Professor Eugeni Roura
Professor

Eugeni Roura

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52526

Background

Professor Eugeni Roura is a nutritionist by background with specific research interests in digestive physiology and chemosensory science. He joined the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2010 as a member of the Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, where he leads a research team active in the interface between basic and translational research aiming at industrial and societal applications. The main research interests include gut nutrient sensing mechanisms and appetite modulation (including taste and smell) relevant to humans, pigs and poultry. Recently, the research focus has evolved to include transgenerational nutrition studies including foetal development in pigs and “in ovo” applications in chickens. In 2011 he joined the UQ School of Biomedical Sciences as an Affiliated Lecturer.

Professor Roura graduated with a Veterinary Science degree from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) before pursuing post-graduate studies in Nutrition at the University of California (UC Davis). After finishing a Post-Doctoral position at UC Davis, he started a sixteen-year industry career working for the feed and food industries in R&D and market-focused technical services, culminating as Group Deputy R&D Director of Lucta S.A.

He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and he has been invited as keynote speaker to ca 50 scientific meetings. He is currently serving as a member of the National Committee for Nutrition of the Australian Academy of Sciences, International Steering Committee of the Digestive Physiology of pigs, R&D and Education Committee of the Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd., expert evaluator of 1 international and 2 national research grant programs, and as Editorial Board of two scientific journals ("Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology" and "Animals"). Main past positions include President of the Austral-Asian Chemosensory Society, Vice-Chairperson of the Board Specialty Committee of Mongolian Medicine, Standards Australia FT-022 Committee “Sensory Analysis of Food”, Master of Dietetics Studies Engagement Committee (UQ), AgriFutures Chicken Meat Advisory Panel, and the European Feed Additive Federation (FEFANA) amongst others. In addition, Professor Eugeni Roura has been involved in several national and international conference organizing committees including acting as leading co-Chair of the Digestive Physiology of Pigs 2018.

Availability

Professor Eugeni Roura is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences Animal nutrition Animal production Biological Sciences Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Comparative physiology Nutrition and dietetics Receptors and membrane biology Zoology

Qualifications

  • Licentiate of Veterinary Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
  • Masters (Research) of Nutrition, University of California
  • Doctor of Philosophy of Nutrition, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Research interests

  • Nutrition and Digestive Physiology in humans and monogastric animals (pigs and poultry)

    The discovery, description, and understanding of the function of nutrient sensing mechanisms present in the gastrointestinal tract from the oral cavity (including taste and smell) to the hindgut. In particular, the involvement of these chemosensory mechanisms on the gut-brain axis modulating digestion, gut health, and appetite. A specific research focus has evolved around transgenerational nutrition studying the early development of the digestive system in pig and chicken embryos including “in ovo” applications.

Search Professor Eugeni Roura’s works on UQ eSpace

174 works between 1991 and 2024
All (174) Journal Article (82) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (88) Book (1)

21 - 40 of 174 works

2023

Conference Publication

Umami feed flavouring in lactating sows under heat stress stimulates litter growth irrespective of the crude protein content of the diet

Müller, M., Coba, A., Navarro, M., Tedo, G., Cottrell, J.J., Dunshea, F.R., Pluske, J.R., van Wettere, W.H.E.J. and Roura, E. (2023). Umami feed flavouring in lactating sows under heat stress stimulates litter growth irrespective of the crude protein content of the diet. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.037

Umami feed flavouring in lactating sows under heat stress stimulates litter growth irrespective of the crude protein content of the diet

2023

Conference Publication

Individual variations in starch (maltooligosaccharides) preference in piglets

Zhou, M., Navarro, M., Tan, X. and Roura, E. (2023). Individual variations in starch (maltooligosaccharides) preference in piglets. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.075

Individual variations in starch (maltooligosaccharides) preference in piglets

2023

Conference Publication

Preliminary screening of the gut microbiota of piglets for antibiotic-resistant genes using a metagenomic approach

Tran, V.H., Navarro, M., Omaleki, L., Roura, E. and Turni, C. (2023). Preliminary screening of the gut microbiota of piglets for antibiotic-resistant genes using a metagenomic approach. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.062

