Our research focuses on creating healthier communities through lifestyle-based prevention and management of type 2 diabetes.
We explore how movement, nutrition and behaviour influence long-term health and apply this knowledge to improve care, policy and everyday practice.
Epidemiology
Understanding how physical activity, sedentary behaviour and healthy eating interact to influence health outcomes for adults with, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes.
Research focus
- Using large-scale observational data to inform prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
- Health outcomes: examining how movement, sitting time and dietary patterns relate to cardio-metabolic biomarkers, complications, morbidity and mortality.
- Determinants: identifying social, environmental and psychosocial drivers of activity, sedentary time and eating behaviours to inform person-centred, equitable interventions.
Experimental
Running controlled laboratory experiments to uncover how physical activity, sedentary behaviour and healthy eating influence key biological pathways linked to cardiometabolic health and type 2 diabetes.
Research focus
This research pillar uses controlled laboratory experiments to examine how physical activity, sedentary behaviour and diet influence cardiovascular, metabolic and cognitive function, particularly in adults with or at risk of type 2 diabetes. It aims to identify practical, evidence-based strategies to counteract the harmful effects of prolonged sitting, refine recommendations for moving more and eating well, and support better short- and long-term health.
Intervention
Investigating how changes in physical activity, sedentary behaviour and healthy eating contribute to the prevention and management of chronic disease, particularly type 2 diabetes, through real-world randomised controlled trials.
Research focus
This research pillar tests person-centred interventions that help adults move more, sit less and eat well in everyday settings such as primary care, communities and workplaces. These studies examine short- and longer-term effects on cardio-metabolic risk factors, complications and quality of life, and assess feasibility, equity, cost-effectiveness and scalability to inform future policy and practice.
Project highlights
The OPTIMISE your health study
This study is the first to rigorously examine the effects of reducing and breaking up sitting time on glycaemic control in office workers with type 2 diabetes.
Implementation
Translating evidence on the benefits of moving more, sitting less and eating well into best practice, and assessing real-world impact and policy implications.
Research focus
This research pillar aims to shape policy and best-practice guidelines by understanding how to increase physical activity, reduce sedentary behaviour and improve diet across diverse communities. It centres on co-designing tailored, person-centred strategies with people living with type 2 diabetes, health professionals and other stakeholders, and rigorously evaluating their effectiveness, equity, scalability and costs. Insights from this work help bridge the evidence-to-practice gap and guide future co-design and implementation efforts.