Dr Karen Murphy 

Dr Murphy returned to Adelaide in 2002 to the University of South Australia following the completion of her PhD in the area of functional foods, cardiovascular health and inflammation. She is currently a NHMRC Industry Research Fellow researching the area of dairy bioactives and health.

The primary goal of her research is to understand the impact of dietary factors on cardiovascular health and cognitive function and psychological wellbeing using randomised controlled trials. More specifically she aims to provide scientific substantiation of the health benefits of healthy foods and nutrients to help reduce the physical and mental suffering from cardiovascular disease. Her recent work has focussed on healthy foods including low fat dairy, meat-based protein diets, bioactive nutrients including antioxidants and omega-3. Her research on dairy and cardiovascular health was recognised by the Heart Foundation in 2010 where she was asked to provide expert opinion on the Heart Foundation position paper ‘The relationship between milk fat and CVD risk’. She has recently returned to research after two periods of maternity leave.

Dr Murphy is a recipient of 23 research awards including the South Australian Young Tall Poppy Award (2009), Australian Academy of Science Travel Fellowship (2008), International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids Young Researcher Award (2004/2006), Nutrition Trust of Australia Fellowship, RMIT International Scholarship (2001), the Roger Pysden Memorial Fellowship (2000), Unilever Australia Foods Scholar (2000), Cayman Chemical Company Scholar (2001, 2002, 2004), Pharmalink International Scholar (2001-2004), Effem Foods Scholar (2000, 2002), Australian Atherosclerosis Society Scholar (2002) and a Nutrition Society of Australia Scholar (1999, 2002).

Dr Murphy has organised, convened and chaired a number of highly successful scientific meetings and symposia for the Australasian American Oil Chemists Society and Nutrition Society of Australia and have been successful in engaging students in these activities.

Dr Murphy is President of the Australasian American Oil Chemists Society, Honorary Treasurer of the Nutrition Society of Australia and a member of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids. She is also a Registered Nutritionist and a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (ACRP).

• She has supervised a number of first class honours students, clinical psychology master’s students and PhD students who have received commendations for their work and research awards including a University of South Australia Vice President & Chancellors award and Maurice de Rohan Fellowship. .
• Areas for supervision include nutrition, dietary fats, omega-3 fats, antioxidants, body composition (obesity), cardiometabolic health and cognition.

Honorary Treasurer, Nutrition Society of Australia

President, Australasian Section American Oil Chemists Society (AAOCS)

International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids & Lipids (ISSFAL)

Visiting Research Fellow, School of Molecular & Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide

BAppSc(Deakin University)

BAppSc. Hons. (Deakin University)

PhD (RMIT University)

Registered Nutritionist (Nutrition Society of Australia)

Certified Clinical Research Co-ordinator (Academy Clinical Research Professionals)

• Lipids, fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, dairy, antioxidants and cardiometabolic health and cognition and psychological wellbeing.

Crichton GE, Howe PRC, , Buckley JD, Coates AM, Murphy KJ, Bryan J. Dietary intervention trials: critical issues and challenges. Trials (accepted Mar 2012) (IF 2.08 Rank 51/106 Medicine: Res & Exp)

Crichton GE, Murphy KJ, Howe PRC, Buckley JD, Bryan J. Dairy consumption and working memory performance in overweight and obese adults. Appetite (accepted Mar 2012). (IF 2.433 Rank 29/70 Nutr & Diet)

Crichton GE, Howe PRC, Buckley JD, Coates AM, Murphy KJ. Dairy consumption and cardiometabolic health: outcomes of a 12-month crossover trial. Nutrition & Metabolism (Accepted February 2012) (IF 2.349 Rank 30/70 Nutr & Diet).

Crichton GE, Bryan J, Murphy KJ, Buckley J. Dairy consumption and cognitive performance in adults- findings and methodological issues: a systematic review. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 2010; 30:352-361. (IF 2.455 Rank 18/45 Geriat & Gerontol).

