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Dr Nick Hudson
Dr

Nick Hudson

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 54601 521

Overview

Background

Nick is interested in fostering efficient, environmentally friendly animal production enterprises. He uses the data and capabilities provided by modern 'omics technologies to help improve breeding decisions and to inform other types of 'on farm' intervention.

Nick has a parallel interest in the development, physiology, metabolism and conservation of native Australian species, particularly frogs and butterflies.

Nick is a metabolic biochemist by training with research expertise in a) the handling and biological interpretation of large, complex data sets b) molecular technologies c) mitochondrial physiology and d) metabolic flux.

Nick enjoys teaching various aspects of biochemistry and molecular biology to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. He highlights the main themes using the comparative method and illustrates their importance through applied examples from agriculture and other areas of human endeavour.

Before taking his current position as a Teaching and Research academic in the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability (AGFS) Nick worked for the CSIRO in a research intensive multi-disciplinary Systems Biology group.

Through this group he helped develop and apply bioinformatic methods that used metabolite, protein, RNA and DNA biotech to understand, model and predict phenotypes of commercial importance in cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens.

A research highlight from this time was the co-invention of a universal method for inferring causal molecules from genome-wide gene expression data (Hudson et al 2009. PLoS Comp Biol e1000382). This method has been applied across a diverse range of model systems including human kidney cancer and commercial traits in various agricultural species.

Following an undergraduate degree in Animal Biology at the University of St.Andrews, Nick was awarded his PhD through what was then the Zoology department of the University of Queensland, after travelling from England on a Britain-Australia Society funded Northcote Scholarship.

Availability

Dr Nick Hudson is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Productive, efficient farm animals

  • Wildlife biology of butterflies and frogs

  • Mitochondrial physiology

  • Metabolism

  • Flux analysis

  • Agricultural resource utilisation

Research impacts

Nick is an active science communicator whose research has been disseminated through print, radio and television media.

He hopes to make an impact on agricultural resource utilisation through a better understanding of production animal feed efficiency, and to sustainable agriculture through an understanding of agro-ecology and wildlife biology.

Nick has a very active national and international network of collaborators from academe, government agencies and industry.

This collaborative network has provided stimulating insights into industrial problems and how novel technologies and innovative concepts may inspire creative solutions.

Works

Search Professor Nick Hudson’s works on UQ eSpace

93 works between 2000 and 2024

1 - 20 of 93 works

Featured

2024

Journal Article

Dramatic genome-wide reprogramming of mRNA in hypometabolic muscle

Hudson, Nicholas J., Cramp, Rebecca L. and Franklin, Craig E. (2024). Dramatic genome-wide reprogramming of mRNA in hypometabolic muscle. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 272 110952, 110952. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2024.110952

Dramatic genome-wide reprogramming of mRNA in hypometabolic muscle

Featured

2020

Journal Article

Unravelling student evaluations of courses and teachers

Reverter, Antonio, Martinez, Cristina, Currey, Phil, van Bommel, Severine and Hudson, Nicholas J. (2020). Unravelling student evaluations of courses and teachers. Cogent Education, 7 (1) 1771830, 1771830. doi: 10.1080/2331186X.2020.1771830

Unravelling student evaluations of courses and teachers

Featured

2014

Journal Article

Information compression exploits patterns of genome composition to discriminate populations and highlight regions of evolutionary interest

Hudson, Nicholas J., Porto-Neto, Laercio R., Kijas, James, McWilliam, Sean, Taft, Ryan J. and Reverter, Antonio (2014). Information compression exploits patterns of genome composition to discriminate populations and highlight regions of evolutionary interest. BMC Bioinformatics, 15 (Article ID.66) 66. doi: 10.1186/1471-2105-15-66

Information compression exploits patterns of genome composition to discriminate populations and highlight regions of evolutionary interest

Featured

2009

Journal Article

A differential wiring analysis of expression data correctly identifies the gene containing the causal mutation

Hudson, Nicholas J., Reverter, Antonio and Dalrymple, Brian P. (2009). A differential wiring analysis of expression data correctly identifies the gene containing the causal mutation. PLoS Computational Biology, 5 (5) e1000382, e1000382. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000382

