Associate Professor Frederik Steyn
Associate Professor

Frederik Steyn

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53132

Background

Associate Professor Steyn is a leading expert in neurodegenerative disease research, specializing in the metabolic and physiological aspects of Motor Neurone Disease (MND). He currently directs a comprehensive translational research program at the University of Queensland, focusing on the interplay between metabolism and disease progression in MND, and leads key projects investigating the impact of metabolic dysfunction, appetite dysregulation, and hypermetabolism on patient outcomes. His work prioritizes the integration of pre-clinical models, clinical studies, and innovative digital health technologies to advance understanding of the heterogeneity in MND, patient care and therapeutic development.

Associate Professor Steyn’s career began with detailed investigations into the hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis, growth, and reproduction. He developed industry-standard methodologies for evaluating hormone release patterns in rodent models, particularly concerning growth hormone regulation. In 2015, he transitioned to focus on neurodegenerative diseases, establishing a research platform at UQ that has significantly advanced the analysis of metabolic phenotypes in MND.

His current research projects include the MEND-MND study, which explores how altered energy metabolism influences disease progression, and the EATT4MND study, which examines the consequences of appetite loss and impaired body weight regulation on disease outcomes. Through collaboration with industry partners, he is also developing novel therapeutic strategies and refining wearable digital health technologies for precise, real-time monitoring of disease progression, including the validation of actigraphy-based measures as clinical trial biomarkers.

Availability

Associate Professor Frederik Steyn is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Clinical sciences Zoology

Qualifications

  • Doctoral Diploma, University of Otago

Search Professor Frederik Steyn’s works on UQ eSpace

118 works between 2007 and 2025
All (118) Journal Article (101) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (10) Other Outputs (2)

61 - 80 of 118 works

2018

Journal Article

Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease

Tracey, Timothy J., Steyn, Frederik J., Wolvetang, Ernst J. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2018). Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, 11 10, 10. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00010

Neuronal Lipid Metabolism: Multiple Pathways Driving Functional Outcomes in Health and Disease

2018

Journal Article

Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction

McCombe, Pamela A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Guo, Christine Cong, Fazlollahi, Amir, Bollmann, Saskia, Wang, Liting, Hu, Xintao, Barth, Markus, Salvado, Olivier, Davis, Mark, Ceslis, Amelia, Robinson, Gail, Henderson, Robert D. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2018). Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 90 (8), 952-954. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-318823

Patient with ALS with a novel TBK1 mutation, widespread brain involvement, behaviour changes and metabolic dysfunction

2017

Journal Article

17α-estradiol acts through hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin expressing neurons to reduce feeding behavior

Steyn, Frederik J., Ngo, Shyuan T., Chen, Vicky Ping, Bailey-Downs, Lora C., Xie, Teresa Y., Ghadami, Martin, Brimijoin, Stephen, Freeman, Willard M., Rubinstein, Marcelo, Low, Malcolm J. and Stout, Michael B. (2017). 17α-estradiol acts through hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin expressing neurons to reduce feeding behavior. Aging Cell, 17 (1) e12703, 1-6. doi: 10.1111/acel.12703

17α-estradiol acts through hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin expressing neurons to reduce feeding behavior

2017

Journal Article

Endocrine rhythms of growth hormone release: insights from animal studies

Steyn, Frederik J. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2017). Endocrine rhythms of growth hormone release: insights from animal studies. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 31 (6), 521-533. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2017.10.009

Endocrine rhythms of growth hormone release: insights from animal studies

2017

Journal Article

Development of new gonadotropin-releasing hormone-modified dendrimer platforms with direct antiproliferative and gonadotropin releasing activity

Varamini, Pegah, Rafiee, Amirreza, Giddam, Ashwini Kumar, Mansfeld, Friederike M., Steyn, Frederik and Toth, Istvan (2017). Development of new gonadotropin-releasing hormone-modified dendrimer platforms with direct antiproliferative and gonadotropin releasing activity. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 60 (20), 8309-8320. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01771

Development of new gonadotropin-releasing hormone-modified dendrimer platforms with direct antiproliferative and gonadotropin releasing activity

