Full Blog:

Amanda Shiach

Amanda Shiach

Queen Mary University of London

NIHR Predoctoral Prevention Fellow

SSM member since: 2024

SSM participation: Member, attended the 2024 ASM in Glasgow and won the Academic Prize for Best Poster

Topics of interest: Salt, Low sodium salt substitutes, Recipe boxes

What inspired you to pursue a career in public health?

My journey into public health was shaped by a desire to address health inequities specifically related to our food environment. I have a deep-seated passion for “good” food and moved from teaching science, food and nutrition at secondary school to directly influencing food literacy, and then to City’s excellent Masters in Food Policy and into food policy and research work in 2020. I have seen first hand how social determinants profoundly influence food choice and related health outcomes. My motivation stems from “still wanting to change the world” and to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact. Applied health research offers a unique opportunity to address systemic and community level challenges, making it a perfect fit for my aspirations. In particular, my interest in dietary interventions and their role in preventing chronic diseases has guided my research focus.

What excites you about working in research now?

What excites me most about research in public health is its potential for tangible change. The dynamic, interdisciplinary nature of the field allows for innovative solutions that directly impact people. By collaborating with policymakers, food industry stakeholders, and community organisations, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to healthier food environments that can improve long-term health outcomes. 

Thinking specifically about “now”, I hope the new government, with its focus on the prevention of ill health, sees the need and opportunity to intervene in our food system. Secondly, the huge academic and civil society interest in food-related health suggests a groundswell of change, echoing elements of Popkin’s fifth stage of the nutrition transition (https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13366). Finally, the technological potential and social inclination of the extended food and nutrition community to collaborate makes now an exciting time to be in research.

What area of social medicine/public health are you interested in?

My primary interest lies in food and related health equity, particularly in the realm of nutrition and chronic disease prevention. However, that’s underpinned by the sheer joy of, and in, “good” food; food that gives rather than takes from all involved in its production, food that nourishes physically and spiritually, food that glues people together.

Can you tell us a bit about a project you’re working on now?

One of my current focuses is on low-sodium salt substitutes and their potential to reduce hypertension at a population level. This work aligns with my broader goal of exploring evidence-based dietary interventions that can be implemented on a large scale. I am just about to embark on an NIHR predoctoral Fellowship for this research. My “passion” project involves recipe boxes; I am convinced they have the potential to increase food literacy, nutrition, and health in many ways, and would love to see a sustainable, affordable, accessible healthy recipe box.

The common thread in my work is how dietary interventions can be leveraged to address systemic disparities in health outcomes. Whether through policy advocacy, community engagement, or applied research, my goal is to drive sustainable improvements in public health nutrition.

What do you hope this will lead to?

I hope this project will serve as a model for how targeted dietary interventions can be successfully integrated into public health strategies. By demonstrating the effectiveness of low-sodium salt substitutes in reducing hypertension, I aim to contribute to policy recommendations that encourage their wider adoption in food systems. Ultimately, I hope this work influences industry practices, consumer behaviour, and public health policies, leading to long-term improvements in cardiovascular health and reductions in health disparities.

Bonus question from ECR sub-committee: How do you engage with the community or stakeholders in your research/role?

Engagement is a cornerstone of my research approach. I aim to prioritise building authentic relationships with community members, advocacy groups, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to ensure that work is relevant and has impact. By fostering trust and collaboration, I strive to create research that is not only academically rigorous but connected to the needs of the people it aims to serve.

SSM ECR features is a blog series that celebrates early career researchers. Each month we meet a member we admire, learn more about their work and find out what and who inspires them. To find out more visit blog or email ecr.ssm@gmail.com.

SSM ECR features is a blog series that celebrates early career researchers. Each month we meet a member we admire, learn more about their work and find out what and who inspires them. To find out more visit blog or email ecr.ssm@gmail.com.