Kiera Batten

Biography

Kiera is a clinical expert metabolic dietitian with the Genetic Metabolic Disorders Service and Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the Children’s Hospital Westmead, Sydney. Kiera graduated with a BSc (Nutrition Dietetics Hons I) & BAppSc (Exercise Sport Science) from Sydney University, and is currently undertaking a PhD at UNSW, Sydney. Kiera is investigating nutrient and exercise interventions to optimise physical activity capacity, in inborn errors of metabolism. Kiera’s areas of interest include practical optimisation of dietary management, novel therapeutics, exercise physiology, and teaching and training.

Research title

Investigating nutrient and exercise interventions in children and young adults with inborn errors of muscle energy metabolism, to optimise physical activity capacity.

Research abstract

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are rare genetic conditions which result from an enzyme deficiency in the body which affects or blocks normal metabolism of fat, protein, or carbohydrate. If located in the muscle, these enzyme deficiencies can affect the production of energy in skeletal muscle, which can lead to muscle pain, fatigue, weakness, and breakdown. This impacts on the ability to participate in physical activity and exercise. The aim of my research is to investigate what exercise or novel nutrient interventions optimise physical activity for children and young adults with IEMs affecting skeletal muscle.

Supervisors

Professor David Simar, Professor Carolyn Broderick and Associate Professor Kaustuv Bhattacharya