Who We Are
We excel at collaborative research that tests and evaluates population-level interventions for their public health benefits and equity impacts. Our work rests on three key pillars: data science, systems thinking and policy research, and public voice and advocacy. We collaborate frequently with researchers and policymakers—both locally and internationally—to support evidence-based policy decisions with finite health resources. Our central focus is improving oral health equity and reduce wastage in ineffective or inequitable interventions. We build local and international capacity for researchers in advanced epidemiological approaches and oral health policy research, with a special interest in mentoring students and early career researchers (ECRs), regardless of their oral health background.
Ankur Singh
A/Prof
Ankur Singh
A/Prof
University of Sydney, LOHRG
Expertise
- Simulation Modelling
- Epidemiology
- Causal inference
Research Interests
- Social Epidemiology
- Health Equity
- Lifespan Oral Health
Expertise
- Simulation Modelling
- Epidemiology
- Causal inference
Research Interests
- Social Epidemiology
- Health Equity
- Lifespan Oral Health
Upul Cooray
Research Fellow
Upul Cooray
Research Fellow
University of Sydney, LOHRG
Expertise
- Causal Inference
- Data Inalysis
- Simulation Modelling
- R Programming
Research Interests
- Social Determinants of Health
- Policy Impact Emulation
Expertise
- Causal Inference
- Data Inalysis
- Simulation Modelling
- R Programming
Research Interests
- Social Determinants of Health
- Policy Impact Emulation
Gagandeep Kaur
PhD Candidate/ Research Assistant
Gagandeep Kaur
PhD Candidate/ Research Assistant
University of Sydney, LOHRG, University of Melbourne
Expertise
- Epidemiology
- Systematic Review
- Causal Mediation
Research Interests
- Affordability
- Dental Attendance
PhD Project
Investigating the impact of oral health care affordability on long-term dental attendance patterns.
Expertise
- Epidemiology
- Systematic Review
- Causal Mediation
Research Interests
- Affordability
- Dental Attendance
PhD Project
Investigating the impact of oral health care affordability on long-term dental attendance patterns.
Lin Aung
PhD Candidate/ Research Assistant
Lin Aung
PhD Candidate/ Research Assistant
University of Sydney, LOHRG
Expertise
- Administrative Health Data Analysis
- Epidemiology
Research Interests
- Multimorbidity
- Health Inequities
- Social Determinants
PhD Project
Understanding the social origins and pathways of oral health related multimorbidity.
Expertise
- Administrative Health Data Analysis
- Epidemiology
Research Interests
- Multimorbidity
- Health Inequities
- Social Determinants
PhD Project
Understanding the social origins and pathways of oral health related multimorbidity.
Ruby Cole
Research Assistant
Ruby Cole
Research Assistant
University of Sydney, LOHRG
Expertise
- Qualitative methods
Research Interests
- Preventative Care
Expertise
- Qualitative methods
Research Interests
- Preventative Care
Network Partners
University of Melbourne
Roisin McGrath
A/Prof
University of Melbourne
Expertise
- Service Delivery Models
- Workforce Training & Development
- Population oral health
Research Interests
- Interprofessional Practice
- Mental Health and Oral Health
Expertise
- Service Delivery Models
- Workforce Training & Development
- Population oral health
Research Interests
- Interprofessional Practice
- Mental Health and Oral Health
Lauren Carpenter
Senior Research Fellow
University of Melbourne
Expertise
- Mixed-methods
- Evaluation
- Child and family health
Research Interests
- Child Public Health
- Oral Health
- Nutrition
Expertise
- Mixed-methods
- Evaluation
- Child and family health
Research Interests
- Child Public Health
- Oral Health
- Nutrition
Matt Hopcraft
A/Prof
University of Melbourne
Research Interests
- Dental Workforce
- Advocacy
- Water Fluoridation
- Mental Health
Research Interests
- Dental Workforce
- Advocacy
- Water Fluoridation
- Mental Health
Nadia Kaunein
Research Fellow
University of Melbourne
Expertise
- Oral Cancer Epidemiology
- Population Oral Health
Research Interests
- Social Inequalities in Health
- Tobacco control
Expertise
- Oral Cancer Epidemiology
- Population Oral Health
Research Interests
- Social Inequalities in Health
- Tobacco control
Sally Chen
PhD Candidate/ Research Assistant
University of Melbourne
Expertise
- Epidemiology
- Causal Inference
- Simulation Modelling
- Detection & Attribution
Research Interests
- Oral Health
- Oral Cancer
- Tobacco Use
- Climate Change
PhD Project
Attributing the impact of heat on health outcomes to climate change in the Asia and Pacific, using the Detection and Attribution method
Expertise
- Epidemiology
- Causal Inference
- Simulation Modelling
- Detection & Attribution
Research Interests
- Oral Health
- Oral Cancer
- Tobacco Use
- Climate Change
PhD Project
Attributing the impact of heat on health outcomes to climate change in the Asia and Pacific, using the Detection and Attribution method
USYD Members
Shanika Nanayakkara
A/Prof
University of Sydney
Expertise
- Quantitative Research
- Data Analysis
Research Interests
- Environmental Determinants of Health
- Environmental Exposure Assessment
- Salivary Diagnostics
Expertise
- Quantitative Research
- Data Analysis
Research Interests
