Contact details +6492136411

Dr Martin Dickens BSc(Hons), PhD

Senior Lecturer in Metabolic Physiology

Doctoral Supervisor
School of Health Sciences

A cell physiologist with expertise in biochemistry, molecular biology and a strong background in cell signalling who is interested in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying human health and disease.

Professional

Contact details

  • Ph: +64 (0) 9 213 6411
    Location: Level 3, SNWE
    Campus: Albany

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science (First class Honours) - University of Bristol (1987)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - University of Bristol (1991)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Previous work

Mechanisms of hormone action, particularly how insulin regulates metabolism in fat, liver and muscle cells and how this is impaired in diabetes.

Pathways that mediate adaptive responses to cellular stresses, mainly in the cardiovascular system, working on cardiac ischaemia/reperfusion injury & hypertrophic responses in cardiac myocytes.

Current Interests

Understanding how exercise brings about the physiological and metabolic remodelling of muscle.

Mechanotransduction & nutritional effects on cell signalling in bone.

Metabolic and cardiovascular health.

Effects of dietary phytochemicals on cell physiology.

Thematics

Health and Well-being

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Biochemistry and Cell Biology (060100): Biological Sciences (060000):
Cancer Cell Biology (111201): Cardiovascular Medicine and Haematology (110200):
Cell Metabolism (060104):
Cell Physiology (111601): Medical And Health Sciences (110000): Medical Physiology (111600): Neurosciences (110900): Oncology and Carcinogenesis (111200):
Receptors and Membrane Biology (060110): Signal Transduction (060111)

Keywords

Cell physiology

Biochemistry

Molecular biology

 

