Nutrition research leader elected Fellow of Australian Academy of Science

Tuesday, 28 May 2019

A University of Adelaide professor whose research has changed international food laws and set infant nutrient recommendations worldwide is among a group of leading scientists acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to science.

Nutrition researcher Professor Maria Makrides is one of eight women and among 22 scientists elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.

Professor Makrides is the Women and Kids Theme Leader with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), and Professor of Human Nutrition with the University of Adelaide's Adelaide Medical School.

Professor Makrides is an international leader in maternal–infant nutrition, with a focus on optimising the cognition, growth and immune development of children. She is especially recognised for her rigorous nutritional intervention studies during the first 1000 days of life — between conception and a child’s second birthday.

Her multidisciplinary research group conducts large-scale randomised controlled trials to investigate the health effects of dietary fatty acids, iron, iodine and novel dietary ingredients. She has made major contributions to changes in the composition of infant formulae, on changing international food laws and on setting specific nutrient recommendations worldwide.

Australian Academy of Science President Professor John Shine congratulated the new Fellows for making significant and lasting impacts in their scientific disciplines.

"These scientists were elected by their Academy peers following a rigorous evaluation process. What stands out among the new Fellows elected this year is the collective impact of their science on an international scale," Professor Shine said.

Watch a video about Professor Makrides's research.

Pictured: Professor Maria Makrides. Photo courtesy of the Australian Academy of Science.

Contact Details