Nutrition Research Collaborative
The Nutrition Research Collaborative was established by Dr Merrilyn Banks in 2023 to bring together and leverage the research experience and networks formed over many years. It is our vision to be the go-to group for expertise in nutrition and dietetics research and its translation into practice.
Coordinated through the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, the Nutrition Research Collaborative is comprised of likeminded clinician and academic researchers working together to improve the health of our community through research and collaboration.
Our philosophy is that the sum of our collaborative effort is much greater than our individual efforts.
Who we are
We are a group of nutrition and dietetic clinician and academic researchers, from novice researchers and research higher degree candidates through to internationally recognised experts. We are situated in clinical and academic settings across Australia.
As such, our members have a broad range of clinical and research expertise, and established multidisciplinary statewide, national and international networks, including established partnerships with consumer representatives from all walks of life.
Appointments
- Director, Dietetics & Food Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
- Director, Nutrition Research Collaborative
Affiliations
- Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology
- Adjunct Assoc Professor, University of Queensland
Brief bio
Merrilyn has over 30 years’ experience as a clinician/clinician manager and is also an experienced clinical researcher and executive. During her research career she has developed expertise in pragmatic experimental intervention design to improve the outcome of patients with various diseases or clinical conditions associated with poor nutrition. She is recognised as a leader in dietetic practice, having considerable influence through research and its translation, most notably a change in clinical practice toward identifying, preventing and treating poor nutrition associated with disease. She was influential in having nutrition included in the National Safety and Quality Standards.
Merrilyn’s primary research areas include: nutrition in acute and critical illness; wound healing; health services research
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4467-4608
Appointments
Appointments- Research Coodinator, Dietetics & Food Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
- Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Health Services Research, University of Queensland
- Director, Nutrition Research Collaborative
Affiliations
- Adjunct Research Fellow, Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland
- Visiting Assoc Professor, Bond University
Brief bio
Adrienne is an experienced clinical dietitian and researcher with a strong interest in improving hospital nutrition care and outcomes for older inpatients and their caregivers. During her research career she has developed expertise in implementation science, qualitative research methods, consumer engagement and co-design. Adrienne is recognised as a leader in malnutrition research, receiving national and international awards for her research in this area. She is regularly invited to speak on the topic of consumer engagement and has recently co-led the development of a co-design framework in Metro North Health. Adrienne is also a founding member of the Allied Health Translating Research into Practice initiative, which aims to increase knowledge translation capacity for health professionals.
Adrienne’s primary research areas include: malnutrition, inpatient nutrition and mealtime care, implementation science, consumer engagement and co-design
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4467-4608
Skills and expertise we can offer
Our researchers can offer expertise in research methods including:
- Pragmatic clinical trials
- Bench to bedside translation (microbiome, hormones)
- Implementation science and knowledge translation
- Consumer engagement and co-design
- Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- Qualitative research
Our researchers can further offer expertise in evidence-based clinical dietetic practice including:
- Nutritional status assessment methods
- Dietary assessment
- Outcome measures
- Pragmatic trial design
- Energy and protein requirements
- Body composition measures
- Vitamin and mineral status
- Foodservice quality measures
- Consumer engagement and co-design
- Implementation science and knowledge translation
- Lifestyle/behaviour change
- Dietary intervention design and implementation
- Ethics and governance applications
What we do
The Nutrition Research Collaborative has established bodies of dietetic and clinical research and research expertise in the clinical areas of:
- Malnutrition
- Cancer care
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Maternal health
- Food services
- Nutrition support
- Eating disorders
To read more about our research areas and themes, see our Research page.
Why partner with the Nutrition Research Collaborative?
By joining the Nutrition Research Collaborative, you will have access to the expertise of experienced nutrition and dietetic clinical and academic researchers embedded in a health service, as well as our extensive network of collaborators.
- Expertise: Our team comprises experienced clinician and academic researchers who bring a wealth of experience to the table. We have a track record of producing high-impact research that makes a difference to patient care.
- Interdisciplinary Approach: We believe in the power of collaboration. By working together with experts from diverse backgrounds, we can explore new perspectives and innovative solutions.
- Impactful Research: Our clinician researchers are embedded in a health service. We strive for research that has real-world applications and can positively influence healthcare policy and the health and outcomes of individuals and communities.
We meet regularly to identify opportunities for collaborative research and concentrate our efforts towards attracting competitive funding.
Join the Nutrition Research Collaborative!
The Nutrition Research Collaborative has established networks that we are always looking to expand. Explore our website to learn more about our ongoing projects, team members, and collaboration opportunities.
If you are interested in joining as a member of the Collaborative or would like to discuss opportunities for collaboration or research career pathways, we welcome hearing from you. Email us at NutritionResearchCollaborative@health.qld.gov.au.