Dr Marta Navarro

Research Fellow

Centre for Animal Science

Research Fellow

Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation

+61 7 336 51865

m.navarrogomez@uq.edu.au

View researcher profile

Researcher biography

I am a veterinarian and animal nutrition scientist focused on improving the health, welfare, and performance of pigs and poultry through nutrition and physiology. My research integrates sensory biology, digestive function, and early-life programming to develop practical, evidence-based solutions for modern livestock systems.

My work sits at the interface of monogastric nutrition, feed intake regulation, the gut–brain axis, and animal welfare in intensive production. I combine mechanistic research with strong industry engagement to ensure outcomes are relevant, scalable, and applicable on farm. Current projects focus on early-life nutritional strategies, functional feed additives, and the use of advanced analytical tools, including spectroscopy and multi-omics, to better understand animal responses to diet and environment.

At The University of Queensland (QAAFI), I lead and contribute to multidisciplinary, industry-linked research programs and supervise HDR students and early-career researchers. My goal is to generate robust scientific evidence that supports more sustainable, efficient, and welfare-focused animal production systems while strengthening the translation of research into practice.

Publications

Book Chapter (1)

Journal Articles (23)

Conference Papers (29)

Thesis (1)

Book Chapter

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

Journal Articles

Fernandes, J. N., Hoffman, L. C., Kho, E. A., Navarro, M., Roura, E., Tilbrook, A. J., Blache, D. and Cozzolino, D. (2026). Monitoring physiological correlates or biomarkers of welfare in animals – practical applications of vibrational spectroscopy and machine learning. Applied Spectroscopy Reviews, ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print), 1-24. doi: 10.1080/05704928.2026.2637926

Roura, E., Bogere, P., Liu, X., Taylor, S., Tran, V. H., Chen, S. H., Dunshea, F. R., Gidley, M. J., Navarro, M., Pluske, J. R. and Turni, C. (2025). Review: Nutrition-based perinatal strategies towards antimicrobial-free systems in piglets. animal 101699, 101699. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101699

Roura, Eugeni, Khaskheli, Asad A., Meijer, Mila M.Y., Navarro, Marta, Niknafs, Shahram, Zhou, Xiaodan, Nguyen, Hoai T. T., van den Brand, Henry, Uni, Zehava and Ferket, Peter (2025). Developmental programming in chickens including transgenerational nutrition, chemosensory mechanisms and in ovo essential oils, organic acids, and pre- pro- syn-biotics; role of epigenetic modifications. Poultry Science, 104 (11) 105857, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105857

Müller, Maximiliano, Tan, Xinle, Liu, Fan, Navarro, Marta, Hoffman, Louwrens C. and Roura, Eugeni (2025). Feeding a Bitter Mix of Gentian and Grape Seed Extracts with Caffeine Reduces Appetite and Body Fat Deposition and Improves Meat Colour in Pigs. Animals, 15 (14) 2129, 2129. doi: 10.3390/ani15142129

Meijer, Mila M.Y., Brand, Henry van den, Navarro, Marta and Roura, Eugeni (2025). The inflammatory response to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide is mitigated by in ovo delivery of carvacrol in broiler chicks. Poultry Science, 104 (3) 104881, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.104881

Navarro, M., Coba, A., Muller, M., Roura, E. and Cozzolino, D. (2024). Mid infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics as tool to monitor the impact of heat stress and dietary interventions in lactating sows. International Journal of Biometeorology, 69 (1), 51-62. doi: 10.1007/s00484-024-02792-5

Bromfield, Jacoba I., Niknafs, Shahram, Chen, Xiaojing, von Hellens, Juhani, Horyanto, Darwin, Sun, Baode, Yu, Lei, Tran, Viet Hai, Navarro, Marta and Roura, Eugeni (2024). The evaluation of next-generation probiotics on broiler growth performance, gut morphology, gut microbiome, nutrient digestibility, in addition to enzyme production of Bacillus spp. in vitro. Animal Nutrition, 18, 133-144. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2024.03.013

Meijer, Mila M.Y., Brand, Henry van den, Niknafs, Shahram, Stark, Terra, Navarro, Marta, Khaskheli, Asad A. and Roura, Eugeni (2024). Carvacrol in ovo delivery optimization and flow dynamics in broiler chicken eggs. Poultry Science, 103 (3) 103443, 103443. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103443

