Dr Kai Liu

NHMRC Grant-Funded Researcher A

School of Medicine

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD as Co-Supervisor only - email supervisor to discuss availability.


I am an early career researcher at the University of Adelaide and an Accredited Practising Dietitian. My research focuses on translational health by conducting nutrition interventions in obesity management, type 2 diabetes prevention and gestational diabetes management. I am also interested in using qualitative research methods to study participants’ perspective to promote consumers engagement that may inform dietetics practice.

Date Position Institution name
2024 - ongoing NHMRC Grant-Funded Researcher Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide
2023 - 2023 Teaching Assistant University of Adelaide
2022 - ongoing Research Assistant University of Adelaide

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2022 Award 2022 Adelaide Graduate Research School Travel Grant University of Adelaide Australia $1000
2022 Award 2022 3MT Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Winner, People's Choice Award University of Adelaide Australia -
2021 Award 2021 HDR research support awards Adelaide Medical School Australia $280
2020 Award 2020 Northern Communities Health Foundation Prize for research poster Florey Conference Australia -
2018 Award 2018 Best Honours Presentation Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University Australia -

Language Competency
Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

Date Institution name Country Title
2019 - 2023 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
2018 - 2018 Monash University Australia Bachelor of Nutrition (Honours)
2013 - 2017 Flinders University Australia Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics

Date Title Institution name Country
2018 Accredited Practising Dietitian Dietitians Australia Australia

