Contact Details
- Phone
- +64 3 470 3547
- regis.lamberts@otago.ac.nz
- Position
- Associate Professor, Deputy HOD (Teaching)
- Department
- Department of Physiology
- Qualifications
- BSc MSc PhD
- Research summary
- Cardiovascular physiology
Research
How the heart maintains its pump function under conditions of stress has been the focus of my research career.
In the last decade my research has focused on determining the changes in autonomic regulation and heart function in obesity and diabetes. More recently this has extended to determining the functional interaction between epicardial adipose tissue and the heart, especially in relation to development of cardiac arrhythmias and obesity. To this end, functional biomedical data at cellular and organ level, human myocardial and clinical data are obtained through HeartOtago.
This translational knowledge creates the platform that is vital for the development of specific therapeutics for the increasing cohort of individuals with metabolic disease and arrhythmias to improve their heart health.
Publications
Ashley, Z., Futi, T., Van Hout, I., Coffey, S., Schwenke, D. O., Bahn, A., & Lamberts, R. R. (2022). Cardiac fibrosis in right atrial tissue is not different in male Pasifika and Pākehā cardiac surgery patients in Aotearoa. Pacific Journal of Medical Sciences, 22(2), 11-30. Journal - Research Article
Aitken-Buck, H. M., Moore, M., Whalley, G. A., Lohner, L., Ondruschka, B., Coffey, S., … Lamberts, R. R. (2022). Estimating heart mass from heart volume as measured from post-mortem computed tomography. Forensic Science, Medicine & Pathology, 18, 333-342. doi: 10.1007/s12024-022-00478-1 Journal - Research Article
Waddell, H. M. M., Moore, M., Herbert-Olsen, M. A., Stiles, M. K., Tse, R. D., Coffey, S., Lamberts, R. R., & Aitken-Buck, H. M. (2022). Identifying sex differences in predictors of epicardial fat cell morphology. Adipocyte, 11(1), 325-334. doi: 10.1080/21623945.2022.2073854 Journal - Research Article
Gonano, L. A., Aitken-Buck, H. M., Chakraborty, A. D., Worthington, L. P. I., Cully, T. R., Lamberts, R. R., … Jones, P. P. (2022). Regulation of cardiac ryanodine receptor function by the cyclic-GMP dependent protein kinase G. Current Research in Physiology, 5, 171-178. doi: 10.1016/j.crphys.2022.03.004 Journal - Research Article
Satthenapalli, R., Lee, S., Bellae Papannarao, J., Hore, T. A., Chakraborty, A., Jones, P. P., Lamberts, R. R., & Katare, R. (2022). Stage-specific regulation of signalling pathways to differentiate pluripotent stem cells to cardiomyocytes with ventricular lineage. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 13(1), 185. doi: 10.1186/s13287-022-02845-9 Journal - Research Article
Aitken-Buck, H. M., Krause, J., van Hout, I., Davis, P. J., Bunton, R. W., Parry, D. J., Williams, M. J. A., Coffey, S., … Jones, P. P., & Lamberts, R. R. (2021). Long-chain acylcarnitine 18:1 acutely increases human atrial myocardial contractility and arrhythmia susceptibility. American Journal of Physiology: Heart & Circulatory Physiology, 321, H162-H174. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00184.2021 Journal - Research Article
Sethi, S., Augustine, R. A., Bouwer, G. T., Perkinson, M. R., Cheong, I., Bussey, C. T., Schwenke, D. O., Brown, C. H., & Lamberts, R. R. (2021). Increased neuronal activation in sympathoregulatory regions of the brain and spinal cord in type 2 diabetic rats. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 33, e13016. doi: 10.1111/jne.13016 Journal - Research Article
Munro, M. L., van Hout, I., Aitken-Buck, H., Sugunesegran, R., Bhagwat, K., Davis, P. J., Lamberts, R. R., Coffey, S., … Jones, P. P. (2021). Human atrial fibrillation is not associated with remodeling of ryanodine receptor clusters. Frontiers in Cell & Developmental Biology, 9, 633704. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.633704 Journal - Research Article