Preliminary screening of the gut microbiota of piglets for antibiotic-resistant genes using a metagenomic approach

2023

Conference Publication

Structure of two novel porcine bitter taste receptors

Tan, X., Lai, K.W., Zhou, M. and Roura, E. (2023). Structure of two novel porcine bitter taste receptors. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.073

Structure of two novel porcine bitter taste receptors

2023

Journal Article

The expression of amino acid and fatty acid receptors show an age-dependent pattern involving oral cavity, jejunum and lower gut sensing in broiler chickens

Cordero, Paloma, Díaz-Avilés, Francisca, Torres, Paulina, Guzmán, Miguel, Niknafs, Shahram, Roura, Eugeni and Guzmán-Pino, Sergio A. (2023). The expression of amino acid and fatty acid receptors show an age-dependent pattern involving oral cavity, jejunum and lower gut sensing in broiler chickens. Animals, 13 (19) 3120. doi: 10.3390/ani13193120

The expression of amino acid and fatty acid receptors show an age-dependent pattern involving oral cavity, jejunum and lower gut sensing in broiler chickens

2023

Journal Article

The avian taste system

Niknafs, Shahram, Navarro, Marta, Schneider, Eve R. and Roura, Eugeni (2023). The avian taste system. Frontiers in Physiology, 14 1235377, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1235377

The avian taste system

2023

Journal Article

Using recombinant superoxide dismutase to control oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract of cyclic heat-stressed pigs

Le, Hieu Huu, Zhao, Weicheng, Furness, John Barton, Shakeri, Majid, DiGiacomo, Kristy, Roura, Eugeni, Renaudeau, David, Gabler, Nicolas Kurt, Leury, Brian Joseph, Dunshea, Frank Rowland, Wijffels, Gene and Cottrell, Jeremy James (2023). Using recombinant superoxide dismutase to control oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract of cyclic heat-stressed pigs. Animals, 13 (16) 2681, 2681. doi: 10.3390/ani13162681

Using recombinant superoxide dismutase to control oxidative stress in the gastrointestinal tract of cyclic heat-stressed pigs

2023

Journal Article

Leucine (and lysine) increased plasma levels of the satiety hormone CCK, and phenylalanine of the incretin GLP-1 after oral gavages in pigs

Müller, Maximiliano, Xu, Chenjing, Navarro, Marta, Masiques, Nuria Elias, Tilbrook, Alan, van Barneveld, Robert and Roura, Eugeni (2023). Leucine (and lysine) increased plasma levels of the satiety hormone CCK, and phenylalanine of the incretin GLP-1 after oral gavages in pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 101 skad175. doi: 10.1093/jas/skad175

Leucine (and lysine) increased plasma levels of the satiety hormone CCK, and phenylalanine of the incretin GLP-1 after oral gavages in pigs

2023

Conference Publication

Increased risk of acute appendicitis linked to biological sex, ethnic background, obesity, and smoking status

Ryoo, M., Hwang, D., Wright, O., Brown, J. and Roura, E. (2023). Increased risk of acute appendicitis linked to biological sex, ethnic background, obesity, and smoking status. 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, Perth, WA Australia, 29 November – 2 December 2022. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/s0029665123001714

Increased risk of acute appendicitis linked to biological sex, ethnic background, obesity, and smoking status

2023

Conference Publication

Consumption of diets rich in animal protein, saturated fat, or sodium, and low in fibre are associated with increased risk of acute appendicitis

Ryoo, M., Hwang, D., Wright, O., Brown, J. and Roura, E. (2023). Consumption of diets rich in animal protein, saturated fat, or sodium, and low in fibre are associated with increased risk of acute appendicitis. 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, Perth, WA Australia, 29 November – 2 December 2022. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/s0029665123001258

Consumption of diets rich in animal protein, saturated fat, or sodium, and low in fibre are associated with increased risk of acute appendicitis

2023

Journal Article

In ovo delivery of oregano essential oil activated xenobiotic detoxification and lipid metabolism at hatch in broiler chickens

