
Dr Zhaoli Dai-Keller
Ph.D. (Epidemiology): National University of Singapore (Oct 2015)
Dr Zhaoli Dai-Keller’s research analyses local and international epidemiological data to identify key dietary factors associated with preventing functional decline, reducing the burden of chronic disease, and promoting healthy longevity among ethnically diverse older populations. This evidence base informs the co-development and implementation of intervention strategies in community and healthcare settings, aiming to support equitable and sustainable health programs and policy.
Zhaoli is a nutritional epidemiologist with over a decade of experience in public health research and education. She earned her PhD in Epidemiology from National University of Singapore in 2015 and subsequently completed a prestigious NIH T32 postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University under the mentorship of Dr David Felson. In 2018, she relocated with her family to Sydney, Australia.
Her research aims to improve diet quality and promote healthy ageing and longevity among older adults, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. She utilises research cohorts, population surveys, and global data consortium to lead or contribute to both academic and translational research on culturally relevant diet components, burden of disease, healthy longevity, and healthcare access, especially digital health and virtual care utilisation across community, clinical, and policy settings.
Zhaoli is deeply committed to teaching. She educates students at all levels and across health disciplines to train them to think critically and holistically about health problems, with a strong emphasis on equity and cultural relevance for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Her teaching ranges from introduction to public health, epidemiological research methods, program evaluation, to evidence-based health leadership and strategies.
She also provides leadership across institutional, national, and international platforms. She plays an active role in shaping public health initiatives and promoting well-being in ageing populations across various settings, including research, training, and policy. She is Co-Chair of Ageing Research Network at the School of Population Health at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ, Executive member of the Australian Association of Gerontology (NSW), Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group at the Nutrition Society of Australia, Executive member of the Aging Policy Committee of American Public Health Association, and Co-Chair of the Global Health Ageing at Association of Pacific Rim Universities.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
- Unraveling lifestyle patterns for better health outcomeÌý
Role: Principal investigator (funded $10,000; July 2023; »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ School of Population Health)
- Evaluation of current and potential dietary data collection methods at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ
Role: Co-Principal investigator (funded $8,500; July 2023; »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ SPH & SoHS)
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Identifying culturally appropriate and feasible strategies to improve hospital food service in older inpatients from racial and ethnic minority groupsÌý
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(Flinders Health & Medical Research Institute Kickstart program for ECRs, funded with 20,000 AUD, Dec 2022; Flinders University)Ìý
Role: Chief investigator A -
COMPare Conflicts: A Real-time Audit of Conflict of Interest Disclosures in Major Medical Journals
(USyd - Yonsei - Partnership Collaboration Awards, funded with 20,000 AUD; 2020-2022; University of Sydney)Ìý
Role: Co-Investigator -
Evidence use in genetically modified products (SJTU,Ìýfunded with 5,000 AUD, Sept 2019; University of Sydney)Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý
Role: Chief investigator A
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American Association of Aging and GeroScience: GeroScience Outstanding Review Paper Award Honorable Mention (2025)
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Summer scholarship awarded to two MD pathway students under my supervised projects (Flinders University; December 2022)
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Travel Award sponsored by the University of Sydney Pharmacy School 2019 Travel Support Grant (University of Sydney; July 2019)
- Travel Award sponsored by Boston Nutrition Obesity Research Center (BNORC) (Harvard University, Boston University, and Tufts University; 2018)
- Travel award sponsored by the Professional Development and Postdoctoral Affairs at Boston University (2017)
- Travel award sponsored by the North America Chinese Society for Nutrition and America Society for Nutrition (US; 2017)
- National Institute of Health (T32 fellowship) (US NIH; 2015-2018)
- 2nd Place Laboratory Clinical Research Award in the Evans Department of Medicine Research Days Poster Session (Boston University School of Medicine; 2016)
- Young Investigator AwardÌýby the 4th International Osteoporosis Foundation - Asia-Pacific Regional Conference 2014 (Taiwan; 2014)
