Dr Lily Williams
Research Associate
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
- Email:lily.williams@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:0249217227
Career Summary
Biography
Dr Williams is an early career researcher developing her expertise in nutrition, asthma and obesity as a Nutritional Biochemist and Immunologist (PhD, Nutritional Biochemistry, 2023) within the Nutrition Team of the Immune Health Research Program at the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Since 2018, Dr Williams has undertaken laboratory-based translational research alongside a clinically focused team working in the areas of nutrition science, respiratory diseases, obesity, and inflammation.
Commencing her PhD in 2018 under the supervision of Professor Lisa Wood, Dr Williams’ work focused on understanding how soluble fibre intervention, and their bacterial metabolites, alter immune responses and clinical outcomes in asthma. Dr Williams' current research is focused on how nutritional interventions modulate innate immune function, and understanding how obesity worsens asthma outcomes with a specific focus on nutritional and exercise therapy. Involved in both clinical and laboratory-based projects, her current role includes study design, safety application, recruitment, data collection, statistical analysis and publication of basic, translational and clinical research projects.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nutritional Biochemistry, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Biomedical Science, University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Honours), University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Asthma
- Cell Culture
- Immunology
- Obesity
- Respiratory Diseases
Languages
- English (Mother)
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 320103 | Respiratory diseases | 30 |
| 321004 | Nutritional science | 30 |
| 320404 | Cellular immunology | 40 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Research Associate | University of Newcastle School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy Australia |
Awards
Award
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2019 |
Hunter Cancer Research Alliance Best Poster Presentation Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) |
| 2017 |
Faculty of Health & Medicine Faculty Medal Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle |
Recipient
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2016 |
Faculty of Health and Medicine, Faculty Scholars Program Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle |
| 2015 |
Faculty of Health and Medicine, Faculty Scholars Program Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle |
Scholarship
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2016 |
School of Biomedical and Sciences & Pharmacy Summer Scholarship Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Conference (4 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
Scott H, Wood LG, Callister R, Upham JW, Grainge CL, Anderson S, Williams LM, McLoughlin RF, Williams EJ, Valkenborghs SR, 'Both Moderate-Intensity and Vigorous-Intensity Aerobic Exercise Training Are Associated With Clinical Improvements in Asthma', AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 209 (2024)
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| 2024 |
Scott H, Wood LG, Callister R, Upham JW, Grainge CL, Anderson S, Williams LM, McLoughlin RF, Williams EJ, Valkenborghs SR, 'Visceral Adipose Tissue Mass Is Associated With Poorer Lung Function and Increased Airway Inflammation in Adults With Asthma', AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 209 (2024)
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| 2023 |
Williams LM, Berthon BS, Stoodley IL, Williams EJ, Wood LG, 'Medicinal mushroom extracts exert differential effects in vitro on the release of inflammatory mediators by stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy, older adults', PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY, 82 (2023)
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Journal article (11 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
Valkenborghs SR, Wood LG, Callister R, Upham JW, Grainge CL, Anderson S, Williams LM, McLoughlin RF, Williams EJ, Scott HA, 'Effects of Moderate- Versus Vigorous-Intensity Exercise Training on Asthma Outcomes in Adults', JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE, 12 (2024) [C1]
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| 2023 |
Berthon BS, Williams LM, Williams EJ, Wood LG, 'Lactoferrin in the prevention of infections: some evidence of efficacy. Results of a systematic review with meta-analysis', Quaderni ACP, 30 (2023)
This systematic review included 25 studies including 5 pediatric studies (882 children) to evaluate the effect of lactoferrin (Lf) supplementation on inflammation, immu... [more] This systematic review included 25 studies including 5 pediatric studies (882 children) to evaluate the effect of lactoferrin (Lf) supplementation on inflammation, immune function, and acute respiratory tract infections. The pediatric studies involved children in the first years of life in whom Lf supplementation was via milk formula at a highly variable dosage ranging from 35 to 833 mg Lf/day. The meta-analysis shows that Lf reduces systemic inflammation and the incidence of respiratory tract infections (VRI) in infants but not in adults. However, 1 of the 3 studies included in the pediatric meta-analysis was judged to be at high risk of bias due to missing data by the authors of another 2021 review that used the Cochrane risk of bias assessment (not adopted in this study) and there is high heterogeneity evidenced by an I2 of 81%. The result of this meta-analysis is not very robust, and further studies of good methodological quality are needed before recommending this type of supplementation to reduce the incidence of VRI in early life.
