Dr Amy Hutchison
NHMRC Ext-Funded Rsch Fellow B
School of Medicine
College of Health
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Dr Amy Hutchison is an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow based within the Lifelong Health Theme at SAHMRI, and affiliated with the Robinson Research Institute. Dr Hutchison has a keen interest in chrono-nutrition, with her research exploring 1) how modified meal patterns such as intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding can improve blood glucose control and cardiovascular risk in at-risk individuals, 2) how gastrointestinal appetite hormones respond to modified meal patterns, 3) changes in circadian rhythms in food intake, activity and sleep across pregnancy. She also has a keen interest in nutrition strategies to improve type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related disease, including cardiovascular risk. Her research in this area aims to embed access to technology to help inform nutrition strategies and lifestyle change , and incorporates consumer consultation and co-design strategies. She is involved in a number of clinical trials exploring the effects of intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding on metabolic health, as well as the effects of protein supplementation on blood glucose control and metabolic health in shift workers.
My research interests focus on exploring how what we eat, and when we eat it, can impact health, and circadian rhythms. Modified meal patterns such as intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding can improve health in people at risk of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, including shift workers. I am involved in a number of clinical trials exploring the effects of intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding on metabolic health, as well as the effects of protein supplementation on blood glucose control and metabolic health in shift workers, and characterising changes in circadian rhythms in pregnancy.
Current projects available:
CHARACTERISING CHANGES IN CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS, EATING ARCHITECTURE, GLUCOSE CONTROL AND ACTIVITY IN PREGNANCY (CREATE) (Honours/Masters)
This observational project harnesses technology to track changes in sleep, activity, food intake and meal timing and blood glucose control in early pregnancy, and throughout. This project would suit an individual with a Biostatistics background or an interest in learning to manipulate large data sets.
TIME-RESTRICTED EATING AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS IN THE LIVER (Honours/PhD)
This lab-based project will use blood samples collected during a recently completed clinical trial to examine the impacts of early or late time-restricted eating plus energy restriction, compared with energy restriction alone, upon circadian regulation of markers of liver health.
CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING ASSISTED REMOTE TELEHEALTH DIETETICS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE LIVING WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES AND IMPROVE CARDIOVASCULAR OUTCOMES (Honours/PhD)
This project is part of a larger, decentralized clinical trial exploring the feasibility and acceptability of continuous glucose monitoring alongside telehealth to improve health in people living with type 2 diabetes, including in rural and regional areas of Australia. This project will report on the impacts of this approach to improve cardiovascular health.
CHRONONUTRITION AND TYPE 2 DIABETES (Masters/PhD)
This exciting project will use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and clinical trials to test innovative dietary strategies to understand how meal timing interacts with metabolism and blood glucose control. The findings will help pave the way for more effective, real-world interventions for people living with type 2 diabetes.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 - ongoing | Postdoctoral Research Fellow | University of Adelaide |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Award | ANZOS Early Career Researcher Award – Clinical Research | Australia and New Zealand Obesity Society | Australia | - |
| 2017 | Award | Australia and New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS) ANZOS-OSSANZ-AOCO Rising Star Travel Award | Australia and New Zealand Obesity Society | Australia | - |
| 2013 | Award | Nutrition Society of Australia Early Career Travel Award | Nutrition Society of Australia | Australia | - |
| 2012 | Award | New Investigator Travel Award | Society for the study of Ingestive Behaviour | Switzerland | - |
| 2011 | Award | The University of Adelaide’s representative to the Australia/New Zealand National Three Minute Thesis Finals; Western Australia: “Weighing in on whey” | University of Adelaide | Australia | $1000 |
| 2011 | Achievement | Three minute thesis winner | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | University of Adelaide, Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 2009 | Massey University, Palmerston North | New Zealand | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| 2008 | Massey University, Palmerston North | New Zealand | Bachelor of Science |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Parr, E. B., Charrouf, R., Hutchison, A. T., Flint, S. A., Teong, X., Vincent, A. D., . . . Heilbronn, L. K. (2025). Time-restricted eating vs individualised dietetic guidance on glycaemia in adults. In DIABETOLOGIA Vol. 68 (pp. S87). SPRINGER. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Liu, B., Hutchison, A., Thompson, C., Wittert, G. A., & Heilbronn, L. K. (2019). Weight loss and tissue remodelling following 8-week calorie restriction or intermittent fasting in females who are overweight and obese. Poster session presented at the meeting of Obesity Research and Clinical Practice. Elsevier. |