Crichton GE, Bryan J, Buckley J, Murphy KJ. Dairy consumption and metabolic syndrome: a systematic review of findings and methodological issues. Obesity Reviews 2011; doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00837.x. (IF 5.862 Rank 14/116 Endoc & Metab). [6 cites]

Crichton GE, Elias MF, Buckley J, Murphy KJ, Bryan J, Frisardi V. Metabolic Syndrome, Cognitive Performance and Dementia: a Review. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2011; 28(1-11). (IF 4.261 Rank 58/239 Neurosciences)

Berry NM, Robinson M, Bryan J, Buckley JD, Murphy KJ, Howe PRC. Acute effects of an Avena sativa-herba extract on responses to the Stroop colour word test. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Jul;17(7):635-7. (IF 1.498)

Crichton GE, Murphy KJ, Bryan J. Association between dairy intake, cognitive functioning and psychological well-being in middle-aged South Australians. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2010 19:161-171. (IF 1.438 Rank 49/70 Nutr & Diet). [2 cites]

Buckley JD, Burgess S, Murphy KJ Howe PRC. DHA-rich fish oil lowers heart rate during submaximal exercise in elite Australian Rules footballers. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 2008: Jun 12. [Epub ahead of print]. (IF 2.542 Rank 10/80 Sports Sci). [5 cites]

Mukaro VR, Costabile M, Murphy KJ, Hii C, Howe PRC, Ferrante A. Effect of long term consumption of n-3 enriched foods on leukocyte numbers and function: Selective depression of natural killer cell levels. Arthritis Res Therapy 2008;10(3):R57. Epub 2008 May 14. (IF 4.357 Rank 8/29 Rheumatology). [5 cites]

Murphy KJ, Mooney BD, Mann NJ, Nichols PD, Sinclair AJ. Lipid, fatty acid and sterol composition of New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel (Perna canaliculus) and Tasmanian Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis). Lipids 2002;37:587-595. (IF 2.151, Rank 36/70 Nutr & Diet). 20 citations.

Hill AM, Buckley JD, Murphy KJ, Howe PRC. Combining fish-oil supplements with regular aerobic exercise improves body composition and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85;1267-74. (IF 6.06, Rank 3/70). [45 cites]

Hill AM, Worthley C, Murphy KJ, Buckley JD, Ferrante A, Howe PRC. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and regular moderate exercise: differential effects of a combined intervention on neutrophil function. Br J Nutr 2007, March 1-10 e-pub ahead of print. (IF 3.072, rank 19/70 Nutr & Diet). [7 cites]

Murphy K, Meyer B, Mansour J, Patch C, Tapsell L, Mori T, Noakes M, Clifton P, Puddey I, Howe P. Achieving optimal long chain n-3 fatty acid intakes: the use of novel foods. Br J Nutr 2007;97:749-57 (IF 3.072, rank 19/70 Nutr & Diet). [33 cites]

Murphy KJ, Chronopoulos AK, Singh I, Francis MA, Pike MJ, Moriarty H, Turner AH, Mann NJ, Sinclair AJ. Flavanols from cocoa powder (Theobroma cacao) inhibit platelet function. Am J Clin Nut 2003; 77:1466-73. (IF 6.06, Rank 3/70). 131 citations.

Patch C, Murphy K, Mansour J, Tapsell L, Meyer B, Mori T, Noakes M, Clifton P, Puddey I, Howe P. Achieving optimal long chain n-3 fatty acid intakes: the use of novel foods. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105:1918-26. (IF 3.244, rank 17/70 Nutr & Diet). [14 cites]

Ninio DM, Murphy KJ, Howe PRC, Saint DA. Dietary fish oil protects against stretch induced vulnerability to atrial fibrillation in a rabbit model. J Cardiovasc Electro. 2005;16:1189-94. (IF 3.293, rank 36/114 Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems). [39 cites]

Tenikoff D, Murphy KJ, Le M, Howe PR, Howarth GS. Lyprinol (stabilised lipid extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel): a potential preventative treatment modality for inflammatory bowel disease. J Gastroenterol. 2005; 40:361-365. (IF 3.61, Rank 17/72 Gastro). [17 cites]