Dr Matthew Wallen

Dr Matthew Wallen PhD, AES, AEP is a Senior Research Fellow in Cancer Survivorship, the Deputy Lead of the Cancer Survivorship Program, and a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Science and Clinical Exercise Physiology within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University.

His clinical interest focuses on improving outcomes for people living with and beyond cancer, as well as solid organ transplant candidates and recipients. Specifically, Dr Wallen's research examines:

(1) lifestyle interventions, including exercise, nutritional, and psychological support to improve the health and wellbeing of people prior to surgery, termed ‘prehabilitation’,

(2) novel physical function assessments aimed at identifying people at risk of treatment-related complications, and

(3) implementation of new models of care.

Since graduating from his PhD in 2017, Dr Wallen has published over 55 peer-reviewed articles, including international guidelines and position statements in cancer care and lifestyle-related conditions, in high-impact international journals such as CA: a Journal for Clinicians and The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine. He has attracted > $11 million AUD in research income and has supervised research projects for 7 PhD students (1 completed, 6 on-going), 21 Master’s students (completed), and 3 Honours students (completed).

Dr Wallen is the Academic Lead for the Exercise and Sport Science and Clinical Exercise Physiology discipline at Flinders University, and is a member of the Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) Research Committee and South Australian State Chapter.