Rate My Professor Daryl Schwenke

Professor Daryl Schwenke is a cardiovascular physiologist and Professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Otago, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences. He holds BSc (Hons), MSc, and PhD degrees from the University of Otago, where he completed his graduate studies. Following his PhD, Schwenke conducted early research in Japan, utilizing synchrotron radiation microangiography to investigate the physiological effects of ghrelin on cardiovascular control. Upon returning to Otago, he advanced through the academic ranks to become a full Professor, leading the Schwenke Lab dedicated to cardiorespiratory physiology. In his current role as Deputy Head of Department (Teaching), he oversees teaching initiatives, and he previously served as Associate Dean (Pacific), supporting research and education relevant to Pacific communities.

Schwenke's research focuses on neuro-endocrine control of the heart and vascular system in health and disease. Key areas include sympathetic excitation after acute myocardial infarction, therapeutic applications of ghrelin in heart failure, peripheral chemoreflex contributions to sympathetic activation, regulation and endothelial control of pulmonary vasculature, pathological changes in pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary vascular dysfunction in obesity. His lab also examines microRNAs in cardiac ageing and diabetic heart disease, as well as exercise interventions to preserve coronary and cardiac function. Select publications encompass "Ghrelin protects against cell death in myocardial ischaemia: Emerging role of microRNA" (2026), "Early exercise intervention preserves coronary and cardiac function in the diabetic heart; emerging role of microRNAs" (2020), "Exogenous ghrelin improves blood flow distribution in pulmonary hypertension: Assessed using synchrotron radiation microangiography" (2011), "Role of Rho-kinase signaling and endothelial dysfunction in modulating blood flow distribution in pulmonary hypertension" (2011), and "Imaging of the pulmonary circulation in the closed-chest rat using synchrotron radiation microangiography" (2007). His scholarship, reflected in over 2,200 citations, has notably influenced insights into cardiovascular disease mechanisms and treatments.