Wan, Yujun, Chua, Sheena M. H., Yao, Yin, Adler, Lewis, Navarro, Marta, Roura, Eugeni, Tilley, Richard D., Li, Changfeng, Nilsson, Lars, Gilbert, Robert G. and Sullivan, Mitchell A. (2023). Comparing different techniques for obtaining molecular size distributions of glycogen. European Polymer Journal, 201 112518, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2023.112518

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

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

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

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

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

Navarro, Marta, Dunshea, Frank R., Lisle, Allan and Roura, Eugeni (2021). Feeding a high oleic acid (C18:1) diet improves pleasing flavor attributes in pork. Food Chemistry, 357 129770, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129770

Roura, E., Depoortere, I. and Navarro, M. (2019). Review: Chemosensing of nutrients and non-nutrients in the human and porcine gastrointestinal tract. Animal, 13 (11), 1-13. doi: 10.1017/s1751731119001794

Roura, E. and Navarro, M. (2018). Physiological and metabolic control of diet selection. Animal Production Science, 58 (4), 613-626. doi: 10.1071/AN16775

Navarro, Marta, Sonni, Francesca, Chaliha, Mridusmita, Netzel, Gabi, Stanley, Roger and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2016). Physicochemical assessment and bioactive properties of condensed distillers solubles, a by-product from the sorghum bio-fuel industry. Journal of Cereal Science, 72, 10-15. doi: 10.1016/j.jcs.2016.09.008

Roura, Eugeni, Foster, Simon, Winklebach, Anja, Navarro, Marta, Thomas, Walter, Campbell, Katrina and Stowasser, Michael (2016). Taste and hypertension in humans: targeting cardiovascular disease. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 22 (15), 2290-2305. doi: 10.2174/1381612822666160216151545

Navarro, Marta, Stanley, Roger, Cusack, Andrew and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2015). Combinations of plant-derived compounds against Campylobacter in vitro. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 24 (3), 352-363. doi: 10.3382/japr/pfv035

Conference Papers

Coba, A., Tan, X., Müller, M., Soumeh, E.A., Navarro, M. and Roura, E. (2025). Heat stress alters acute-phase protein profiles in plasma and milk of lactating sows. Manipulating Pig Production XX - Twentieth Biennial Conference of the Australasian Pig Science Association (APSA), Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 17 - 19 November 2025. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2025.09.079

Tran, V.H., Liu, X., Flanagan, B.M., Williams, B.A., Feng, G., Navarro, M., Roura, E., Gidley, M.J., Wu, X., Omaleki, L. and Turni, C. (2025). 78. Particle size of cereals shapes piglet gut microbiota during in vitro fermentation. 16th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs (DPP2025), Lake Geneva, WI, United States, 20-23 May 2025. Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2025.07.079

Coba, Astrid, Tan, Xinle, Muller, Maximiliano, Soumeh, Elham Assadi, Navarro, Marta and Roura, Eugeni (2025). Low protein diet enhances plasma abundance of pantothenate in lactating sows under heat stress. 16th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs (DPP2025), Lake Geneva, WI United States, 20-23 May 2025. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2025.07.083

Bogere, P., Navarro, M., Pluske, J. and Roura, E. (2025). Slow- compared to fast-growing piglets have reduced feed intake and poorer feed conversion in the first 14 days after weaning. 16th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs (DPP2025), Lake Geneva, WI United States, 20-23 May 2025. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2025.07.223

Navarro, Marta, Tedo, Gemma, Lopez, Sergi, Anglada, Oriol, Tran, Viet Hai, Taylor, Sally, Muller, Max, Dixon, Amelia, Clarkson, Ryan, Magnan, Marion, McDermott, Katie, Dunshea, Frank R. and Roura, Eugeni (2025). Bridging maternal and weaned diets with a continuity in feed plant volatiles has the potential to boost postweaning piglet growth. 16th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs (DPP2025), Lake Geneva, WI United States, 20-23 May 2025. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2025.07.216

Roura, E., Taylor, S. and Navarro, M. (2025). Peri-natal conditioning and early feed intake in piglets. 16th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs (DPP2025), Lake Geneva, WI United States, 20-23 May 2025. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2025.07.086

