Priya Sumithran

Associate Professor Priya Sumithran is an endocrinologist and clinician researcher at Monash University, where she serves as Head of the Obesity and Metabolic Medicine Group in the Department of Surgery, School of Translational Medicine. She is also the Clinical Lead for Obesity Medicine at Alfred Health in the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, demonstrating her dual commitment to academic research and clinical practice in obesity medicine.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD from the University of Melbourne (2012)
• FRACP (Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians) (2007)
• MBBS (Hons) from the University of Melbourne (1999)

Professor Sumithran's research focuses on the neuroendocrine regulation of appetite and eating behaviors, the clinical application of obesity therapeutics, and improving access to care for people with obesity. Her work addresses critical challenges in obesity management, including sustaining weight loss over the long term and improving access to effective strategies to manage obesity sustainably and equitably. She leads clinical studies investigating how to integrate new obesity treatments alongside established therapies to improve health outcomes, with the ultimate goal of addressing unmet clinical needs, enabling high-quality evidence-based healthcare, and reducing weight-related stigma.

Her research output shows a clear trend toward innovative approaches to obesity treatment, with particular emphasis on the integration of pharmacological interventions (especially GLP-1 receptor agonists), surgical approaches, and behavioral interventions. Her recent work demonstrates increasing focus on specific populations including those with musculoskeletal conditions, mental health considerations related to obesity treatment, and the cost-effectiveness of newer obesity medications.

Professor Sumithran has received several prestigious awards for her research:

• ADS Ranji and Amara Wikramanayake Clinical Diabetes Research award (2023)
• University of Melbourne Dame Kate Campbell Fellowship (2021)
• David Bickart Clinician Researcher Fellowship (2019)
• Endocrine Society of Australia/Servier Young Investigator award (2012)
• Bupa Health Foundation Emerging Health Researcher of the Year (2012)

Her research has received substantial competitive fellowship and grant funding totaling over $7 million, including an NHMRC Investigator Grant (2020-2024), as well as funding from MRFF, St Vincent's Research Endowment Fund, Austin Medical Research Foundation, Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Sir Edward Dunlop Medical Research Foundation, and Royal Australasian College of Physicians. She is currently accepting PhD students and supervises research on topics including the effects of bariatric surgery on mental health and optimizing the use of obesity medications for health improvement.

Professor Sumithran leads the Obesity and Metabolic Medicine Group at Monash University, which conducts clinical research focused on understanding neuroendocrine regulation of appetite and improving obesity treatment approaches. She has served on the council of the Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society from 2017 to 2022 and is actively involved in multiple professional organizations including The Obesity Collective, where she serves on the leadership group. She also contributes to national guidelines development and serves on the Lancet Commission on Clinical Obesity.