(she/her)
Director
Prof Sarah Maguire (OAM) is a hospital and community-based clinical psychologist, board-approved supervisor, researcher with over 60 peer-reviewed publications and 3561 citations, as well as educator and policy maker with > 20 years experience in the field of eating disorders. In 2009, Sarah received the AH Martin Prize (2009) for outsanding doctoral student. Currently, Sarah is a senior advisor to and committee member of NSW Ministry of Health, implementing large scale health system reform under the NSW Service Plan for Eating Disorders 2021-2025. As the Co-Director of InsideOut Institute, Sarah is the Chief Investigator on research projects, securingover $19 million in competitive funding research in the last 3 years. She is passionate about changing the social perception and treatment of eating disorders, striving for clinical excellence, policy advancement, and translable research improving eating disorder outcomes.
Sarah's research interest range from understanding ways to improve the understanding, efficacy, and accessbility to evidence-based digital and face-to-face personalised treatments for all eating disorders. Sarah is also interested in reconceptualising eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa, and advocates providing training programs for eating disorder practitioners to improve treatment outcomes for eating disorders.
At the InsideOut Institute she leads a research team with a broad research agenda, including biological, health systems, health economics, prevention, public health promotion, clinical intervention, and translational research. She is the Chief Investigator on projects totalling over $19 million in competitive research funding in the last 3 years, including $13 million for the National Research & Translation Centre in Eating Disorders. She has over 60 peer-reviewed publications. Prof Sarah Maguire and her team are passionate about changing the way treating disorders are perceived and treated within the health system and our community, driving for clinical excellence, providing policy leadership, research translation, and research that changes practice and outcomes.
The Translation Blueprint will build on and align to key existing national sector documents, and provide guidance for services across the country to build on their practice and impact, and policy makers for funding and decision making.
In Progress
This project evaluated the way eating disorder care is delivered nationally, by looking at data from across the health system and considering the voice of the lived experience. MAINSTREAM is a multi-disciplinary team, involving researchers and linked to health partners (headspace and PHNs).
Complete
The NSW Service Plan sets out a major five‑year effort to strengthen eating‑disorder care across the health system, improving access, quality, and outcomes through better services, pathways, and workforce capability. This research evaluates how well service plan training boosts knowledge and confidence so programs can keep improving and inform government and sector-wide planning.
In Progress
This study explores the use of cannabidiol (CBD) as an adjunct to treatment for people with Anorexia Nervosa (AN).
Complete
This study seeks to develop a deep understanding of the biological, psychological and social factors contributing to an individual's eating disorder. Using this information, we plan to co-produce a universal measure of eating disorders.
In Progress
This study explored the experience of prescription and non-prescription drug use in people with eating disorders. Findings indicate that the perceived health benefits of substances like psychedelics and cannabis often rating more favourably than conventional prescription medication.
Complete
The TailorED study tests innovative interventions for people with Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder who don't respond well to standard cognitive behavioural therapy, comparing personalised care with brain stimulation (TMS). This stepped-care approach aims to optimise treatment outcomes, reduce costs and waiting times, and provide evidence for tailoring care based on individual treatment response.
In Recruitment
SupportED is the first inclusive online support program co-designed for carers of people with eating disorders, offering self-paced skills training across all eating disorder types and carer relationships. Preliminary findings demonstrate the program's acceptability and feasibility while showing promise in reducing caregiver burden and improving support capabilities.
Complete
This study develops and empirically validates a standardised assessment tool based on the RAVES framework to measure nutritional rehabilitation in people with eating disorders. By operationalising this widely-used clinical framework, the tool will enable consistent tracking of recovery progress, facilitate tailored interventions, and enhance evidence-based nutrition care in eating disorder treatment.
In Progress
This study develops and validates a perinatal-adapted screening tool (IOI-SP) through lived-experience co-design to accurately identify eating disorder symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum, addressing a critical gap in routine detection.
In Recruitment
Treating severe and enduring anorexia nervosa: a randomized controlled trial.
Touyz S, Le Grange D, Lacey H, et al.
Psychological Medicine.
43(12).
Has the Time Come for a Staging Model to Map the Course of Eating Disorders from High Risk to Severe Enduring Illness? An Examination of the Evidence.
Treasure, J., Stein, D., & Maguire, S.
Early Intervention in Psychiatry.
9(3), 173 - 184.
Risk Factors for Eating Disorders: Findings From a Rapid Review
Barakat, S., McLean, S. A., Bryant, E., Le, A., Marks, P., Touyz, S., Maguire, S., & Research Consortium
Journal of Eating Disorders.
11(1).
Psychiatric and Medical Comorbidities of Eating Disorders: Findings From a Rapid Review of the Literature
Hambleton, A., Pepin, G., Le, A. et al
Journal of Eating Disorders.
10, 132.
Eating Disorder Outcomes: Findings From a Rapid Review of Over a Decade of Research.
Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Bryant, E., Ong, S.H. et al.
Journal of Eating Disorders.
11, 85.
digital-mental-health
implementation-translation
treatment-innovation
understanding-illness-lived-experience
BPsych, MA, DCP, PhD in Clinical Psychology
© 2026 InsideOut
InsideOut acknowledges the tradition of custodianship and law of the Country on which the University of Sydney and Charles Perkins Centre campus stands. We pay our respects to those who have cared and continue to care for Country. We are committed to diversifying research and eliminating inequities and discrimination in healthcare. We welcome all people regardless of age, gender, race, size, sexuality, language, socioeconomic status, location or ability.