Rate My Professor Rebecca McLoughlin

Dr Rebecca McLoughlin holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Newcastle, awarded in 2019 for research examining the impact of nutrition on inflammation and its effect on the pathogenesis of asthma. She also earned a Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours Class 1) with the University Medal from the University of Newcastle. As an Accredited Practising Dietitian, she has over eight years of experience in doctoral and postdoctoral clinical research focused on respiratory diseases.

Currently serving as Senior Grants Officer in the Research and Innovation Division at the University of Newcastle, Dr McLoughlin previously held positions as Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Research Excellence in Treatable Traits (2020-2025) and Postdoctoral Clinical Researcher in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health (2019-2020). She is affiliated with the School of Nursing and Midwifery in the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing. Her research interests lie in clinical nutrition (40%) and respiratory diseases (60%), with a focus on developing innovative approaches for managing obstructive airway diseases such as severe asthma, aiming to translate findings into clinical practice. She has been awarded the Asthma Australia Fellowship and has secured more than $5 million in research funding over the last five years.

Dr McLoughlin has received numerous accolades, including the Early Career Researcher Award from the UON School of Nursing and Midwifery (2022), Vice Chancellor Celebrating Success Award (2022), Best Oral Presentation at the Nutrition Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting (2017), University Medal (2015), Faculty of Health and Medicine Scholar awards (2014, 2013), and several travel grants from the Nutrition Society of Australia. High-impact publications include "Increasing physical activity in severe asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis" (2022), "Soluble fibre supplementation with and without a probiotic in adults with asthma: A 7-day randomised, double blind, three way cross-over trial" (2019), "Effect of obesity on airway and systemic inflammation in adults with asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis" (2023), "The effects of increasing fruit and vegetable intake in children with asthma: A randomized controlled trial" (2021), and book chapters "Exercise effects in adults with asthma" (2022) and "Vitamin E and air pollution" (2019). Her contributions advance the understanding and treatment of nutrition-related aspects in respiratory conditions.