Professor David Lubans

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2018 Project Grant
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2017 Project Grant
HMRI Award for Mid Career Research
2017 HMRI Award for Mid Career Research
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2017 Project Grant
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2016 Project Grant
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2016 Travel Grant
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2016 Project Grant
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2015 Project Grant
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2013 Project Grant
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2012 Project Grant
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2011 Project Grant
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2009 Project Grant
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2009 Project Grant
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2008 Project Grant

What are your research interests?

  • Design and evaluation of school- and community-based interventions to increase physical activity in child and adolescent populations.
  • Identifying measurable cost-effective interventions to promote physical activity that address socio-economic inequalities.
  • Integrating technology and changing individuals' perceptions of their physical environment to promote physical activity and fitness.
  • Investigating the effects and maximising the benefits of physical activity and fitness on mental health outcomes in young people.
  • Adaptation of high intensity interval training and resistance training for population health. 

Why did you get into research?

Physical inactivity has been described as a 'global pandemic', with extensive health, economic, environmental and social implications. I have been working in physical activity promotion for over 20 years and I regularly witness the barriers (both perceived and actual) to physical activity faced by people of all ages. We know that physical activity levels decline dramatically during adolescence and that behavioural patterns track into adulthood. My program of research has been focused on providing young people with the motivation, confidence and competence to be physically active now and throughout their lifetime.

What would be the ultimate goal for your research?

My goal is to see more people, more active, more of the time. My program of research is focused on providing innovation and evidence to build social and physical environments that promote physical activity. 

Brief Profile

Professor David Lubans is the Theme Lead for school-based research in the University of Newcastle’s Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition. His research is focused on understanding the determinants of physical activity and the development and evaluation of interventions in school and community settings. Over the past 10 years, he has been a chief investigator on over 20 school-based interventions that have involved more than 8,000 children and adolescents. Notably, he has been the Principal Investigator on 11 of these studies, including three large-scale cluster randomised controlled trials. 

His research findings have been widely published (>140 peer-reviewed journal publications, >100 refereed conference presentations and >20 invited and keynote presentations). As a chief investigator he has secured over $6.5 million in competitive research funding, including three Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects focused on physical activity promotion in young people. In 2014, he was awarded the Scopus Young Researcher of the Year Award and was successful in securing an ARC Future Fellowship.

Professor Lubans is currently working towards improving our understanding of why physical activity is good for mental health, investigating the neuro-biological, psycho-social and behavioural mechanisms responsible for the effects of physical activity and fitness on mental outcomes in child and adolescent populations. He is also working with relevant stakeholders to disseminate evidence-based physical activity programs in school- and community-based settings.

Specialised/Technical Skills

  • Randomised controlled trials
  • Interventions
  • Physical activity measurement
  • Measurement and analysis of mediators of behaviour change.

Affiliations

2018

The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of referral to exercise physiologists, psychologists, and supplementary physical behaviour change strategies for school teachers 'at risk' for Type 2 Diabetes
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Ronald Plotnikoff, Wendy Brown, Kerry Courneya, Ronald Sigal, Associate Professor Erica James, Professor David Lubans, Kristen Cohen

Description:

People who are 'at risk' of type 2 diabetes, or have pre diabetes, or have type 2 diabetes comprise a significant proportion of the Australian population and this health issue in increasing at a very significant rate.

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2017

The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of referral to exercise physiologists, psychologists, and supplementary physical behaviour change strategies for school teachers 'at risk' for Type 2 Diabetes, with pre diabetes or with Type 2 Diabetes
Project Grant
Researchers:

Prof Ronald Plotnikoff, Wendy Brown, Kerry Courneya, Ronald Sigal, Erica James, David Lubans, Kristen Cohen

Award for Mid Career Research - David Lubans
HMRI Award for Mid Career Research
Researchers:
Embedding the DADEE Program in local communities: Sustainability through innovative partnerships
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Researchers:
Description:

This three year phase of the Dads and Daughter Exercising and Empowered (DADEE) project aims to transition the DADEE program to a sustainable model embedded in the Newcastle community, capitalising on the achievements of the initial 2014-2016 grant period. 