Frisk, M., Le, C., Shen, X., Røe, Å., Hou, Y., Manfra, O., … van Hout, I., … Lamberts, R. R., … Coffey, S., … Jones, P. P., … Louch, W. E. (2021). Etiology-dependent impairment of diastolic cardiomyocyte calcium homeostasis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. JACC, 77(4), 405-419. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.044 Journal - Research Article
Aitken-Buck, H. M., Babakr, A. A., Fomison-Nurse, I. C., van Hout, I., Davis, P. J., Bunton, R. W., Williams, M. J. A., Coffey, S., Jones, P. P., & Lamberts, R. R. (2020). Inotropic and lusitropic, but not arrhythmogenic, effects of adipocytokine resistin on human atrial myocardium. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology & Metabolism, 319, E540-E547. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00202.2020 Journal - Research Article
Aitken-Buck, H. M., Krause, J., Zeller, T., Jones, P. P., & Lamberts, R. R. (2020). Long-chain acylcarnitines and cardiac excitation-contraction coupling: Links to arrhythmias. Frontiers in Physiology, 11, 577856. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.577856 Journal - Research Other
Babakr, A. A., Fomison-Nurse, I. C., van Hout, I., Aitken-Buck, H. M., Sugunesegran, R., Davis, P. J., Bunton, R. W., Williams, M. J. A., Coffey, S., Stiles, M. K., Jones, P. P., & Lamberts, R. R. (2020). Acute interaction between human epicardial adipose tissue and human atrial myocardium induce arrhythmic susceptibility. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology & Metabolism, 318, E164-E172. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00374.2019 Journal - Research Article
Aitken-Buck, H. M., Babakr, A. A., Coffey, S., Jones, P. P., Tse, R. D., & Lamberts, R. R. (2019). Epicardial adipocyte size does not correlate with body mass index. Cardiovascular Pathology, 43, 107144. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2019.07.003 Journal - Research Article
Aitken-Buck, H. M., Moharram, M., Babakr, A. A., Reijers, R., Van Hout, I., Fomison-Nurse, I. C., Sugunesegran, R., … Bunton, R. W., Williams, M. J. A., … Jones, P. P., Coffey, S., & Lamberts, R. R. (2019). Relationship between epicardial adipose tissue thickness and epicardial adipocyte size with increasing body mass index. Adipocyte, 8(1), 412-420. doi: 10.1080/21623945.2019.1701387 Journal - Research Article
Bussey, C. T., Babakr, A. A., Iremonger, R. R., van Hout, I., Wilkins, G. T., Lamberts, R. R., & Erickson, J. R. (2020). Carvedilol and metoprolol are both able to preserve myocardial function in type 2 diabetes. Physiological Reports, 8(5), e14394. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14394 Journal - Research Article
Moharram, M. A., Aitken-Buck, H. M., Reijers, R., van Hout, I., Williams, M. J. A., Jones, P. P., Whalley, G. A., Lamberts, R. R., & Coffey, S. (2020). Correlation between epicardial adipose tissue and body mass index in New Zealand ethnic populations. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1516), 22-32. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal Journal - Research Article
Loper, N., Garland, J., Ondruschka, B., Lamberts, R., Stables, S., & Tse, R. (2020). Ventricular weight increases proportionally with total heart weight in postmortem population. American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology, 41(4), 259-262. doi: 10.1097/paf.0000000000000568 Journal - Research Article
Cook, R. F., Bussey, C. T., Fomison-Nurse, I. C., Hughes, G., Bahn, A., Cragg, P. A., & Lamberts, R. R. (2019). β2-adrenoceptors indirectly support impaired β1-adrenoceptor responsiveness in the isolated type 2 diabetic rat heart. Experimental Physiology, 104, 808-818. doi: 10.1113/EP087437 Journal - Research Article
Moharram, M. A., Lamberts, R. R., Whalley, G., Williams, M. J. A., & Coffey, S. (2019). Myocardial tissue characterisation using echocardiographic deformation imaging. Cardiovascular Ultrasound, 17, 27. doi: 10.1186/s12947-019-0176-9 Journal - Research Other
