Charles Perkins Centre

The Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney is a multidisciplinary research centre improving global health through unexpected collaborations

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

What does healthy longevity actually look like – on the plate and in everyday life?

At the Charles Perkins Centre, our CPC RPA Health for Life program brings together chefs, clinicians and researchers to turn evidence into action with its Recipes for longevity and healthy living videos and Blogs for life series.

The team of program director Professor @LuigiFontanaMD , chef-in-residence Mark Hamilton, dietician Shadia Djakovic @shadiaD , exercise physiologist Kate Williamson and educator Wooveen Kim pairs practical recipes with insights on nutrition, movement and whole-person health. This is research you can use, grounded in evidence and designed for real life.

🤝 Meet the team and explore the full program https://t.co/2lJfG2e0zv
🎥 Recipe & exercise videos
• Grated tofu salad: https://t.co/3f8jbEUvjz
• Mushroom tacos: https://t.co/NTnATcusm2
• Romesco, roasted leek and parmesan: https://t.co/Iib4QZxzpQ
• Banana cocoa porridge: https://t.co/s1Pz01Wvd7
• Bone health: Movement Matters: https://t.co/dcZa47myJ6
📖 Evidence-based blogs
• The superfoods right in front of us: https://t.co/PriJUrl8Ly
• Reduce salt, not flavour: https://t.co/g5HPsFgO5g
• The bone-building effects of exercise: https://t.co/iZGlN15QUE
• Surviving cancer: caring for the whole person: https://t.co/9NbhzHbyaB
• The hidden costs of excessive exercise: https://t.co/Dm6ohoPyVv

#HealthyLongevity #Nutrition #PublicHealth #ResearchImpact #CharlesPerkinsCentre

The CPC RPA Health for Life Program is a partnership between The University of Sydney Charles Perkins Centre and Sydney Local Health District.

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Judy Harris Writer-in-Residence at the Charles Perkins Centre 2026: Expressions of Interest are open for our 10th Writer-in-Residence.

Open to Australian creative writers, the fellowship provides a $100,000 grant for an established writer and offers the unique opportunity to work on a project related to the issues that the Charles Perkins Centre is dedicated to solving, including health, wellbeing, food, ageing, social disadvantage and cultural identity.

Step into a remarkable lineup of alumni – Charlotte Wood, Mireille Juchau PhD, Alana Valentine, Emily Maguire, Tracy Sorensen, Sarah Holland-Batt, Lech Blaine, Fiona Wright and Luke Carman – and help shape the stories that matter.

Submit your Expression of Interest by 11:59pm on Sunday 12 April 2026.

Full story, eligibility &how to ➡️ https://t.co/uJsX9gzXTm

@mscott @Sydney_Uni

#forgood #writing #research #health #CPC #WiR2026 #storiesmatter

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Luke Carman joins the Charles Perkins Centre as the 2025 Judy Harris Writer-in-Residence Fellow 🙌

Award-winning author and essayist Luke Carman has been announced as the 2025 Judy Harris Writer-in-Residence Fellow at the @Sydney_Uni Charles Perkins Centre. Carman, a Western Sydney writer whose extensive body of work explores Australia’s cultural margins, grapples with mental illness and interrogates the intricacies and ironies of the writer’s condition receives $100,000 to support a year-long residency at the @CPC_usyd.

“I see the Charles Perkins Centre as a multi-disciplinary organisation bringing together a range of experts to make people well, to make the culture well, and to make society well. Ultimately what a great writer should aspire to is to find terms for the moment that they're in, and ideally to make people well on a scale outside of themselves.”

Luke will be with us at the Charles Perkins Centre for the next year, working, collaborating, thinking, writing and "exploring the quiet desperation of resilience." We can't wait to see what arises from Luke's residency.

