Charlotte Mills

Dr Charlotte Mills is the Hugh Sinclair Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Reading, part of the School of Chemistry, Food & Pharmacy. Her roles include Programme Director for the MSc Nutrition and Food Science and Academic Lead for the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative. She also co-chairs the Nutrition Society Special Interest Group on Phytochemicals and Health.

Drills holds academic qualifications including a PhD in Food and Nutritional Sciences, BSc in Food Science with Industrial Training, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education. Her research focuses on the impact of plant bioactives and nutrients on cardiometabolic health, mechanisms involving gut microbiota, and optimizing food processing to enhance health benefits.

She is affiliated with key research centers: Nutrition Research Group, Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research, and Centre of Integrated Neuroscience and Neurodynamics.

Her publications explore dietary interventions (e.g., nitrate-rich beetroot, coffee, watermelon juice), vascular health, and methodological advancements in nutritional science. Recent work includes developing reporting standards for dietary metabolome studies and investigating blood pressure-lowering mechanisms.

Dr. Mills has contributed to clinical trials on spironolactone and nitrate effects on arterial stiffness, as well as pedagogical research in small-group teaching.