Nutritional Physiology Research Group
Nutritional Physiology
Nutritional Physiology
Our research interests are focused on human skeletal muscle metabolism in response to exercise and nutrition, how this adapts with exercise training, physical inactivity and ageing, and how we can affect adaptation and performance with novel nutritional, exercise or pharmacological interventions.
We measure metabolism as directly as possible with stable isotope approaches, arterio-venous balance methods and/or muscle biopsy sampling (e.g. to determine acute and chronic muscle protein synthesis rates).
Current projects
Our facilities: Nutritional Physiology Research Unit
We perform this research in the newly refurbished access controlled Nutritional Physiology Research Unit, which consists of:
Exercise physiology laboratories
Two exercise physiology laboratories each with a lode excaliber cycle ergometer, cortex metabolic cart, and capability for blood and muscle biopsy sampling, intravenous infusion of nutrients and stable isotopes of amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose.
Resting metabolism laboratories
Two single and one double resting metabolism laboratory with doppler ultrasound, cortex metabolic cart, and capability for bed rest and limb immobilization studies, nutritional interventions, blood and muscle biopsy sampling, arteriovenous forearm balance, and intravenous infusion of nutrients and stable isotopes of amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose.
Gym
State of the art gym with power rack, free weights, unilateral leg press, biodex dynamometer, 3 Wattbikes Atom, eccentric ergometer, and capability for various exercise training protocols.
Food preparation facilities
A metabolic kitchen and food storage for preparation of acute or prolonged dietary/supplement interventions and 2H2O and/or H218O methods.
Clinical research
We also have access to DXA, 3T MRI, and a clinical research facility for the supply and administration of drugs such as insulin for glucose clamping, and research studies in patients.
Analytical facilities
We are interested in the mechanisms underpinning adaptation and so our analytical facility and expertise allows for methods including low and high density RT-PCR arrays for muscle gene expression, western blot for protein content/phosphorylation status, HPLC, spectrophotometric and radioenzymatic assays of muscle metabolites and enzyme activities, fluorescence and electron microscopy, and mass spectrometry/isotope ratio of stable isotopes. We have multiple -80 °C freezers room for blood, muscle and saliva sample storage.
The Nutritional Physiology research group consists of:
- Professor Francis Stephens
- Professor Benjamin Wall (Associate Professor)
- Dr Marlou Dirks (Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellow)
- 3 post-docs
- 11 PhD students
Study for an MRes in Nutritional Physiology
Apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Nutritional Physiology
› For information on fellowship opportunities, please contact Prof Francis Stephens or Dr Ben Wall.
Watch our research in action: 360° tour of the resting metabolism lab
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