Dr Cory Dugan

Iron and women's health research

I am a PhD health scientist working at the intersection of women's health, iron metabolism, and health data. My research is published, and cited in World Health Organization guidance on patient blood management. I now build the screening and analysis tools that put that evidence to work, and I am extending that into health data and applied AI.

Evidence

Work published in JAMA Network Open, Anaesthesia, the British Journal of Sports Medicine and the British Journal of Haematology. The World Health Organization cites it in Guidance on implementing patient blood management to improve global blood health status (2024). Every tool I build is grounded in this body of work.

  • IRONWOMAN randomised controlled trial of intravenous iron therapy in iron-deficient recreationally active women. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2025. Lead author.
  • Iron optimisation in pregnancy, a Haematology in Obstetric and Women's Health Collaborative consensus statement. Internal Medicine Journal, 2025. Co-author.
  • Systematic review of intravenous iron in non-anaemic iron deficiency, the work that guidance cites.

Breaking the Silence on Women's Health

A recorded Cassyni seminar, presented with Darsiha Balakirishnan, Fanija Dukovski, Hayley Caratti, Heather Bytheway and Talat Uppal.

R scripts

A publication-ready ggplot2 theme, a grouped Table 1 generator and sample-size helpers, all heavily commented.

Get the three scripts free

A growing library, free and paid

The free R Starter Pack is the first guide. The iron risk check and the Wheel of Life are on the tools page.

The full record

The full profile with citations is on Google Scholar.

Peer-reviewed journal articles
The Journal of Nutrition2026

Dugan C, Das SK, Racette SB, Martin CK, Ravussin E, Redman LM, et al. The Journal of Nutrition 156(5).

Anaemia · Caloric Restriction · Hepcidin Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
British Journal of Sports Medicine2025Lead Author · Randomised Trial

Dugan C, Peeling P, Buissink P, MacLean B, Lim J, Jayasuriya P, et al. British Journal of Sports Medicine 59(13).

Iron Deficiency · Women's Health Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
British Journal of Sports Medicine2025Lead Author

Dugan C, Hennigar S. British Journal of Sports Medicine 59(11).

Sport Science · Haemoglobin Mass Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
British Journal of Haematology2025

MacLean B, Fuller J, Lim J, Dugan C, Richards T. British Journal of Haematology 206(5).

Anaemia · Women's Health · Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
JAMA Network Open2025

Richards T, Wijaya LK, Lim J, Dugan C, Dahly D. JAMA Network Open 8(4).

Intravenous Iron · Surgery Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Internal Medicine Journal2025Consensus Statement

Clarke L, Froessler B, Tang C, King K, Ross B, Kidson-Gerber G, Dugan C, et al. Internal Medicine Journal 55(2).

Pregnancy · Iron Deficiency Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Vox Sanguinis2025

MacLean B, Lim J, Fuller J, Wylie R, Joo JY, Al-Sharea A, ... Dugan C, Richards T. Vox Sanguinis 120(1).

Community Screening · Women's Health Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
British Journal of Sports Medicine2024Lead Author · PhD Academy Award

Dugan C. British Journal of Sports Medicine 58(23). BJSM PhD Academy Award.

Iron Deficiency · Women's Health Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
European Journal of Applied Physiology2024

James C, Dugan CW, Boyd C, Fournier PA, Arthur PG. European Journal of Applied Physiology 124(9).

Biomarkers · Muscle Damage Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Systematic Reviews2024Lead Author

Dugan C, Peeling P, Burden R, Richards T. Systematic Reviews 13(1).

Meta-Analysis · Iron Supplementation Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport2024Lead Author

Dugan C, Peeling P, Davies A, MacLean B, Simpson A, Lim J, Richards T. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 27(7).

Menorrhagia · Screening Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Patient Preference and Adherence2023Lead Author

Dugan C, Simpson A, Peeling P, Lim J, Davies A, Buissink P, MacLean B, et al. Patient Preference and Adherence.

