91É«ÇéƬ

µþ¾±´Ç²µ°ù²¹±è³ó²âÌý

Chris Cashman commenced 91É«ÇéƬ PhD enrolment part time on 17 February 2025, and holds a Bachelor of Science (Nutrition Honours Class 1) and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise & Sports Science)(University of Sydney).

Chris has 10 years food industry experience as a nutrition and regulatory subject matter expert and has led numerous innovation projects and led nutrition and advocacy programs. Chris has experience and research skills in nutrition science and consumer research and has co-authored three peer reviewed publications. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2608-1955.Ìý

Chris is currently employed as Breakthrough Innovation, Nutrition & Regulatory Manager within Sanitarium’s Futures team, which is focused on designing breakthrough food innovations in categories new to Sanitarium.Ìý

Research titleÌý

Understanding the health and nutrition behaviours and needs of mid-life and older Australians, to provide education and high-value health foods for healthy ageing.

Research abstractÌý

Aim: To generate new nutrition insights into the health and dietary behaviours of mid-life and older Australians, focusing on healthy ageing, body composition, and muscle health. This knowledge will support health promotion and drive development and commercialisation of innovative food products.

Significance: The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia is reviewing evidence to update the National Dietary Guidelines for older Australians. Mid-life remains an understudied yet critical period for preventative nutrition and lifestyle interventions. Age-related declines in body composition and muscle health significantly affect quality of life, posing a growing concern for Australia’s ageing population. For the first time in a decade, the 2023–2024 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey offers timely population-level data to examine the intersection of nutrition, physical activity, and normative ageing.

Expected outcomes:

• New clinical and epidemiological nutrition knowledgeÌý

• Consumer insightsÌý

• Health claim dossier/s

³§³Ü±è±ð°ù±¹¾±²õ´Ç°ù²õÌý

Associate Professor Sara Grafenauer and Dr Luke GemmingÌý