A differential wiring analysis of expression data correctly identifies the gene containing the causal mutation

2024

Journal Article

Red pandas on the move: weather and disturbance effects on habitat specialists

Bista, Damber, Baxter, Greg S., Hudson, Nicholas J., Lama, Sonam Tashi, Weerman, Janno and Murray, Peter J. (2024). Red pandas on the move: weather and disturbance effects on habitat specialists. Wildlife Biology. doi: 10.1002/wlb3.01384

Red pandas on the move: weather and disturbance effects on habitat specialists

2024

Journal Article

Impact of crude protein and phosphorus deficiencies on liver mitochondrial content and transcriptome in growing Merino wethers

Fernandez, Elmer, Hudson, Nicholas, Innes, David, Quigley, Simon and Poppi, Dennis (2024). Impact of crude protein and phosphorus deficiencies on liver mitochondrial content and transcriptome in growing Merino wethers. Journal of Animal Science, 102 (Supplement_3) skae234.437, 384-385. doi: 10.1093/jas/skae234.437

Impact of crude protein and phosphorus deficiencies on liver mitochondrial content and transcriptome in growing Merino wethers

2024

Journal Article

An association weight matrix identified biological pathways associated with bull fertility traits in a multi‐breed population

Tan, Wei Liang Andre, Hudson, Nicholas James, Porto Neto, Laercio Ribeiro, Reverter, Antonio, Afonso, Juliano and Fortes, Marina Rufino Salinas (2024). An association weight matrix identified biological pathways associated with bull fertility traits in a multi‐breed population. Animal Genetics, 55 (4), 495-510. doi: 10.1111/age.13431

An association weight matrix identified biological pathways associated with bull fertility traits in a multi‐breed population

2024

Journal Article

How low can you go? Broiler breast muscle possesses a mitochondrial content of just 2%

Soumeh, Elham A., Bottje, Walter G. and Hudson, Nicholas J. (2024). How low can you go? Broiler breast muscle possesses a mitochondrial content of just 2%. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica A: Animal Sciences, 73 (1-2), 22-27. doi: 10.1080/09064702.2023.2262470

How low can you go? Broiler breast muscle possesses a mitochondrial content of just 2%

2023

Journal Article

Corrigendum to: Phenotypic variation in residual feed intake and relationship with body composition traits and methane emissions in growing wether lambs

Bond, J. J., Hudson, N. J., Khan, U. H., Dougherty, H. C., Pickford, Z., Mackenzie, S., Barzegar, S., Santos, G. A., Woodgate, S., Vercoe, P. and Oddy, V. H. (2023). Corrigendum to: Phenotypic variation in residual feed intake and relationship with body composition traits and methane emissions in growing wether lambs. Animal Production Science, 63 (17), 1804-1804. doi: 10.1071/an22425_co

Corrigendum to: Phenotypic variation in residual feed intake and relationship with body composition traits and methane emissions in growing wether lambs

2023

Journal Article

Red panda tourism gives hope in the mid‐mountain range of the Eastern Himalaya, yet inappropriate practices may lead to failure

Bista, Damber, Baxter, Greg S., Hudson, Nicholas J. and Murray, Peter John (2023). Red panda tourism gives hope in the mid‐mountain range of the Eastern Himalaya, yet inappropriate practices may lead to failure. Conservation Science and Practice, 5 (11) e13036. doi: 10.1111/csp2.13036

Red panda tourism gives hope in the mid‐mountain range of the Eastern Himalaya, yet inappropriate practices may lead to failure

2023

Journal Article

Differential voluntary feed intake and whole transcriptome profiling in the hypothalamus of young sheep offered crude protein and phosphorus deficient diets

Innes, D. J., Hudson, N. J., Anderson, S. T., Poppi, D. P. and Quigley, S. P. (2023). Differential voluntary feed intake and whole transcriptome profiling in the hypothalamus of young sheep offered crude protein and phosphorus deficient diets. Animal, 17 (10) 100973, 100973. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100973

Differential voluntary feed intake and whole transcriptome profiling in the hypothalamus of young sheep offered crude protein and phosphorus deficient diets

2023

Journal Article

Phenotypic variation in residual feed intake and relationship with body composition traits and methane emissions in growing wether lambs

Bond, J. J., Hudson, N. J., Khan, U. H., Dougherty, H. C., Pickford, Z., Mackenzie, S., Barzegar, S., Santos, G. A., Woodgate, S., Vercoe, P. and Oddy, V. H. (2023). Phenotypic variation in residual feed intake and relationship with body composition traits and methane emissions in growing wether lambs. Animal Production Science, 63 (17), 1705-1715. doi: 10.1071/an22425

Phenotypic variation in residual feed intake and relationship with body composition traits and methane emissions in growing wether lambs

2023

Conference Publication

Are production measures a good indication of pregnancy success?

