Heidi Hillebrandt

Heidi Hillebrandt is a PhD student and Research Assistant at Macquarie Medical School, Department of Biomedical Sciences, working under Professor Ralph Martins and Dr Cintia Botelho Dias as part of the CoMBAT-AD research team.

Her educational background includes:

• Master of Philosophy in Exercise and Sport Science from University of Newcastle, Australia (Thesis: "The effects of the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive cycle on body composition")
• Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Psychology from University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

Heidi's research centers on whether medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil can efficiently provide brain energy to prevent or delay Alzheimer's disease symptoms. Her work spans neuroscience and dementia research with emphasis on ketone bodies, energy metabolism, and medium-chain fatty acids as therapeutic interventions. She has contributed significantly to systematic reviews examining multi-domain dementia prevention strategies and metabolic approaches to Alzheimer's treatment.

Her publication record shows consistent contributions to high-impact journals, with recent work focusing on brain energy metabolism in Alzheimer's disease, systematic reviews of medium-chain fatty acids, and multi-domain interventions for dementia prevention. Her research bridges basic neuroscience with clinical applications, particularly exploring metabolic pathways as potential therapeutic targets.

Scientific recognition:

• University of Newcastle International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UNIPRS), 2015
• University of Newcastle Research Scholarship Central 50:50 (UNRSC 50:50), 2015

Heidi actively contributes to multiple research initiatives including "Medium-Chain Fatty Acids in Alzheimer's Disease Prevention" and "The Australian-Multidomain Approach to Reduce Dementia Risk by Protecting Brain Health With Lifestyle Intervention," demonstrating her commitment to translating research into practical brain health interventions through interdisciplinary collaboration.