- Environmental Determinants of Health
- Environmental Exposure Assessment
- Salivary Diagnostics
Kanchan Marcus
Research Fellow
University of Sydney
Expertise
- Mixed methods
- Qualitative Methods
- Program Evaluations
Research Interests
- Health System Access
- Social Epidemiology
- CALD populations
- Integrated Care
Expertise
- Mixed methods
- Qualitative Methods
- Program Evaluations
Research Interests
- Health System Access
- Social Epidemiology
- CALD populations
- Integrated Care
Ashorino Barkho
Student/Undergraduate
University of Sydney
Tracy Bui
Student/Undergraduate
University of Sydney
Jack Fellows
Student/Undergraduate
University of Sydney
Anne Wang
Student/Undergraduate
University of Sydney
Deakin University
Adyya Gupta
Senior Research Fellow
Deakin University
Expertise
- Evidence Synthesis
- Mixed method research
- Co-design Methods
- Systems Mapping
Research Interests
- Public Health Nutrition
- Social & Commercial Determinants of Health
- Oral Health
- Digital Food Environment
- Health Promotion
Expertise
- Evidence Synthesis
- Mixed method research
- Co-design Methods
- Systems Mapping
Research Interests
- Public Health Nutrition
- Social & Commercial Determinants of Health
- Oral Health
- Digital Food Environment
- Health Promotion
Western Sydney University
Amit Arora
A/Prof
Western Sydney University
Research Interests
- Health Equity
- Cohort Studies
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health
- Health Literacy
- CALD Populations
Research Interests
- Health Equity
- Cohort Studies
- Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health
- Health Literacy
- CALD Populations
Shruti Nair
PhD Candidate
Western Sydney University
Oral Health Victoria
Jessica Nguyen
MPH Candidate/ Research Assistant
Oral Health Victoria
Expertise
- Observational Data Analysis
- Systematic Review
- Semi-structured Interviews
Research Interests
- Causal Inference
- Simulation Modeling
- Implementation Science
Expertise
- Observational Data Analysis
- Systematic Review
- Semi-structured Interviews
Research Interests
- Causal Inference
- Simulation Modeling
- Implementation Science
Radiya Adam
Research Assistant
Oral Health Victoria
Expertise
- Administrative Health Data Analysis
- Epidemiological Methods
- Qualitative research
- Mixed-methods Research
- Program Evaluation
Research Interests
- Population Oral Health
- Oral Health Inequities
- Implementation Science
- Oral Health Surveillance
Expertise
- Administrative Health Data Analysis
- Epidemiological Methods
- Qualitative research
- Mixed-methods Research
- Program Evaluation
Research Interests
- Population Oral Health
- Oral Health Inequities
- Implementation Science
- Oral Health Surveillance
Global Affiliates
Huihua Li
Senior biostatistician
National Dental Centre Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School
Expertise
- Systematic Review
- Mixed Model
- Predictive Model
- Causal Inference
- Multistate Life Tables
Expertise
- Systematic Review
- Mixed Model
- Predictive Model
- Causal Inference
- Multistate Life Tables
Eero Raittio
Assistant Professor
Aarhus University; University of Eastern Finland
Expertise
- Oral Epidemiology
- Registry-based Research
- Causal Inference
- Dental Health Services Research
- Oral Health Interventions and Policies
Expertise
- Oral Epidemiology
- Registry-based Research
- Causal Inference
- Dental Health Services Research
- Oral Health Interventions and Policies
Diego Proaño Falconi
PhD Candidate
University of Toronto
Expertise
- Financial Risk Protection
- Inequities in Oral Health
- Oral Epidemiology
- Policy Analysis
- Causal Inference
Expertise
- Financial Risk Protection
- Inequities in Oral Health
- Oral Epidemiology
- Policy Analysis
- Causal Inference
Yanela Aravena Rivas
Assistant Professor
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Expertise
- Commercial and Political Determinants of Health
- Sugar Consumption
- Health Promotion
Expertise
- Commercial and Political Determinants of Health
- Sugar Consumption
- Health Promotion
John Tay
PhD Candidate
National Dental Centre Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School
Expertise
- Analytical Epidemiology
- Registry Research
Expertise
- Analytical Epidemiology
- Registry Research
Sharon Tan
PhD Candidate
National University of Singapore; King's College London
Expertise
- Health Technology Assessment
- Health Economics
- Health Services Research
Expertise
- Health Technology Assessment
- Health Economics
- Health Services Research
Michelle Stennett
Clinical Research Fellow
University College London; Hertfordshire Community Trust (NHS)
Expertise
- Ethnicity and Health
- Global Oral Health
- Oral Health for Children and Adolescents with Autism and Learning Disabilities
Expertise
- Ethnicity and Health
- Global Oral Health
- Oral Health for Children and Adolescents with Autism and Learning Disabilities
Saif Syed
PhD Candidate
University College London; Queen Mary University, UK
Expertise
- Oral Health Inequalities
- Healthy Ageing
- Health Systems and Policy
- Health Services
Expertise
- Oral Health Inequalities
- Healthy Ageing
- Health Systems and Policy
- Health Services
Inès Phlypo
PhD Candidate
Ghent University
Expertise
- Qualitative research methods
- Program development
- Process evaluation
Research Interests
