Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen

Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen is a Senior Research Fellow in Health Economics at the Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney. Her work addresses inefficiencies and inequities in healthcare systems, particularly for vulnerable populations. Her research spans brain health across the life course, with a particular interest in youth mental health, brain injury, and cognitive impairment.

Her career includes high-impact roles, such as evaluating pharmaceuticals for government funding through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) and contributing to Australia’s Royal Commission into Aged Care, where her insights informed the Star Rating reform for residential aged care, led by the Department of Health. Since 2015, she has secured over $15 million in research funding, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across academia, industry, and the arts to advance knowledge and transform healthcare practices.

Internationally, Dr Nguyen is a Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, engaging with a diverse network of researchers and practitioners dedicated to tackling health and social inequities. Her current projects include a forthcoming book on dementia in low- and middle-income countries and research on the economic benefits of healthy longevity in collaboration with Latin American and African partners. She co-leads the Atlantic Institute Convening on Equity and Creativity for Leadership and Wellbeing and is the lead curator of Creative Brain Week Australia, an initiative exploring the intersection of neuroscience, creativity, and health to drive new approaches in the arts and healthcare.