| 2017 | Liu, B., Hutchison, A. T., Thompson, C. H., Wittert, G. A., & Heilbronn, L. (2017). Adipose tissue remodeling following eight-week calorie restriction or intermittent fasting in females who are overweight and obese. Poster session presented at the meeting of Diabetes. San Diego, CA: American Diabetes Association. WoS1 |
| 2013 | Ryan, A., Feinle-Bisset., Soenen, S., Steinert., Clifton., Horowitz., & Luscombe-Marsh. (2013). Relationships between Plasma Free Amino Acid Concentrations With Energy Intake and Insulin and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 in Response to Increasing Loads of Intraduodenal Whey Protein in Healthy Men. Poster session presented at the meeting of American Diabetes Association. Chicago: AMER DIABETES ASSOC. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Charrouf, R., Parr, E., Hutchison, A., Flint, S., Teong, X. T., Wittert, G., . . . Heilbronn, L. (2024). Effect of Time Restricted Eating Versus Current Practice in Dietetics on Glycaemic Control and Cardio-Metabolic Outcomes in Individuals at Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for a Multi-Centre, Parallel Group, Non-Inferiority, Randomised Controlled Trial. DOI |
| 2024 | Chang, Y. J., Turner, L., Teong, X. T., Zhao, L., Variji, A., Wittert, G., . . . Hutchison, A. (2024). Comparing the effectiveness of calorie restriction with and without time-restricted eating on the circadian regulation of metabolism – rationale and protocol of a three-arm randomised controlled trial in adults at risk of type 2 diabetes. DOI |
| 2022 | Bensalem, J., Heilbronn, L., Gore, J., Hutchison, A., Sargeant, T., & Fourrier, C. (2022). The Break-Fast study protocol: a single arm pre-post study to measure the effect of a protein-rich breakfast on autophagic flux in fasting healthy individuals. DOI |
2024 Health Translation SA MRFF Catalyst funding $53,420
2024 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (Adelaide Medical School), Building Research Leaders Award $86,848
2023 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (Adelaide Medical School), Building Research Leaders Award $40,515
2022 Robinson Research Institute Innovative Seed funding; All in the rhythm: Characterising changes in circadian rhythms in early pregnancy $48035
2022-24 Only a matter of time? A comparison of caloric restriction versus time restriction of food intake. Heilbronn LK, Banks SB, Hutchison A, Wittert GA; NHMRC $1,189,927
2021-24 Time Restricted EATing to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (TREAT); Heilbronn LK, Hawley J, Hutchison A, Devlin B, Parr E; MRFF $1,012,000
2019 Will a protein pre-load before the evening meal improve glucose tolerance in shift workers? Hutchison AT, Heilbronn LK, Banks SB; Diabetes Australia Research Program $58,000
2015 Intermittent fasting for weight loss and metabolic health, does meal timing matter? Heilbronn LK, Wittert GA, Hutchison A; Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Committee $50,000
- Clinical trials workshop for PAEDIAT3000 - Biology of Childhood Growth, Development & Health (2024,2025)
- BHMS Research placement supervisor
- Introduction to Health Research Practical Lead
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | A critical analysis of the preconception and periconception phase: how information seeking preferences, preconception nutrition and early pregnancy adaptations affect pregnancy. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Miss Kimberly Rhiann Lush |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption on Glycaemic Control, Gastric Emptying and Gut Microbiota in Individuals with Obesity: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Ruofei Cheng |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Impacts of meal and macronutrient timing on cardiometabolic health outcomes in adults | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss You Jin Chang |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption on Glycaemic Control, Gastric Emptying and Gut Microbiota in Individuals with Obesity: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Ruofei Cheng |
| 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Impacts of meal and macronutrient timing on cardiometabolic health outcomes in adults | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss You Jin Chang |
| 2024 | Co-Supervisor | A critical analysis of the preconception and periconception phase: how information seeking preferences, preconception nutrition and early pregnancy adaptations affect pregnancy. | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Miss Kimberly Rhiann Lush |
| 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Circadian rhythms, inflammation, markers of cardiometabolic health and lifestyle intervention efficacy | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Laurent Turner |
| 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Circadian rhythms, inflammation, markers of cardiometabolic health and lifestyle intervention efficacy | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Laurent Turner |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Impact of Time Restricted Eating on Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Rasha Charrouf |
| 2019 - 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Effect of intermittent fasting and meal timing on metabolic health | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Kai Liu |
| 2018 - 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Intermittent Fasting Versus Calorie Restriction to Reduce Risk of Type 2 Diabetes | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Xiao Tong Teong |
| 2017 - 2021 | Co-Supervisor | Impact of Time Restricted Feeding on Glucose Metabolism and Metabolic Health | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Prashant Regmi |
| 2017 - 2022 | Co-Supervisor | CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS, INTERMITTENT FASTING, METABOLIC HEALTH | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Lijun Zhao |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 - ongoing | Secretary | Nutrition Society of Australia Adelaide Branch | Nutrition Society of Australia | Australia |