BIOSKETCH
Position: Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos
Pro Vice Chancellor & Executive Dean
College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education
Murdoch University 90 South Street,
Murdoch 6150
Email: Catherine.itsiopoulos@murdoch.edu.au; Tel: 08 9360 7696
Career Summary:
Catherine is a recognised leader in Dietetics and has international standing as a leader in Mediterranean diet research.
She is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and has maintained an active research profile in Mediterranean diet research throughout her career. Catherine is the Pro Vice Chancellor of the College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education at Murdoch University in Perth, WA, where she has oversight of over 20 disciplines and multiple research centres focussed on Food, Health and the Environment.
Previous positions include Head of School of Allied Health La Trobe University (2016-2018), Associate Dean International Faculty of Health Sciences at La Trobe University (2013-2014), Deputy Chair of the Australian Dietetics Council (2017-2018), Head of School of Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Canberra (2009-2010), manager Accreditation and Recognition Services, Dietitians Association of Australia (2004-2010), Fellow of the CRE in Diabetes, University of Melbourne (2007-2010).
Research Leadership:
Catherine’s specific research area of interest is Mediterranean diet studies focusing both on migration impact on diet and lifestyle and chronic disease risk and dietary clinical intervention trials using the traditional Cretan Mediterranean diet (and elements of) as intervention models in the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression and mood disorders, and childhood asthma. Her interests span whole of diet interventions, modulating individual components of diet such as omega-3/omega-6 ratio and pharmacological doses of long-chain omega-3s through diet, and culinary herb and spice placebo controlled capsule trials. Her clinical laboratory interests include measurement of dietary intake, plasma biomarkers of diet (carotenoids, polyphenols, fatty acids), body composition and body fat distribution, and inflammatory markers of CVD risk. Catherine is the inaugural chair of the scientific advisory committee for the Olive Wellness Institute (2017 - ) and a member of the Evaluation Committee of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council World Forum for Nutrition Research (2017-).
Publications:
Catherine has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications with 2668 citations (>1600 in last 5 years), has an h-index of 23 (Google Scholar) including 48 papers in the last 5 years with at least 10 citations (i10-index of 48).Catherine has also authored an RACGP HANDII Guideline on Mediterranean Diet in CHD management (May 2014), 3 book chapters, co-edited a Nutrition textbook, and has published 2 Mediterranean Diet Cookbooks (The Mediterranean Diet 2013, The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook 2015).
Research Grants and Fellowships:
Catherine has been a CI on 12 successful grants over the past 10 years and has raised in excess of $5.5M across her career. (NHMRC, CCRE Fellowship, MLA, Cobram, SWISSE Wellness, La Trobe University).
HDR Supervision and Mentorship:
Catherine is currently mentoring 4 PhD students and has 16 PhD completions in a breadth of methodological modalities including ethnographic studies of traditional cultures, migration studies, and short and long term dietary RCTs examining intermediate and long-term effects of diet on metabolic risk and clinical endpoints.
Top 10 Career Publications:
1. Itsiopoulos C, Kucianski T, Mayr HL, van Gaal WJ, Martinez-Gonzalez M, et al. (2018) The Australian Mediterranean Diet Heart Trial (AUSMED heart Trial): A randomised clinical trial in secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in a multiethnic Australian population: Study Protocol. American Heart Journal 203,4-11. Citations 13 (Google scholar 18/04/20).
2. Itsiopoulos C, Brazionis L, Kaimakamis M, Cameron M, Best JD, O'Dea K, Rowley K (2011). Can the Mediterranean diet lower HbA1c in type 2 diabetes? Results from a randomized cross-over study. Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases 21(9):740-7. Citations: 136 (Google scholar 18/04/20)
3. Ryan MC, Itsiopoulos C, Thodis T, Ward G, Trost N, Hofferberth S, O'Dea K, Desmond PV, Johnson NA, Wilson AM (2013). The Mediterranean diet improves hepatic steatosis and insulin sensitivity in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Journal of Hepatology 59(1):138-143 Citations: 394 (Google scholar 18/04/20)
4. Kouris-Blazos A, Itsiopoulos C (2014). Low all-cause mortality despite high cardiovascular risk in elderly Greek-born Australians: attenuating potential of diet? Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition 23(4):532-544. Citations 20 (Google Scholar 18/04/20).
5. Jacka F.N, O'Neil A., Itsiopoulos C., Opie R., Cotton S., Castle D., Dash S., Mihalopoulos C., Chatterton M.L., Brazionis L., Dean O.M., Hodge A.M., l Berk M. A randomized, controlled trial of a dietary intervention for adults with major depression (the ‘SMILES’ trial). BMC Medicine 2017;15(1):23. Citations 257 (Google scholar 18/04/20)
6. Thomas J, Thomas CJ, Radcliffe J, Itsiopoulos C (2015). Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Early Prevention of Inflammatory Neurodegenerative Disease: A Focus on Alzheimer’s Disease. BioMed Res Int Article ID 172801, DOI:10.1155/2015/172801 Citations: 98 (Google scholar 18/04/20)
7. Opie RS, O’Neil AO, Itsiopoulos C, Jacka FN (2015). The impact of whole of diet interventions on depression and anxiety: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Public Health Nutrition 18(11), 2074-2093. Citations 123 (Google Scholar 18/04/20).
8. Parletta N, Zarnowiecki D,…Itsiopoulos C et al. (2019) A Mediterranean-style dietary intervention supplemented with fish oil improves diet quality and mental health in people with depression: A randomised controlled trial (HELFIMED) Nutritional Neuroscience 22(7), 474-487. Citations 95 (Google scholar 18/04/20).
9. Su Q, Rowley K, Itsiopoulos C, O’Dea K. (2002) Identification and quantitation of major carotenoids in selected components of the Mediterranean diet: green leafy vegetables, figs and olive oil. Eu J Clin Nutr 56(11), 1149-1154. Citations 94 (Google Scholar 18/04/20).
10. Itsiopoulos C, Hodge A, Kaimakamis M. (2009) Can the Mediterranean diet prevent prostate cancer? Mol Nutr & Food Res 53(2), 227-239. Citations 81 (Google scholar 18/04/20).
11. Papamichael MM, Itsiopoulos C, Susanto NH, Erbas B. Does adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern reduce asthma symptoms in children? A systematic review of observational studies. (2017) Public Health Nutrition 20(15), 2722-2734.