Sarah Hiles

Dr Sarah Hiles is a Lecturer at the School of Psychological Sciences within the College of Engineering, Science and Environment at the University of Newcastle. Her research focuses on the intersection of mental and physical health, particularly in health psychology and psychosomatic medicine, with an emphasis on inflammatory biomarkers, depression, and their links to cardiometabolic risk factors and airway diseases like severe asthma and COPD.

• PhD in Epidemiology of Depression (University of Newcastle, 2014)
• Bachelor of Psychology (University of Newcastle)

Her work prioritizes evidence-based interventions to improve health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes in chronic respiratory conditions. She has contributed to studies on yoga and mindfulness for severe asthma, treatable traits in airway disease, and inflammatory pathways in depression. Her research often integrates biostatistical methods and multidisciplinary assessment.

Recent publications highlight her expertise in respiratory medicine, psychosomatic interactions, and behavioral epidemiology. Key themes include sedentary behavior, biologics in asthma, and social determinants of health. She has secured grants from institutions like the Hunter Medical Research Institute and the European Commission.

• 2024: Women in Research Fellowship (University of Newcastle)
• 2018: Jennie Thomas Medical Research Travel Grant
• 2018: Centre of Excellence in Severe Asthma Travel Grant
• 2015: Endeavour Research Fellowship (Australian Government)
• 2012: Young Investigator Scholar (American Psychosomatic Society)

Dr Hiles collaborates extensively with international researchers, particularly in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and has supervised PhD projects in areas like gut microbiota and brain fog in respiratory disease.