Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health

Heart food and blood pressure tool image

Adelaide University’s Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health Research Centre seeks to encourage and promote clinical research in nutritional physiology. We aim to formalise existing collaborations and facilitate the development of others, spanning the spectrum from basic science, through human physiology, clinical medicine, and population health.

As a complex and interdisciplinary area of health, our expert team use their backgrounds spanning endocrinology, gastroenterology, nutritional science, nuclear medicine, physiology, epidemiology, nursing and allied health to produce impactful research. We collaborate with researchers, industry and community to achieve our goals and deliver real-world nutrition impact on policy, clinical practice and guidelines, and communications to the everyday public.

Explore our research

Our aim is to pursue innovative research programs, significantly improve health services, deliver evidence-based training programs, and disseminate the latest health information and education resources.

Engage with us

Collaborate with our nutrition researchers to contribute to studies, student projects, or partnerships that translate evidence into better health for all Australians.

Contact us

Explore the Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health Research Centre

Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health Research Centre focuses on advancing clinical research in nutritional physiology.

Our expertise spans cardiovascular mechanisms, diabetes, dietetics & nutrition, nerve-gut interaction, nutrition in critical illness, obesity, and older people.

We bring together world-class researchers, clinicians, and health professionals across disciplines to translate nutritional science into real-world solutions.

By integrating human physiology, clinical trials and applied nutrition research, we generate strong evidence that informs dietary recommendations, clinical practice, and public health initiatives.

Our capabilities extend to mentoring and training postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers, equipping the next generation of clinical scientists with the skills and experience to drive innovation and implementation in healthcare and community settings.

Our research impacts health at individual, community, and system levels.

By translating nutritional science into actionable interventions, we improve diet, metabolic health, and overall wellbeing.

We work closely with patients, clinicians, and policymakers to ensure findings are embedded into clinical care, public health strategies, and lifestyle programs.

Our work has advanced the understanding of blood glucose regulation, appetite control, and nutrient-related health outcomes, thereby informing dietary guidance and evidence-based interventions.

Beyond measurable outcomes, we build on research capacity through mentorship, collaborative networks, and interdisciplinary partnerships. Our research empowers healthcare professionals, supports evidence-based policy, and fosters healthier communities — ensuring that nutritional science delivers meaningful, lasting impact across South Australia and beyond.

Investigators

  • Professor Michael Horowitz AO – Director, Endocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital; Head, Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health Research Centre
  • Professor Christopher Rayner – Gastroenterologist; Focus on nutrient-gut interactions, particularly in diabetes and appetite control
  • Professor Karen L. Jones – Senior Investigator, Nuclear Medicine
  • Prof Christine Feinle-Bisset - Senior Investigator, Nutritional Science
  • Associate Professor Richard Young – Head of Intestinal Nutrient Sensing Group
  • Associate Professor Leonie Heilbronn – Group Leader: Obesity and Metabolism
  • Associate Professor Tongzhi Wu – Research Fellow
  • Associate Professor Mark Plummer – Director of Research, Intensive Care Unit, Royal Adelaide Hospital
  • Associate Professor Chinmay Marathe –Research on gastric emptying, glycaemia, and incretin effects

Staff

  • Dr. Fidelma McCorry
  • Michelle Bound
  • Jacqui Grivell
  • Penelope Fitzgerald
  • Nektaria Pezos
  • Dr Kylie Lange
  • Scott Standfield
  • Seva Hatzinikolas

At the Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health Research Centre, we collaborate with various institutions and organisations to leverage expertise, resources, and access to populations that enable high-quality, translational nutritional research.

Some partners include:

  • Royal Adelaide Hospital: Provides clinical access to patients and real-world healthcare settings. This partnership allows us to test and implement nutritional interventions in hospital and outpatient populations, linking research directly to patient care.
  • South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI): Offers interdisciplinary research facilities and collaboration across biomedical sciences. Partnering with SAHMRI helps integrate physiology, metabolism, and clinical nutrition research, strengthening scientific rigor and innovation.
  • Diabetes Australia: Supports research targeting diabetes prevention and management. This partnership ensures research is aligned with national health priorities and allows findings to reach patients, clinicians, and policymakers who can apply them.
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC): Our Centre was established with initial funding from the NHMRC, who continue to provide funding and strategic guidance. Partnership with NHMRC validates research quality and supports large-scale, long-term studies that translate nutritional science into practice.
  • Adelaide University: As the host institution, Adelaide University provides infrastructure, and supports student and postdoctoral training, ensuring research outputs are both academically robust and applicable in real-world health settings.
  • The Hospital Research Foundation Group: Supports our work through the provision of collegial advice and research funding such as matched co-contributions as well as grant opportunities like the 2023 Innovations in Ageing Well grant round and a THRF Mid-Career Fellowship.

Contact us

Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health

Location

Location
Translating Nutritional Science to Good Health
Adelaide University
Level 5, Health & Medical Sciences Building, City Campus East, Adelaide SA 5000

Telephone

Phone: +61 8  8313 4815

Email

Email: crenutrition@adelaide.edu.au