Dr. Chris Easton has led research studies in the fields of applied exercise physiology, physical activity, and health for over ten years. He led the design, measurement and analysis of physical activity and fitness data in 17,000 children across eight different European countries when working on an integrated project funded by the European Commission (www.idefics.eu) to investigate the causes and possible interventions for the rising childhood obesity epidemic in Europe. Dr. Easton has extensive experience conducting exercise tests, training studies, and measuring physical activity and physiological outcomes in a wide-range of different populations including children, the elderly, clinical groups, sedentary adults, trained athletes and Olympic champions. 

His previous research students and staff include:

• 2015 - 2019: Dr Luke Liddle (PhD), University of the West of Scotland, Biological, methodological, and environmental influences on the variability of nitric oxide metabolites in humans (Funded by the University of the West of Scotland)
   
• 2017 – 2018: Dr Lauren McMichan (Postdoctoral Researcher), University of the West of Scotland: Evaluation of the Lenus Health Platform (Funded by The Digital Health Institute)

• 2016 - 2017: Mr Hildyard Junior Mendes (MRes), Impact of varying competition exertions on performance recovery in professional male footballers (Partly funded by Partick Thistle Football Club)

• 2016 - 2017: Mr Neil Gibson (MRes), Variations in fitness across the season in professional soccer players (Funded by Oriam Performance Centre)

• 2015 – 2016: Dr David Muggeridge (Postdoctoral Researcher), University of the West of Scotland: Assessing snap40’s health monitoring solution among healthy adults (ASHMANA) (Funded by The Digital Health Institute)

• 2015 – 2016: Mr Gary McEwan (MRes), Self-Paced Training Modalities in Recreationally Active Individuals (Funded by Oriam Performance Centre)

• 2015 – 2016: Mr Michael Williams (MRes), University of the West of Scotland: Electromyographic Activity and Ground Reaction Force of the Gluteus Maximus during Performance of the Back Squat, Split Squat, and the Barbell Hip Thruster with Relation to Sprinting;

• 2014 – 2015: Mr Luke McIlvenna (MRes), University of the West of Scotland: The effects of combined nitrate supplementation and ischemic preconditioning on muscle blood flow and high intensity exercise performance;

• 2012 – 2015: Dr David Muggeridge (PhD), University of the West of Scotland: The effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on exercise performance in normoxia and hypoxia;

• 2012 – 2015: Dr Pablo Domene (PhD), Kingston University: The Efficacy of Latin Social Dancing as a Health-Enhancing Leisure-Time Physical Activity for Adults;

• 2010 – 2011: Mr Christopher Howe (MRes), Kingston University: Validation of combined tri-axial accelerometry and heart rate for energy expenditure prediction during walking in overweight and obese individuals;

• 2010 – 2011: Dr Dimitra Nikoletou (Post-doctoral researcher), Kingston University: Investigation of the effects of a home-based inspiratory muscle training programme on exercise tolerance and breathlessness in obese adults and COPD patients.

Dr Easton's research is broadly centred on exercise and health but has two principal strands of focus. The first is establishing the impact of modulating nitric oxide bioavailability, via the diet and exposure to sunlight, on parameters of cardiovascular health and exercise performance in different populations. The second strand is validating novel mobile methods of assessing physiological and health outcomes in free-living populations for application in health services. Dr Easton's research work has been funded by Chest, Heart, Stroke Scotland, The Hannah Research Foundation, and The Digital Health Institute, amongst others.

He is currently Director of Studies for the following research students:

• 2019 - Present: Mr Giorgio Manferdelli (MRes): The effects of exercise in hypoxia on cerebral perfusion and acute mountain sickness occurrence (Funded by the National Research Council, Italy)

• 2019 - Present: Mr Mattia Lavarda (MRes): Limitations to muscular oxidative metabolism in strength athletes (Self-funded)

• 2018 - Present: Ms Jennifer Hudson (MRes), Validity, Reliability and Sensitivity Hawkins Dynamics Portable Force Plate System for the Assessment of Force Time Characteristics. (Funded by the Centre for Sport and Recreation, University of Strathclyde)

• 2017 - Present: Mrs Nikki Thomson (MPhil/PhD), Evaluation of the Lenus Health Platform (Funded by the UWS VP Research Excellence Fund)

• 2016 – Present: Ms Mia Burleigh (PhD), NO Vegetables Please! Interactions Between Diet and Oral Bacteria in the Regulation of Cardiovascular Health (Funded by The Hannah Research Foundation)

• Physical activity and sedentary behaviour
• Blood, saliva, and urine analysis
• Body composition
• Exercise training
• Sports nutrition
• Hydration and dehydration
• Exercise in extreme environments - heat, cold, and altitude