Wilson, G. A., Wilkins, G. T., Cotter, J. D., Lamberts, R. R., Lal, S., & Baldi, J. C. (2019). HIIT improves left ventricular exercise response in adults with type 2 diabetes. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 51(6), 1099-1105. doi: 10.1249/mss.0000000000001897 Journal - Research Article
Bussey, C. T., Thaung, H. P. A., Hughes, G., Bahn, A., & Lamberts, R. R. (2018). Cardiac β-adrenergic responsiveness of obese Zucker rats: The role of AMPK. Experimental Physiology, 103(8), 1067-1075. doi: 10.1113/ep087054 Journal - Research Article
Daniels, L. J., Wallace, R. S., Nicholson, O. M., Wilson, G. A., McDonald, F. J., Jones, P. P., Baldi, J. C., Lamberts, R. R., & Erickson, J. R. (2018). Inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II restores contraction and relaxation in isolated cardiac muscle from type 2 diabetic rats. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 17, 89. doi: 10.1186/s12933-018-0732-x Journal - Research Article
Pearson, J. T., Collie, N., Lamberts, R. R., Inagaki, T., Yoshimoto, M., Umetani, K., … Wilkins, G., Jones, P. P., … Schwenke, D. O. (2018). Ghrelin preserves ischemia-induced vasodilation of male rat coronary vessels following beta-adrenergic receptor blockade. Endocrinology, 159(4), 1763-1773. doi: 10.1210/en.2017-03070 Journal - Research Article
Bussey, C. T., & Lamberts, R. R. (2017). Effect of type 2 diabetes, surgical incision, and volatile anesthesia on hemodynamics in the rat. Physiological Reports, 5(14), e13352. doi: 10.14814/phy2.13352 Journal - Research Article
Cook, R. F., Bussey, C. T., Mellor, K. M., Cragg, P. A., & Lamberts, R. R. (2017). β1-Adrenoceptor, but not β2-adrenoceptor, subtype regulates heart rate in type 2 diabetes rats in vivo. Experimental Physiology, 102(8), 911-923. doi: 10.1113/ep086293 Journal - Research Article
Aitken-Buck, H. M., & Lamberts, R. R. (2017). To the heart of activation heat. Journal of Physiology, 595(14), 4577-4578. doi: 10.1113/jp274582 Journal - Research Other
Wilson, G. A., Wilkins, G. T., Cotter, J. D., Lamberts, R. R., Lal, S., & Baldi, J. C. (2017). Impaired ventricular filling limits cardiac reserve during submaximal exercise in people with type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 16, 160. doi: 10.1186/s12933-017-0644-1 Journal - Research Article
Wilson, G. A., Wilson, L. C., Lamberts, R. R., Majeed, K., Lal, S., Wilkins, G. T., & Baldi, J. C. (2017). β-adrenergic responsiveness in the type 2 diabetic heart: Effects on cardiac reserve. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 49(5), 907-914. doi: 10.1249/mss.0000000000001184 Journal - Research Article
Satthenapalli, V. R., Lamberts, R. R., & Katare, R. G. (2017). Challenges in regenerating the diabetic heart: A comprehensive review. Stem Cells, 35(9), 2009-2026. doi: 10.1002/stem.2661 Journal - Research Article
Rawal, S., Munasinghe, E. P., Nagesh, P. T., Lew, J. K. S., Jones, G. T., Williams, M. J. A., Davis, P., Bunton, R. W., Galvin, I. F., Manning, P., Lamberts, R. R., & Katare, R. (2017). Downregulation of miR-15a/b accelerates fibrotic remodelling in the Type-2 diabetic human and mouse heart. Clinical Science, 131(9), 847-863. doi: 10.1042/cs20160916 Journal - Research Article
Baldi, J. C., Wilson, G. A., Wilson, L. C., Wilkins, G. T., & Lamberts, R. R. (2016). The type 2 diabetic heart: Its role in exercise intolerance and the challenge to find effective exercise interventions. Sports Medicine, 46, 1605-1617. doi: 10.1007/s40279-016-0542-9 Journal - Research Article
Munasinghe, P. E., Riu, F., Dixit, P., Edamatsu, M., Saxena, P., Hamer, N. S. J., Galvin, I. F., Bunton, R. W., Lequeux, S., Jones, G., Lamberts, R. R., … Katare, R. (2016). Type-2 diabetes increases autophagy in the human heart through promotion of Beclin-1 mediated pathway. International Journal of Cardiology, 202, 13-20. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2015.08.111 Journal - Research Article