2017

Journal Article

Exploring targets and therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current insights into dietary interventions

Ngo, Shyuan T., Mi, Jia D., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2017). Exploring targets and therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current insights into dietary interventions. Degenerative Neurological and Neuromuscular Disease, 7, 95-108. doi: 10.2147/DNND.S120607

Exploring targets and therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: current insights into dietary interventions

2017

Journal Article

Predictions of resting energy expenditure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are greatly impacted by reductions in fat free mass

Ioannides, Z. A., Steyn, F. J., Henderson, R. D., McCombe, P. A. and Ngo, S. T. (2017). Predictions of resting energy expenditure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are greatly impacted by reductions in fat free mass. Cogent Medicine, 4 (1), 1343000. doi: 10.1080/2331205X.2017.1343000

Predictions of resting energy expenditure in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are greatly impacted by reductions in fat free mass

2017

Journal Article

Restraint stress increases prolactin-mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 in the hypothalamus and adrenal cortex in the male mouse

Kirk, S. E., Xie, T. Y., Steyn, F. J., Grattan, D. R. and Bunn, S. J. (2017). Restraint stress increases prolactin-mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 in the hypothalamus and adrenal cortex in the male mouse. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 29 (6) JNE12477. doi: 10.1111/jne.12477

Restraint stress increases prolactin-mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 in the hypothalamus and adrenal cortex in the male mouse

2017

Journal Article

New gonadotropin-releasing hormone glycolipids with direct antiproliferative activity and gonadotropin-releasing potency

Varamini, Pegah, Mansfeld, Friederike M., Giddam, Ashwini Kumar, Steyn, Frederik and Toth, Istvan (2017). New gonadotropin-releasing hormone glycolipids with direct antiproliferative activity and gonadotropin-releasing potency. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 521 (1-2), 327-336. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.02.054

New gonadotropin-releasing hormone glycolipids with direct antiproliferative activity and gonadotropin-releasing potency

2017

Journal Article

Anthropometric measures are not accurate predictors of fat mass in ALS

Ioannides, Zara A., Steyn, Frederik J., Henderson, Robert D., Mccombe, Pamela A. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2017). Anthropometric measures are not accurate predictors of fat mass in ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 18 (7-8), 486-491. doi: 10.1080/21678421.2017.1317811

Anthropometric measures are not accurate predictors of fat mass in ALS

2017

Journal Article

Non-invasive assessment of altered activity following restraint in mice using an automated physiological monitoring system

Spiers, Jereme G., Chen, Hsiao-Jou Cortina, Steyn, Frederik J., Lavidis, Nickolas A., Woodruff, Trent M. and Lee, John D. (2017). Non-invasive assessment of altered activity following restraint in mice using an automated physiological monitoring system. Stress, 20 (1), 59-67. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2016.1276898

Non-invasive assessment of altered activity following restraint in mice using an automated physiological monitoring system

2017

Conference Publication

Comparison of Faecal Microbe Diversity Between Motor Neurone Disease (Mnd) and Control Participants

Steyn, Frederik J., Restuadi, Restuadi, Ioannides, Zara, Ngo, Shyuan T., McRae, Allan, Wray, Naomi R., Henderson, Robert and McCombe, Pamela (2017). Comparison of Faecal Microbe Diversity Between Motor Neurone Disease (Mnd) and Control Participants. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Association-of-Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast, Australia, 9-12 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: BMJ. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.81

Comparison of Faecal Microbe Diversity Between Motor Neurone Disease (Mnd) and Control Participants

2017

Journal Article

17α-estradiol alleviates age-related metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction in male mice without inducing feminization

Stout, Michael B. , Steyn, Frederik J. , Jurczak, Michael J. , Camporez, Joao-Paulo G., Zhu, Yi , Hawse, John R., Jurk, Diana, Palmer, Allyson K. , Xu, Ming, Pirtskhalava, Tamar, Evans, Glenda L., De Souza Santos, Roberta, Frank, Aaron P. , White, Thomas A., Monroe, David G. , Singh, Ravinder J., Casaclang-Verzosa, Grace, Miller, Jordan D. , Clegg, Deborah J., LeBrasseur, Nathan K., Von Zglinicki, Thomas, Shulman, Gerald I. , Tchkonia, Tamara and Kirkland, James L. (2017). 17α-estradiol alleviates age-related metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction in male mice without inducing feminization. Journals of Gerontology, Series A, 72 (1), 3-15. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glv309

