Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences>Staff>Professor Mike Stembridge

Professor Mike Stembridge

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Professor of Cardiovascular and Environmental Physiology

​Email address: mstembridge@cardiffmet.ac.uk​
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Mike is a Professor of Cardiovascular and Environmental Physiology within the Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences. His research programme explores adaptation of the oxygen transport chain in response to exercise and environmental stimuli through the lens of integrative physiology. These research interests are explored by utilising a wide range of direct interventional techniques and innovative imaging technologies in the assessment of cardiac, cerebrovascular, haematological and neurovascular physiology.

Mike’s early research focused on the divergent pathways of adaptation taken by different populations in response to high altitude, where the oxygen transport chain is significantly stressed by the lower availability of oxygen. By using a combination of laboratory and expeditionary field work in Nepal and Peru, Mike and his team were able to reveal the unique way in which Sherpa regulate the concentration of the oxygen carrying component of the blood (haemoglobin). His environmental work also extends to supporting our elite athletes; Mike authored the expert guidelines for the 2nd edition of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Physiology Testing Guidelines, and is now examining how heat and hypoxia can be used in sequel and combination to enhance endurance performance.

Closer to home, Mike’s research team are unravelling the unique way the cardiovascular system adapts to different types of exercise training. He has demonstrated that the mode of training (e.g. endurance vs. resistance) alters the way the heart responds to the challenge associated of exercise. The theme also aims to identify specific windows in the life-span where cardiovascular adaptations are most prominent. One such period is puberty, where sex and growth hormones peak in boys and girls. Despite four decades of research, empirical evidence for ‘windows of opportunity’ has remained elusive in human models. Work from Mike’s laboratory discovered that whilst cardiac and haematological adaptation were possible pre-puberty, the magnitude of difference between those engaged in training vs. those who were not active was far greater following puberty.

Central to his research programme has been the development of a high-quality training environment for postgraduate researchers (PGRs), with a focus on facilitating bi-directional exchanges with leading research institutes around the globe. He developed a training environment for postgraduate research students that focuses not only on the tangible works, but emphasises the development of soft skills for success in academia. Mike supervises a team of research assistants and PhD candidates exploring various aspects of the research theme outlined above. His support for the wider PGR community and his own students was recognised with a nomination for the Doctoral Researcher Community Impact of the year award, and presentation of the Outstanding Supervisor of the Year Award. His research programme is supported by a wide range of funding sources including governing bodies, charitable organisations, and knowledge transfer and innovation projects. These include The Waterloo Foundation, FIFA Research Scholarship, The Physiological Society, European Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships, the Wilderness Medical Society and the Mount Everest Foundation.

Mike is a Reviewing Editorial for The Journal of Physiology, a Senior Editor for Experimental Physiology and a member of the European College of Sport Science. Annual Congress Reviewing Panel. He is the Laboratory Director for Physiology and Health, the development lead for the School Research Degrees Committee and the staff representative on the Senior Management and Planning Team. Mike is also an active member of the school Research Excellence Framework Panel and the Athena Swan Strategic Action Team.​

Research / Publications

Refereed Academic Journal Articles

Mike has >100 publications, most of which can be viewed on Pubmed here. A selection of the most recent are provided below.

