Vida Bitarafan

Vida Bitarafan

School of Agriculture, Food and Wine

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Dr Vida Bitarafan is an early career researcher with an outstanding track records in the research area related to the effects of dietary compounds on functions of the gastrointestinal tract in health, obesity or type 2 diabetes. She is a BSc nutrition graduate of Islamic Azad University (Tehran, Iran) and MSc nutrition graduate of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services (Tehran, Iran). Her PhD was pursued with Centre of Research Excellent (CRE) in Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide and completed on June, 2020. Since completing her PhD, she has been working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at CRE.

Dr Bitarafan's research area is focused on characterising the pivotal role of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the role of dietary nutritive and non-nutritive compounds (i.e. bitter substances), in appetite and blood glucose regulation in humans. In order to achieve these accomplishments, she has been heavily trained and involved in using sophisticated research and medical technologies to study various aspects of gastrointestinal responses, e.g. high-resolution manometry, gastrointestinal ultrasound, breath-testing techniques and etc. Her research has made contributions to current understanding of mechanisms underlying conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes (both major health issues which have increased markedly worldwide in recent years, and are associated with substantial health, economic and psychosocial cost) and concepts of how dietary compounds interact with the function of the gut in the regulation of appetite (and overeating) on the one hand, and blood glucose on the other. These discoveries are likely to result in ground-breaking, new knowledge that will be fundamental for the development of novel strategies, including commercial outcomes, with major implications for the prevention, management and treatment of disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes. 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2020 - ongoing Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2017 - 2020 PhD Candidate University of Adelaide
    2014 - 2015 Senior Project Supervisor Tehran University of Medical Sciences
    2014 - 2015 Lecturer Applied Sciences and Technology University, Persepolis branch
    2013 - 2015 Research Assistant Tehran University of Medical Sciences
    2013 - 2014 Lecturer Tehran University of Medical Sciences
    2011 - 2016 Nutritinist Agahan Ayande Pars International Group
    2011 - 2017 Dietitian Private office

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    Persian Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    Turkish Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2017 - 2020 University of Adelaide Australia PhD in Mdicine
    2017 - 2016 Hacettepe University Hospital Turkey Postgraduate of Nutrition and Diet therapy
    2012 - 2015 Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iran Master of Sceince of Nutrition Science
    2006 - 2010 Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch Iran Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science

  • Research Interests
    Clinical and Sports Nutrition Clinical Sciences Endocrinology & Metabolism Gastroenterology and Hepatology Nutrition and Dietetics

2020 Diabetes Australia Grant

“Effects of the bitter tastant, quinine, on postprandial glycaemia and energy intake in type 2 diabetes - implications for novel strategies for management”

(Feinle-Bisset C, Bitarafan V, Horowitz M, Rades T)

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2019 - 2020 Member Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB) United States
    2018 - ongoing Member Australian NeuroGastroenterology and Motility Association (ANGMA) Australia
    2016 - 2017 Member Iran’s Scientific Association for Healthy Food and Nutrition Iran, Islamic Republic of
    2014 - 2015 Board Member Applied Sciences and Technology University Iran, Islamic Republic of
    2013 - 2014 Member Iranian Nutrition Society (ATA) Iran, Islamic Republic of
    2013 - 2014 Board Member Nutritional Student Scientific Research Centre (NutSSRC) Iran, Islamic Republic of
    2013 - 2014 Board Member Student Scientific Research Centre (SSRC) Iran, Islamic Republic of
    2010 - ongoing Member Iran’s Medical Council Iran, Islamic Republic of

  • Presentation
    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    2021 - 2021 Effects of intraduodenal infusion of the bitter tastant, quinine, on antropyloroduodenal motility, plasma cholecystokinin concentrations and energy intake in humans - 3rd meeting of the Federation of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (FNM) Australia
    2021 - 2021 Effects of intragastric vs. intraduodenal administration of the bitter compound, quinine, on gut and gluco-regulatory hormones, antropyloroduodenal pressures and fasting glucose, in healthy men. - 4th meeting of the Federation of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (FNM) Australia
    2020 - 2020 Comparative effects of intragastric and intraduodenal administration of quinine on the glycaemic response to, and gastric emptying of, a mixed-nutrient drink, in healthy men - Australian Diabetes Congress Australia
    2019 - 2019 Intragastric administration of the bitter tastant, quinine, attenuates the glycaemic response to a nutrient drink in healthy lean men - Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Netherlands
    2019 - 2019 Intragastric administration of the bitter tastant, quinine, attenuates the glycaemic response to a nutrient drink in healthy lean men - Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Venlo campus, Maastricht University Netherlands
    2019 - 2019 Intragastric administration of the bitter tastant, quinine, attenuates the glycaemic response to a nutrient drink in healthy lean men - School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM); Department of Internal Medicine, section Gastroenterology; Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Maastricht University Netherlands
    2019 - 2019 Effects of intragastric administration of the bitter tastant, quinine, attenuates the glycaemic response to a nutrient drink in healthy lean men - 27th annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB) Netherlands
    2018 - 2018 Effects of intraduodenal infusion of the bitter tastant, quinine, on antropyloroduodenal motility, plasma cholecystokinin concentrations and energy intake in humans - St. Claraspital/St. Research Ltd. a University of Basel affiliated hospital Switzerland
    2018 - 2018 Effects of intraduodenal infusion of the bitter tastant, quinine, on antropyloroduodenal motility, plasma cholecystokinin concentrations and energy intake in humans - Effects of intraduodenal infusion of the bitter tastant, quinine, on antropyloroduodenal motility, plasma cholecystokinin concentrations and energy intake in humans Switzerland
    2016 - 2016 Comparison of the serum spexin concentration in metabolic syndrome patients with the control groups - 38th European Society of Peripheral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) congress Denmark
    2016 - 2016 Comparison of the number of daily servings from different food groups in metabolic syndrome patients with the control groups - 14th Iranian and 2nd international nutrition congress Iran, Islamic Republic of
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