Professor Eugeni Roura
Professor

Eugeni Roura

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52526

Background

Professor Eugeni Roura is a nutritionist with interests in digestive physiology and gut health, chemosensory science (including taste and smell) and transgenerational mechanisms relevant to chickens, pigs and humans. Eugeni holds a Veterinary and PhD degrees from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a MPhil and post-doctoral appointments at the University of California (Davis). He developed a sixteen-year career in the feed and food industries before joining The University of Queensland (2010) where he currently leads the Nutrition & Chemosensory Science Group. The main current research areas in animal science include appetite modulation in chickens and pigs, nutrition interventions to boost embryonic/foetal development (including “in ovo”), and strategies to improve sustainability of chicken meat, egg and pork production. In human nutrition the focus is around food allergies and appendicitis. In 2011, Eugeni joined the UQ School of Biomedical Sciences as an Affiliated Lecturer. Since 2010 he has graduated 20 PhD students in Australia, published more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, and has been invited as keynote speaker to more than 50 national and international scientific meetings. He is currently serving as President of the World’s Poultry Science Association (Australia branch), Director of the AgriFutures Chicken Meat Consortium, and member of the National Committee for Nutrition (Australian Academy of Sciences), R&D and Education Committees of the Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd., and the Federation of Oceania Nutrition Societies. He was the recipient of the Nutrition Society of Australia 2024 Medal award.

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

204 works between 1991 and 2025
All (204) Book (1) Journal Article (93) Conference Publication (107) Book Chapter (3)

61 - 80 of 204 works

2023

Conference Publication

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. 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/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

2022

Journal Article

CCK and GLP-1 release in response to proteinogenic amino acids using a small intestine ex vivo model in pigs

Müller, Maximiliano, Van Liefferinge, Elout, Navarro, Marta, Garcia-Puig, Elisabet, Tilbrook, Alan, van Barneveld, Robert and Roura, Eugeni (2022). CCK and GLP-1 release in response to proteinogenic amino acids using a small intestine ex vivo model in pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 100 (4) skac093. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac093

CCK and GLP-1 release in response to proteinogenic amino acids using a small intestine ex vivo model in pigs

2022

Conference Publication

‘In Ovo’ injection of Oregano Essential Oil on day 17.5 did not affect hatchability in broiler chickens

Meijer, M. M. Y., Khaskheli, A. A., Niknafs, S. and Roura, E. (2022). ‘In Ovo’ injection of Oregano Essential Oil on day 17.5 did not affect hatchability in broiler chickens. 33rd Annual Australian Poultry Symposium, Sydney, NSW, Australia, 7 - 9 February 2022.

‘In Ovo’ injection of Oregano Essential Oil on day 17.5 did not affect hatchability in broiler chickens

2022

Journal Article

Synergism, bifunctionality, and the evolution of a gradual sensory trade-off in hummingbird taste receptors

Cockburn, Glenn, Ko, Meng-Ching, Sadanandan, Keren R., Miller, Eliot T., Nakagita, Tomoya, Monte, Amanda, Cho, Sungbo, Roura, Eugeni, Toda, Yasuka and Baldwin, Maude W. (2022). Synergism, bifunctionality, and the evolution of a gradual sensory trade-off in hummingbird taste receptors. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 39 (2) msab367. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msab367

Synergism, bifunctionality, and the evolution of a gradual sensory trade-off in hummingbird taste receptors

2022

Journal Article

Tea polyphenol – gut microbiota interactions: hints on improving the metabolic syndrome in a multi-element and multi-target manner

Ma, Hui, Hu, Yaozhong, Zhang, Bowei, Shao, Zeping, Roura, Eugeni and Wang, Shuo (2022). Tea polyphenol – gut microbiota interactions: hints on improving the metabolic syndrome in a multi-element and multi-target manner. Food Science and Human Wellness, 11 (1), 11-21. doi: 10.1016/j.fshw.2021.07.002

Tea polyphenol – gut microbiota interactions: hints on improving the metabolic syndrome in a multi-element and multi-target manner

2021

Conference Publication

Increasing monounsaturated fatty acid levels in pork improved the “pleasantness” of grilled loins in panellists with Chinese background

