Kirrilly Pursey

Dr. Kirrilly Pursey is a Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at the School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle. As an Accredited Practising Dietitian and early career researcher, her work bridges clinical practice with multidisciplinary research in food addiction, neuroimaging, and pediatric nutrition.

• Education: PhD and Bachelor in Nutrition and Dietetics from University of Newcastle.

Research Focus: Investigates addictive-like eating behaviors, dietary impacts on immune function, and prevention of eating disorders in schools. Key collaborations include international institutions like University of Michigan and Western Sydney University.

Publications: Over 40 peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals, including systematic reviews on food addiction, neural responses to food, and nutrition in immunodeficient children.

• Scientific Awards: Recognized with HMRI ECR Excellence Award (2024), UoN CHMW ECR Award (2022), and multiple grants.

Clinical Practice: Serves as Clinical Allied Health Conjoint with Hunter New England Health, integrating real-world insights into research. Supervision of honors students and clinical teaching in Clinical Nutrition and Pediatric Dietetics further strengthens her translational approach.