Research Interests

I am a dual specialist Registered Nutritionist in Public Health and Sport & Exercise. As such my research interests broadly lie within the role of nutrition in healthy ageing and physical performance. Athletes use numerous nutritional strategies to a) enhance physiological function (e.g. blood flow and substrate metabolism) to improve performance and b) maximise adaptations to exercise training. Importantly, many of these strategies may also be applicable to healthy ageing by preventing chronic disease and improving overall health and wellbeing. I have extensive experience in quantitative nutrition research including evidence synthesis, analysis of large epidemiological studies and conducting nutritional interventions for both a health and performance.

My PhD, at Northumbria University, centred around the influence of dietary polyphenols (anthocyanins) on cardiometabolic risk factors and cognitive function in middle-aged adults, in the context of healthy ageing. At that time I was also involved in research investigating the effect of different anthocyanin-rich foods on aerobic exercise performance and recovery from strenuous exercise. After completing my doctoral studies, I undertook Post Doc research at Newcastle University, examining the impact of oral health on nutritional intake and consequences for age-related morbidities, specifically malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty.

Teaching Interests

I predominantly teach on modules related to Sport and Exercise Nutrition (SEN) and Physiology. I contribute to Level 8 SEN and Principles of Exercise Physiology modules, Level 10 Applied Exercise Physiology and supervise Sport and Exercise Science dissertation students.