Abdallah, A., Kumar, A., Navarro, M., Muller, M., Tan, X., Tilbrook, A., Plush, K.J., D’Souza, D.N. and Roura, E. (2025). Lys or Thr deficiencies reduced growth rates associated with decreasing tail biting in piglets while tail-biters showed signs of disrupted amino acid metabolism in plasma. 16th International Symposium on Digestive Physiology of Pigs (DPP2025), Lake Geneva, WI United States, 20-23 May 2025. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2025.07.084

Cozzolino, D., Navarro, M., Taylor, S., Ibanez, C., Pascal, N., Tedo, G., Müller, M. and Roura, E. (2023). Mid-infrared spectroscopy can identify changes in plasma profiles associated with dietary interventions: Untargeted omic screening. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.074

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

Taylor, S., Navarro, M., Müller, M., Pascal, N., Ibanez, C., Wong, M., Tran, V.H. and Roura, E. (2023). 68. The fingerprint of volatile organic compounds in swine feed formulations: signature groups and nutrient precursors. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 13 - 16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.069

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

Navarro, M., Cozzolino, D., Taylor, S., Müller, M., Pascal, N., Tedo, G., Ibanez, C. and Roura, E. (2023). The ability of near infrared spectroscopy to measure volatile compounds in pig feed ingredients. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.070

Coba, A., Müller, M., Navarro, M., Soumeh, E.A., Pluske, J.R., van Wettere, W.H.E.J., Cottrell, J.J., Dunshea, F.R., Gaughan, J.B. and Roura, E. (2023). 34. Low crude protein diets improve heat stress indicators in lactating sows under cyclic hyperthermal temperatures. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.035

Bogere, P., Taylor, S., Navarro, M., Müller, M., Pascal, N., Ibanez, C., Tedo, G., Wong, M. and Roura, E. (2023). The volatile organic compound profile in commercial post-weaning diets differ from gestating or lactating diets potentially contributing to neophobic feeding behaviours in piglets. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.071

Coba, A., Müller, M., Navarro, M., Soumeh, E.A., Pluske, J.R., van Wettere, W.H.E.J., Cottrell, J.J., Dunshea, F.R., Gaughan, J.B. and Roura, E. (2023). 39. Physiological responses related to acute heat stress decrease over time as lactating sows become acclimated to a hyperthermic environment. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 13 - 16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.040

Abdallah, A., Kumar, A., Navarro, M., Müller, M., Tilbrook, A.J., Plush, K.J., D'Souza, D.N. and Roura, E. (2023). Stocking density increases the incidence of tail biting in post-weaned pigs. Manipulating Pig Production XIX, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 13-16 November 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anscip.2023.09.015

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

Meijer, M. M. Y., van den Brand, H., Niknafs, S., Navarro, M., Khaskheli, A. A. and Roura, E. (2023). Carvacrol diffuses from amnion to yolk where it remains stable in pre-hatch chicks. 23rd European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition, Rimini, Italy, 21-24 June 2023.

Meijer, M. M. Y., van den Brand, H., Niknafs, S., Navarro, M., Khaskheli, A. A. and Roura, E. (2023). Use of a non-ionic surfactant to facilitate carvacrol diffusion through embryonic structures after ‘in ovo’ injection. 34th Annual Australian Poultry Symposium, Sydney, NSW Australia, 6-8 February 2023.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Castro, C., Fuller, S., Navarro, M., Palou, R. and Roura, E. (2017). Development of non-invasive methods to monitor the transfer of dietary volatile compounds in pigs. 16th Biennial Conference of APSA, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 19-22 November 2017. Clayton, VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. doi: 10.1071/anv57n12ab072

Wang, J., Fu, M., Navarro, M. and Roura, E. (2017). A double-choice model to quantify negative preference to bitterness in pigs. 16th Biennial Conference of APSA, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 19-22 November 2017. Clayton, VIC Australia: CSIRO. doi: 10.1071/anv57n12ab081

Navarro, M., Stanley, R,, Cusack, A. and Sultanbawa, Y. (2013). Rapid in vitro antimicrobial screening assay against Campylobacter. 24th Annual Australian Poultry Science Symposium, Sydney , NSW, Australia, 17-20 February, 2013. Camden, NSW: Poultry Research Foundation, University of Sydney.

Thesis

Navarro Gomez, Marta (2016). Use of nanoemulsions with natural antimicrobials to reduce Campylobacter contamination from the chicken intestinal tract. PhD Thesis, Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2016.56