School of Medical and Health Sciences

Dr Matthew Snelson

Dr Matthew Snelson is an advanced Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Vice Chancellor's Research Fellow in the School of Medical and Health Sciences within the Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute (NHIRI). He is interested in how dietary interventions can influence the prevention and management of chronic diseases—such as hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, and kidney disease—through modulation of gut homeostasis. His work explores how nutrition-driven changes in the gut microbiome, intestinal permeability, and metabolic pathways can reduce disease risk and improve therapeutic outcomes.

Background

Matthew completed his PhD in 2019 at Monash University’s Department of Diabetes, where he investigated how a processed diet disrupts gut homeostasis and contributes to the development of diabetic kidney disease. Following this, he continued as a postdoctoral research fellow in the same department, focusing on the effects of resistant starch on diabetic kidney disease.

From 2022 to 2025, Matthew held a Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship and served as Group Leader and Co-Deputy Lab Head of the Hypertension Research Laboratory at Monash University. His research program examined how dietary interventions can influence hypertension by modulating gut microbiota and intestinal permeability.

He is the current Treasurer and immediate past President of the Australasian Human Microbiome Research Network.

Professional Associations

2009 – current: Dietitians Australia

2015 – current: Nutrition Society of Australia

2018 – current: Australian Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Society

2021 – current: Australasian Human Microbiome Research Network

2023 – current: Hypertension Australia

2023 – current: International Society of Hypertension

2023 – current: Australian Cardiovascular Alliance

2026 – current: Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance

Awards and Recognition

2024    Best Oral Presentation, 30th Congress of the International Society of Hypertension 2024, International Society of Hypertension

2024    Victorian Heart Institute Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator ECR Travel Grant, $2000

2024    Nutrition Society of Australia Representative at Science Meets Parliament 2024

2023    People's Choice, Best Oral Presentation, National Committee for Nutrition, Australian Academy of Science Boden Research Conference

2023    National Heart Foundation Collaboration & Exchange Award, National Heart Foundation

2023    Winner, Australian Nutrition Trust Fund Travelling Fellowship, Australian Nutrition Trust Fund

2022    2nd Best Oral Presentation, Nutrition Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting

2022    Best Research Highlight, Microbiome Virtual International Forum

2021    Young Investigator Award, Nutrients

2021    Winner, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute Prize for Diabetes Research, Alfred Health Week

2021    Winner, Rapid Fire Talks,Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences ECR Symposium

2021    Winner, Early-Career Development Award, Nutrition Society of Australia

2021    Winner, Basic Science Award, Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology Annual Scientific Meeting

2020    Finalist, Young Investigator Award, Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology Annual Scientific Meeting

2019    Winner, Best Biomedical Research Talk Award, Alfred Health Alliance EMCR Symposium

2019    Finalist, Australian Diabetes Society-Pincus Taft Young Investigator Award, Australasian Diabetes Congress

2019    Winner, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute Prize for Diabetes Research, Alfred Health Week

2018    Postgraduate Publication Award, Monash University

2018    2nd Best Oral Presentation, Nutrition Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting

2018    Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology International Travel Award

2018    Victorian Finalist, FameLab Competition

2017    Winner, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute Prize for Diabetes Research, Alfred Health Week

2017    Winner, 3 Minute Thesis Competition, Central Clinical School, Monash University

2016    New Conference Presenter Award, Dietitians Association of Australia National Conference

Research Areas and Interests

• Diet and nutrition
• Gut Microbiota
• Intestinal Permeability
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Diabetes

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy, Monash University, 2019.