Lisa Wood

Lisa Wood is an Australian nutritional biochemist and academic known for her research on the links between diet, inflammation, and respiratory diseases such as asthma. She is the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Health, Medicine and Well-being at the University of Newcastle, Australia, and also serves as the nutrition theme leader in the Immune Health Program at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HRMI). Wood’s work has demonstrated how dietary factors can influence lung inflammation and has informed clinical guidelines in asthma care. She is a former President of the Nutrition Society of Australia and has received multiple awards for her contributions to medical science.

Early life and education Wood completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours at the University of Sydney, where she was awarded the University Medal in 1991.

Wood joined the academic staff of the University of Newcastle’s School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy in 2010 and subsequently rose to the rank of full professor. She served as Head of School from 2020 to 2025, overseeing education and research programs in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. In late 2023, she took on a short-term role as interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Engagement) at the university. In March 2025, Wood was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Health, Medicine and Well-being. She is a registered nutritionist and has held editorial board roles for academic journals such as Respirology and Nutrients, further contributing to her fields of expertise. To date, she has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and has attracted more than A$18 million in research funding through competitive grants and industry partnerships. A University of Newcastle release in 2014 highlighted her study linking poor-quality, high-fat diets to worse asthma symptoms, bringing wider attention to the connection between nutrition and asthma management.

Awards and honours

1991 – University Medal, University of Sydney (for academic excellence in undergraduate science studies) 2018 – Hunter Medical Research Institute Director’s Award for Mid-Career Research 2022 – Nutrition Society of Australia Research Medal (for excellence in nutrition science research)