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2016

The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of referral to exercise physiologists, psychologists, and supplementary physical behaviour change strategies for school teachers 'at risk' for Type 2 Diabetes
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Ronald Plotnikoff, Wendy Brown, Kerry Courneya, Ronald Sigal, Associate Professor Erica James, Professor David Lubans, Kristen Cohen

Description:

People who are 'at risk' of type 2 diabetes, or have pre diabetes, or have type 2 diabetes comprise a significant proportion of the Australian population and this health issue in increasing at a very significant rate.

more
Jennie Thomas Medical Research Travel Grant
Travel Grant
Description:

Decades of research has demonstrated the important role of cardiovascular fitness for health (Blair et al., 1996). Consequently, ‘aerobic’ physical activities have long been prescribed to children and adolescents. However, recently updated physical activity guidelines now recommend 5 to 18 year olds also regularly engage in muscle-strengthening physical activities (MSPA) (Department of Health, 2014).

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Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered (DADEE)
Project Grant
Description:

Engaging dads and daughters to increase physical activity and social and emotional well-being in pre-adolescent girls: The DADEE (Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered) program

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2015

The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of referral to exercise physiologists, psychologists, and supplementary physical behaviour change strategies for school teachers 'at risk' for Type 2 Diabetes
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Ronald Plotnikoff, Wendy Brown, Kerry Courneya, Ronald Sigal, Associate Professor Erica James, Professor David Lubans, Kristen Cohen

Description:

People who are 'at risk' of type 2 diabetes, or have pre diabetes, or have type 2 diabetes comprise a significant proportion of the Australian population and this health issue in increasing at a very significant rate.

more
The feasibility and preliminary efficiacy of referral to exercise physiologists, psychologists, and supplementary physical behaviour change strategics for school teachers 'at risk' for Type 2 Diabetes, with pre diabetes or with Type 2 Diabetes: a pilot st
Project Grant
Researchers:

Professor Ronald Plotnikoff, Wendy Brown, Kerry Courneya, Ronald Sigal, Erica James, David Lubans, Kristen Cohen
 

Description:

People who are 'at risk' of type 2 diabetes, or have pre diabetes, or have type 2 diabetes comprise a significant proportion of the Australian population and this health issue in increasing at a very significant rate.

more
The DADEE (Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered) program
Project Grant
Description:

Engaging dads and daughters to increase physical activity and social and emotional well-being in pre-adolescent girls. 

more

2014

The impact of high intensity interval training on physical and psycho-social outcomes in low-active adolescents: A randomised controlled trial
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Considerable evidence exists supporting the health benefits of youth engaging in regular physical activity yet physical inactivity in adolescence remains widespread.

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The DADEE (Dads And Daughters Exercising and Empowered) program
Project Grant
Description:

Engaging dads and daughters to increase physical activity and social and emotional well-being in pre-adolescent girls

more
The Supporting Children's Outcomes using Rewards, Exercise and Skills (SCORES) study
Project Grant
Description:

One third of Australian children are not sufficiently active of good health and this is particularly true of children from disadvantaged schools.

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2013

The DADEE (Dads And Daughters Enjoying Exercise) study
Project Grant
Researchers:
Description:

Engaging fathers to improve physical activity levels and social-emotional well-being in their daughters

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Evaluation of a multi-component intervention to reduce screen-time in adolescents: The ‘Stand Up for Healthy Minds’ study
Project Grant
Description:

Children’s screen-time is high. The time that young people spend sedentary, especially the time they spend alone watching television and using computers, is a major public health issue.

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Translation of the Healthy Dads Healthy Kids program in local communities: Transitioning for sustainability
Project Grant
Description:

Transition of HDHK program from researcher-run model to a community-run model over 12 months.

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The Supporting Children's Outcomes using Rewards, Exercise and Skills (SCORES) study
Project Grant
Description:

One third of Australian children are not sufficiently active of good health and this is particularly true of children from disadvantaged schools.

more
The Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids community program: Promoting family health through sustainable school and community partnerships
Project Grant
Description:

In 2008-09, a rigorous, randomised controlled trial of the Healthy Dad, Healthy Kids (HDHK) program was conducted at the University of Newcastle.

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2012

The Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids community program: Promoting family health through sustainable school and community partnerships
Project Grant
The Supporting Children's Outcomes using Rewards, Exercise and Skills (SCORES) study
Project Grant

2011

The Supporting Children's Outcomes using Rewards, Exercise and Skills (SCORES) study
Project Grant

2009

The Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids community program: Promoting family health through sustainable school and community partnerships
Project Grant
Researchers:
Promotion of physical activity and healthy eating amoung low-SES adolescent boys
Project Grant

2008

The "Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids" Project" Feasibility and Benefits of a Father-Focused Child Obesity Prevention Intervention.
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Researchers: