Health data science, from national cohorts to clinical evidence
I'm Cory Dugan, PhD. I turn health data into decisions. Lead analyst on a national cohort (NIH All of Us) in SQL / BigQuery and R, Cochrane-trained in evidence synthesis and meta-analysis, and fluent in applying and evaluating AI in healthcare.
Curriculum Vitae
26 peer-reviewed publications, $850K+ in research funding, policy citations by WHO and OSHA, and editorial roles at PLOS One and Women's Health.
ResearchProjects & Trials
Clinical trials, systematic reviews, and community health screening across iron metabolism, women's health, nutrition, and exercise physiology.
Open SourceCode & Reproducible Analysis
Reproducible health-data pipelines on GitHub, including a random-effects meta-analysis in R (metafor) with forest plots, sensitivity analysis, and a PRISMA flow. Written to be cloned and run.
Research that doesn't stay on the shelf
My research involves international collaboration to advance women's health, working with leading institutions to drive evidence-based solutions that improve health outcomes for women globally. By integrating expertise from exercise physiology, nutrition science, and clinical research, I focus on bridging the gap between research and practical solutions. I hold academic appointments at The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Louisiana State University, and Pennington Biomedical Research Centre.
Through HolisticHer, a collaboration with award-winning women's health coach Wiebke Hensen, I bring research into practice by addressing key areas of women's health in the workplace. HolisticHer supports organisations, businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and sporting bodies committed to prioritising female health and wellbeing, combining academic expertise with real-world coaching to deliver scientifically grounded, practically effective solutions.
Focus Areas
- Health data science in R (modelling, prediction)
- SQL & BigQuery on national-cohort data (All of Us)
- Evidence synthesis & meta-analysis (Cochrane-trained)
- Clinical trials & study design
- Applying & evaluating AI in healthcare
- Iron metabolism & women's health (domain)
Recent Projects
Highlights from clinical trials, systematic reviews, and translational research.
IRONWOMAN Trial
Double-blind RCT examining the effect of intravenous iron therapy on exercise performance, fatigue, and mood in iron-deficient recreationally active females. Published in BJSM.
IV Iron for Non-Anaemic Iron Deficiency
Cochrane-abridged systematic review and meta-analysis of intravenous iron therapy for adults with non-anaemic iron deficiency. Cited by WHO guidelines.
Caloric Restriction & Iron Status
Analysis of 2-year caloric restriction effects on indicators of anaemia, iron status, and hepcidin in healthy adults from a randomised clinical trial. Published in J Nutrition.
Taking research where it matters
Publishing is the starting point. I take evidence into communities, media, policy, and business.
40+ Media Appearances
Featured on ABC Radio, the Sydney Morning Herald, Medpage Today, US Pharmacist, Physicians Weekly, and syndicated across 30+ US and international outlets. Invited podcast guest on iron deficiency and women's health.
Cited by WHO & OSHA
Research directly cited in WHO Patient Blood Management guidelines (2025), OSHA Heat Injury Prevention standards (2024), and Public Health Ontario heat-related harms interventions (2023).
3,000+ Women Screened
Designed and led large-scale community screening programs for iron deficiency and anaemia, from free screening events at the Every Woman Triathlon to university and community-based campaigns across Western Australia.
Invited Presentations
Invited lectures at UWA, Type 1 Diabetes Family Centre, and nutrition seminars. International conference presentations at NATA symposiums in Bologna, Athens, and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
HolisticHer
I founded HolisticHer to bridge the gap between academic research and the women who need it most. It's a women's health initiative providing personalised, evidence-based coaching programs for individuals navigating iron deficiency, menstrual health, and nutrition, and for corporate organisations looking to screen and improve women's health in the workplace.
Built on the same evidence base as my published research, HolisticHer translates clinical-grade knowledge into accessible, actionable health solutions, integrating personalised platforms with evidence-based practice.
Personalised Coaching
Evidence-based programs for iron deficiency management, menstrual health, and nutrition, personalised to your biology and goals.
Corporate Workplace Wellness
Workplace screening and health improvement programs, helping organisations identify and address iron deficiency and women's health in their workforce.
Let's work together
Whether it's a research collaboration, consulting engagement, media inquiry, or workplace health program, I'd like to hear from you.