
Jessica Grieger
NHMRC Externally-Funded Research Fellow C
Adelaide Medical School
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
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I lead research on nutrition, metabolic, and reproductive health. My research program investigates how different maternal diet and lifestyle exposures associate with time to pregnancy, pregnancy complications, and future offspring health. My research program has contributed to critical findings on the relationship between pre-pregnancy nutrition and pregnancy health; and novel relationships between metabolic syndrome, pregnancy complications and offspring health.
Research projects 2022/2023, Honours, Masters and PhD
Paediatrics and Reproductive health:
Maternal dietary and lifestyle exposures and offspring health.
Supervisors: Dr Jessica Grieger, Dr Tina Bianco-Miotto
Skills learned during this project: Dietary analysis; quantitative analysis; increased knowledge on developmental origins of health and disease.
Project available for: Honours and HDR
Location: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building, North Terrace
Research project start: Any time.
SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP PROJECTS
Click here to find out more and apply.
1) Lifestyle exposures and offspring health.
Supervisors: Dr Jessica Grieger, Dr Tina Bianco-Miotto
Skills learned during this project: Data preparation; longitudinal data analysis; publication preparation; increased knowledge on developmental origins of health and disease.
2) Systematic review, nutrition and reproductive health
Supervisors: Dr Jessica Grieger
Skills learned during this project: Contribute to systematic review and relevant protocol; key word preparation, searches, and screening; literature searching.
3) Nutrition and fertility
Supervisors: Dr Jessica Grieger, Dr Leanne Pacella-Ince
Skills learned during this project: Nutritional intake assessment/analysis; data entry; literature searching; increased knowledge on nutrition and reproductive health.
Research communication
Women's Health Week 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8WJyfKQGWw&feature=youtu.be
The Discovery Pod Episode 3: Nutrition https://fb.watch/25KJpYR5Tl/
Selection of my research highlights
1. Metabolic syndrome and pregnancy and offspring health:
Obesity increases the risk for developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia (PE), which both associate with increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women in later life. In the general population, metabolic syndrome (MetS) associates with T2DM and CVD. I initiated and led the analysis from over 5500 women throughout their first pregnancy to investigate whether MetS was associated with risk for pregnancy complications. Overall, 12.3% (n=684) had MetS. These women were at a higher risk for developing GDM and PE by 2-4 times. Increasing body mass index in combination with having MetS further increased the likelihood for developing GDM (PLOS Medicine 2018). We then demonstrated that physical activity did not modify the association between MetS and risk for GDM (Acta Diabetol 2021). My research program was also the first to show that MetS in pregnancy was associated with shorter telomere length, a biomarker of aging, in children aged 8-10 years of age (Diabetologia 2020).
Research article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30513077
Research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33743081/
Research article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32728890/
Dietary intake and pregnancy outcomes:
1. Maternal nutrition can have a profound effect on fetal growth, development, and subsequent infant birth weight. Preconception dietary patterns have not been assessed in relation to perinatal outcomes. We retrospectively collected food frequency questionnaires in a group of 309 pregnant women. We were the first to show that a high fat, sugar and take-away dietary pattern increased the risk of preterm birth, whereas a diet high in protein and fruit reduced the risk for preterm birth. Modification to poor dietary behaviours, pre-pregnancy, may be beneficial to improve perinatal outcomes and the long-term health of the child.
Research article: https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/144/7/1075/4569765.
Diet and lifestyle factors associated with infertility:
Time to pregnancy (TTP) is a measure of how long a couple takes to conceive, and infertility is the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Several lifestyle factors, such as smoking and obesity, have consistently been associated with a longer TTP or infertility, but the role of preconception diet in women remains poorly studied. Healthier foods or dietary patterns have been associated with improved fertility, however, these studies focused on women already diagnosed with or receiving treatments for infertility, rather than in the general population. Our multi-centre SCOPE cohort study (n=5598 pregnant women), was the first to show that a lower intake of fruit and higher intake of fast food in the preconception period were both associated with a longer TTP. In women with the lowest intake of fruit, the risk of infertility increased from 8% to 12%, and in those who ate fast food four or more times a week, the risk of infertility increased from 8% to 16%. These findings underscore the importance of considering preconception diet for fertility and preconception guidance.
