. She has a particular interest in dietary fibre interventions, and the interplay with the immune system. Previously, Evany completed her Honours in Pharmacology investigating post-ischaemic stroke inflammation.
Outside of the lab, Evany enjoys spending time with family and friends, and going to the beach.
Research assistant
Wendy Qin
Wendy Qin completed a Bachelor of Biomedicine (2021) and a Master of Biomedical Science (2023) from the University of Melbourne. Wendy’s masters research was based at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health with Prof Anthony Hannan. Her project focused on the microbiota-gut-brain-axis in relation to Huntington’s disease and has led to developing strong skills in behavioural neuroscience and microbiota work. Now, instead of the brain, Wendy is curious about the impact of the gut microbiota on cardiovascular health.
Outside of research, Wendy enjoys indoor climbing, figure skating, and board games as well as spending time with her family and friends.
Research assistant
Ajai Kumar Maria Arpitha
Maria completed a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from Northumbria University in 2023 and a Master of Biomedical and Health Sciences at Monash University in 2026. Her master’s thesis, conducted at the Biomedicine Discovery Institute under Prof Karla Hutt, explored the effects of postnatal nutrition on ovarian follicle development and adult ovarian function. She is now a research assistant with interests in hypertension and the gut microbiome.
Outside the lab, Maria enjoys reading, bookstore hopping, and spending time with her two dogs.
PhD student
Madoka Lelliott
Madoka is a PhD student with a background in nursing and a Master of Public Health from Kyoto University. Her PhD research focuses on gut microbiota, microplastics and hypertension.
Outside the lab, she is a mum of two young children and enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends
PhD student
Anastasia Barbaro-Wahl
Anastasia Barbaro-Wahl is a first-year PhD student in the lab. She completed a Bachelor of Science (2021) and graduated with First Class Honours (2022) from Monash University. Since 2023, she has worked as a research assistant at the Baker Institute, contributing to ongoing cardiovascular research. Her current research focuses on the relationship between the gut microbiota and dietary fibre, and how these pathways can be leveraged to improve treatments for cardiovascular disease.
Outside the lab, Anastasia enjoys reading, playing video games, and spending time with her pets.
PhD student
Chaoran Yang
Chaoran is a first-year PhD student of the Hypertension Research Lab under supervision of Prof Marques, Prof. Professor El-Osta, and Dr. Jama. He holds a research-based Master's degree from Tohoku University and a Master's degree in Statistics from Ghent University. Currently, he is immersed in exploring the molecular mechanisms that may elucidate the epigenetic changes in offspring induced by maternal dietary fibre through the gut microbiome, employing advanced bioinformatic tools in his research.
Outside of the lab, he enjoys reading books, travelling, and playing video games.
PhD student
Faezeh Abaj
Faezeh is a PhD student working in the field of nutrigenomics, with a particular interest in personalised nutrition. Her research focuses on postprandial gene expression responses to different dietary compositions, especially (poly)phenol-rich foods such as blueberries. She uses integrative multi-omics approaches, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics, to understand how diet influences inflammatory and metabolic pathways. Previously, Faezeh completed her Master’s in Nutritional Science and a Bachelor of Nursing, where she developed a strong interest in nutrigenetics and diet–gene interactions.
Outside of the lab, Faezeh enjoys reading philosophy books, spending time with her husband, and a bit of shopping on the side.
PhD student
Charlotte Barker
Charlotte graduated with a double bachelor’s degree in Science (Hons) and Music from Monash University. She received first class honours for her research investigating macrophage entry into the brain following ischaemic stroke, conducted in the department of Pharmacology at Monash University. Charlotte is now completing her PhD in the Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Pharmacology Group under the supervision of Dr Bradley Broughton, A/Prof Barbara Kemp-Harper and Prof Francine Marques.
Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, knitting and travelling.
PhD student
Phoebe Cheong
Phoebe completed her Bachelor of Food Science from Universiti Malaysia Sabah. Following her passion in the microbiome, she received a Masters in Microbiome in Health and Disease from King’s College London. Currently, her PhD explores on the interplay of the gut microbiome on its role in the host’s blood pressure, especially under the influence of specific dietary fibre.
Outside of the lab, Phoebe enjoys tweaking recipes in conquest of good food, exploring botanical gardens, and watching Netflix.