Cell signalling

Metabolic regulation

Cardiovascular health

Physiology of muscle & bone 

Research Outputs

Journal

Prescott, H., Sarwar, M., Dickens, M., & Sattlegger, E. (2025). GCN2 in Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Potential. Current Cancer Drug Targets. Ahead-of-print
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M., Sattlegger, E.
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Peeters, WM., Gram, M., Dias, GJ., Vissers, MCM., Hampton, MB., Dickerhof, N., . . . Rowlands, DS. (2023). Changes to insulin sensitivity in glucose clearance systems and redox following dietary supplementation with a novel cysteine-rich protein: A pilot randomized controlled trial in humans with type-2 diabetes. Redox Biology. 67
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M., Hodges, L., Perry, B., Rowlands, D., Vitzel, K.
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4
Ahmed Nasef, N., Thota, RN., Mutukumira, AN., Rutherfurd-Markwick, K., Dickens, M., Gopal, P., . . . Garg, ML. (2022). Bioactive Yoghurt Containing Curcumin and Chlorogenic Acid Reduces Inflammation in Postmenopausal Women. Nutrients. 14(21)
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M., Singh, H.
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10
Bisht, A., Dickens, M., Rutherfurd-Markwick, K., Thota, R., Mutukumira, AN., & Singh, H. (2020). Chlorogenic acid potentiates the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin in LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells. Nutrients. 12(9), 1-12
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M., Singh, H.
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62
10
Ali, A., Starck, C., Wham, C., Wolber, F., Dickens, M., Thunders, M., . . . Rutherfurd-Markwick, K. (2018). The highs and lows of caffeine intake in New Zealand children. Journal of Caffeine and Adenosine Research. 8(3), 86-98 Retrieved from https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/caff.2017.0035
[Journal article]Authored by: Ali, A., Dickens, M., O'Keeffe, K.
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Caswell, PT., & Dickens, M. (2018). JIP3 localises to exocytic vesicles and focal adhesions in the growth cones of differentiated PC12 cells. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 444(1-2), 1-13
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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5
4
Miller, BW., Hay, JM., Prigent, SA., & Dickens, M. (2012). Post-transcriptional regulation of VEGF-A mRNA levels by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) during metabolic stress associated with ischaemia/reperfusion. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. , 1-12
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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2
Browne, GJ., & Dickens, M. (2011). Reversible translocation of ASK1 to a Triton-X100 insoluble cytoplasmic compartment during cardiac myocyte cell stress. Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction. 31(6), 408-415
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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2
Turrell, HE., Rodrigo, GC., Norman, RI., Dickens, M., & Standen, NB. (2011). Phenylephrine preconditioning involves modulation of cardiac sarcolemmal K ATP current by PKC delta, AMPK and p38 MAPK. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. 51(3), 370-380
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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34
27
Vaishnav, M., MacFarlane, M., & Dickens, M. (2011). Disassembly of the JIP1/JNK molecular scaffold by caspase-3-mediated cleavage of JIP1 during apoptosis. Experimental Cell Research. 317(7), 1028-1039
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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19
12
Harding, SJ., Browne, GJ., Miller, BW., Prigent, SA., & Dickens, M. (2010). Activation of ASK1, downstream MAPKK and MAPK isoforms during cardiac ischaemia. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta Molecular Basis of Disease. 1802(9), 733-740
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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26
21
Cannell, IG., Kong, YW., Johnston, SJ., Chen, ML., Collins, HM., Dobbyn, HC., . . . Bushell, M. (2010). p38 MAPK/MK2-mediated induction of miR-34c following DNA damage prevents Myc-dependent DNA replication. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 107(12), 5375-5380
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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159
142
Squires, MS., Hudson, EA., Howells, L., Sale, S., Houghton, CE., Jones, JL., . . . Manson, MM. (2003). Relevance of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphotidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/PKB) pathways to induction of apoptosis by curcumin in breast cells. Biochemical Pharmacology. 65(3), 361-376
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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191
154
Finn, SG., Dickens, M., & Fuller, SJ. (2001). c-Jun N-terminal kinase-interacting protein 1 inhibits gene expression in response to hypertrophic agonists in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Biochemical Journal. 358(2), 489-495
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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26
23
Harding, TC., Xue, L., Bienemann, A., Haywood, D., Dickens, M., Tolkovsky, AM., . . . Uney, JB. (2001). Inhibition of JNK by Overexpression of the JNK Binding Domain of JIP-1 Prevents Apoptosis in Sympathetic Neurons. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 276(7), 4531-4534
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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105
106
Heywood, DJ., Harding, TC., Bienemann, AS., Dickens, M., & Uney, JB. (2000). Manipulation of the JNK kinase pathway for neuroprotection. 12, 8-8
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Coffey, ET., Hongisto, V., Dickens, M., Davis, RJ., & Courtney, MJ. (2000). Dual roles for c-Jun N-terminal kinase in developmental and stress responses in cerebellar granule neurons. Journal of Neuroscience. 20(20), 7602-7613
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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178
171
MacFarlane, M., Cohen, GM., & Dickens, M. (2000). JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and p38 activation in receptor-mediated and chemically-induced apoptosis of T-cells: Differential requirements for caspase activation. Biochemical Journal. 348(1), 93-101
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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62
57
Stoneley, M., Chappell, SA., Jopling, CL., Dickens, M., MacFarlane, M., & Willis, AE. (2000). c-Myc protein synthesis is initiated from the internal ribosome entry segment during apoptosis. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 20(4), 1162-1169
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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201
177
Kelkar, N., Gupta, S., Dickens, M., & Davis, RJ. (2000). Interaction of a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling module with the neuronal protein JIP3. Molecular and Cellular Biology. 20(3), 1030-1043
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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264
242
Xavier, GD., Dickens, M., & Rutter, GK. (1999). Identification of a novel glucose-stimulated, stress-activated kinase in pancreatic islets. 42, A124-A124
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
1
Stewart, CEH., Newcomb, PV., Savage, PB., Dickens, M., Tavare, J., & Holly, JMP. (1999). Increased, not decreased activation of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor signalling pathway during ceramide-induced apoptosis. Growth Hormone and IGF Research. 9(2), 131-142
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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18
17
Finn, SG., Dickens, M., & Fuller, SJ. (1998). C-Jun N-terminal kinase interacting protein-1 (JIP-1) inhibits gene expression in cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. 98, 678-678
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Griffiths, MR., Black, EJ., Culbert, AA., Dickens, M., Shaw, PE., Gillespie, DAF., . . . Tavaré, JM. (1998). Insulin-stimulated expression of c-fos, fra1 and c-jun accompanies the activation of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional complex. Biochemical Journal. 335(1), 19-26
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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42
35
Dickens, M., Svitek, CA., Culbert, AA., O'Brien, RM., & Tavaré, JM. (1998). Central role for phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase in the repression of glucose'6-phosphatase gene transcription by insulin. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 273(32), 20144-20149
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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87
78
Griffiths, M., Dickens, M., & Tavare, J. (1997). Molecular mechanism by which insulin stimulates the AP-1 transcriptional complex. 46, 1097-1097
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Chow, CW., Rincón, M., Cavanagh, J., Dickens, M., & Davis, RJ. (1997). Nuclear accumulation of NFAT4 opposed by the JNK signal transduction pathway. Science. 278(5343), 1638-1641
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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309
295
Dickens, M., Rogers, JS., Cavanagh, J., Raitano, A., Xia, Z., Halpern, JR., . . . Davis, RJ. (1997). A cytoplasmic inhibitor of the JNK signal transduction pathway. Science. 277(5326), 693-696
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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645
614
Young, SW., Dickens, M., & Tavaré, JM. (1996). Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by protein kinase C isotypes α, βI and γ, but not ε. FEBS Letters. 384(2), 181-184
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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21
22
Raingeaud, J., Gupta, S., Rogers, JS., Dickens, M., Han, J., Ulevitch, RJ., . . . Davis, RJ. (1995). Pro-inflammatory cytokines and environmental stress cause p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation by dual phosphorylation on tyrosine and threonine. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 270(13), 7420-7426
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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2097
1998
Xia, Z., Dickens, M., Raingeaud, J., Davis, RJ., & Greenberg, ME. (1995). Opposing effects of ERK and JNK-p38 MAP kinases on apoptosis. Science. 270(5240), 1326-1331
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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5133
4885
Dhanwada, KR., Dickens, M., Neades, R., Davis, R., & Pelling, JC. (1995). Differential effects of UV-B and UV-C components of solar radiation on MAP kinase signal transduction pathways in epidermal keratinocytes. Oncogene. 11(10), 1947-1953
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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62
58
Young, SW., Dickens, M., & Tavaré, JM. (1994). Differentiation of PC12 cells in response to a cAMP analogue is accompanied by sustained activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. Comparison with the effects of insulin, growth factors and phorbol esters. FEBS Letters. 338(2), 212-216
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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120
128
Chin, JE., Dickens, M., Tavare, JM., & Roth, RA. (1993). Overexpression of protein kinase C isoenzymes α, βI, γ, and ε in cells overexpressing the insulin receptor: Effects on receptor phosphorylation and signaling. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 268(9), 6338-6347
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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158
168
Dickens, M., & Tavaré, JM. (1992). Analysis of the order of autophosphorylation of human insulin receptor tyrosines 1158, 1162 and 1163. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 186(1), 244-250 Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006291X05807995
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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Denton, RM., Tavare, JM., Borthwick, A., Dickens, M., Diggle, TA., Edgell, NJ., . . . Welsh, GI. (1992). Insulin-activated protein kinases in fat and other cells. Biochemical Society Transactions. 20(3), 659-664
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
8
6
Dickens, M., Chin, JE., Roth, RA., Ellis, L., Denton, RM., & Tavare, JM. (1992). Characterization of insulin-stimulated protein serine/threonine kinases in CHO cells expressing human insulin receptors with point and deletion mutations. Biochemical Journal. 287(1), 201-209
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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40
44
Dickens, M., & Tavaré, JM. (1992). Analysis of the order of autophosphorylation of human insulin receptor tyrosines 1158, 1162 and 1163. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 186(1), 244-250
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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29
23
Tavare, JM., & Dickens, M. (1991). Changes in insulin-receptor tyrosine, serine and threonine phosphorylation as a result of substitution of tyrosine-1162 with penylalanine. Biochemical Journal. 274(1), 173-179
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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27
Dickens, M., Tavaré, JM., Clack, B., Ellis, L., & Denton, RM. (1991). Phosphorylation of tyrosines 1158, 1162 and 1163 on a synthetic dodecapeptide by the insulin receptor protein-tyrosine kinase. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 174(2), 772-778
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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8
7
Brindle, NPJ., Tavare, JM., Dickens, M., Whittaker, J., & Siddle, K. (1990). Anti-(insulin receptor) monoclonal antibody-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation in cells transfected with human insulin receptor cDNA. Biochemical Journal. 268(3), 615-620
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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26
28
Tavare, JM., O'Brien, RM., Pillay, TS., Dickens, M., Siddle, K., & Denton, RM. (1988). Analysis of the sites of phosphorylation of the insulin receptor in vitro and in vivo. Biochemical Society Transactions. 16(6), 1065-1066
[Journal article]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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Conference