He joins our stellar WiR alumni: Charlotte Wood, Mireille Juchau, Alana Valentine, Emily Maguire, Tracey Sorensen, Sarah Holland-Batt, @lechblaine Fiona Wright

Read the full story ➡️ https://t.co/c92IxkcssE

@eatlikeanimals | @mscott | @KathyBelov | @JulieCairney | @ArtSS_Sydney | @Sydney_Science | @syd_health | @NswCreate

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

"Stories Matter: A Writing and Literature Strategy for NSW", launched at @statelibrarynsw today by The Hon @JohnGrahamALP . Our very first Judy Harris Writer-in-Residence at the Charles Perkins Centre, #CharlotteWood delivered an inspired and inspiring speech about the power of trust, 'crucial acts of support' and the necessary freedom to create.

"The key aspect of the Judy Harris fellowship is: trust. In the residency’s very design, Judy and the CPC showed absolute respect to me, and the seven writers chosen since, in imposing just one condition: that the writer spends time at the CPC, brushing up against its scientists in any manner that naturally occurs. There is no requirement to speak, to teach, to present progress reports or show your drafts. There is no deadline. The only request is that you obey your artistic instinct, be open to influence and cross-pollination, and do your work."

We announce our ninth Writer-in-Residence next week and in 2026 celebrate our tenth year with our tenth WiR and a series of celebratory events, showing the impact the trust the Fellowship has afforded writers in their freedom to investigate science and health research and creativity.

This visionary strategy for NSW opens up the realms of possibility for our creatives and our cultural economy. "Only those working now complete the circuit between the past, present and future energies we call art." Charlotte Wood (below, with Judy Harris).

Congratulations to the Minister, Brooke Webb GAICD, Olivia Lanchester, Sarah Ayoub, James Bradley, Caroline Butler-Bowdon, Winnie Dunn, Sophie Gee, Stuart Glover, Lucy Hayward, James Jiang and Jay Lansdown.

Read "Stories Matter: A Writing and Literature Strategy for NSW" 📚 https://t.co/zUgKoegNmh

@eatlikeanimals @mscott @KathyBelov @JulieCairney @kirstenandrews @Sydney_Uni

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Fat: Friend of foe? Professor Sir @StephenORahilly presents The Nicholas Catchlove Lecture 2025

Professor O'Rahilly, Professor of Clinical Biochemistry at @Cambridge_Uni is a world-leading researcher into the molecular pathogenesis of obesity, insulin resistance and their related metabolic and endocrine disorders. In this keynote he will argue that the adipose tissue is not only an unfairly blamed innocent bystander in the war against obesity, it is actually the first line of defence against our caloric imbalance which is the thing really making us sick.

📝 This event is supported generously by Dr Barry Catchlove in memory of his son, and was established to educate and inform the wider community about global health issues, developments, and discoveries.

‼️ Full details + register ➡️ https://t.co/jCuLJ2dW8P

#ForGood | @Sydney_Uni | @eatlikeanimals | @LuigiFontanaMD | @M_Stamatakis | @baur_louise | @BroomAlex | @KathyBelov | @JulieCairney | @mscott @Sydney_Science

[Sydney Ideas @Sydney_Ideas]

Food makes us who we are. The ways we eat together change lives and communities.

Join us at #ParramattaLanes as great minds from @Sydney_Uni serve up inspired visions for changing the way we eat, produce and understand why food is so important.

Register: https://t.co/etCFZ1f90J

[Kathy Belov @KathyBelov]

It’s always great to see that two leading highlighted papers in Lancet Digital Health this morning are from our own @CPC_usyd and @TheMatilda_USyd

https://t.co/GWxFitptcA

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Congratulations to @DrMelodyDing and team 👏
➡️ https://t.co/sbU6Nrgd3Z

[Melody Ding @DrMelodyDing]

How many steps do we really need a day for good health?

Excited to share our new research in @TheLancetPH
https://t.co/amcusTAMIH

* Even small increases for those inactive could be helpful
* 7000 is a realistic target backed by science
Keep stepping 🚶‍♂️🚶🧑‍🦯🏃‍♀️

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Announcing the awardees of the inaugural Charles Perkins Centre Professional Staff Prize 2024 🏆

The Charles Perkins Centre Professional Staff Prize recognises and celebrates the outstanding contributions of our professional staff members across our strategic research program including research, education, clinical, technical and administrative domains.

