Tracy McCaffrey

Tracy McCaffrey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at Monash University, where she leads the research stream on Dietary Assessment Methodologies. She is a Registered Nutritionist (UK) and leads the Monash Digital Nutrition Lab, which integrates nutrition science with data science, AI, and communication to improve public health. Her affiliations include the Victorian Heart Institute (VHI), Monash Data Futures Institute, Action Lab, RMIT University, Monash University Malaysia, and the Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

Her research focuses on Public Health Nutrition, evolving from dietary assessment and portion size understanding to innovative use of social media and digital health tools for health communication. She investigates how marketing and behavioral techniques can improve public engagement with nutrition, particularly among young adults. Her work emphasizes creating equitable food environments and harnessing AI for social good, aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Her recent research, reflected in multiple publications in journals like Nutrients and Nutrition & Dietetics, centers on health communication, digital health interventions, behavioral nutrition, and dietary assessment tools like Intake24 and MyFoodSwaps. The articles show a strong trend toward mixed-methods and systematic reviews, integrating qualitative insights with quantitative data to inform public health strategies.

• Development and relative validation of Intake24 for Malaysia (2022)
• The Incubator Grant: Bolster Category (2023)

Tracy has advised government departments in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Ireland on dietary intake assessment and portion size. She was co-investigator and project coordinator on the NHMRC-funded Communicating Health (CommHealth) project, continuing the legacy of Dr. Cate Lombard. She currently chairs the Communications Portfolio and serves as International Liaison Officer for the Nutrition Society of Australia and is a Trustee of the Australian Nutrition Trust Fund. She is accepting PhD students and involved in national advisory roles, including the Expert Consultation on the 2023 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Study.

She leads and collaborates on major projects such as Intake24, MyFoodSwaps, and Open Nutrition: Towards a Global Platform for Dietary Assessment. Her lab fosters interdisciplinary collaborations to co-create fair food environments and improve health communication through digital innovation.