Dr Robyn Larsen (nee Smith)

Biography

After completing her PhD in nutritional biochemistry at RMIT University, Robyn joined the Clinical Diabetes and Physical Activity Laboratories in 2008. Since then, she has worked on a number of investigator-initiated trials for the prevention and management of chronic disease states, such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This includes a large dietary intervention trial evaluating the long-term effects of high protein diets in the management of type 2 diabetes. She also co-ordinated a large, multi-centre nutritional intervention study investigating the long-term effects of anti-oxidant rich cocoa supplementation on metabolic control and cardiovascular parameters in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. More recently, she has been working on trials looking at specific sympathoinhibition for the treatment of obesity-related neurogenic hypertension and diabetic kidney disease. Throughout her time at the Baker Institute, she has assisted in the design and co-ordination of several sedentary behaviour studies looking at the acute effects of breaking up prolonged sitting on cardiometabolic parameters. She is a registered nutritionist and has a keen interest in the interactive role that diet and physical activity/sedentary behaviours play in the development of non-communicable diseases.

Research Interest

Physical Activity