PhD student
Zaahida Abdul Jalil
Zaahida is a current PhD student and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Science (Hons) from Monash University. She has a particular interest on how diet and gut microbiome can play a role on ovarian function, oocyte quality and female fertility. Zaahida is completing her PhD in the Ovarian Biology Laboratory under the supervision of Prof Karla Hutt, Dr Jessica Stringer and Prof Francine Marques.
Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, trying new food places and watching movies/TV shows.
PhD student
Jianan Lu
Jianan is a first-year PhD student with a background in epidemiology and biostatistics. Her research focuses on the role of dietary fibre in cardiovascular disease prevention, with a particular interest in how different subtypes and sources of fibre impact cardiometabolic health outcomes.
Outside the lab, Jianan enjoys music and live performances, films, cooking, and travelling with friends and family.
PhD student
Malindi Welathanthree Gurunnanselage
Malindi is a PhD student investigating the gut-brain axis and its involvement in hypertension. She is particularly interested in neurodegenerative diseases, and received a first class honours for her research on Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis.
Outside of the lab, Malindi loves to read, care for her plants and go on road trips with her friends.
PhD student
Jenny Li
Yixuan (Jenny) Li completed a Bachelor of Clinical Medicine (2021) and a Master of Medicine (2024) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, both with the distinction of Outstanding Graduate. Her master's research focused on in vivo labelling and imaging of gut bacteria, sparking a deep interest in host–microbiota interactions. She is now exploring how dietary fibre influences hypertension via the immune system, under the supervision of Dr Joanne O'Donnell, Prof Francine Marques, and Dr Matthew Snelson.
Outside of the lab, she enjoys going to the gym, journaling, and spending quality time with her family and friends.
PhD Student
Diprasom Das
Diprasom completed his Bachelor of Technology in Biological Sciences and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India (2021), and his Master of Science at Purdue University, USA (2025). His master’s thesis focused on understanding host–pathogen interactions in the context of the emerging fungal pathogen Candida auris. He is currently investigating how a low-fibre diet influences gut metabolites and hypertension through immune-mediated mechanisms. He is supervised by Dr Joanne O’Donnell and Professor Francine Marques.
Outside the lab, Diprasom enjoys hiking, photography, and listening to audio stories across a range of genres.
PhD Student
Tanya Pretorius
Tanya is a current PhD student in the lab. After completing her Bachelor’s at the University of Pretoria, she headed to University College London for a Master’s in Genetics & Multi-Omics. Currently, her work focuses on how the gut microbiome, diet, and genetics jointly contribute to hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases and how precision nutrition can be leveraged as an effective form of hypertension management.
Outside of the lab, Tanya loves going for runs, reading and discovering new cafes.
PhD Student
Aileen Du
Aileen is a first-year PhD student in the lab. After completing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Nottingham, she went on to complete an MRes in Drug Discovery and Development at Imperial College London, where she worked on GPCR allostery and signalling.
Her current research focuses on the Discovery of Novel Drugs Targeting Gut-to-Host Communication, combining computational and experimental approaches to develop new therapeutic strategies for hypertension.
Outside of the lab, Aileen enjoys playing badminton, travelling, and spending time with friends.
Honours student
Mackenzie Coakley
Mackenzie is an honours student currently completing a Bachelor of Science Advanced - Research (Honours), majoring in pharmacology and developmental biology. Her research investigates how dietary fibre lowers blood pressure through modulation of serotonin signalling within the gut-brain axis. Her work is conducted under the supervision of Dr Rikeish R. Muralitharan and Malindi Welathanthree.
Outside the lab, she enjoys hiking with friends and photography.
Honours student
Shevita Ram Sunthar
Shevita is an honours student studying under the supervision of Dr Joanne O’Donnell and Evany Dinakis. She graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Monash University. Her project is investigating how a low-fibre diet affects gut structure and the gut microbiome.
Outside the lab, she enjoys reading and playing board games.
Honours student
Manishraj Sankar
Manish is an honours student
Consumer Advisory Panel
People with lived experience
Our amazing Consumer Advisory Panel was established in 2022 by Prof Marques. Currently, we have 5 women and 2 men with lived experience who help us make the most impactful contributions to improve blood pressure control.
Members include:
Lisa Devereux
Jacquie Chirgwin
David Goobody
Our mascots
Jessie and Ashy are our lab mascots. They keep us in check while attending some of the lab meetings unannounced. The girls are miniature Schnauzers who love their walks, treats and belly rubs. They are committed to cardiovascular health and love to exercise and eat their veggies. They are also great at giving cuddles when experiments are not going well.