Patient Preferences · Iron Therapy Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Transfusion2023

Davies AT, Devlin PM, Dugan C, Richards T, Miles LF. Transfusion.

Anaemia · Scoping Review Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
European Journal of Sport Science2023

Attwell C, McKay A, Sim M, Dugan C, Nicholas J, Hopper L, Peeling P. European Journal of Sport Science 23(12).

Iron Supplementation · Athletes Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle2022Lead Author · Cited by the World Health Organization

Dugan C, Cabolis K, Miles LF, Richards T. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.

Meta-Analysis · Intravenous Iron Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
BMJ Open2022

Devlin P, Davies A, Dugan C, Richards T, Miles LF. BMJ Open.

Anaemia · Scoping Review Protocol Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
European Journal of Applied Physiology2022

Uchiyama K, King J, Wallman K, Taggart S, Dugan C, Girard O. European Journal of Applied Physiology.

Occupational Health · Mining Simulation Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Nutrients2022

Attwell C, Dugan C, McKay AKA, Nicholas J, Hopper L, Peeling P. Nutrients.

Dietary Iron · Dancers Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Anaesthesia2021Lead Author

Dugan C, MacLean B, Cabolis K, Abeysiri S, Khong A, Sajic M, et al. Anaesthesia. Wiley Top Downloaded Article 2021.

Women's Health · Narrative Review Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism2021Lead Author

Dugan CW, Maloney SK, Abramoff KJ, Panag SS, Davis EA, Jones TW, et al. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Type 1 Diabetes · Altitude Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Medicine2021Lead Author

Dugan C, Scott C, Abeysiri S, Baikady RR, Richards T. Medicine.

Anaemia Screening · Women's Health Read the paper (opens in a new tab)
Articles for practitioners
Sports Injury Bulletin2025Lead Author

Dugan C, Hensen W. Sports Injury Bulletin 22(1).

Iron Deficiency · Female Athletes No public link yet
Nutrition X-Change2022

Peeling P, McKay A, McCormick R, Dugan C, Sim M. Nutrition X-Change Vol. 13.

Iron · Athletes No public link yet
Under review
HealthcareUnder review

Lim J, MacLean B, Dugan C, Hines E, Clement I, Richards T. Healthcare.

Content Analysis · Iron Deficiency No public link yet
The Journal of PhilosophyUnder review

Dugan C & Budden T. The Journal of Philosophy.

