Personal profile
Biography
Dr Nathan D'Cunha is an Associate Professor at the University of Canberra (UC) and ACT Health Research and Innovation Fellow focused on non-pharmacological interventions for people with dementia and their care partners. His PhD investigated the effects of the National Gallery Art and Dementia program and its impact on stress responses and quality of life. Dr D’Cunha has past experience working in residential care and has family experience with dementia. He is currently leading the research and evaluation into Sustainable Personalised Interventions for Cognition, Care and Engagement (SPICE) program which is a multicomponent rehabilitation intervention for people with dementia and their care partners delivered by Canberra Health Services. Nathan is also involved in several research projects on intergenerational care, allied health in residential aged care, and nutrition and healthy ageing.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Engaging Activities for People Living with Dementia in Residential Aged Care
Award Date: 4 Aug 2021
External positions
Member - Ministerial Advisory Council for Ageing (MACA), ACT Government
Jul 2024 → Jun 2027
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Co-design, implementation and evaluation of an at-home dementia rehabilitation program
Stephenson, C. (CI), D'CUNHA, N. (CoI) & BAIL, K. (CoI)
1/03/26 → 1/03/28
Project: Research
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Dementia Rehabilitation Knowledge Hub: A Co-Designed Hub for the Translation of Evidence-Based Care to Practice
D'CUNHA, N. (CI), Callisaya, M. L. (CoI), O'Connor, C. M. C. (CoI), Coleman, M. (CoI), Vickers, J. (CoI), Newman, E. (CoI), Swaffer, K. (CoI), Thompson, J. (CoI), Lee, A. (CoI) & Devanney, C. (CoI)
1/03/26 → 1/04/28
Project: Research
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Feasibility of parkrun prescriptions to support people living with cognitive impairment in their quality of life: a pilot study
CHELBERG, G. (CI), D'CUNHA, N. (CoI), O'Connor, C. (CoI) & FREENE, N. (CoI)
1/01/26 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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Advancing dementia rehabilitation: Evaluation of a streamlined SPICE program’s effectiveness, impact, and broader transferability
D'CUNHA, N. (CI), GIBSON, D. (CoI), ISBEL, S. (CoI), CHELBERG, G. (CoI) & BAIL, K. (CoI)
1/10/25 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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Implementation of multimodal post-diagnostic allied health programs for people living with dementia
D'CUNHA, N. (CI), Longley, W. (CoI), GIBSON, D. (CoI), BAIL, K. (CoI), ISBEL, S. (CoI), CHELBERG, G. (CoI), PASHLEY, A. (CoI), Montgomery, A. (CoI) & MARRIOTT-STATHAM, K. (CoI)
1/09/25 → 31/08/26
Project: Other
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Implementation and outcomes of a novel occupational therapy service in a nursing home
ISBEL, S., Bobinskas, B., PASHLEY, A., Holloway, H., PEARCE, C., GIBSON, D., D'Cunha, N. M. & BAIL, K., 2026, In: Australian Occupational Therapy Journal. 73, 3, p. 1-11 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Improving Access to Cognitive Interventions for People With Dementia in Australian Community-Based Settings
Mulhall, S., GIBSON, D., Longley, W. & D'Cunha, N. M., Mar 2026, In: Australasian Journal on Ageing. 45, 1, p. 1-9 9 p., e70140.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Sensor-based motion analysis for dementia detection: a systematic review
Jiang, Z., Ghahramani, M., D'Cunha, N. M. & Fernandez Rojas, R., 2026, In: Frontiers in Digital Health. 7, p. 1-18 18 p., 1698551.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Ultraprocessed Foods and the Aging Brain: State of the Science
Carmichael, O. T., Agarwal, P., Albensi, B. C., Balendra, V., D'Cunha, N. M., Denier-Fields, D. N., Ferreira, N. V., Gomes Gonçalves, N., Kumar, R., Labyak, C., Lopez, S., Lourenco, M. V., Lourida, I., Nag, R., Nedelska, Z., Olayinka, J. N., Park, J. H., Rajendran, K., Shaw, A. & Shrestha, H. L. & 7 others, , 2026, In: Annual Review of Nutrition. p. 1-29 29 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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“It’s Not like It’s Going to Get Better - I Might Need More Assistance”: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring the Evolving Needs of Care Partners of People with Dementia
Lahiouel, A., KELLETT, J., ISBEL, S., Mulhall, S. & D'Cunha, N. M., 13 Mar 2026, In: Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice. p. 1-25 25 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
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Dementia Advocates Award
D'Cunha, N. (Recipient), Gibson, D. (Recipient), Isbel, S. (Recipient), Bail, K. (Recipient), Naumovski, N. (Recipient), Kellett, J. (Recipient) & Fearon, A. (Recipient), 24 Jun 2022
Prize
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Research Impact Team Award
Naumovski, N. (Recipient), D'Cunha, N. (Recipient), Isbel, S. (Recipient), Kellett, J. (Recipient) & Mckune, A. (Recipient), 2020
Prize
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University of Canberra Early Career Researcher Excellence Award
D'Cunha, N. (Recipient), 14 Nov 2023
Prize
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University of Canberra Herbert Burton Medal
D'Cunha, N. (Recipient), Sept 2017
Prize: Other distinction