Dr Ruparelia is a senior lecturer and group leader in the Centre for Muscle Research within the Department of Anatomy and Physiology at The University of Melbourne. Dr Ruparelia is a cell and developmental biologist investigating the fundamental biology of muscle ageing and disease, examining processes such as muscle fiber atrophy and growth, muscle stem cell dynamics, muscle regeneration, and metabolism. For her research program, she not only uses the unique advantages of the zebrafish model, but she also uses a new experimental system – that of the African killifish, whose extremely short lifespan makes it an attractive model for ageing research. Collectively, her work provides a striking example of how fish models can provide insights into muscle wasting and disease, covering basic science and translational research, which has enabled significant and beneficial advancements to human health. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to medical research, Dr Ruparelia has received several awards including the prestigious Research Australia Health and Medical Research Impact Award, and the Australia and New Zealand Cell and Developmental Biology ECR award.