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Prof Welma Stonehouse

Principal Research Scientist and Research Group Leader, Health and Biosecurity, CSIRO

https://people.csiro.au/S/W/Welma-Stonehouse

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Contact details:

PO BOX 11060
ADELAIDE SA 5001 AUSTRALIA

Biography

Prof Welma Stonehouse (previous surname Oosthuizen) is a Principal Research Scientist within CSIRO's Human Health Programme, Health and Biosecurity Business Unit. She started her career more than 30 years ago as a scientific researcher, university lecturer and was later promoted to Associate Professor in Human Nutrition at North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. She then joined Massey University in Auckland as Associate Professor in Human Nutrition in 2006 until 2013 after which she jointed CSIRO.

Welma's research focusses on the development and scientific evaluation of nutrition interventions for better health. Over the last ~30 years she has collaborated with various academic partners, companies and industries to scientifically validate the health benefits of nutritional products including fats & oils, dairy, fish, supplements (omega-3, vitamin D, antioxidants), nuts, fruit & vegetables on various health outcomes. Welma has, over the past 10 years, acquired almost $7.5 million of combined competitive and industry research funding. She has extensive experience in leading large-scale, multidisciplinary clinical trial teams in substantiating the health and functional benefits of nutritional components.

Welma has successfully supervised 28 PhD/MSc students in Nutrition/Dietetics. She has published more than 100 papers in the international peer-reviewed scientific literature and has a Google Scholar H-index of 40.

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to nutritional science, she was presented with the Muriel Bell Award from the Nutrition Society of New Zealand in 2013.

Welma is currently President of the Nutrition Society of Australia and Treasure of the International Union of Nutrition Sciences. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Australia as well as Queensland University of Technology. Welma is immediate past-chair of the Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Platform (ONLP) and played a significant role in establishing the ONLP (www.onlp.org).

Professional Areas

Current Roles

  • Research Group Leader
    Nutrition and Health Substantiation

  • Principal Research Scientist
    Nutrition

Academic Qualifications

  • 1999

    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
    North-West University/Noordwes-Universiteit

Professional Experiences

  • August 2022-Ongoing

    Adjunct Professor
    University of South Australia

  • July 2021-Ongoing

    Adjunct Professor
    Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

  • July 2006-June 2013

    Associate Professor in Human Nutrition
    Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand

  • 2003-May 2006

    Associate Professor in Human Nutrition
    North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

Achievements and Awards

  • 2013-2013

    Muriel Bell Memorial lecture award in recognition of outstanding contribution to nutrition
    Nutrition Society of New Zealand

Grants

  • 2020-2021

    Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Singapore-Australia Bilateral Programme on “Innovations in Food for Precision Health”, $200,000, Co-investigator

  • 2020-2022

    Commercial Industry: Novel cholesterol lowering supplement, $800,000, Principal Investigator.

  • 2017-2020

    Commercial Industry: Krill oil supplementation and Osteoarthritis of the knee, $1,400,000, Principal Investigator.

  • 2017-2019

    Commercial Industry: Dietary fats, triglyceride structure and fat deposition, AU$1,200,000, Project leader.

  • 2017-2018

    Commercial Industry: In vivo dynamics of gangliosides, AU$448,000.

  • 2016-2019

    Commercial Industry: Cranberry supplementation and Urinary tract infection, AU$750,000, Principal Investigator.

  • 2016-2018

    Commercial Industry: Milk-based product on cognitive function in children, AU$720,800.

  • 2016-2017

    Almond Board of California, Advancing the metabolic health benefits of Almonds, Project Grant: US$350,000

  • 2016-2017

    Commercial Industry: Dietary fats, triglyceride structure and lipid profiles. AU$600,000 Project leader.

  • 2016-2018

    Horticulatural Innovation Australia: Translating scientific evidence into health messages for apples and pears. AU$20,000 Project leader.

