Sarah Purcell

(She, Her, Hers)

Assistant Professor, CCDPM

Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Faculty of Health and Social Development, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, Southern Medical Program

Other Titles: UBC Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and UBC Okanagan School of Health and Exercise Sciences
Email: sarah.purcell@ubc.ca

Research Summary

Dr. Purcell’s research focuses on nutrition, appetite, and energy expenditure with the ultimate goal of developing targeted, evidence-based nutrition guidelines for people with chronic diseases.

Biography

My research focuses on leveraging energy balance concepts to manage chronic diseases through evidence-based nutrition strategies. Specifically, may lab’s work aims to:

1. Utilize energy expenditure data to better define energy requirements and their determinants in individuals with chronic disease
2. Investigate how factors like weight loss, exercise, and ovarian sex hormones affect appetite, energy intake, and energy expenditure, with the goal of informing more effective health interventions
3. Translate research on energy expenditure into clinical practice

My laboratory employs a variety of advanced techniques to assess multiple aspects of energy balance, including doubly labeled water, body composition analysis, hormonal regulators of appetite, and diverse dietary intake measurement methods. Through collaboration with researchers, trainees, and health professionals, I seek to improve health outcomes through targeted nutrition assessments and interventions.

Degrees

University of Alberta, PhD - Nutrition and Metabolism
Florida State University, MSc - Clinical Nutrition
Florida State University, BSc (Hon.) - Nutrition and Dietetics