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| 2023 |
Stoodley IL, Williams LM, Wood LG, 'Effects of Plant-Based Protein Interventions, with and without an Exercise Component, on Body Composition, Strength and Physical Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials', NUTRIENTS, 15 (2023) [C1]
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| 2023 |
Williams LM, Berthon BS, Stoodley IL, Williams EJ, Wood LG, 'Medicinal Mushroom Extracts from Hericium coralloides and Trametes versicolor Exert Differential Immunomodulatory Effects on Immune Cells from Older Adults In Vitro', NUTRIENTS, 15 (2023) [C1]
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| 2023 |
Antunes KH, Singanayagam A, Williams L, Faiez TS, Farias A, Jackson MM, Faizi FK, Aniscenko J, Kebadze T, Veerati PC, Wood L, Bartlett NW, de Souza APD, Johnston SL, 'Airway-delivered short-chain fatty acid acetate boosts antiviral immunity during rhinovirus infection', JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, 151, 447-+ (2023) [C1]
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| 2022 |
Williams EJ, Berthon BS, Stoodley I, Williams LM, Wood LG, 'Nutrition in Asthma', SEMINARS IN RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 43, 646-661 (2022) [C1]
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| 2022 |
Berthon BS, Williams LM, Williams EJ, Wood LG, 'Effect of Lactoferrin Supplementation on Inflammation, Immune Function, and Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', ADVANCES IN NUTRITION, 13, 1799-1819 (2022) [C1]
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| 2021 |
Williams LM, Stoodley IL, Berthon BS, Wood LG, 'The Effects of Prebiotics, Synbiotics, and Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Respiratory Tract Infections and Immune Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', ADVANCES IN NUTRITION, 13, 167-192 (2021) [C1]
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| 2019 |
Williams LM, Scott HA, Wood LG, 'Soluble fibre as a treatment for inflammation in asthma', Journal of Nutrition and Intermediary Metabolism, 18 (2019) [C1]
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| 2019 |
Stoodley I, Williams L, Thompson C, Scott H, Wood L, 'Evidence for lifestyle interventions in asthma', BREATHE, 15, E51-E61 (2019) [C1]
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airways disease, estimated to affect 300 million people worldwide. Asthma management plans focus on optimisation of asthma pharmacother... [more] Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airways disease, estimated to affect 300 million people worldwide. Asthma management plans focus on optimisation of asthma pharmacotherapy. Lifestyle interventions also hold great promise for asthma sufferers as they are accessible, low cost and have minimal side-effects, thus making adherence more likely. This review explores lifestyle interventions that have been tested in asthma, including improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and introduction of relaxation therapies such as yoga and massage therapy. Available evidence suggests a protective effect of increasing fruit, vegetable and wholegrain intake and increasing physical activity levels in asthma. Weight loss is recommended for obese asthmatic patients, as just 5¿10% weight loss has been found to improve quality of life and asthma control in most obese asthmatic patients. Other lifestyle interventions such as meditation, yoga and massage therapy show promise, with positive effects on asthma seen in some studies. However, the study protocols are highly variable and the results are inconsistent. Additional research is needed to further develop and refine recommendations regarding lifestyle modifications that can be implemented to improve asthma.
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| 2018 |
Gao F, Griffin N, Faulkner S, Rowe CW, Williams L, Roselli S, Thorne RF, Ferdoushi A, Jobling P, Walker MM, Hondermarck H, 'The neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor TrkA and its ligand NGF are increased in squamous cell carcinomas of the lung', SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 8 (2018) [C1]
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Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 2 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $25,251 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20231 grants / $14,767
Investigating how excess nutrients in obesity affect immune responses to respiratory virus infection$14,767
Funding body: Hunter New England Local Health District
| Funding body | Hunter New England Local Health District |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Doctor Lily Williams, Doctor Alexandra Brown, Doctor Alexandra Brown, Professor Jay Horvat, Doctor Evan Williams, Doctor Geoffrey Tyler |
| Scheme | John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust Grant |
| Role | Lead |
| Funding Start | 2023 |
| Funding Finish | 2023 |
| GNo | G2300690 |
| Type Of Funding | C2400 – Aust StateTerritoryLocal – Other |
| Category | 2400 |
| UON | Y |
20221 grants / $10,484
Targeting the NLRP3 inflammsome to improve the immune response of obese individuals to Influenza A virus$10,484
Funding body: Hunter New England Local Health District
| Funding body | Hunter New England Local Health District |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Doctor Evan Williams, Doctor David Arnold, Doctor Bronwyn Berthon, Professor Jay Horvat, Doctor Lily Williams |
| Scheme | John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust Grant |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2022 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | G2200188 |
| Type Of Funding | C2400 – Aust StateTerritoryLocal – Other |
| Category | 2400 |
| UON | Y |
Dr Lily Williams
Position
Research Associate
Immune Health Research Program
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Contact Details
| lily.williams@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | 0249217227 |
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