Thaung, H. P. A., Baldi, J. C., Wang, H.-Y., Hughes, G., Cook, R. F., Bussey, C. T., Sheard, P. W., Bahn, A., Jones, P. P., Schwenke, D. O., & Lamberts, R. R. (2015). Increased efferent cardiac sympathetic nerve activity and defective intrinsic heart rate regulation in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes, 64(8), 2944-2956. doi: 10.2337/db14-0955 Journal - Research Article
Bussey, C. T., Hughes, G., Saxena, P., Galvin, I. F., Bunton, R. W., Noye, M. K., Coffey, S., Williams, M. J. A., Baldi, J. C., Jones, P. P., & Lamberts, R. R. (2015). Chamber-specific changes in calcium-handling proteins in the type 2 diabetic human heart with preserved ejection fraction. International Journal of Cardiology, 193, 53-55. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2015.05.053 Journal - Research Article
Thaung, H. P. A., Yao, Y., Bussey, C. T., Hughes, G., Jones, P. P., Bahn, A., Sammut, I. A., & Lamberts, R. R. (2015). Chronic bilateral renal denervation reduces cardiac hypertrophic remodelling but not β-adrenergic responsiveness in hypertensive type 1 diabetic rats. Experimental Physiology, 100(6), 628-639. doi: 10.1113/EP085021 Journal - Research Article
Daniels, L., Bell, J. R., Delbridge, L. M. D., McDonald, F. J., Lamberts, R. R., & Erickson, J. R. (2015). The role of CaMKII in diabetic heart dysfunction. Heart Failure Reviews, 20(5), 589-600. doi: 10.1007/s10741-015-9498-3 Journal - Research Article
Green, S., Egaña, M., Baldi, J. C., Lamberts, R., & Regensteiner, J. G. (2015). Cardiovascular control during exercise in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of Diabetes Research, 2015, 654204. doi: 10.1155/2015/654204 Journal - Research Article
Jahn, N., Lamberts, R. R., Busch, C. J., Voelker, M. T., Koel-Simmelink, M. J. A., Teunissen, C. E., … Weimann, J. (2015). Inhaled carbon monoxide protects time-dependently from loss of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in endotoxemic mice. Respiratory Research, 16, 119. doi: 10.1186/s12931-015-0274-7 Journal - Research Article
Munasinghe, P. E., Riu, F., Dixit, P., Edamatsu, M., Saxena, P., Hamer, N. S. J., Galvin, I. F., Bunton, R. W., Lequeux, S., Jones, G., Lamberts, R., … Katare, R. (2015). Data supporting the activation of autophagy genes in the diabetic heart [Data article]. Data in Brief, 5, 269-275. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2015.09.003 Journal - Research Other
Lamberts, R. R., Lingam, S. J., Wang, H.-Y., Bollen, I. A. E., Hughes, G., Galvin, I. F., Bunton, R. W., Bahn, A., Katare, R., Baldi, J. C., Williams, M. J. A., Saxena, P., Coffey, S., & Jones, P. P. (2014). Impaired relaxation despite upregulated calcium-handling protein atrial myocardium from type 2 diabetic patients with preserved ejection fraction. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 13, 72. doi: 10.1186/1475-2840-13-72 Journal - Research Article
Bussey, C. T., de Leeuw, A. E., & Lamberts, R. R. (2014). Increased haemodynamic adrenergic load with isoflurane anaesthesia in type 2 diabetic and obese rats in vivo. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 13, 161. doi: 10.1186/s12933-014-0161-4 Journal - Research Article
Bussey, C. T., de Leeuw, A. E., Cook, R. F., Ashley, Z., Schofield, J., & Lamberts, R. R. (2014). Dual implantation of a radio-telemeter and vascular access port allows repeated hemodynamic and pharmacological measures in conscious lean and obese rats. Laboratory Animals, 48(3), 250-260. doi: 10.1177/0023677214530687 Journal - Research Article
Smeding, L., van der Laarse, W. J., van Veelen, T. A., Lamberts, R. R., Niessen, H. W. M., Kneyber, M. C. J., … Plötz, F. B. (2012). Early myocardial dysfunction is not caused by mitochondrial abnormalities in a rat model of peritonitis. Journal of Surgical Research, 176(1), 178-184. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2011.05.055 Journal - Research Article
Smeding, L., Plötz, F. B., Lamberts, R. R., van der Laarse, W. J., Kneyber, M. C. J., & Groeneveld, A. B. J. (2012). Mechanical ventilation with high tidal volumes attenuates myocardial dysfunction by decreasing cardiac edema in a rat model of LPS-induced peritonitis. Respiratory Research, 13, 23. doi: 10.1186/1465-9921-13-23 Journal - Research Article