  • 2015-2015

    Horticulatural Innovation Australia: Health & nutritional properties of Pears – a Review of the scientific evidence, AU$35,000 Project leader.

  • 2015-2015

    Commercial Industry: Project: Health products using a DHA-rich oil, AU$57,000 Project leader.

  • 2014-2014

    Commercial Industry: The role of dairy for the management of healthy body composition – a systematic review, AU$40,000.

  • 2014-2014

    Commercial Industry: The role of dairy foods and ingredients for the management of muscle and function in people aged 55 plus years – a systematic review, AU$40,000.

  • 2014-2015

    Lottery Health Research, New Zealand: Project: Hidden fat in young New Zealand women: metabolic risk and predictive factors, NZ$43,000.

  • 2013-2014

    Commercial Industry: A randomised controlled trial to compare the short-term effects of palm-tocotrienols and palm-carotenes on vascular function and cardiovascular disease risk in individuals with an elevated cardiovascular risk profile, AU$726,000.

  • 2013-2015

    Nutricia Research Foundation Singapore: Project: Hidden fat in young New Zealand women: metabolic risk and predictive factors, €24,806.

  • 2013-2014

    Commercial Industry: Acute effects of vascular function of palmolein and olive oil in the content of a high protein test diet, AU$265,000

  • 2011-2012

    Oakley Mental Health Research Foundation: Project: Can genes interact with omega-3 fatty acids to improve brain performance? NZ$14,000 Principle investigator.

  • 2011-2012

    Neurological Foundation of New Zealand: Project: Can genes interact with omega-3 fatty acids to improve brain performance? NZ$15,556 Principle investigator.

  • 2011-2012

    The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand: Project: Fruit and vegetables and cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. NZ$14,886 Principle investigator.

  • 2011-2012

    Health Research Council: Project: Vitamin D status of NZ preschoolers and relationship with respiratory infection and atopic disease, NZ$150,000.

  • 2010-2013

    Massey University Research Fund: Omega-3 Brain Study: DHA supplementation and cognitive performance, NZ$14,524 Principle investigator

  • 2009-2010

    Zespri Group Ltd: Project: Kiwifruit & markers of metabolic health, NZ$280,113 Principle investigator.

  • 2008-2009

    New Zealand Technology in Industry (TIF) grant, Bioavailability of long chain omega-3 from farmed salmon and salmon oil capsules, $26,000 Principle investigator.

  • 2008-2009

    Zespri Group Ltd, Project: The KiWI Study – Kiwi Women’s Iron Study, NZ$257,600.

  • 2007-2009

    South African Sugar Association: Project: Polyunsaturated fat, liver enzymes and inflammatory markers in HIV-infected subjects: the PURE-SA study, ZAR90,000.

  • 2007-2008

    New Zealand Ministry of Health, Project: NZ Adult Nutrition Survey, NZ$21,601.

Community and Corporate Citizenship

  • December 2021-Ongoing

    President Nutrition Society of Australia

  • 2019-December 2021

    President-Elect Nutrition Society of Nutrition

  • Dec 2022-Present

    Treasurer International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS)

  • August 2018-December 2021

    Chair Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Program (ONLP)

  • December 2013-July 2018

    Deputy Chair Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Program (ONLP)

  • October 2012-March 2018

    Editorial Board BMC Cardiovascular Disorders

  • January 2015-April 2018

    Editorial Board BMC Nutrition

  • March 2015-July 2022

    Editorial Board Nutrition Research Reviews

  • January 2017-January 2023

    Editorial Board European Journal of Nutrition

  • December 2009-April 2013

    Honorary secretary of the Nutrition Society of New Zealand

  • 2002-2005

    Involved in conception, development and organising the African Nutrition Leadership Programme

  • 2019-Present

    Board Member Australian Nutrition Trust Fund

  • 2019-Present

    Australian Academy of Science National Committee for Nutrition Member

Publications

We have publications by Prof Welma Stonehouse