CPC Metabolic Health Initiative
Our vision
The core vision of the CPC Metabolic Health Initiative is to identify and foster metabolic health research collaborations across the University landscape.
The CPC Metabolic Health Initiative is a Western Sydney-led initiative. The region has established infrastructure and networks as well as increased need for solutions due to diverse populations at high risk of chronic diseases.
The CPC Metabolic Health Initiative originates from the Charles Perkins Centre where leadership, expertise and networks in metabolic health research are well-established. The multidisciplinary and collaborative nature of the Centre disrupts the traditional siloed networks generating unique solutions to complex metabolic health problems.
Our work
The CPC Metabolic Health Initiative brings together leaders in the field of metabolic health with the expertise and knowledge to identify problems and prevent the development of metabolic disease by addressing underlying factors.
The University of Sydney is a globally recognised leader and a leading university in Australia for research in nutritional and metabolic disease. A large part of this recognition has been facilitated by the Charles Perkins Centre across its three locations at the University of Sydney: Camperdown, Nepean and Westmead precincts.
Metabolic disease
Metabolic health is influenced by biological, environmental, and behavioural factors such as quality of nutrition, physical activity, stress and sleep. It is related to the body’s ability to efficiently convert food into energy and regulate blood sugar, lipid and hormone levels. When these processes are disrupted, cells are unable to perform critical biochemical reactions, putting people at greater risk of developing chronic conditions such as hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
The right combination of medical, behavioural, and educational interventions - as well as strategies to modify the broader environments that influence these factors - can help to prevent the more common metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. These diseases have a high incidence in the modern world and significantly increase the likelihood of disability and premature death, and cost economies billions of dollars in healthcare and lost productivity, globally.
Current projects
- Scoping of priorities for researchers in metabolic health at the University.
- Building new partnerships with researchers, clinicians and decision-makers in metabolic health.
CPC Metabolic Health Initiative Collaboration Grants 2025 and the CPC Metabolic Health Initiative Launch Event in November 2025.
What impact will this research have?
Our research develops new and effective solutions and improves the provision of clinical care and the health and wellbeing of people living with metabolic disease. We lobby for long-term, sustainable investment in metabolic health research. We encourage researchers and clinicians to work across traditional discipline siloes to address these complex problems.
Collaboration team
Professor Louise Baur | Research Project Node Lead
Professor Alex Broom
Professor Maria Craig
Professor Natasha Nassar
Professor Jenny Gunton
Professor David James
Ms Khairunnessa Yusuf | Senior Project Officer
How we fit within the Charles Perkins Centre research program
Domains
Biology
Populations
Society and environment
Solutions