Conjoint Associate Professor Melissa Harris is a Project Manager at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI). She is an internationally recognised researcher in women’s health, with a particular focus on the complex health and social outcomes experienced by women, including those in vulnerable populations.

Her research particularly focuses on contraception and chronic disease, using innovative research methods and advanced statistical approaches to understand patterns of use, access, and decision-making. Her work spans high- and low- and middle-income settings, contributing to global efforts to improve equitable access to family planning and reproductive health.

In Australia, Associate Professor Harris’ research has advanced understanding of contraceptive use among young women, including patterns of use, unintended pregnancy, and uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Her work has also explored how women make and explain decisions about contraception, including changes over time and barriers to access. This research has contributed to improved access to LARC and informed evidence-based contraceptive services across family planning and non-profit organisations, as well as clinical training and therapeutic guidelines nationally and internationally.