Medical Research

Research Focus

My research focuses on preventing chronic disease like cardiovascular disease and cancer by encouraging children and adults to be active, eat healthily, to quit smoking and not to consume alcohol excessively. 

I develop and evaluate programs to addresses these health risks, as well as strategies to maximise implement effective programs in the community.

Why did you get into research?

Most death and disability in Australia is due to chronic disease. I wanted to conduct research to help people live healthy lives.

What is your dream for research?

I would like my research to support health promotion being considered important in all government polices - from local government and planning, to education, community services and health.

Biography

Professor Luke Wolfenden is a behavioural scientist. He completed his PhD at the University of Newcastle in 2006. Since this time he has pursued a career in applied public health research. His research seeks to reduce the burden of chronic disease in the community by testing the effectiveness of interventions to improve health behaviours (such as tobacco and alcohol use, physical activity and nutrition) and to facilitate the translation of effective health promotion program into practice. 

He has worked with internationally recognised research institutions such as the United Kingdom Cochrane Centre, and the Centre for Practice Changing Research at the University of Ottawa. Professor Wolfenden has undertaken consultancies for the World Health Organisation, Australian Federal Government and national non-government organisations including the Australian Drug Foundation.

Health interventions developed by Professor Wolfenden have been adopted and broadly and disseminated by the Australian government and non-government organisations. He has received international and national awards acknowledging the impact and significance of his research, including Early Career Awards from the International Society for Behavioural Health and Medicine, Australian National Preventive Health Agency and HMRI.

Future Focus

The future focus of Professor Wolfenden’s research is on developing the science of implementation to improve the uptake of evidence based chronic disease programs in community settings.

Specialised/ Technical Skills

• Complex public health interventions
• Randomised trials
• Implementation and dissemination research and knowledge translation

Affiliations

• HMRI: Public Health
• PRC: Health Behaviour
• Executive: International Society for Behavioral Medicine
• Executive: International Union for Health Promotion and Education - South Western Pacific region