de Mooji, Y. M., Bartelings, M. M., Twisk, J. W. R., Lamberts, R. R., Gittenberger-de Groot, A. C., van Vugt, J. M. G., & Bekker, M. N. (2010). Altered jugular vein and ductus venosus flow velocities in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency and distended jugular lymphatic sacs. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 202(6), e566.1-e566.8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2010.01.054 Journal - Research Article
Bouwman, R. A., Vreden, M. J. A., Hamdani, N., Wassenaar, L. E. J., Smeding, L., Loer, S., … Lamberts, R. R. (2010). Effect of bupivacaine on sevoflurane-induced preconditioning in isolated rat hearts. European Journal of Pharmacology, 647(1-3), 132-138. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.08.014 Journal - Research Article
Lamberts, R. R., Onderwater, G., Hamdani, N., Vreden, M. J. A., Steenhuisen, J., Eringa, E. C., … Bouwman, R. A. (2009). Reactive oxygen species—induced stimulation of 5'AMP-activated protein kinase mediates sevoflurane-induced cardioprotection. Circulation, 120(Suppl. 1), S10-S15. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.828426 Journal - Research Article
Lamberts, R. R., Caldenhoven, E., Lansink, M., Witte, G., Vaessen, R. J., St Cyr, J. A., & Stienen, G. J. M. (2007). Preservation of diastolic function in monocrotaline-induced right ventricular hypertrophy in rats. American Journal of Physiology: Heart & Circulatory Physiology, 293(4), H1869-H1876. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00294.2007 Journal - Research Article
Lamberts, R. R., Hamdani, N., Soekhoe, T. W., Boontje, N. M., Zaremba, R., Walker, L. A., … Stienen, G. J. M. (2007). Frequency-dependent myofilament Ca2+ desensitization in failing rat myocardium. Journal of Physiology, 582(2), 695-709. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.134486 Journal - Research Article
Lamberts, R. R., Vaessen, R. J., Westerhof, N., & Stienen, G. J. M. (2007). Right ventricular hypertrophy causes impairment of left ventricular diastolic function in the rat. Basic Research in Cardiology, 102(1), 19-27. doi: 10.1007/s00395-006-0620-5 Journal - Research Article
Handoko, M. L., Lamberts, R. R., Redout, E. M., de Man, F. S., Boer, C., Simonides, W. S., … Vonk-Noordegraaf, A. (2009). Right ventricular pacing improves right heart function in experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension: A study in the isolated heart. American Journal of Physiology: Heart & Circulatory Physiology, 297(5), H1752-H1759. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00555.2009 Journal - Research Article
Hamdani, N., de Waard, M., Messer, A. E., Boontje, N. M., Kooij, V., van Dijk, S., … Lamberts, R., … van der Velden, J. (2009). Myofilament dysfunction in cardiac disease from mice to men. Journal of Muscle Research & Cell Motility, 29(6-8), 189-201. doi: 10.1007/s10974-008-9160-y Journal - Research Article
Bouwman, R. A., Musters, R. J. P., van Beek-Harmsen, B. J., de Lange, J. J., Lamberts, R. R., Loer, S., & Boer, C. (2007). Sevoflurane-induced cardioprotection depends on PKC-α activation via production of reactive oxygen species. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 99(5), 639-645. doi: 10.1093/bja/aem202 Journal - Research Article
van der Velden, J., Narolska, N. A., Lamberts, R. R., Boontje, N. M., Borbély, A., Zaremba, R., … Stienen, G. J. M. (2006). Functional effects of protein kinase C-mediated myofilament phosphorylation in human myocardium. Cardiovascular Research, 69, 876-887. doi: 10.1016/j.cardiores.2005.11.021 Journal - Research Article
Westerhof, N., Boer, C., Lamberts, R. R., & Sipkema, P. (2006). Cross-talk between cardiac muscle and coronary vasculature. Physiological Reviews, 86(4), 1268-1308. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00029.2005 Journal - Research Article