Kelly Lambert

Kelly Lambert is an Associate Professor and Academic Program Director for Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Wollongong, Australia, within the School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences in the Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health. She is also a Fellow of Dietitians Australia and has over two decades of clinical experience as a specialist kidney dietitian.

Dr. Lambert completed her PhD at the University of Wollongong in 2018, focusing on health literacy and cognitive impairment in kidney failure dietary management. Her educational background includes a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, both from the University of Wollongong, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Health Economics from the University of Adelaide.

Her primary research interests center around supporting people with kidney disease to live better lives through improved nutrition education and care. Dr. Lambert specializes in renal nutrition, health literacy, and patient education methodologies. She has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between clinical practice and patient outcomes, particularly for those with chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal failure, and related conditions. Her work emphasizes the importance of culturally appropriate, accessible nutrition information for patients with varying levels of health literacy.

Dr. Lambert's research portfolio demonstrates a strong focus on practical applications of nutrition science in kidney care. Her recent publications highlight innovations in digital health tools for patient education, dietary pattern analysis for kidney disease management, and the intersection of planetary health and clinical nutrition. She has pioneered approaches to redesign patient education materials and develop specialized tools like the Easy Diet Diary Renal app to improve health outcomes for kidney patients.

• Fellow of Dietitians Australia (2025)
• NHMRC Translating Research Into Practice Fellowship (2017)
• Dame Bridget Ogilvie Clinical Excellence Award (2016)
• King and Amy O'Malley Scholar (2015)
• Renal Society of Australasia Graham Burnley Memorial Scholarship (2017, 2009)

Dr. Lambert has supervised more than 80 research students across nutrition, dietetics, medical science, and graduate medicine. Her current supervision focuses on kidney disease, health literacy, patient education, inflammatory bowel disease, and clinical dietetics. She has secured significant funding for her research, including NHMRC grants and multiple university-funded projects examining digital health interventions, dietary patterns in kidney disease, and plant-based nutrition approaches. Her collaborative work spans clinical, educational, and technological domains to address critical gaps in renal nutrition care.

Dr. Lambert leads several major initiatives, including the Easy Diet Diary Renal app development and the TELEKinesis Study investigating digital health interventions for kidney patients. She co-chairs the Australasian Kidney Trials Network Peritoneal Dialysis Working Group and serves on multiple high-level governance committees including the International Council of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism Executive. Her work bridges clinical practice, research, and education to transform renal nutrition care standards both nationally and internationally.