Dr Bernadette Jones-Freeman, PhD

Dr Bernadette Jones-Freeman is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Lab Manager in Professor Nir Eynon's laboratory at the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI), Monash University. Her research applies multi-omic approaches to understand how sex hormones shape skeletal muscle health across the lifespan, with a particular focus on populations underrepresented in ageing and exercise science. Bernadette leads the GAME study, investigating the multi-omic effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on skeletal muscle in transgender and gender-diverse people. Her research interests also extend to the elevated health risks faced by postmenopausal women, including cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions, bone health decline, and respiratory disease; an area she is actively developing through new grant and collaboration opportunities. Her work sits at the intersection of sex hormone biology, epigenetics, and exercise physiology, aiming to generate evidence that improves clinical care for people navigating major hormonal transitions; whether through menopause or gender affirmation. Bernadette is committed to inclusive research design and works closely with community and clinical partners to ensure her studies reflect the needs of the populations they serve.