McCosker, Kieren, Boulton, Alana, Dekkers, Milou, Ross, Elizabeth, Hudson, Nick and Fortes, Marina (2023). Are production measures a good indication of pregnancy success?. North Australian Beef Research Update Conference, Darwin, NT Australia, 22-25 August 2023.

Are production measures a good indication of pregnancy success?

2023

Journal Article

‘Spikeopathy’ part 1: COVID-19 spike protein is pathogenic, from both virus and vaccine mRNA

Parry, Peter I., Lefringhausen, Astrid, Turni, Conny, Neil, Christopher J., Cosford, Robyn, Hudson, Nicholas J. and Gillespie, Julian (2023). ‘Spikeopathy’ part 1: COVID-19 spike protein is pathogenic, from both virus and vaccine mRNA. Biomedicines, 11 (8) 2287, 1-50. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11082287

‘Spikeopathy’ part 1: COVID-19 spike protein is pathogenic, from both virus and vaccine mRNA

2023

Journal Article

Multi-breed genomic predictions and functional variants for fertility of tropical bulls

Porto-Neto, Laercio R., Alexandre, Pamela A., Hudson, Nicholas J., Bertram, John, McWilliam, Sean M., Tan, Andre W. L., Fortes, Marina R. S., McGowan, Michael R., Hayes, Ben J. and Reverter, Antonio (2023). Multi-breed genomic predictions and functional variants for fertility of tropical bulls. PLoS One, 18 (1) e0279398, 1-19. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279398

Multi-breed genomic predictions and functional variants for fertility of tropical bulls

2022

Journal Article

Taking a whole-of-system approach to food packaging reduction

Chakori, Sabrina, Russell, Richards, Smith, Carl, Hudson, Nicholas J. and Abdul Aziz, Ammar (2022). Taking a whole-of-system approach to food packaging reduction. Journal of Cleaner Production, 338 130632, 130632. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130632

Taking a whole-of-system approach to food packaging reduction

2022

Journal Article

Seasonal resource selection of an arboreal habitat specialist in a human-dominated landscape: a case study using red panda

Bista, Damber, Baxter, Greg S., Hudson, Nicholas J. and Murray, Peter J. (2022). Seasonal resource selection of an arboreal habitat specialist in a human-dominated landscape: a case study using red panda. Current Zoology, 69 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1093/cz/zoac014

Seasonal resource selection of an arboreal habitat specialist in a human-dominated landscape: a case study using red panda

2021

Journal Article

Movement and dispersal of a habitat specialist in human-dominated landscapes: a case study of the red panda

Bista, Damber, Baxter, Greg S., Hudson, Nicholas J., Lama, Sonam Tashi, Weerman, Janno and Murray, Peter John (2021). Movement and dispersal of a habitat specialist in human-dominated landscapes: a case study of the red panda. Movement Ecology, 9 (1) 62, 62. doi: 10.1186/s40462-021-00297-z

Movement and dispersal of a habitat specialist in human-dominated landscapes: a case study of the red panda

2021

Journal Article

Effect of disturbances and habitat fragmentation on an arboreal habitat specialist mammal using GPS telemetry: a case of the red panda

Bista, Damber, Baxter, Greg S., Hudson, Nicholas J., Lama, Sonam Tashi and Murray, Peter John (2021). Effect of disturbances and habitat fragmentation on an arboreal habitat specialist mammal using GPS telemetry: a case of the red panda. Landscape Ecology, 37 (3), 1-15. doi: 10.1007/s10980-021-01357-w

