Research interests

Our department is home to a dynamic group of researchers exploring how nutrition influences health - from molecules to behaviour, from the first days of life to older adulthood, and from individuals to whole populations. We collaborate across disciplines and institutions to generate impactful, real-world research. 

Below is a summary of our staff's research expertise.

Associate Professor Andrea Braakhuis

Human Clinical Nutrition | Food Behaviours | Functional Foods 

Andrea’s research focuses on how food and nutrition impact physical and cognitive health. She leads work in:

• Food, behaviour and cognitive research
• Functional foods and bioactive products and their effect on human health
• Sport and exercise nutrition
• Body composition in healthy and clinical populations
  

Professor Clare Wall

Early Life Nutrition | Gut Microbiota | Clinical Trials

Clare is internationally recognised for her research in early life nutrition and child health. Her work includes:

• The impact of early diet on the diversity of the gut microbiota and health outcomes.
• Nutrition in early life course and long-term health trajectories .
• Dietary assessment methods.
• Randomised controlled trials in paediatric nutrition.

Dr Sue MacDonell

Malnutrition | Older Adult Health | Nutrition Care Process | Nutrition Assessment 

Sue’s research is focused on identifying and addressing malnutrition in older adults. Her work includes:

• Optimising nutritional status and health for aged care residents
• Falls prevention
• InterRAI undernutrition
• Malnutrition indicators for older adults
• Malnutrition screening and assessment policy and practice in Aotearoa New Zealand
• Telehealth

Dr Amy Lovell

Paediatric Nutrition | Childhood Cancer | Prehabilitation  

Amy’s work bridges clinical care and research in early life and paediatric oncology. She investigates:

• Optimising nutrition, physical function, and wellbeing in children undergoing cancer treatment
• Weaning foods and immune/gut microbiome health
• Feeding disorders in children
• Methods of dietary assessment
• Clinical trials
• Public participation in research design

Dr David Musson

Musculoskeletal Health | Metabolism | Tissue Repair

David’s research explores the cellular and metabolic underpinnings of musculoskeletal disease. He specialises in:

• In vitro disease models
• Fat mass, metabolic dysfunction, and tendon health
• Molecular signalling between musculoskeletal tissues
• Epidemiology of tendon and joint disorders in Aotearoa

Dr Nicola Gillies

Participatory Research | Diet and Mental Health | Gastrointestinal Disorders

Nicola’s work centres on diet’s role in mental and gut health, particularly among young people. Her interests include:

• Participatory action research with adolescents and young adults.
• Understanding the bidirectional relationship between diet and mental health.
• Behavioural interventions for dietary change.
• Improving the use of diet in managing gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
• Mechanisms linking diet and mental wellbeing, such as the gut-brain axis.

Dr Chris Hedges

Energy metabolism | Mitochondrial health/function | Insulin signaling

Chris’ research explores how factors such as genetics/diet/exercise/pharmaceuticals impact energy metabolism. Specific interests include:

• Mechanisms of cell/tissue adaptation
• Mitochondrial function & substrate oxidation
• Metabolic health & Longevity
• In vitro/in vivo models of metabolic dysfunction

Dr Teresa Gontijo de Castro

Public Health Nutrition | Nutritional Epidemiology | Maternal and Child Health

Teresa conducts large-scale public health research across life stages and systems. Her expertise includes:

• Nutritional epidemiology and birth cohort studies
• Maternal and child nutrition
• Monitoring population nutrition trends
• Evaluating food environments and nutrition policies

Dr Rajshri Roy

Digital Nutrition Interventions | Food Environments | Nutrition Education

Rajshri’s work addresses how digital tools and food environments shape nutrition behaviours, especially in young adults. Key research areas:

• Mobile and social media-based interventions
• Food environment policy and practice
• Food security, sustainability, and nutrition equity

Associate Professor Troy Merry

Metabolic Health | Exercise Physiology | Molecular Nutrition

Troy’s research explores how genes and cellular signalling pathways influence metabolic disease and the protective effects of exercise. His work involves:

• The genetic and biochemical regulation of metabolism
• Mechanisms through which exercise supports metabolic health