Infuse 3 March 2018 | Page 29

Tell us about your current research, and why you chose to focus on gut health. How did your PhD shape your journey? My PhD was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. I’d just finished my dietetics degree with QUT, and got a call on Christmas Eve (from Maree) offering me a job. It was one of the best days of my life. I then worked for a year and a half at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and had a taste of research, and thought, "Yes, this is what I want to do." I work with Prof Kevin Whelan's group in the diet and gastrointestinal health. I see gut health as the future of our health, and Professor Whelan's group was world-renowned as experts in that area. But I wanted to move into areas which would affect more people, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome. So, that's one of my main areas of research – looking at different nutrition-based therapies in IBS. I launched into my PhD with associate professor Katrina Campbell and Dr David Johnson. We looked at whether we could improve gut health in people with chronic kidney disease, in a way that would reduce some of the uremic toxins circulating in their blood by adding things like pre- and probiotics. And, excitingly, it was a positive trial. I also work on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, looking at different dietary interventions. Another element of my King's research is looking at healthy people: how to improve the health of their diet through nutrition therapies, and how food can improve our gut health. Why did you move to London? My mentors encouraged me to look outside of Australia, saying that it's good to go away from your initial PhD research group, get different experiences, and then come back. Then I got a taste of things over here in London, and it was hard to come back! London is a concentrated hub of the wellness world, and there are a lot of entrepreneurs here, so it's inspiring. interview continues overleaf... © Dietitian Connection 29 Infuse | March 2018