Dickens, M., & Caswell, PT. (2017). Subcellular distribution of JIP3, a neuronal JNK pathway scaffold protein. Poster session presented at the meeting of 28th New Zealand Conference on Microscopy. Auckland, New Zealand
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Holland, S., Dickens, M., Wolber, ., heyes, ., & Rutherfurd, . (2017). Soluble factors released by MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells delay neutrophil apoptosis in vitro.. Poster session presented at the meeting of New Zealand Society for Oncology Conference
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Holland, S., Dickens, M., Wolber, F., Heyes, J., & Rutherfurd, KJ. (2017). Soluble factors released by MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells delay neutrophil apoptosis in vitro.. Poster session presented at the meeting of NZ Med-Sci Congress. Queenstown, New Zealand
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Hay, JM., Jordan, ES., Browne, GJ., Bottrill, AR., Prigent, SA., & Dickens, M. (2015). MS1/STARS is a target of the JNK signalling pathway in cardiac myocytes. Poster session presented at the meeting of NZ Med-Sci Congress. Queenstown, New Zealand
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Turrell, HE., Rodrigo, GC., Dickens, M., & Standen, NB. (2009). Phenylephrine Preconditioning of Isolated Ventricular Myocytes Involves Modulation of Sarcolemmal KATP Current by Protein Kinases.. Poster session presented at the meeting of Young Physiologists’ Symposium: Ion Channels and Receptors in Cell Physiology, Leicester, UK
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Dickens, M.