Nominated by our researchers, the Prize was established in 2024, the Professional Staff Prize honours the exceptional contributions of our hard-working and highly-regarded professional staff across our strategic program including research, education, clinical, technical and administrative domains.

Left to right below in alpha order
👏 Lisa Avery
👏 Nazia Islam
👏 Cathie Kiernan
👏 Kekini Kuppan
👏 Tamara Pulpitel

Read the story 🔊 https://t.co/I6P8YmRsrq

Charles Perkins Centre Professional Staff Prize 2025 is now open for nominations | Closing 8 August ➡️ https://t.co/dE6MxbEe8p

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

🆕 Charles Perkins Centre Metabolic Initiative Collaboration Grants 2025

The Charles Perkins Centre's new Metabolic Initiative 🔗 https://t.co/AhRSpgv6SK identifies and fosters metabolic health research collaborations across the University landscape to build capacity and produce greater local, national, and global impact.

Our multidisciplinary collaboration team is:
Professor @baur_louise (Lead)
Professor @BroomAlex
Professor @professormcraig
Professor Natasha Nassar
Professor @jennyeg
Professor @davidjamesoz
Dr Kathryn Williams @DoctorKathryn1

The new Charles Perkins Centre Metabolic Initiative Collaboration Grants 2025 foster engagement in multidisciplinary, cross-campus metabolic health and education collaborations, focusing on Western Sydney. Up to five $20,000 grants are available to address key metabolic health issues through collaboration. Proposals must be co-led by researchers from different campuses, faculties or schools with at least one researcher from the Greater Western Sydney region, and identify a distinct research or education output to produce as a deliverable at the end of the funding period.

More information + Guidelines + Apply ➡️ https://t.co/mMZcTggYSY

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Announcing the Charles Perkins Centre EMCR Seed and Travel Funding Grants 2025 recipients.

The Charles Perkins Centre has fostered a strong community amongst its researchers of the future since our inception in 2012. Our vibrant, active and stellar CPC EMCR Committee @CPC_EMCR works on an amazing annual program of workshops, professional development and incredible opportunity for its members, including its Seed and Travel Funding Grants. This year eight Seed Funding and 17 Travel Funding Grants have been awarded.

👏 Congratulations to Seed Funding recipients:
Dr Lucy Corbett
Dr Holly Harris
Dr Nikki Lee
Ms Bitong Li | PhD student
Dr Duan Ni
Dr Neda Rafiei
Dr Rebecca Raeside
Dr Matthew Waller

👏 Congratulations to Travel Funding recipients:
Ms Deborah Manandi – PhD student
Dr Masakazu Taira
Dr Priya Iyer PhD Iyer
Dr Binh Nguyen
Dr Rebecca Raeside
Dr Yvonne Laird
Dr Kaylee Slater
Mr Robert Palmer – PhD student
Dr Kevin Law
Dr Sisi Jia
Dr Sophie Debs, PhD
Dr Reeja Nasir
Mr Jackie Zhou – PhD student
Dr Nikki Lee
Dr Linyang (Sally) Liu Liu
Dr Oana Marian
Ms Laura Ancellotti – PhD student

➡️ https://t.co/sR2eJkCzek

[Greg Neely @Neely_Lab]

New paper from our lab @amitsake @CPC_usyd
@Sydney_Science , we built a directed evolution system (PROTEUS) that works like biological AI. You can use it to make RNA or proteins with new or enhanced functions.

https://t.co/R1sFiwsfFT

#ProteinDesign #AI #SyntheticBiology

1/6.

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Congratulations to the three recipients of the Charles Perkins Centre Catchlove Sylvan Mid-Career Researcher Fellowships 2025: Dr Alexis Diaz-Vegas @adiazvegas, Associate Professor Melkam Kebede @MelkamKebede, Associate Professor James Wilmott.

