EDFA encourages, supports, and participates in eating disorders research
The EDFA Research Committee exists to embed research into the activities run by Eating Disorders Families Australia including:
- the evaluation of EDFA programs; and
- undertaking research projects specifically on improving the mental health of families and carers.
EDFA’s Research Committee comprises leading eating disorder researchers from Australia’s top universities including Deakin University and The University of Melbourne.
If you are interested in being part of EDFA’s Research Committee, please contact us with your expression of interest here.
Research Committee Members
Chair - Associate Professor Genevieve Pepin
Deakin University
Associate Professor Pepin is an experienced mental health occupational therapist and a proficient academic. Built on almost 20 years’ work in the area of mental health and eating disorders in Canada and in Australia and including partnerships with national and international leaders in the field, A/Prof Pepin has established herself as a significant contributor to eating disorders research. Genevieve’s expertise and passion are in research co-produced with carers of people with an eating disorder, understanding the impact of eating disorders on function and the daily activities of those with an eating disorder and their family, and the development of innovative interventions promoting best health outcomes.
Ms. Sarah Giles
University of Melbourne
Sarah is currently completing her Master of Clinical Psychology/ PhD at the University of Melbourne. Her research interests include the role of obsessive-compulsive traits in eating disorders, and the overlap between autism spectrum disorder and eating disorders. Sarah is passionate about meaningfully incorporating consumers into research and clinical practice.
Some of her work includes completing the first Australian studies exploring the effectiveness of the Collaborative Care Skill building Workshop (CCSW), an evidence-based intervention for carers of people with an eating disorder developed by Professor Janet Treasure and colleagues in the UK. She also developed a training program to ensure CCSW is delivered effectively across eating disorder services and organisations.
Her research is impactful and translational, leading to changes in practice and services as demonstrated by an invitation to join the Advisory Committee for the Development of the Australian Eating Disorders Research & Translation Strategy 2021-2031. She is a member of the executive group of the Australian Eating Disorder Research and Translation Centre. She is the co-lead of the Lived-Experience and Co-Production stream of the Centre and a member of the National Eating Disorders Research Consortium.
Genevieve is a strong believer in multidisciplinary approaches to understanding eating disorders. She believes in best practice and is curious about emerging knowledge and interventions about eating disorders.
Sarah is currently completing her Master of Clinical Psychology/ PhD at the University of Melbourne. Her research interests include the role of obsessive-compulsive traits in eating disorders, and the overlap between autism spectrum disorder and eating disorders. Sarah is passionate about meaningfully incorporating consumers into research and clinical practice. Collaborating with EDFA has been an invaluable learning experience for Sarah and has provided an in-depth understanding as to what the needs of carers are and how research can better address these gaps.
Dr Marianne Wyder
Metro South Health
Dr Marianne Wyder is a social worker with a background in sociology. Over the past 20 years she has worked in various research and clinical positions in Government, Non-Government and University sectors. Her research experience spans the health sector and includes expert knowledge in mental health, inequality, eating disorders, involuntary treatment, family recovery, gender, drug and/or alcohol abuse as well as suicidal behaviours.
Associate Professor Isabel Krug
University of Melbourne
Isabel Krug is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Melbourne, where she leads the Melbourne School of Psychological Science Eating Disorder Lab. The lab focuses on improving the understanding of the genetic, neurocognitive, environmental, and psychological underpinnings of eating disorders.
She employs a variety of mixed methodology approaches and has conducted a number of co-produced research projects. She is currently employed as the Senior Research Fellow in Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services where her role involves conducting and facilitating practice based research, service evaluations, as well as supporting clinicians to undertake practice based research projects. Her research can be accessed here Marianne Wyder - Google Scholar
A/Prof Krug's team was instrumental in an EDFA research project to better understand the impact of eating disorders on their carers by assessing the efficacy of EDFA's Support Groups. Her team's ultimate aim is to improve the classification, aetiology, and treatment of eating disorders for the individuals themselves and their carers.