Year Citation
2026 Liu, K., Clarke, G. S., & Grieger, J. A. (2026). A low-intensity nutrition intervention targeting triglycerides in gestational diabetes: a feasibility RCT. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM), 111(1), 218-228.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC3
2026 Teong, X. T., Liu, K., Vincent, A. D., Liu, B., Wittert, G. A., Hutchison, A. T., & Heilbronn, L. K. (2026). Exploring the impact of intermittent fasting plus time-restricted eating versus calorie restriction on eating behavior, mood, sleep, quality of life in adults with obesity. Clinical Nutrition, 62, 106686-1-106686-7.
DOI
2026 Liu, K., Choi, T. S. T., Clarke, G. S., & Grieger, J. A. (2026). A qualitative exploration of pregnant women’s awareness and utilization of the Australian dietary guidelines for pregnancy. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well Being, 21(1), 12 pages.
DOI
2026 Clarke, G. S., Liu, K., Mekonnen, E. G., & Grieger, J. A. (2026). Resting Metabolic Rate Rises in Pregnancy, but Energy Intake and Active Expenditure Remain Stable: A Pilot Study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 66(5), 8 pages.
DOI
2025 Liu, K., Clarke, G. S., & Grieger, J. A. (2025). The Use of Omics in Untangling the Effect of Lifestyle Factors in Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review. Diabetes Metabolism Research and Reviews, 41(1), 17 pages.
DOI Scopus4 WoS2 Europe PMC2
2025 Bensalem, J., Teong, X. T., Hattersley, K. J., Hein, L. K., Fourrier, C., Dang, L. V. P., . . . Sargeant, T. J. (2025). Intermittent time-restricted eating may increase autophagic flux in humans: an exploratory analysis.. Journal of Physiology, 603(10), 3019-3032.
DOI Scopus14 WoS12 Europe PMC10
2025 Turner, L., Zhao, L., Liu, K., Teong, X. T., Wittert, G., Hutchison, A. T., & Heilbronn, L. K. (2025). Impact of Achieved Weight Loss by Intermittent Fasting Plus Early Time-Restricted Eating and Calorie Restriction on Systemic and Adipose Tissue Markers of Inflammation in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: An Exploratory Sub-Study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 38(5), 5 pages.
DOI
2025 Liu, K., Clarke, G. S., Oxlad, M., & Grieger, J. A. (2025). Exploring CALD and Non-CALD Women’s Behavioral and Dietary Responses to a Low-Intensity Intervention for Gestational Diabetes. Nutrients, 17(20), 3191-1-3191-11.
DOI
2025 Grieger, J. A., Takele, W. W., Vesco, K. K., Redman, L. M., Hannah, W., Bonham, M. P., . . . Lim, S. (2025). Participant characteristics in the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions to optimize gestational weight gain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Communications Medicine, 5(1), 439-1-439-13.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3 Europe PMC1
2024 Liu, K., Choi, T. S. T., Zhao, L., Teong, X. T., Hutchison, A. T., & Heilbronn, L. K. (2024). A qualitative exploration of behaviour change and maintenance experience in people with overweight or obesity in a dietary intervention. Nutrition and Dietetics, 81(3), 296-305.
DOI Scopus8 WoS9 Europe PMC5
2024 Takele, W. W., Vesco, K. K., Josefson, J., Redman, L. M., Hannah, W., Bonham, M. P., . . . Lim, S. (2024). Effective interventions in preventing gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Communications Medicine, 4(1), 75-1-75-15.
DOI Scopus45 WoS38 Europe PMC39
2024 Felton, J. L., Redondo, M. J., Oram, R. A., Speake, C., Long, S. A., Onengut-Gumuscu, S., . . . Franks, P. W. (2024). Islet autoantibodies as precision diagnostic tools to characterize heterogeneity in type 1 diabetes: a systematic review. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE, 4(1), 18 pages.
DOI Scopus51 WoS49 Europe PMC43
2024 Torkel, S., Wang, R., Norman, R. J., Zhao, L., Liu, K., Boden, D., . . . Cowan, S. (2024). Barriers and enablers to a healthy lifestyle in people with infertility: a mixed-methods systematic review. Human Reproduction Update, 30(5), 569-583.
DOI Scopus19 WoS18 Europe PMC12
2024 Moumin, N. A., Shepherd, E., Liu, K., Makrides, M., Gould, J. F., Green, T. J., & Grzeskowiak, L. E. (2024). The Effects of Prenatal Iron Supplementation on Offspring Neurodevelopment in Upper Middle- or High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 16(15), 2499-1-2499-11.
DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC5
2024 Naylor, R. N., Patel, K. A., Kettunen, J. L. T., Männistö, J. M. E., Støy, J., Beltrand, J., . . . Scholtens, D. M. (2024). Precision treatment of beta-cell monogenic diabetes: a systematic review. Communications Medicine, 4(1), 17 pages.
DOI Scopus28 WoS25 Europe PMC21
2024 Semnani-Azad, Z., Gaillard, R., Hughes, A. E., Boyle, K. E., Tobias, D. K., Franks, P. W., . . . Scholtens, D. M. (2024). Precision stratification of prognostic risk factors associated with outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review. Communications Medicine, 4(1), 14 pages.
DOI Scopus23 WoS22 Europe PMC20
2023 Liu, K., Liu, B., Wittert, G. A., Thompson, C. H., Hutchison, A. T., & Heilbronn, L. K. (2023). Intermittent fasting increases growth differentiation factor 15 in females with overweight or obesity but not associated with food intake. Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, 17(1), 91-93.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC5
