Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
CK Yao is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Gastroenterology, Monash University and Alfred Hospital. She has an established track record in research into diet, biomarkers (including a novel gas-sensing capsule) and gastrointestinal diseases, having been a research dietitian for over 10 years and author of over 50 peer-review articles. In 2017, CK completed her PhD investigating dietary manipulation of gut microbial function and the application of gaseous biomarkers in patients with functional and inflammatory bowel disease. This was followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Hong Kong in the area of traditional Chinese nutrition therapy & functional dyspepsia with a leading gastroenterologist in Asia. Her
research has not only been featured on New Scientist, ABC catalyst and Herald Sun, but has also gained international recognition and enabled collaborations with dietitians & gastroenterologists who are leaders in the field both locally and abroad.
She currently leads a research programme looking at optimising dietary strategies for patients with ulcerative colitis and those with an ileoanal pouch.
Invited speaker, New Zealand Gastroenterology Society Annual Scientific Conference
Invited speaker, Federation of Neurogastroenterology & Motility
Invited speaker, 10th D-European Crohn's Colitis Organisation Workshop, ECCO conference
Invited speaker, IOIBD Annual Meeting
Invited speaker, GastroDiet 2024
Invited speaker, GastroDiet Prato 2023
Invited speaker, Dietitian's Australia Gastroenterology Interest Group webinar
Invited speaker, Australasian Human Microbiome Research
Collaborator, Asian Pacific Gastroenterology Association & Asian Neurogastroenterology an Motility Association Special Interest Group for Dietary Management of DGBIs
Committee member, GastroDiet 2024 Conference Organising Committee
Selected Early Mid Career Researcher representative for the Australian Academy of Science National Committee of Nutrition
Grant reviewer, Swiss National Science Fundation Grants
University Service
Dr Yao has acted as a peer-reviewer on several journals including The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics and the British Journal of Nutrition
Dr Yao has also acted as a grant and abstract reviewer for NHMRC Ideas Grants 2021, Swiss National Science Foundation Grants 2023, the Gastroenterological Society of Australia and the Dietitians Australia Annual Conference 2023.
Current supervision of PhD students (2), supervision of 1 honours students
Founding member, Consortium of Research into Eating Disorders
Committee member, Central Clinical School Philanthropy Committee, Monash University
Supervision interests
| Year | Supervised / mentored | No. of students |
| 2023 | Supervising currently – PhD students (1 x primary supervisor; 1 x co-supervisor)& 1 Masters (1 x primary supervisor) | 3 |
| 2023 | APD mentoring – 1 x Provisional APD & 1 x Full APD | 2 |
| 2022 | Supervised Monash University Summer Research Scholarship students | 2 |
| 2022 | Supervised – University of Canberra Work Integrated Learning dietetic intern | 1 |
| 2020-2021 | Supervised – In a research environment – dietetic students | 3 |
| 2018-2022 | Supervised - In a research environment – PhD & honours | 4 |
| 2019-current | Mentored - In a research environment – PhD and research dietitian | 2 |
Monash teaching commitment
| Year | Teaching activity |
| 2020-2021 | Panel examiner for Monash University Department of Neuroscience PhD |
| 2020-2021 | Guest lecturer for Monash University Nutrition & Dietetics 4th year students |
| 2020 | Pioneered ‘Precinct Research Dietitian Network’ between Alfred Health, Monash & Baker IDI. |
| 2018 | Major contributor to updating the Monash University online (Low FODMAP Diet for IBS) dietetics course |
| 2017 | Course contributor for the development of a Monash University online dietetics course - The Low FODMAP Diet for IBS |
| 2014 | Guest lecture on ‘Dietary management of coeliac disease’ to Monash University 4th year students |
| 2013, 2015, 2016 | Provided lectures for dietitians at the annual Monash University Dietitians workshop |
Research interests
Dietary therapies for improving pouch-related symptoms, diet therapies in ulcerative colitis, fibre & gut health, diet & protein fermentation
Community service
Secretary, Gastroenterology Interest Group Leadership Team, Dietitians Australia
Clinical activities
Research Lead, Research Portfolio, Department of Dietetics, Eastern Health
Dietetics representative to Allied Health Research Committee, Eastern Health
Research representative to the Dietetics Professional Council, Eastern Health
Member of Gastroenterology Clinical Leadership Group, Eastern Health
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
Advanced Practising Gastroenterology Dietitian, Eastern Health
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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INNOVATE: Investigating A Novel Therapeutic Diet on Food Additives for Ulcerative Colitis (The INNOVATE Study)
Yao, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
1/03/26 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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Targeting the bi-directional relationship between diet and microbes to optimise pouch health
Yao, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
1/01/26 → 31/12/30
Project: Research
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Consortium for Research expertise in Eating Disorders (CORED)
Sharp, G. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Langiu, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Ramadas, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Yao, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Stafrace, S. (Chief Investigator (CI))
20/11/23 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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FAD-UC: Investigating the therapeutic potential of a diet low in sulphite- & carrageenan food additives for ulcerative colitis
Yao, C. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Gibson, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Biesiekierski, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Halmos, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Fitzpatrick, J. W. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Ardalan, Z. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/09/23 → 30/11/25
Project: Research
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Atmo bar : Development of Atmo Cereal bars
Gibson, P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Muir, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Yao, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & So, D. (Chief Investigator (CI))
18/10/21 → 17/10/22
Project: Research
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Effects of dietary FODMAP content on the faecal microbiome and gastrointestinal physiology in healthy adults: a randomised, controlled cross-over feeding study
Murtaza, N., Collins, L., Yao, C. K., Thwaites, P. A., Veitch, P., Varney, J. E., Gill, P. A., Gibson, P. R., Morrison, M. & Muir, J. G., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: British Journal of Nutrition. 39 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Telemetric Assessment and Comparison of Regional Colonic Metabolic Activity in Ambulant Healthy Individuals Using pH and Gas-Sensing Wireless Motility Capsules
Thwaites, P. A., Yao, C. K., Maggo, J., Parker, F. C., Halmos, E. P., Burgell, R. E., Muir, J. G., So, D., Kalantar-Zadeh, K., Gearry, R. B. & Gibson, P. R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access4 Citations (Scopus) -
Accurate Diet Assessment, Patient Selection, and Objective Clinical Outcome Are Critical in Untangling the Role of Diet on Pouchitis
Rhys-Jones, D., Yao, C. K. & Ardalan, Z. S., Jan 2024, In: Crohn's & Colitis 360. 6, 1, 2 p., otad079.Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › Other › peer-review
Open Access -
Is there an “optimal” diet for prevention of inflammatory bowel disease?
Yao, C. K., Fitzpatrick, J., Machado, P. & Staudacher, H. M., Aug 2024, In: JGH Open. 8, 8, 11 p., e70016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus) -
Probiotics: are they beneficial?
Fehily, S. R., Basnayake, C., Wright, E. K., Yao, C. K., Godsell, J., Gibson, P. R. & Kamm, M. A., Jun 2024, In: Internal Medicine Journal. 54, 6, p. 861-870 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access4 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Finalist for the Gastroenterological Society of Australia Young Investigator award
Yao, C. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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‘New Conference Presenter Award’ - 16th International Congress of Dietetics conference
Yao, C. (Recipient), 2012
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)