Niknafs, Shahram, Meijer, Mila M. Y., Khaskheli, Asad A. and Roura, Eugeni (2023). In ovo delivery of oregano essential oil activated xenobiotic detoxification and lipid metabolism at hatch in broiler chickens. Poultry Science, 103 (2) 103321, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103321

In ovo delivery of oregano essential oil activated xenobiotic detoxification and lipid metabolism at hatch in broiler chickens

2023

Conference Publication

Identification of starchy flavour attributes and characterization of distinctive sensory profiles of corn, potato, rice and waxy rice starches

Zhou, M., Keast, R. and Roura, E. (2023). Identification of starchy flavour attributes and characterization of distinctive sensory profiles of corn, potato, rice and waxy rice starches. 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, Perth, WA, Australia, 29 November-2 December 2022. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/S0029665123001878

Identification of starchy flavour attributes and characterization of distinctive sensory profiles of corn, potato, rice and waxy rice starches

2023

Journal Article

Changes in voluntary amino acid consumption in broiler chickens reflect their growth rate when given a choice

Navarro, M., Niknafs, S. and Roura, E. (2023). Changes in voluntary amino acid consumption in broiler chickens reflect their growth rate when given a choice. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 82 (OCE2) E113. doi: 10.1017/s0029665123001222

Changes in voluntary amino acid consumption in broiler chickens reflect their growth rate when given a choice

2022

Journal Article

Selective nourishing of gut microbiota with amino acids: a novel prebiotic approach?

Beaumont, Martin, Roura, Eugeni, Lambert, William, Turni, Conny, Michiels, Joris and Chalvon-Demersay, Tristan (2022). Selective nourishing of gut microbiota with amino acids: a novel prebiotic approach?. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9 1066898, 1-1770. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1066898

Selective nourishing of gut microbiota with amino acids: a novel prebiotic approach?

2022

Journal Article

An oral gavage of lysine elicited early satiation while gavages of lysine, leucine, or isoleucine prolonged satiety in pigs

Müller, Maximiliano, Xu, Chenjing, Navarro, Marta, Masiques, Nuria Elias, Tilbrook, Alan, van Barneveld, Robert and Roura, Eugeni (2022). An oral gavage of lysine elicited early satiation while gavages of lysine, leucine, or isoleucine prolonged satiety in pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 100 (12) skac361, 1-8. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac361

An oral gavage of lysine elicited early satiation while gavages of lysine, leucine, or isoleucine prolonged satiety in pigs

2022

Book Chapter

Digestive physiology and nutrition of swine

Roura, Eugeni, Müller, Maximiliano, Campbell, Roger G., Ryoo, Michael and Navarro, Marta (2022). Digestive physiology and nutrition of swine. Sustainable Swine Nutrition. (pp. 3-36) Hoboken, NJ United States: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/9781119583998.ch1

Digestive physiology and nutrition of swine

2022

Journal Article

Heat stress of gilts around farrowing causes oxygen insufficiency in the umbilical cord and reduces piglet survival

Zhao, W., Artaiz, O., Iqbal, Y., Le, H. H., DiGiacomo, K., Leury, B. J., Fothergill, L. J., Furness, J. B., Liu, F., Green, M. P., Finger, B. J., Navarro, M., Roura, E., D'Souza, D. N., Dunshea, F. R., Plush, K. J. and Cottrell, J. J. (2022). Heat stress of gilts around farrowing causes oxygen insufficiency in the umbilical cord and reduces piglet survival. animal, 16 (11) 100668, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100668

Heat stress of gilts around farrowing causes oxygen insufficiency in the umbilical cord and reduces piglet survival

2022

Journal Article

Nutritional knowledge of the Mediterranean diet is associated with positive attitudes and adherence in a non-Mediterranean multi-ethnic society

Aridi, Yasmine S., Walker, Jacqueline L., Roura, Eugeni and Wright, Olivia R. L. (2022). Nutritional knowledge of the Mediterranean diet is associated with positive attitudes and adherence in a non-Mediterranean multi-ethnic society. Dietetics, 1 (2), 124-136. doi: 10.3390/dietetics1020013

Nutritional knowledge of the Mediterranean diet is associated with positive attitudes and adherence in a non-Mediterranean multi-ethnic society

