Rate My Professor Kirrilly Pursey

Dr Kirrilly Pursey is a Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Newcastle's College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy, a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours Class 1 with the University Medal), and a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics, all from the University of Newcastle. An Accredited Practising Dietitian and member of Dietitians Australia, her career history includes clinical dietitian positions at Hunter Nutrition Specialists, Project Officer for the Eating Disorders Redesign Project at Hunter New England Health, Conjoint Lecturer at Western Sydney University, and Allied Health Conjoint at Hunter New England Health. She teaches and coordinates courses in clinical nutrition management, paediatric nutrition and dietetics, nutrition communication, and food science.

Pursey's research interests centre on the prevention and treatment of disordered eating behaviours, neurobiological underpinnings of nutrition including food addiction, and nutritional optimisation for children with inborn errors of immunity. Her pioneering studies using functional MRI linked food addiction to highly palatable foods rich in fat and sugar. Key publications include "Food Addiction, Dietary Patterns, and Obesity" (2024), "Neural Responses in Addictive Eating: a Systematic Review" (2024), "Dietary Intakes and Nutritional Issues in Inborn Errors of Immunity: A Systematic Review" (2023), "The Role of the Dietitian" (2023), "Eating Disorders" (2023), and "The Relationship between Addictive Eating and Dietary Intake: A Systematic Review" (2022). With over 50 journal articles, 6 book chapters, and more than 2,600 citations on Google Scholar, her work is cited in policy documents from the United Nations, UNICEF, WHO, and clinical practice guidelines. Major awards and fellowships encompass the HMRI Food and Nutrition Research Program ECR Excellence Award (2024), Best Poster Award from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (2024), College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing ECR Award (2022), University Medal (2012), Greaves Family Early Career Researcher Grant from HMRI (2016), and NHMRC Early and Mid Career Researcher MRFF grant (2025). She supervises postgraduate research students and holds leadership roles including HMRI Food and Nutrition Research Program EMCR Representative.