Emeritus Professor Thrift was previosuly Head of Stroke and Ageing Research (STAR) in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health (2016-2022). She was an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, served on the NHMRC Research Committee (2009-2015), is a past President of the Stroke Society of Australasia (2007-2010), and a prior Director of the National Stroke Foundation (2014-2022).

Emeritus Professor Thrift gained her PhD in epidemiology in the study of risk factors for intracerebral haemorrhage from Monash University in 1995. Post-PhD she is internationally renowned for her research expertise in the epidemiology of stroke. She was the Principal Investigator and has led and coordinated the highly successful North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study since its development in 1995. This study has resulted in more than 50 publications in high quality journals, and three major data pooling collaborations to date. She has published widely on the epidemiology of cerebrovascular disease and dementia and has invaluable expertise in cohort epidemiology, conducting large-scale longitudinal cohort studies achieving high response in follow-up.

Emeritus Professor Thrift is currently leading an innovative vascular disease research program in hard-to-reach rural communities in India. Simply setting up these studies was a major effort, requiring the collaboration with national and international leaders in stroke, hypertension, dementia, and rural medicine. Emeritus Professor Thrift has published initial pilot work conducted in southern India, conducted an NHMRC funded case-control study of hypertension and a study aimed at overcoming the barriers to hypertension control (NHMRC funded through the Global Alliance for Chronic Disease). Her partners in India included medical practitioners, project managers, and several nurses, laboratory technicians and administrative staff. There were many obstacles in undertaking research in such a remote area, for example the collection and storage of blood. The organisation and conduct of these studies, although challenging, was very productive for global health.

Research Grants

Continuous research funding since 1995 totalling $17 million ($6 million as responsible investigator). These grants include NHMRC post-doc training, career and senior research fellowships, NHMRC and VicHealth project grants, and 3 National Heart Foundation grants.

Public Health Practice and Policy Initiative

Emeritus Professor Thrift has provided input to health care practice and policy through:

1. Close links with the National Stroke Foundation (NSF). As an inaugural co-chair (2008-2011) of the Australian Stroke Coalition, a joint initiative between the National Stroke Foundation and the Stroke Society of Australasia, she has had input to the translation of research findings. She has further input into translation as a recent Director of the National Stroke Foundation.
2. As a committee member on the National Heart, Stroke, and Vascular Health Data Working Group, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare she contributed to numerous reports and analyses conducted by the Cardiovascular Diseases Unit of this institute. This has resulted in specific analyses of stroke-specific national data. Many of these analyses have been included in the reports from the institute. These reports are available free of charge through the institute web site, and are therefore freely available to anyone with an interest in vascular diseases at a population level.

Memberships of Committees

National Cardiovascular Monitoring System Advisory Committee, AIHW (2003-2022); Australasian Epidemiological Association, Treasurer (2001-2004); Public Health Research Advisory Group (1997-1999; 2001-2003); Stroke Society of Australasia (Council Member 1998-2000, Secretary 2001-2004, Vice-President 2004-2007, President 2007-2010, Immediate Past President 2010-2011); Public Health Association of Australia, Victorian Branch Treasurer (1995-1998); National Health and Medical Research Council Research Committee (2010-2015); Stroke Foundation, Board member (2014-2022); Institute for Physical Activity & Nutrition, Board member (2017-2020).

Memberships of Conference Organising Committees

Public Health Association of Australia, 29th Annual Conference, 1997; Australasian Epidemiological Association, 1997; High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia (Stroke Workshop), Melbourne, 1999; World Health Organisation and International Society of Hypertension Stroke Meeting (Secretary), Melbourne, 2002; Stroke Society of Australasia (2002, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011); Asia Pacific Conference Against Stroke (2009); International Conference on Neurology and Epidemiology (2009 and Conference President 2015); American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, Stroke Council’s International Stroke Conference Program Committee (2017-2020). 

Editorial Board Memberships

International Journal of Stroke (2005-2019); Neuroepidemiology (2007-2021); Stroke (2009-2021); Section Co-editor of Health Policy/Outcomes section of Stroke (2010-2018); Journal of Stroke Medicine (2018-).