Human Exercise Science; Biochemistry of Exercise; Growth Factors; Bone Turnover; Muscle Adaptation; Nutrition and metabolism. Research interests focus on the perturbation invoked by physical exercise as a vehicle to study the regulatory and adaptive processes of human metabolism in selected populations of human subjects. Founded on project grant funding from the Wellcome Trust (UK), the Leverhulme Trust (UK) and the Sir Jules Thorne Trust (UK) and recent funding from Enterprise Ireland and Industry, the Human Science Research Unit (HSRU) was formed in 2004 and is equipped to undertake metabolic studies in humans. Recent acquisitions include dual X-ray absorptiometry DXA and isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (combustible-IRMS). Collaboration with faculty from the new Medical School @ UL is currently exploring the application of in-vivo microdialysis to human metabolic and exercise studies within the HRSU. External funding has been awarded to undertake project research housed within environment-controlled laboratories. Current funding and projects include; Human body composition/Anthropometric phenotyping in health and disease by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and Bioelectric Impedence Analysis (BIA) www.ul.ie/bodycompositionstudy ;Human energy expenditure and metabolic studies of endogenous and exogenous substrate, metabolic flexibility and studies of human energy expenditure and exercise metabolism by indirect calorimetry and on-line metabolic measurement (www.FHI.ie)Discovery and in vitro evaluation of bioatives in foods that confer in vivo anti-inflammatory effect in humans (DAFM/FIRM)Nutrient interaction with physical activity specialising in the preservation of musculoskeletal health and reducing the incidence of osteopenia and sarcopenia in older adults (www.FHI.ie)Invasive investigation via venous cannulation, skeletal muscle and adipose tissue percutaneous biopsy and in vivo microdialysis (www.FHI.ie)Simulated altitude training (normobaric hypoxia) www.ul.ie/altitude and hypoxic pre-operative conditioning.Current Grant Funding by project Funding Body Amount as PI PeriodNutrient support for age-related sarcopenia Enterprise Ireland (FHI) €371,131 01/10/10 to 30/09/13 Total Grant of €454,400 as Lead PI No: CC20080001Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Ingredients DAFM (FIRM) €55,200 01/06/13 to 30/09/15 Total Grant of €495,472 as co-PI No: 11/F/63Nutrient Support to Healthy Ageing Enterprise Ireland (FHI) €1,961,086 01/09/13 to 30/06/18 Total Grant of €1,961,086 as Lead PI No: TC20130001Validation of Antioxidant Ingredients DAFM (FIRM) €58,400 01/11/13 to 31/12/16 Total Grant of €495,919 as co-PI No: 11/F/64

Human Physiology and Metabolism Exercise Physiology Physiological Limitations to High Performance Sport Exercise Metabolism Nutrient-exercise interaction in sport, ageing and metabolic diseases Sports Nutrition Peri-exercise nutrition for optimal training adaptation and sport performance

Former Senior Lecturer and REF 5* Wellcome, Leverhulme and Sir Jules Thorn Trust Project Grant funded researcher, University of Birmingham, UK. Moved to the University of Limerick, Ireland in 1995-6 as Professor and HOD of the Physical Education and Sports Sciences Department (PESS) to establish an exercise science teaching and research base. The research focus is the study of human physiology and biochemistry of exercise, investigating change(s) in the human phenotype in response to exercise and exercise x nutrient interaction. Translational work relates to neuromuscular disease, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, obesity and age-related sarcopenia. https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/universitylimerick/episodes/2018-04-09T08_19_29-07_00 A foundation PI of the Health Research Institute and Centre for Interventions in Inflammation, Infection and Immunity, the current research staff are supported by Programme Grants under the auspices of the National Technology Centre, Food for Health Ireland, Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership Projects and DAFF/FIRM Project Grant Awards. Lead PI to Food for Health @ UL and the UL Body Composition research programme (ULBC )