2023 Teong, X. T., Liu, K., Vincent, A. D., Bensalem, J., Liu, B., Hattersley, K. J., . . . Heilbronn, L. K. (2023). Intermittent fasting plus early time-restricted eating versus calorie restriction and standard care in adults at risk of type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Nature Medicine, 29(4), 963-972.
DOI Scopus118 WoS108 Europe PMC104
2023 Bensalem, J., Teong, X. T., Hattersley, K. J., Hein, L. K., Fourrier, C., Liu, K., . . . Sargeant, T. J. (2023). Basal autophagic flux measured in blood correlates positively with age in adults at increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Geroscience, 45(6), 3549-3560.
DOI Scopus16 WoS15 Europe PMC17
2023 Lim, S., Takele, W. W., Vesco, K. K., Redman, L. M., Hannah, W., Bonham, M. P., . . . Josefson, J. (2023). Participant characteristics in the prevention of gestational diabetes as evidence for precision medicine: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Communications Medicine, 3(1), 137-1-137-11.
DOI Scopus22 WoS23 Europe PMC25
2023 Tobias, D. K., Merino, J., Ahmad, A., Aiken, C., Benham, J. L., Bodhini, D., . . . Franks, P. W. (2023). Second international consensus report on gaps and opportunities for the clinical translation of precision diabetes medicine.. Nature medicine, 29(10), 2438-2457.
DOI Scopus205 WoS188 Europe PMC175
2023 Felton, J. L., Griffin, K. J., Oram, R. A., Speake, C., Long, S. A., Onengut-Gumuscu, S., . . . Ukke, G. G. (2023). Disease-modifying therapies and features linked to treatment response in type 1 diabetes prevention: a systematic review. Communications Medicine, 3(1), 16 pages.
DOI Scopus21 WoS23 Europe PMC19
2023 Francis, E. C., Powe, C. E., Lowe, W. L., White, S. L., Scholtens, D. M., Yang, J., . . . Sheu, W. H. H. (2023). Refining the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Communications Medicine, 3(1), 17 pages.
DOI Scopus28 WoS29 Europe PMC27
2023 Jacobsen, L. M., Sherr, J. L., Considine, E., Chen, A., Peeling, S. M., Hulsmans, M., . . . Steenackers, N. (2023). Utility and precision evidence of technology in the treatment of type 1 diabetes: a systematic review. Communications Medicine, 3(1), 24 pages.
DOI Scopus25 WoS22 Europe PMC17
2023 Misra, S., Wagner, R., Ozkan, B., Schön, M., Sevilla-Gonzalez, M., Prystupa, K., . . . White, S. L. (2023). Precision subclassification of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review. Communications Medicine, 3(1), 19 pages.
DOI Scopus110 WoS98 Europe PMC89
2023 Bodhini, D., Morton, R. W., Santhakumar, V., Nakabuye, M., Pomares-Millan, H., Clemmensen, C., . . . Speake, C. (2023). Impact of individual and environmental factors on dietary or lifestyle interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes development: a systematic review. Communications Medicine, 3(1), 17 pages.
DOI Scopus24 WoS23 Europe PMC19
2023 Semple, R. K., Patel, K. A., Auh, S., Franks, P. W., Rich, S. S., Wagner, R., . . . Santhakumar, V. (2023). Genotype-stratified treatment for monogenic insulin resistance: a systematic review. Communications Medicine, 3(1), 134-1-134-11.
DOI Scopus13 Europe PMC10
2022 Zhao, L., Teong, X. T., Liu, K., Liu, B., Melaku, Y. A., Vincent, A. D., . . . Heilbronn, L. K. (2022). Eating architecture in adults at increased risk of type 2 diabetes: associations with body fat and glycaemic control. The British Journal of Nutrition, 128(2), 324-333.
DOI Scopus10 WoS12 Europe PMC11
2021 Teong, X. T., Liu, K., Hutchison, A. T., Liu, B., Feinle-Bisset, C., Wittert, G. A., . . . Heilbronn, L. K. (2021). An update to the study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing daily calorie restriction versus intermittent fasting to improve glycaemia in individuals at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, 15(3), 1.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2020 Liu, K., Liu, B., & Heilbronn, L. K. (2020). Intermittent fasting: what questions should we be asking?. Physiology and Behavior, 218, 112827-1-112827-8.
DOI Scopus21 WoS19 Europe PMC15
2020 Teong, X. T., Liu, K., Hutchison, A. T., Liu, B., Feinle-Bisset, C., Wittert, G. A., . . . Heilbronn, L. K. (2020). Rationale and protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing daily calorie restriction versus intermittent fasting to improve glycaemia in individuals at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, 14(2), 176-183.
DOI Scopus11 WoS10 Europe PMC9

Year Citation
2023 Heilbronn, L., Liu, K., & Fontana, L. (2023). Biology of Calorie Restriction and Intermittent Fasting. In G. A. Bray, & C. Bouchard (Eds.), Handbook of Obesity - Volume 1: Epidemiology, Etiology, and Physiopathology, Fourth Edition (Vol. 1, pp. 95-102). CRC Press.
DOI

2023: Teaching assistant for PUB HLTH 3007 Nutrition: Ideology, Individuals & Industry

2024: Co-coordinator for PUB HLTH 3007 Nutrition: Ideology, Individuals & Industry

 

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2024 Co-Supervisor Antepartum Complications and Cardiometabolic Risk in Offspring: A Study of Telomere Length as a Biomarker Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Eskedar Getie Mekonnen

Date Role Membership Country
2025 - ongoing Treasurer HiPPP EMCR-C Australia
2024 - ongoing Member Nutrition Society of Australia Australia
2021 - ongoing Member ANZOS Australia
2017 - ongoing Member Chinese Nutrition Society China
2015 - ongoing Member Dietitians Association Australia

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