Research article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29733398
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2021 - 2024 NHMRC funded research fellow Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide 2020 - ongoing Research Fellow University of Adelaide, Robinson Research Institute 2015 - 2019 Post-doctoral research fellow, 0.6 FTE Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide 2015 - 2016 Post doctoral research fellow, 0.5 FTE University of South Australia 2012 - 2015 Post-doctoral research fellow (~1.5 years at 1.0 FTE) School of Medicine, Robinson Research Institute, 2009 - 2013 Post-doctoral research fellow (~3 years at 1.0 FTE) Flinders University 2007 - 2009 Post-doctoral research fellow Pennsylvania State University -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2019 Research Award Women's Research Excellence Award University of Adelaide Australia - 2017 Award Travel award: Robinson Research Institute - Australia - 2016 Award Travel grant: Robinson Research Institute - - $500 2014 Award WCH Young Investigator Award - - - 2014 Award ASMR Leading Light Award - - - 2014 Award Travel grant: Robinson Research Institute and School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health - - $1300 -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2004 - 2007 Deakin University Australia PhD 2003 - 2003 University of Adelaide (CSIRO Human Nutrition) Australia BSc(hons) 2000 - 2002 University of Adelaide Australia BSc -
Postgraduate Training
Date Title Institution Country 2012 Research Supervisor Induction Workshop University of Adelaide Australia -
Certifications
Date Title Institution name Country 2010 Clinical bone densitometry license Australian and New Zealand Bone Mineral Society (ANZBMS) - -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2012 Nowson, C., Grieger, J. A., & Cameron-Smith, D. (2012). Ageing and inflammation. In Nutrition and Physical Activity in Inflammatory Diseases (pp. 338-356). -
Conference Papers
Year Citation 2016 Dickinson, H., Davies-Tuck, M., Ellery, S. J., Grieger, J., Wallace, E. M., Snow, R., . . . Clifton, V. (2016). Creatine Status in Women Is Profoundly Changed by Pregnancy: A Retrospective Cohort Study. In REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES Vol. 23 (pp. 285A). Montreal, CANADA: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC. 2013 Harris, K., West, S., Jonnalagadda, S., Ross, A., Hill, A., Grieger, J., . . . Kris-Etherton, P. (2013). WHOLE AND REFINED GRAINS HAVE DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS ON CARDIOMETABOLIC MARKERS IN OVERWEIGHT INDIVIDUALS WITH NORMAL FASTING GLUCOSE VERSUS PREDIABETES. In ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM Vol. 63 (pp. 528). KARGER. 2013 Monahan, P. E., Sun, J., Grieger, J., Li, C., Agbandje-Mckenna, M., Mcphee, S., & Samulski, R. (2013). Empty vector particles do not circumvent the neutralization of factor IX gene delivery by AAV-neutralizing antibodies. In HAEMOPHILIA Vol. 19 (pp. 468). WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2012 Berryman, C. E., West, S. G., Grieger, J. A., Blumberg, J. B., & Kris-Etherton, P. M. (2012). Effects of whole walnuts and walnut components on postprandial triglyceride response, plasma measures of antioxidant activity, and endothelial function in overweight and obese adults. In FASEB JOURNAL Vol. 26 (pp. 1 page). San Diego, CA: FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL. 2009 Grieger, J. A., West, S. G., & Kris-Etheron, P. M. (2009). Acute consumption of walnuts decreases CRP levels in healthy individuals, with high CRP. In FASEB JOURNAL Vol. 23 (pp. 1 page). FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL. 2008 Grieger, J. A., Katcher, H., & Kris-Etherton, P. M. (2008). Energy and Whole Grain Intake over a Nine Month Period Following Weight Loss. In FASEB JOURNAL Vol. 22 (pp. 1 page). FEDERATION AMER SOC EXP BIOL. 2007 Grieger, J., & Nowson, C. (2007). Vitamin D3 fortified milk improves nutritional status in a group of Australian aged care residents. In ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM Vol. 51 (pp. 241). KARGER. -
Conference Items
Year Citation 2018 Grzeskowiak, L. E., Smithers, L. G., Grieger, J. A., Bianco-Miotto, T., Leemaqz, S. Y., Clifton, V. L., . . . Roberts, C. T. (2018). Asthma associated with infertility-but not among women taking regular asthma preventers: Evidence from the international scope study. Poster session presented at the meeting of PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY. WILEY. 2017 Khomami, M. B., Moran, L., Grieger, J., Kenny, L., Myers, J., Poston, L., . . . Roberts, C. (2017). Pregnancy Complications in Women with and without PCOS Following Consideration of Modifiable Lifestyle Factors: The SCOPE Cohort Study. Poster session presented at the meeting of AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY. WILEY. 2016 Wycherley, T., Grieger, J., Johnson, B., Riley, M., & Golley, R. (2016). Nutritional impact of discrete strategies to reformulate or reduce discretionary food choices in diet of the Australian population. Poster session presented at the meeting of Diabetologia. Munich, Germany: Springer.
Total funding: $3.2 M (1.1 M as CIA; 2.1 M as Co-investigator)
Teaching
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2021- | Course coordinator: PUB HLTH 3007 Nutrition: Ideology, Individuals & Industry |
2020 |
4010_HLTH_SC_2105 Reflect. Research. Resolve Workshop coordinator, Nutritional Health stream |
2020-2015 |
HLTH SC 3100 Exercise, Nutrition and Metabolism: Practical demonstrator (Dietary methodology) |
2017, 2015 |
HLTH SC 3100 Exercise, Nutrition and Metabolism: Guest lecture (nutrition and fertility; energy expenditure and cardiovascular health) |
2008 -2009 | Co-lecturer: Nutrition 1, Penn State University, PA, USA |
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2023 Co-Supervisor Effects of dietary nutrients and non-nutritive substances on energy intake and blood glucose in humans. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Maedeh Moradi 2022 Principal Supervisor A critical analysis of the preconception and periconception phase: how information seeking preferences and early pregnancy adaptations affect pregnancy Master of Philosophy (Medical Science) Master Full Time Miss Kimberly Rhiann Lush 2022 Principal Supervisor Parental nutrition, fertility and reproductive health outcomes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Cathryn Ann Tully -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2019 - 2020 Co-Supervisor The Effect of Micronutrients in Oxidative Stress, Proliferation and Apoptosis in Placenta Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Nahal Habibi -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2023 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Attrition in lifestyle GDM management interventions The University of Adelaide Psychology Honours Full Time Lauren Jaensch 2023 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Exploring CALD women with GDM The University of Adelaide Psychology Master Full Time Jessica D'Annunzio 2021 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Nutritional management in culturally diverse women The University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Amber Hanks 2019 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Lifestyle factors and the association with gestational diabetes, in a contemporary cohort of low socioeconomic pregnant women. University of Adelaide, Robinson Research Institute - Honours Full Time Ashleigh Schneider 2012 - 2012 Principal Supervisor Dietary strategies to attenuate telomere loss in older Australians: a pilot study Flinders University Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics Honours Full Time YanYin Phoi
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Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2012 - ongoing Member SA Cardiovascular Health Research Network - 2012 - ongoing Member Healthy Development Adelaide - 2003 - ongoing Member Nutrition Society of Australia -
Connect With Me
External Profiles