The new Fellowship is generously funded by the Centre’s long-time friends Dr Barry Catchlove and Professor Louise Sylvan and supports the Centre’s outstanding independent mid-career researchers experiencing gaps in funding. Each Fellowship is valued up to $100,000.

Read the announcement ↪️ https://t.co/KPjUVWyusG

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Celebrating Dr Charles Perkins AO, born on this day 16/06/36 in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Dr Perkins was one of the first Australian Aboriginal university graduates earning a Bachelor of Arts - @ArtSS_Sydney - in 1966.

An Arrernte and Kalkadoon man, he was an activist, writer, soccer player, family man and led the Freedom Ride, a bus journey leaving from @Sydney_Uni in 1965, travelling around rural NSW to highlight the rights of First Nations peoples.

We are lucky at the Charles Perkins Centre to have a portrait of Dr Perkins made by Daniel Boyd hanging in our Atrium. We are able to pay our respects to Dr Perkins reminded that we stand on the shoulders of giants as we try to honour his legacy daily.

Learn more about Dr Perkins, his life and his work https://t.co/PbgQQJ4cHo

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Is it time to change the definition of obesity? Professor Louise Baur in conversation with Professor Clare Collins for the Nutrition Science Bites podcast.

Professor @baur_louise (@cpcf_usyd, @syd_health @Sydney_Uni) and @ProfCCollins (@Uni_Newcastle) discuss the need to rethink the definition of the word 'obesity' and why is should be considered a chronic disease.

They explore the complexities of obesity, particularly in children, discussing the evolution of childhood nutrition, the impact of marketing on food, stigma associated with obesity that undermines getting appropriate medical care, and the importance of healthcare professionals in managing weight-related health.

🔊 + 📽️ Listen + Watch "Nutrition Science Bites" https://t.co/DDHASZkSy6

@WorldObesity @ActionOnObesity

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Chef-in-Residence: Food and exercise as preventative medicine

As the groundbreaking CPC RPA Health for Life Program's inaugural Chef-in-Residence wraps-up, Chef Marzio Lanzini and Program Director Professor @LuigiFontanaMD look at the program's impact and our partnership with @SydneyLHD.

Congratulations to the whole team who've been involved since the inception of this innovative program. CPC RPA Health for Life has been transforming the way we understand health and wellbeing, and addressing critical public health challenges through the lens of food and exercise as preventative medicine.

Read about the Chef-in-Residence + the program's impact ➡️ https://t.co/j3mWPR4eAj

👏 Professor Luigi Fontana, Chef Marzio Lanzini, Dr @rosieribeiro, Dr Sayan Mitra, Dr David Hutchinson, Ms Shadia Djakovic, Ms Kate Williamson, Dr Wooveen Kim, @SydneyLHD, @Sydney_Uni, @syd_health
CPC RPA Health for Life Program 🌐https://t.co/LakihVkGj5

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

Why you should be eating like an animal: The Solutionists, with @mscott

Professors Stephen J Simpson and David Raubenheimer @eatlikeanimals examine your biology and how your naturally-evolved appetite has been hacked by highly industrialised food environments. Two of nutrition's most productive scientists explain how we ended up here, and how you can eat healthier in an imbalanced food environment.

🔊 Listen to the podcast | https://t.co/7EZt1GZxTT

[Charles Perkins Centre @CPC_usyd]

"Synthetic skin tech transforms wound repair"
How Professor Tony Weiss and his company Elastagen emerged from a fledgling field to a US$260 million success story with new skin treatments and regenerative medicines.

After his start-up company Elastagen was sold to a US pharmaceutical heavyweight for the sum of US$260 million (A$406 million) in 2018, Professor Weiss is working as hard as ever to see his discoveries get to market while supporting Australian science and #entrepreneurship #researchtranslation #commercialisation.

Powerful stories from @Sydney_Uni's 175-year history of research breakthroughs.

📰 https://t.co/6XAXqWKy2b