Dr Jacinta Brinsley is a Research Fellow in the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) group at Adelaide University. Her research focuses on designing and implementing accessible and equitable behavioural interventions that improve mental and physical health outcomes, with expertise in co-design methodologies, research trials, and mind-body exercise approaches.
 
Jacinta completed her PhD at the University of South Australia in 2022, establishing the evidence base for yoga as an exercise intervention for mental health. Her lead-authored systematic review and meta-analysis was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and has generated substantial research impact (Altmetric score 933).
 
As an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, she combines clinical experience from private practice and inpatient mental health settings with methodological expertise in evidence synthesis, co-design research, and large-scale trials. She has published 17 peer-reviewed articles generating 614 citations, secured over $180,000 as lead investigator, and contributed to grants totalling over $2.15 million.
 
Her research vision is to advance equitable access to evidence-based health behaviour interventions delivered as part of routine care, with particular focus on prevention and early intervention for disadvantaged populations.