17α-estradiol alleviates age-related metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction in male mice without inducing feminization

2017

Conference Publication

Hypermetabolism in Motor Neurone Disease Is Associated with a Greater Functional Decline But Not Weight Loss

Ioannides, Zara A., Ngo, Shyuan T., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Steyn, Frederik J. (2017). Hypermetabolism in Motor Neurone Disease Is Associated with a Greater Functional Decline But Not Weight Loss. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Association-of-Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast, Australia, May 09-12, 2017. LONDON: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.18

Hypermetabolism in Motor Neurone Disease Is Associated with a Greater Functional Decline But Not Weight Loss

2017

Conference Publication

The risk of overestimating fatness in motor neurone disease: longitudinal assessments of body composition

Ioannides, Zara A., Steyn, Frederik J., Henderson, Robert D., McCombe, Pamela A. and Ngo, Shyuan T. (2017). The risk of overestimating fatness in motor neurone disease: longitudinal assessments of body composition. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Association-of-Neurologists (ANZAN), Gold Coast, Australia, 9-12 May 2017. London, United Kingdom: B M J Group. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316074.35

The risk of overestimating fatness in motor neurone disease: longitudinal assessments of body composition

2016

Journal Article

Hyperphagia in male melanocortin 4 receptor deficient mice promotes growth independently of growth hormone

Tan, H. Y., Steyn, F. J., Huang, L., Cowley, M., Veldhuis, J. D. and Chen, C. (2016). Hyperphagia in male melanocortin 4 receptor deficient mice promotes growth independently of growth hormone. Journal of Physiology, 594 (24), 7309-7326. doi: 10.1113/JP272770

Hyperphagia in male melanocortin 4 receptor deficient mice promotes growth independently of growth hormone

2016

Journal Article

Pulse and surge profiles of luteinizing hormone secretion in the mouse

Czieselsky, Katja, Prescott, Mel, Porteous, Robert, Campos, Pauline, Clarkson, Jenny, Steyn, Frederik J., Campbell, Rebecca E. and Herbison, Allan E. (2016). Pulse and surge profiles of luteinizing hormone secretion in the mouse. Endocrinology, 157 (12), 4794-4802. doi: 10.1210/en.2016-1351

Pulse and surge profiles of luteinizing hormone secretion in the mouse

2016

Journal Article

Transgenic adipose-specific expression of the nuclear receptor RORα drives a striking shift in fat distribution and impairs glycemic control

Tuong, Zewen Kelvin, Fitzsimmons, Rebecca, Wang, Shu-Ching Mary, Oh, Tae Gyu, Lau, Patrick, Steyn, Frederik, Thomas, Gethin and Muscat, George E. O. (2016). Transgenic adipose-specific expression of the nuclear receptor RORα drives a striking shift in fat distribution and impairs glycemic control. EBioMedicine, 11, 101-117. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2016.08.027

Transgenic adipose-specific expression of the nuclear receptor RORα drives a striking shift in fat distribution and impairs glycemic control

2016

Journal Article

Altered metabolic homeostasis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: mechanisms of energy imbalance and contribution to disease progression

Ioannides, Z. A., Ngo, S. T., Henderson, R. D., McCombe, P. A. and Steyn, F. J. (2016). Altered metabolic homeostasis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: mechanisms of energy imbalance and contribution to disease progression. Neurodegenerative Diseases, 15 (5-6), 382-397. doi: 10.1159/000446502

Altered metabolic homeostasis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: mechanisms of energy imbalance and contribution to disease progression

2016

Journal Article

The complement C3a receptor contributes to melanoma tumorigenesis by inhibiting neutrophil and CD4+ T cell responses