- Care for persons with disabilities
- Implementation science
- Oral health promotion
- Access to care
- Change management and organizational performance
Expertise
- Qualitative research methods
- Program development
- Process evaluation
Research Interests
- Care for persons with disabilities
- Implementation science
- Oral health promotion
- Access to care
- Change management and organizational performance
Kamila Sihuay Torres
PhD Candidate
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto
Expertise
- Cost-effectiveness analysis
- Clinical decision modelling in oral health
Research Interests
- Community-based participatory research
- Qualitative research
Expertise
- Cost-effectiveness analysis
- Clinical decision modelling in oral health
Research Interests
- Community-based participatory research
- Qualitative research
Shulamite S Huang
Assistant Professor
New York University College of Dentistry
Expertise
- Health economics
- Economic evaluation
- Causal inference
Research Interests
- Insurance
- Community-based interventions
- Medical-dental divide
Expertise
- Health economics
- Economic evaluation
- Causal inference
Research Interests
- Insurance
- Community-based interventions
- Medical-dental divide
Lucky Singh
Associate Professor
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); National Disease Modelling Consortium (NDMC); Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)
Expertise
- Multilevel modelling
- Structural equation modelling
- Propensity score matching
Research Interests
- Preventive risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
- Tobacco use
- Obesity
- Alcohol consumption
Expertise
- Multilevel modelling
- Structural equation modelling
- Propensity score matching
Research Interests
- Preventive risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
- Tobacco use
- Obesity
- Alcohol consumption
Sakura Kiuchi
Assistant Professor
Institute of Science Tokyo
Expertise
- Causal inference
- Oral epidemiology
Research Interests
- Social determinants of health
- Health inequalities
Expertise
- Causal inference
- Oral epidemiology
Research Interests
- Social determinants of health
- Health inequalities
Bethy Turton
Assistant Professor
Boston University; University of Puthisastra
Expertise
- Systems thinking
- Co-design
- Epidemiology
- Operational innovation
Research Interests
- Early childhood oral health
- Long-term care
- HIV care settings
- Translating oral-systemic evidence
Expertise
- Systems thinking
- Co-design
- Epidemiology
- Operational innovation
Research Interests
- Early childhood oral health
- Long-term care
- HIV care settings
- Translating oral-systemic evidence
Sreenath Madathil
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University
Expertise
- Artificial Intelligence
- Life course Approach
- Cancer Epidemiology
Expertise
- Artificial Intelligence
- Life course Approach
- Cancer Epidemiology
Nasir Bashir
Wellcome Trust Fellow
MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge
Expertise
- Statistical Inference
- Social Epidemiology
- Genetic Epidemiology
Expertise
- Statistical Inference
- Social Epidemiology
- Genetic Epidemiology
Chris O'Brien Lifehouse
Rebecca Venchiarutti
Senior Research Fellow
Chris O'Brien Lifehouse
Expertise
- Data Linkage
- Epidemiology
- Qualitative Research
Research Interests
- Oral Cancer
- Unwarranted Variations
- Access to Care
- Rural Health
Expertise
- Data Linkage
- Epidemiology
- Qualitative Research
Research Interests
- Oral Cancer
- Unwarranted Variations
- Access to Care
- Rural Health
SA Health
Black Dog Institute
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Yuxi Li
Health Economist
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Expertise
- Causal epidemiology
- Longitudinal data analysis
- Health economic evaluation
- Population simulation modelling
Research Interests
- Social determinants of health
- Health inequalities
- Health systems and policy
- Population oral health
- Primary care workforce policy
Expertise
- Causal epidemiology
- Longitudinal data analysis
- Health economic evaluation
- Population simulation modelling
Research Interests
- Social determinants of health
- Health inequalities
- Health systems and policy
- Population oral health
- Primary care workforce policy
Sax Institute
Mishel Shahid
Manager, Systems Science and Research
The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute
Expertise
- Systems thinking
- Systems change
- Causal and simulation modelling
- Health economics
- Workforce capability building
- Participatory approaches
- Knowledge mobilisation
Expertise
- Systems thinking
- Systems change
- Causal and simulation modelling
- Health economics
- Workforce capability building
- Participatory approaches
- Knowledge mobilisation
Interested in collaborating with us?
We lead short courses and commissioned research, collaborate on research grants and interesting research ideas, host visiting researchers and students, support HDR applications for ideas aligned with HEAL-Oral Health, work with consumers, and welcome media enquiries about population oral health. We welcome new partnerships from academic institutions, health organisations, and policy bodies worldwide. Please contact us if you are interested in collaborating or would like to learn more about our work.