- Best Poster AwardÌýby International Life Sciences Institute Southeast Asia Region 2013 (Singapore; 2013)
- Young Investigator AwardÌýby the 3rd International Osteoporosis Foundation - Asia-Pacific Regional Conference 2012 (Malaysia; 2012)
- diet, nutrition, and medication use to promoteÌýhealthy ageing and healthy longevity
- lifestyle patterns in diseaseÌýmanagement
- hospital food serviceÌýand nutrition qualityÌý
- optimisation of digital health utilisation in disease managementÌý
- systematic reviews related to food, nutrition, health, and research integrity
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In the media:
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ABC Radio SA and NT (2024). The health habits of centenarians; 26 August 2024
- Yahoo News (2024):Ìýhttps://au.news.yahoo.com/reviewed-health-habits-centenarians-4-202436638.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMEsOoa1qmUxpFQ0bUZjv2JpdSLSG7XIQLOIiEHyS5lrmN13yA-QiC4I8o36VIU7cWJ_boUb3_aJc6Wc9DbtVhMa4RxTS3AYdaeec_eP4BooK56uatz6v0ZP5hVRsOxjwh0ATwpTEd46Unyhc0gYiR2xIQ743nK976cfe-Wds5Zf
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ABC Radio Hobart Statewide Mornings Program (2024). The health habits of centenarians; 22 August 2024
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SBS (Australia) Mandarin Interview (2024). Health habits of centenarians;Ìý22 August 2024.
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JOY Drive Radio Interview (2024). The health habits of centenarians; 22 August 2024
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ABC South East (2024). Living longer;Ìý19 August 2024
- ABC News (2024):Ìýhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-18/the-health-habits-of-centenarians-could-help-you-live-longer/104228708
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ABC QLD (2024): Living longer and living to 100;Ìý15 August 2024
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ABC Coffs and Mid North Coast (2024): Living longer;Ìý14 August 2024
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AT2 Double C Radio Canberra (2024): The health habits of centenarians;Ìý13 August 2024
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ABC NEWS TV CHANNEL (2024): Health habits of centenarians – Live TV Interview with Kath Robinson; 13 August 2024
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ABC News (2024)
Worsening food insecurity in Greater Western Sydney leaving some to skip meals, raising concerns for long-term health:
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The Sydney Morning Harold (2022): Australian clinical trial authors’ declarations of industry ties:
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Nature News (2022): )
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The Australian Science Media Exchange (2021):
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The Guardian (2021): https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/sep/22/research-suggests-a-diet-rich-in-dairy-fat-may-lower-the-risk-of-heart-disease
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CNN (2021):
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Australian Ageing Agenda (2021): https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au
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NYTimes (2017): https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/well/eat/high-fiber-diet-tied-to-less-knee-arthritis.html
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Newsweek (2017):
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Reuters (2017):Ìýhttps://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-arthritis-fiber-idUSKBN18M1VQ
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Today (2014):Ìý
Editorial services:
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Associate editor: Public Health Nutrition (2023-)
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Associate editor: Nutrition Journal (2022-)
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Editorial board: BMC Geriatrics (2021-)
Academic societies:Ìý
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Nutrition Society Australia: Deputy Chair, Equity Diversity & Inclusion Working Group (National) (2022-)
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Australian Association of Gerontology: Executive committee member (NSW) (2021-) ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý
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My Research Supervision
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Diet and nutrition inÌýfunctional decline, healthy ageing, and healthyÌýlongevity
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Digital health utilisation
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Research integrity
My Teaching
My teaching interest includes nutritional epidemiology, ageing health, and health policy.
I have taught and coordinated units/courses in nutritional epidemiology, research methods, ageing and health, introduction to public health, and history of public health.Ìý
Current teaching (course convenor): Program evaluation (PHCM 2009); Capstone (PHCM 3003; 2023-2024)
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