Cassandra Smith

Dr. Cassandra Smith is a Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University's School of Medical and Health Sciences, based within the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute (NHIRI). Her research focuses on the interplay between musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health in older adults, with a focus on biomarkers of aging, lifestyle interventions (particularly exercise), and prevention strategies for falls, fractures, and cardiovascular events. She holds a PhD from Victoria University (2022) and is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with over 10 years of clinical experience.

• Affiliations: Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation, ASBMR Early Stage Investigator Subcommittee, Australian Physiological Society
• Research Interests: Bone-muscle crosstalk, vascular calcification, sarcopenia, and frailty

Her work bridges basic science and clinical practice, with a focus on translating findings into evidence-based interventions. Key achievements include developing automated algorithms for fracture and calcification risk assessment, and identifying dietary and exercise strategies to improve musculoskeletal resilience in aging populations.

Dr. Smith has secured significant research funding, including a National Health and Medical Research Council grant ($1.2M) for studying abdominal aortic calcification determinants. She actively supervises PhD students in topics like osteoporosis medications and vascular health. Awards include the 2020 ASBMR Young Investigator Award and multiple travel grants.

Her lab collaborates with leading institutions to advance understanding of aging mechanisms and develop preventive strategies for age-related comorbidities.