Professor Maria Bryant, PHIRST REACH Co-Lead 
Professor of Public Health Nutrition, the Hull York Medical School, and the Department of Health Sciences  University of York

Maria Bryant is a Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the University of York and the Bradford Institute of Health Research. With over 20 years’ experience in nutrition research, she specialises in the design and delivery of trials and methodological studies on food, diet, and obesity. Her interests include public health intervention evaluation, food systems, food insecurity, early years and school food environments, and applied health research.

Maria leads a broad portfolio of public health nutrition research within Hull York Medical School and the Department of Health Sciences . In addition to co-leading PHIRST REACH, she is Director of Nutrition Research for Born in Bradford, theme lead for UKPRP ActEarly (Evaluation and Food & Healthy Weight), sub-system lead for Early Years and Schools in UKRI Fix our Food, Academic Director of the BaBi network, academic lead for Diet and Obesity evaluation for Better Start Bradford, and outgoing Chair of the Board of Trustees for the UK Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO).

Her research over the past 7 years has adopted systems-based approaches, recognising that dietary behaviours are shaped by psychological, biological, environmental, and social factors, as well as broader food systems. She focuses on designing and evaluating public health interventions using innovative, ethical, and feasible methods that minimise bias, and that consider wider influences. Her expertise centres on lifestyle and non-communicable diseases, particularly childhood obesity and dietary health.

Maria is deeply committed to partnership working and meaningful engagement throughout her research. She collaborates closely with stakeholders, including local and national government, community leaders, and the public to ensure her work has real-world impact.