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Turell, HE., Dickens, M., & Standen NB, . (2007). Preconditioning by phenylephrine is dependent on PKC and KATP channel activation in adult rat isolated ventricular myocytes. Poster session presented at the meeting of Joint Meeting of The Slovak Physiological Society, The Physiological Society and The Federation of European Physiological Societies, Bratislava, Slovakia.
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Turrell, HE., Dickens, M., & Standen, NB. (2007). Preconditioning by phenylephrine is dependent on PKC and KATP channel activation in adult rat isolated ventricular myocytes. In Acta Physiologica Vol. 191 , Joint Meeting of The Slovak Physiological Society, The Physiological Society and The Federation of European Physiological Societies
[Conference Abstract]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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Other

Hay, JM., Jordan, ES., Browne, GJ., Bottrill, AR., Prigent, SA., & Dickens, M. (2017). Transcriptional and post-translational targeting of myocyte stress protein 1 (MS1) by the JNK pathway in cardiac myocytes.
[Other]Authored by: Dickens, M.
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2
Dickens, M. (2012, March). Stress-activated signalling pathways in cardiac myocytes. In Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University. Presented at Auckland, New Zealand.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Dickens, M. (2006, November). Stress-activated protein kinase signalling pathways: Regulation by scaffolds and upstream kinases. Presented at Department of Biology, University of St. Andrews.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickens, M.
Dickens, M. (2006). Control of Stress-activated protein kinase signalling pathways by scaffolds and upstream kinases. Presented at Institute of Molecular Biosciences , Massey University, Auckland.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Dickens, M.

Teaching and Supervision

Teaching Statement

194.101 Essentials of Mammalian Biology

194.241 Physiological Control Systems

194.242 Physiology of Mammalian Organ Systems

194.342 Cell Physiology

194.346 Control of Metabolism

194.350 Lifecycle Physiology

280.201 Industrial Microbiology

162.214 Biology of Microorganisms

141.111 Food Technology

228.111 Food Technology

247.392 Special Topic

Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Main Supervisor 1 0
Co-supervisor 1 2

Current Doctoral Supervision

Main Supervisor of:

  • Henry Jones - Doctor of Philosophy
    Effect of dietary keratin protein supplementation on redox regulation of muscle insulin signalling and glucose transport.

Co-supervisor of:

  • Shamirah Nabbosa - Doctor of Philosophy
    Effect of High Protein Beverage Supplementation and Resistance Training on Cardiovascular Health and Physical Function in Post-Ischemic Stroke Survivors.

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • 2020 - Sherina Holland - Doctor of Philosophy
    Interactions between MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines and neutrophils
  • 2019 - Hayley Prescott - Doctor of Philosophy
    Studies Toward Evaluating Gcn2 as a Drug Target

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