Effect of disturbances and habitat fragmentation on an arboreal habitat specialist mammal using GPS telemetry: a case of the red panda

2021

Journal Article

First record of Bengal Tiger, Panthera tigris tigris Linnaeus, 1758 (Felidae), in eastern Nepal

Bista, Damber, Lama, Sonam Tashi, Shrestha, Janam, Rumba, Yam Bahadur, Weerman, Janno, Thapa, Madhuri, Acharya, Haribhadra, Sherpa, Ang Phuri, Hudson, Nicholas J., Baxter, Greg S. and Murray, Peter John (2021). First record of Bengal Tiger, Panthera tigris tigris Linnaeus, 1758 (Felidae), in eastern Nepal. Check List, 17 (5), 1249-1253. doi: 10.15560/17.5.1249

First record of Bengal Tiger, Panthera tigris tigris Linnaeus, 1758 (Felidae), in eastern Nepal

Funding

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Innate immune response to Ross River virus infection in horses
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    LESTR Low Emission Saliva Test for Ruminants
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2025
    How do brains become lateralised? (ARC Discovery Project administered by Macquarie University)
    Macquarie University
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2019 - 2020
    Understanding the Mechanisms of West Nile virus (WNV) induced lesions in the Australian saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Increased pasture intake and reduced supplement requirements of sheep/cattle
    Meat & Livestock Australia
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    The gateway to selecting for nutrient efficient livestock - ''Better doers'' (Meat and Livestock Australia grant administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries)
    New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Towards a high-throughput metabolic phenotyping capability for production animals and plants
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Nick Hudson is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Mitochondria and livestock feed efficiency

    Some production animals utilise feed more efficiently for production than others, while some are able to maintain muscle mass, liveweight and productivity under periods of nutritional and environmental stress.

    Why is this? The successful applicant will focus their research on the biology of the mitochondria and its role in determining metabolic efficiency in cattle.

  • Frog and butterfly ecology

    Projects regarding the fundamental biology and ecology of both frogs and butterflies are available.

    Fieldwork will be based at Hiddenvale Research Station (https://hiddenvalewildlife.uq.edu.au/). There is a lot of scope for flexibility in project development so if you have any ideas - or even just a passion for - these two groups of animals please get in touch.

  • Metabolism across species

    Are you interested in growth, development and metabolism? Students are encouraged to get in touch with any of their own ideas in the broad area of animal biology. Projects can be developed collaboratively with other academics within and beyond AGFS so there is lots of scope for diversity and inter-disciplinary research.

    We encourage students to develope their own ideas and projects. In our lab we use a range of metabolic and molecular tools such as gene expression, metabolic flux analysis and SNP genotyping that can be readily applied across species and biological circumstances.

    You can learn how to handle and quantitate DNA and RNA, run an agarose gel, estimate gene expression by quantitative PCR and phenotype animal and plant cells in the state of the art XFe24 Flux analyser.

    Remember, a new discovery is just round the corner!

  • The interface between genomes and diet in ruminant farm animals

    Livestock products provide a nutritious source of protein (and a range of other molecules including bioavailable iron and vitamin B12). More efficient production may be required to meet not only increasing demand but also greater awareness over welfare issues and environmental footprint.

    Breeds and individual cattle and sheep can show substantial differences in how they respond to diets, with some animals more productive than others. The proposed research will investigate which parts of the genome underpin productivity in cattle and sheep.

    Biochemical pathways relevant to the new science of nutrigenomics will be uncovered primarily through investigation of genome-wide gene expression data sets available for metabolically important tissues such as muscle, fat and liver.

    Cutting edge bioinformatics tools including the latest approaches from network science will be deployed. This knowledge may help us understand why some animals fare better than others under given nutritional circumstances and perhaps inform decisions regarding diet formulation.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cellular oxidative damage and ruminant feed efficiency

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Marina Fortes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Genome wide association and machine learning approaches for the understanding of the genetic basis of bull fertility traits.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Marina Fortes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Using Systems Biology to understand the genetic basis of bull fertility phenotypes and their covariance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Marina Fortes

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Nick Hudson directly for media enquiries about:

  • feed efficiency
  • flux analysis
  • functional genomics
  • mitochondria
  • muscle growth
  • production animals

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au