Matthew Dunn

Associate Professor Matthew Dunn is a prominent researcher in the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University and a member of the Institute for Health Transformation. He joined Deakin University in 2011 after working for over five years at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at the University of New South Wales. He currently holds leadership positions including Public Health and Health Promotion Discipline Lead, HSD Chair for Academic Integrity and Progress Committee, and Course Director for Postgraduate Health Promotion.

Dr. Dunn is internationally recognized as an expert in human enhancement drugs, with a specific focus on performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) such as anabolic-androgenic steroids. His research spans drug markets (including price, purity, and availability), the social determinants of health in relation to substance use, and drug use in sports contexts. He has published extensively on these topics in high-impact journals and frequently contributes to public discourse through The Conversation.

His recent research has examined vaping cessation apps, substance use patterns among elite athletes, and the health risks associated with illicit use of substances like clenbuterol. His work demonstrates a consistent focus on evidence-based approaches to substance use issues, with particular attention to harm reduction strategies and public health implications. His publications show a progression from examining steroid use patterns to broader substance use issues affecting the general population.

Dr. Dunn is an active member of several professional organizations including the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD), the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), Sports Medicine Australia (SMA), and the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA).

He has received funding from multiple sources including Cancer Institute NSW, VicHealth, and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing for his research on substance use patterns. His work on recreational drug use among elite athletes was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Dr. Dunn teaches postgraduate courses in health policy and alcohol and other drug studies, and supervises Honours, Masters, and PhD students. His educational background includes a PhD from the University of Sydney and multiple graduate certificates in relevant fields including Applied Statistics, Population Health, and Higher Education.