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Boden Collaboration for Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders
Research, prevention, clinical care, education and policy change
We aspire to reduce the individual and societal impact of obesity, eating disorders and lifestyle-related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer, mental illness and osteoarthritis.
About us
The Boden Collaboration is a joint initiative of the Faculty of Medicine and Health, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Health Sciences, and is administered through Sydney Medical School.
We aim to take a leading role in the battle to control the global obesity epidemic and lifestyle-related chronic diseases by providing a focus for advancing basic and clinical research, public health and policy development.
The collaboration is a result of the foresight, contribution and generosity of Dr Alexander Boden, AO – a graduate of the University of Sydney, scientist and philanthropist.
Our research
The Boden Collaboration is directed by Professor Ian Caterson, who heads up a team of internationally renowned experts. We take a broad approach to combating and preventing obesity and lifestyle-related chronic disease.
Our researchers have expertise across the whole human lifecycle from pre-gestation to old age, and collectively have the broadest approach and expertise for combating and preventing eating disorders, obesity and lifestyle-related chronic disease assembled in Australia – from specialised clinics to public health systems.
Our unique contributions to research and translation to health systems and practice include:
- specialist consultative input into obesity and diabetes prevention, as well as management research and practice
- development and delivery of unique e-therapies for eating disorders, and directing worldwide, large-scale innovative studies in diabetes prevention
- improving the evidence base for choice of different obesity treatment options as a result of determining the long-term effects of fast versus slow weight loss on body composition and eating behaviours in different populations (for example, in older adults or people with binge eating disorders)
- analysing the cost-effectiveness of primary care referral to a commercial provider for weight loss treatment, relative to standard care, thus enabling decisions about optimal ways to treat obesity in the community
- pioneering novel methodologies, such as the use of comprehensive phenotyping techniques in lifespan cardiovascular health studies in healthy and unwell infants and children
- translation of evidence-based packages for eating disorders into online therapy programs made widely available to those not receiving services
- assessing the value of oxytocin in the treatment of clinical eating disorders.
Clinical trials at the Boden Institute are conducted in 'The Clinic' at Charles Perkins Centre.
Clinical trials
We can't do research without your help. If you would like to get involved, we are currently looking for volunteers for the following studies. To participate in a clinical trial, please register on our online Clinical Trials Registry.
For clinical trials queries please contact:
PH: +61 447 316 078
E: clinicaltrials.boden@sydney.edu.au
Did you know there are many causes of obesity?
A research study for rare genetic obesity is enrolling now.
If you and/or your child struggle with your weight, you may want to find out more about a research study we’re conducting in adults and children over two years of age. If you and/or your child are eligible and choose to take part, you will be asked to provide a cheek swab or blood sample for genetic testing. This may help you understand the cause of obesity in you or your child. There is no charge for the study-related tests or visits.
If you have always struggled with your weight and feel like you are hungry all the time, you may be interested in this study. Your privacy is important to us and your information will be coded and protected.
This study has received ethics approval from the RPAH Ethics Review Committee (Protocol No. X19-0021).
Eligibility
You may be eligible to participate in this study if you:
- Feel hungry often or all the time
- Have a BMI of 40 or more
Your child may be eligible to participate in this study if they:
- Feel hungry often or all the time
- Are in the 99th percentile of BMI for their age
How to participate
If you are interested in participating in this study please register on our Clinical Trials Registry, www.charlesperkinsresearch.com or email to clinicaltrials.boden@sydney.edu.au
The University of Sydney is in the process of developing a simple method to assess central blood pressure in children. Help us develop better ways to detect cardiovascular disease early.
Type 2 diabetes can result in an array of cardiovascular and metabolic complications and is often seen in people who are overweight or obese. High-intensity interval training (HIIT), which involves regular short exercise bouts, has been shown to produce similar benefits to more time-consuming exercise which is currently recommended in public health guidelines. For instance, recent scientific studies have suggested that HIIT can improve fitness, cardiovascular health, and reduce visceral fat with or without weight loss.
This research aims to examine the effect of a novel approach to HIIT training (only four minutes of vigorous exercise per exercise session) compared with traditional aerobic exercise guidelines on metabolic and cardiovascular risk outcomes. Participants randomised into an exercise group will receive full supervision by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist.
The intervention runs for 12 weeks and requires attendance at the Charles Perkins Centre for 3 days each week. The key eligibility criteria are:
- aged between 18-65
- body mass index greater than 30
- not currently undertaking regular exercise.
For information or to register your interest, contact:
- Kim Way: kway2744@uni.sydney.edu.au, 0407 252 422
Although you might be healthy, carrying extra weight at the start of a pregnancy can be associated with complications in pregnancy such as hypertension, diabetes, miscarriage and caesarean delivery.
Our people
- Professor Ian Caterson, Boden Institute Director
- Professor Maria Fiatarone Singh, Director of the Exercise Division
- Dr Sarah Maguire, Director of Eating and Dieting Disorders
- Professor Timothy Gill, Research Programs Director
- Associate Professor Michael Skilton, Future Leader Fellow and Translational Research Program Co-Leader
- Dr Nick Fuller, Research Program Leader
- Associate Professor Amanda Salis, NHMRC Senior Research Fellow
- Professor Stephen Touyz, Professor of Clinical Psychology
- Professor Janice Russell, Professor of Psychiatry
- Associate Professor Tania Markovic, Clinical Associate Professor
- Professor Stephen Colagiuri, Professor of Metabolic Health
- Kristine Maddock, Executive Assistant
- Tegan Picone, Clinical Trials Research Assistant
- Melanie Symons, Administration Manager
Contact us
Phone
Mobile
Email
Address
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Level 2 Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney NSW 2006
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