Kyoko Miura
Dr | Research Officer
+617 3845 3561Kyoko.Miura@qimrberghofer.edu.au
CAREER HISTORY
Dr Kyoko Miura is a Research Officer at Population Health Department at the QIMR Berghofer. She is a Registered Nutritionist and an epidemiologist. Kyoko holds a PhD and award for excellence in Public Health (Nutrition) from Queensland University of Technology, and she made contributions in understanding socioeconomic inequality in dietary intakes.
Since Kyoko has joined QIMR Berghofer, her research focus is the role of nutrition and dietary intake in prevention of chronic disease, especially skin cancer and cardiovascular disease. Kyoko is currently leading projects to studying nutritional status and dietary intake among heart transplant recipients. Her research areas also extend to health of airline pilots in relation to radiation exposure.
CURRENT APPOINTMENTS
- 2012–current: Research Officer, Cancer and Population Studies Group, Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
- 2019–current: Honorary Fellow, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland
- 2017–current: Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology
PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT
- 2007–2009: Research Assistant, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology
- 2009–2012: Tutor, Undergraduate & Post-graduate Epidemiology and Biostatistic units, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology.
ORCID NUMBER
RESEARCHER ID
CURRENT AREA OF RESEARCH
Current research focus is to identify dietary patterns that influence the development of skin cancer. In particular, she is investigating the possible protective role of omega-3 fatty acids against skin cancer in organ transplant recipients. She is also interested in studying how healthy eating may lower the high levels of cardiovascular disease among heart transplant recipients. Her research areas extend to health of airline pilots in relation to radiation exposure.
- Omega-3 fatty acid intakes and prevention of skin cancer
- Dietary patterns and skin cancer risk
- Weight change in heart transplant recipients
- Dietary intake in heart transplant recipients
- Radiation exposure and health in commercial airline pilots
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
- A high intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from food (mainly found in oily fish) may reduce skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma)
- Heart transplant recipients substantially gained weight from at transplantation to 24 months post-transplantation
- A randomised controlled study on omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to reduce skin cancer among lung transplant recipients is feasible and potentially effective
- Australian commercial airline pilots had double the rate of melanoma compared with the general population and were at greater risk of death from melanoma.
- Heart or lung trans plant recipients were able to adhere to Mediterranean diet and low-fat diet in a randomised feasibility study
- A high level of plasma phospholipid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) reduced risk of all-cause mortality in men and women, and high plasma docosapentaenoeic acid (DPA) and alpha-linolenic acid reduced risk of all-cause mortality in men
- A high intake of caffeine may prevent subsequent skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) development among those who have had a previous skin cancer.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- 2014–2016: Queensland Branch Secretary, Public Health Association of Australia
- 2012–current: Member of the American Society of Nutrition
- 2012–2017: Executive Committee of the Public Health Association of Australia
- 2010–current: Registered Nutritionist, Nutrition Society of Australia
- 2010–current: Member of the Nutrition Society of Australia
- 2010–current: Member of the Australasian Epidemiological Association
AWARDS RECOGNITION
- 2013: Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Health Executive Dean’s Commendation for Higher Degree Research (PhD) in 2012.
- 2011: Nutrition Society of Australia Travel Grant
- 2010: Cancer Council Travel Grant
- 2010: Overseas Study Grants-in-Aid, Queensland University of Technology
- 2008–2011: Australian Postgraduate Award
- 2008–2011: Queensland University of Technology Deputy Vice Chancellor’s Initiative Scholarship
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
- 2008–2012 Doctor of Philosophy; Institute of Health Biomedical Innovation/School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health; Queensland University of Technology.
- 2004–2007 Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology.