Catherine Bondonno

Dr. Catherine Bondonno is an Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University (ECU) within the School of Medical and Health Sciences and the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute. Her research focuses on plant vasoactive compounds, particularly dietary nitrate and flavonoids, and their roles in cardiovascular and cognitive health. She holds a PhD from The University of Western Australia (2014).

• Key Roles: Associate Editor of Food & Function, Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee of Nutrition, and Director of the Australian Nutrition Trust Fund.
• Professional Memberships: Nutrition Society of Australia, American Nutrition Society, Western Australian Cardiovascular Alliance.

Her research interests include dietary strategies for cardiovascular health, nitrate and flavonoid metabolism, and the prevention of cognitive decline. Notable contributions include developing food bioactive databases and studying nitrate’s dual roles in health and disease.

Awards: 2024 WACRA Impact Award and Researcher of the Year, 2021 Mid-Career Awards, and multiple early-career recognitions. Over 80 peer-reviewed publications highlight her work on plant-based diets, vascular function, and chronic disease prevention.

Grants: Leads projects funded by NHMRC, WA Health, and industry partners. Current initiatives include 3D-printed foods for aged care and investigating nitrate’s health impacts.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Plant Vasoactive Research Program, collaborating with global institutions on clinical trials and epidemiological studies.