2022

Journal Article

Transcriptomic analysis of the porcine gut in response to heat stress and dietary soluble fiber from beet pulp

Kim, Minju, Roura, Eugeni, Choi, Yohan and Kim, Joeun (2022). Transcriptomic analysis of the porcine gut in response to heat stress and dietary soluble fiber from beet pulp. Genes, 13 (8) 1456, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/genes13081456

Transcriptomic analysis of the porcine gut in response to heat stress and dietary soluble fiber from beet pulp

2022

Journal Article

Alanine-specific appetite in slow growing chickens is associated with impaired glucose transport and TCA cycle

Niknafs, Shahram, Fortes, Marina R. S., Cho, Sungbo, Black, John L. and Roura, Eugeni (2022). Alanine-specific appetite in slow growing chickens is associated with impaired glucose transport and TCA cycle. BMC Genomics, 23 (1) 393, 393. doi: 10.1186/s12864-022-08625-2

Alanine-specific appetite in slow growing chickens is associated with impaired glucose transport and TCA cycle

Current funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    APL Industry Placement Program
    Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Sustainable Precision Feeding in Broiler Chickens in Australia
    AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program Nutrition, Gut Health and Environment Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Eliminating pig tail removal to improve welfare and industry sustainability (CRC-P administered by Sunpork)
    Sunpork Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    How to make antibiotics in pig feed redundant, naturally
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2025
    Peri-hatching strategies to endure enteric pathogens in broilers
    Agrifutures Australia
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2020 - 2024
    Heat tolerance (HT) in lactating sows: dietary strategies, metabolic biomarkers and microbiome signature
    Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Dietary fibre and gut nutrient sensing in chickens
    AB VISTA
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Effects of new bacillus strain probiotics and natural biosurfactants on broiler chickens production
    Bioproton Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Improved feed efficiency in finishing pigs using bitter extracts
    Lucta S A
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Improved feed efficiency, control of P2 back fat and maintenance of pork quality in finishing pigs fed bitter extracts
    Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Validating the transmission of crina® essential oils from sow to piglet
    DSM Nutritional Products
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2021
    Slowing down intestinal passage rate to decrease diarrhoea risk and ZnO dependence in weaned piglets
    Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Automated immunohistochemical analysis module for the expansion of research and clinical diagnostic capabilities at UQ
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Non-MSG umami taste feed additives to enhance appetite in piglets
    Lucta S A
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Dietary manipulation of pork fatty acid profiles to develop an Australian pork flavour signature relevant to Chinese consumers
    Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2018
    Dietary Supplements to Prevent Heat Stress
    DSM Nutritional Products
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Amino acid balance and appetition in weaners
    Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Genetic parameters for health, survival, immune competence, post-weaning growth and disease resistance of pigs
    CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2018
    Dietary manipulation of nutrient specific appetite in broiler chickens
    Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Dietary Na reduction, food hedonism and hypertension
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Development of a commercial appetite enhancer for piglets
    CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    Dietary manipulation of feed intake in pigs by bitter compounds
    Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Sensory specific liking and satiety induced by pig meat flavours
    CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Nutrient specific appetite and vicious pecking in hens: nutrient specific appetite as a driver for feather pecking in hens
    Australian Egg Corporation Limited
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    Use of plant derived compounds to condition piglet intake at weaning and reduce post-weaning use of therapeutics
    CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    ResTeach Funding 2012 0.1 FTE School of Biomedical Sciences
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Peripheral chemosensing and feed intake in pigs
    CRC for High Integrity Australian Pork
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Development of a pig model for gastrointestinal chemosensing mechanisms
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Peripheral chemosensing and feed intake in pigs
    CRC for an Internationally Competitive Pork Industry
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Laboratory for molecular and cell biology studies applied to human nutrition
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Eugeni Roura is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Eugeni Roura directly for media enquiries about:

  • Chemosensing - smell, taste
  • Chickens
  • Digestion physiology - mammals
  • Feed and food intake
  • Food volatiles
  • Human nutrition
  • Mammalian digestion
  • Nutrition
  • Pig models
  • Pigs
  • Smell and taste biology
  • Taste and smell biology
  • Taste receptors TR

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