Epistemology · Early Career Research No public link yet
Doctoral research
University of Western Australia 2024 Iron Deficiency Women's Health Doctoral Thesis
Iron and women's health: a multidimensional exploration of iron deficiency, management, and treatment in active females
Dugan C. University of Western Australia, School of Human Sciences. Supervised by Prof. Peter Peeling and Prof. Toby Richards.
Conference proceedings and symposia
Residence at moderate altitude increases hemoglobin mass, but does not affect plasma volume: findings from the military nutrition and health examination survey
Dugan C. Pennington Biomedical Research Center Symposium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, 2025
TikTok videos on iron deficiency: a cross-sectional content analysis
Lim J, MacLean B, Dugan C, Hines E, Clement I, Richards T. 24th Annual Symposium on Patient Blood Management, Haemostasis and Thrombosis (NATA), Bologna, Italy, 2024
The effect of intravenous iron therapy on physical capacity, fatigue scores, and quality of life in iron-deficient recreationally active females of reproductive age (IRONWOMAN trial)
Dugan C, Peeling P, MacLean B, Lim J, Jayasuriya P, Richards T. 24th Annual Symposium on Patient Blood Management (NATA), Bologna, Italy, 2024
Intravenous iron leads to lower rates of anaemia in Australia
Fuller J, MacLean B, Lim J, Dugan C, Abeysiri S, Richards T. 24th Annual Symposium on Patient Blood Management (NATA), Bologna, Italy, 2024
What is 'normal' iron metabolism in response to inflammation in ultramarathon runners
Fuller J, Nguyen H, MacLean B, Lim J, Dugan C, Al-Sharea A, Richards T. 24th Annual Symposium on Patient Blood Management (NATA), Bologna, Italy, 2024
Screening and assessing the interrelation and impact of anaemia, iron status, and menstrual blood loss in recreationally active women of reproductive age
Dugan C, Davies A, Buissink P, Simpson A, Peeling P, Richards T. 23rd Annual Symposium on Patient Blood Management, Haemostasis and Thrombosis, Athens, Greece, 2023
Systematic review and meta-analysis of intravenous iron therapy for adults with non-anaemic iron deficiency
Dugan C, Cabolis K, Miles L, Richards T. Annual Symposium on Patient Blood Management (NATA), 2022 (virtual)
The effect of acute hypoxia on blood glucose levels and carbohydrate oxidation rates during moderate intensity exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes
Dugan C, Maloney S, Abramoff K, Panag S, Davis E, Jones T, Fournier P. Sports Medicine Australia Annual Conference, 2021 (virtual)
The need to screen for anaemia in female populations
Dugan C, Scott C, Abeysiri S, Raobaikady R, Richards T. Sports Medicine Australia Annual Conference, 2021 (virtual). Abstract in Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 2021;24:S30-S31.
The effect of acute hypoxia on blood glucose levels and carbohydrate oxidation rates during moderate intensity exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes
Dugan C, Maloney S, Abramoff K, Panag S, Davis E, Jones T, Fournier P. Exercise & Sports Science Australia Research to Practice, 2021 (virtual)
The misogyny of iron deficiency
Dugan C, MacLean B, Cabolis K, Abeysiri S, Khong A, Sajic M, Richards T (on behalf of the Women's Health Research Collaborative). Exercise & Sports Science Australia Research to Practice, 2021 (virtual)
The need to screen for anaemia in fit and healthy women
Dugan C, Scott C, Abeysiri S, Raobaikady R, Richards T. 21st Annual NATA Symposium, 2021 (virtual)
The misogyny of iron deficiency
Dugan C, MacLean B, Cabolis K, Abeysiri S, Khong A, Sajic M, Richards T (on behalf of the Women's Health Research Collaborative). International Sarcopenia Translational Research Conference (ISTRC), 2021 (virtual)
"Are you really fit and healthy?"
Scott C, Abeysiri S, McAleavy R, Dugan C, Raobaikady R, Richards T. 21st Annual NATA Symposium on Patient Blood Management, Haemostasis and Thrombosis, 2021 (virtual)
"Is fingerprick testing accurate to identify iron deficiency?"
Abeysiri S, Scott C, Dugan C, Raobaikady R, Richards T. 21st Annual NATA Symposium on Patient Blood Management, Haemostasis and Thrombosis, 2021 (virtual)
The effect of acute hypoxia on blood glucose levels and carbohydrate oxidation rates during moderate intensity exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes: final results
Dugan C, Maloney S, Abramoff K, Panag S, Davis E, Jones T, Fournier P. Child Health Symposium, Perth Children's Hospital, Western Australia, 2019
The effect of acute hypoxia on blood glucose levels and carbohydrate oxidation rates during moderate intensity exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes: preliminary findings
Dugan C, Maloney S, Abramoff K, Panag S, Davis E, Jones T, Fournier P. Telethon Kids Institute Children's Diabetes Centre Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2019
The effect of acute hypoxia on blood glucose levels and carbohydrate oxidation rates during moderate intensity exercise in individuals with type 1 diabetes: rationale and design of research
Dugan C, Maloney S, Abramoff K, Panag S, Davis E, Jones T, Fournier P. Telethon Kids Institute Children's Diabetes Centre Symposium, Perth, Western Australia, 2018

View full profile on Google Scholar

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