Nabizadeh, Jamileh A., Manthey, Helga D., Steyn, Frederik J., Chen, Weiyu, Widiapradja, Alexander, Akhir, Fazrena N. Md, Boyle, Glen M., Taylor, Stephen M., Woodruff, Trent M. and Rolfe, Barbara E. (2016). The complement C3a receptor contributes to melanoma tumorigenesis by inhibiting neutrophil and CD4+ T cell responses. Journal of Immunology, 196 (11), 4783-4792. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600210

The complement C3a receptor contributes to melanoma tumorigenesis by inhibiting neutrophil and CD4+ T cell responses

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Deciphering the role of muscle-derived extracellular vesicles in ALS pathology
    Cure for MND Foundation - Discovery Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2027
    Using the spatiotemporal dynamics signature of molecular pathology to decipher disease heterogeneity in ALS
    Cure for MND Foundation - Impact Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2026
    Targeted wearable robotic exoskeletons to improve movement in patients with ALS (Assistive Technology Grants)
    Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA)
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Intramuscular allosteric agonism of purinergic P2X7 receptor as a pharmacological approach to enhance skeletal muscle regeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (FightMND administered by IRFMN)
    IRCCS - Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    From the nucleus to the powerhouse: investigating how TDP-43-mitochondrial interactions wreak havoc in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Untangling mechanisms of energy impairment across the ALS-FTD spectrum of disease
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Spatial Transcriptomics studies on human tissues
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2022
    Targeting inflammasome-driven neuropathology and motor neuron death in MND using a clinically approved cancer drug.
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Linda Rynalski Bridge Funding Grant
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2023
    Preclinical validation of macimorelin, a ghrelin mimetic, as treatment amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    MND in space and time: deciphering the spatio-temporal landscape of cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous drivers of motor neuron death in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Macimorelin as a treatment for ALS/MND
    Aeterna Zentaris GmbH
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Targeting NAT1 to improve metabolism and slow disease progression in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc Innovator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    N-acetyltransferase 1, a modifier of disease outcome in patients with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Targeting inflammasome-driven neuropathology and motor neuron death in MND using a clinically approved cancer drug.
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Tipping the Scales on MND: Preclinical testing of a compound with multiple actions to slow disease progression in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Investigating the immunometabolic nature of motor neurone disease (MND): a study linking metabolism, inflammation, and clinical outcomes in MND patients
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Development of biomarkers for loss of fat free mass and disease progression in patients with Motor Neurone Disease
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Fine tuning metabolic flux: Modulating substrate oxidation as a therapeutic strategy in motor neuron disease (MND)
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Safety and tolerability of Trimetazidine for the treatment of ALS
    Cure for MND Foundation - Drug Development Grants
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    MEND MND - RBWH support
    Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Point of care assessment of venous acid-base balance and creatinine as markers for disease progression in patients with MND
    Cure for MND Foundation - Impact Grants
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Using single cell RNA-sequencing of induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurones to identify novel disease mechanisms
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Investigating endocrine causes and consequence of loss of appetite in MND patients
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    EATT for MND: Exposing mechanisms of impaired appetite regulation in MND
    Wesley Medical Research Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Use of Point-of-Care (PoC) testing to improve respiratory management and monitor disease progression in ALS: A pilot study
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Cell-free DNA and ALS; insight into disease mechanisms and progression
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Assessment of metabolic health in neurodegeneration: studies in motor neurone disease (MND)
    Wesley Medical Research Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Metabolic exploration in neurodegenerative disease (MEND): synergy between derangements in systemic and muscle metabolism in MND
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Re-evaluation of hypermetabolism and the assessment of endogenous adipose as a modifier of ALS/MND progression (MNDRIA Jenny & Graham Lang Collaboration Travel Grant 2016)
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2019
    Bioenergetic deficit in neurodegeneration: studies in motor neuron disease (MND)
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Metabolic and gut dynamics in MND: Identifying novel strategies to meet energy needs in patients
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Investigating the consequences of increased fat catabolism in motor neurone disease (MND)
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Investigating the causes and consequences of growth hormone dysfunction in motor neuron disease
    Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Defining the role of the MC4R in modulating GH secretion
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2010
    The role of cannabinoids and ghrelin in regulating appetite through leptin
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Availability

Associate Professor Frederik Steyn is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

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