Navarro, M., Coba, A., Dunshea, F. R. and Roura, E. (2021). Increasing monounsaturated fatty acid levels in pork improved the “pleasantness” of grilled loins in panellists with Chinese background. 18th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, Australia, 15-18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.157

Increasing monounsaturated fatty acid levels in pork improved the “pleasantness” of grilled loins in panellists with Chinese background

2021

Conference Publication

Essential oils in maternal feeds improve performance, reduce salivary cortisol and increase plasma ghrelin in pigs after weaning

Castro, C., Palou, R., Anderson, S.T. and Roura, E. (2021). Essential oils in maternal feeds improve performance, reduce salivary cortisol and increase plasma ghrelin in pigs after weaning. Manipulating Pig Production XVIII - Eighteenth Biennial Conference of theAustralasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15-18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.115

Essential oils in maternal feeds improve performance, reduce salivary cortisol and increase plasma ghrelin in pigs after weaning

2021

Conference Publication

The mono:polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in cooking losses from pork loin is related to the dietary monounsaturated fatty acid content and the main grain/pulse fed to pigs

Navarro, M., Niknafs, S., Asahdirad, M., Dunshea, F. R. and Roura, E. (2021). The mono:polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in cooking losses from pork loin is related to the dietary monounsaturated fatty acid content and the main grain/pulse fed to pigs. 18th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, Australia, 15-18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.156

The mono:polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in cooking losses from pork loin is related to the dietary monounsaturated fatty acid content and the main grain/pulse fed to pigs

2021

Conference Publication

High dietary monounsaturated fatty acids fed to pigs improve pH and colour of pork loins

Coba, A., Navarro, M., Dunshea, F. R. and Roura, E. (2021). High dietary monounsaturated fatty acids fed to pigs improve pH and colour of pork loins. 18th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, Australia, 15-18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.155

High dietary monounsaturated fatty acids fed to pigs improve pH and colour of pork loins

2021

Conference Publication

28. The anorexigenic effect of dietary lysine could be mediated by increased jejunal cholecystokinin secretion in piglets

Müller, M., Tilbrook, A. J., van Barneveld, R. J., Niknafs, S. and Roura, E. (2021). 28. The anorexigenic effect of dietary lysine could be mediated by increased jejunal cholecystokinin secretion in piglets. Proceedings of the Eighteenth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 15 - 18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.113

28. The anorexigenic effect of dietary lysine could be mediated by increased jejunal cholecystokinin secretion in piglets

2021

Conference Publication

An oral gavage of leucine decreases feed intake by triggering early satiation and prolonging satiety in young pigs

Müller, M., Tilbrook, A. J., van Barneveld, R. J., Navarro, M. and Roura, E. (2021). An oral gavage of leucine decreases feed intake by triggering early satiation and prolonging satiety in young pigs. 18th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, Australia, 15-18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.114

An oral gavage of leucine decreases feed intake by triggering early satiation and prolonging satiety in young pigs

2021

Conference Publication

Strong evidence supporting the existence of “starchy” taste in pigs using a double-choice model

Zhou, M., Navarro, M., Li, S., Diffey, S. and Roura, E. (2021). Strong evidence supporting the existence of “starchy” taste in pigs using a double-choice model. 18th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, QLD Australia, 15-18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.111

Strong evidence supporting the existence of “starchy” taste in pigs using a double-choice model

2021

Conference Publication

Associative expression patterns between amino acid sensors and hormones in the porcine gastrointestinal tract

Niknafs, S., Müller, M., Navarro, M. and Roura, E. (2021). Associative expression patterns between amino acid sensors and hormones in the porcine gastrointestinal tract. 18th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Brisbane, Australia, 15-18 November 2021. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2021.09.127

Associative expression patterns between amino acid sensors and hormones in the porcine gastrointestinal tract

Current funding

  • 2022 - 2027
    Sustainable Precision Feeding in Broiler Chickens in Australia
    AgriFutures Chicken Meat Program Nutrition, Gut Health and Environment Research Program
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    APL Industry Placement Program
    Australasian Pork Research Institute Ltd
    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
  • 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 - 2025
    Peri-hatching strategies to endure enteric pathogens in broilers
    Agrifutures Australia
    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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