  1. R L. Hoiland, D B. MacLeod, B S. Stacey, H G. Caldwell C A. Howe, D Nowak-Flück, J M.J.R. Carr, M M. Tymko, G B. Coombs, A Patrician, J C. Tremblay, M Van Mierlo, C Gasho, M Stembridge, M S. Sekhon, D M. Bailey, P N. Ainslie. Hemoglobin and cerebral hypoxic vasodilation in humans: evidence for nitric oxide-dependent and S-nitrosothiol mediated signal transduction. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. In Press.
  2. Berthelsen L, Douglas AJ, Dawkins T, Curry B, Phillips D, Zaidi A, Yousef Z, Stembridge M, Steinback CD. The influence of training status and parasympathetic blockade on the cardiac rate, rhythm and functional response to autonomic stress. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2023 Jan 12(ja).
  3. Rieger MG, Tallon CM, Perkins DR, Smith KJ, Stembridge M, Piombo S, Radom- Aizik S, Cooper DM, Ainslie PN, McManus AM. Cardiopulmonary and cerebrovascular acclimatization in children and adults at 3800 m. J Physiol. 2022 Sep 27. doi: 10.1113/JP283419. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36165275.
  4. Carr JM, Ainslie PN, MacLeod DB, Tremblay JC, Nowak-Flück D, Howe CA, Stembridge M, Patrician A, Coombs GB, Stacey BS, Bailey DM, Green DJ, Hoiland RL. Cerebral O2 and CO2 transport in isovolumic haemodilution: Compensation of cerebral delivery of O2 and maintenance of cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2022 Sep 21:271678X221119442. doi: 10.1177/0271678X221119442. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36131560.
  5. Tallon CM, Talbot JS, Smith KJ, Lewis N, Nowak-Flück D, Stembridge M, Ainslie P, McManus AM. Dynamic onset response of the internal carotid artery to hypercapnia is blunted in children compared with adults. Physiol Rep. 2022 Aug;10(16):e15406. doi: 10.14814/phy2.15406. PMID: 36017901; PMCID: PMC9413871
  6. Williams AM, Levine BD, Stembridge M. A change of heart: Mechanisms of cardiac adaptation to acute and chronic hypoxia. J Physiol. 2022 Sep;600(18):4089-4104. doi: 10.1113/JP281724. Epub 2022 Aug 28. PMID: 35930370; PMCID: PMC9544656.
  7. White AJ, Boulet LM, Shafer BM, Vermeulen TD, Atwater TL, Stembridge M, Ainslie PN, Wilson RJA, Day TA, Foster GE. The coronary vascular response to the metaboreflex at low altitude and during acute and prolonged high altitude in males. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2022 Jun 1;132(6):1327-1337. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00018.2022. Epub 2022 Apr 28. PMID: 35482323.
  8. Stembridge M, Ainslie PN, West JB. Elevating physiology: Griffith Pugh on the limits of human performance and survival. J Physiol. 2022 Apr;600(8):1811-1813. doi: 10.1113/JP282834. Epub 2022 Feb 6. PMID: 35072272.
  9. Perkins DR, Talbot JS, Lord RN, Dawkins TG, Baggish AL, Zaidi A, Uzun O, Mackintosh KA, McNarry MA, Cooper SM, Lloyd RS, Oliver JL, Shave RE, Stembridge M. The influence of maturation on exercise-induced cardiac remodelling and haematological adaptation. J Physiol. 2022 Feb;600(3):583-601. doi: 10.1113/JP282282. Epub 2022 Jan 18. PMID: 34935156.
  10. Dawkins TG, Curry BA, Drane AL, Lord RN, Richards CT, Lodge FM, Yousef Z, Pugh CJA, Shave RE, Stembridge M. Evidence of region-specific right ventricular functional adaptation in endurance-trained men in response to an acute volume infusion. Exp Physiol. 2022 Jan;107(1):6-15. doi: 10.1113/EP089882. Epub 2021 Nov 23. PMID: 34743381.
  11. Patrician A, Dawkins T, Coombs GB, Stacey B, Gasho C, Gibbons T, Howe CA, Tremblay JC, Stone R, Tymko K, Tymko C, Akins JD, Hoiland RL, Vizcardo-Galindo GA, Figueroa-Mujíca R, Villafuerte FC, Bailey DM, Stembridge M, Anholm JD, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN. Global Research Expedition on Altitude-related Chronic Health 2018 Iron Infusion at High Altitude Reduces Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction Equally in Both Lowlanders and Healthy Andean Highlanders. Chest. 2022 Apr;161(4):1022-1035. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.08.075. Epub 2021 Sep 8. PMID: 34508740.
  12. Stembridge M, Hoiland RL, Williams AM, Howe CA, Donnelly J, Dawkins TG, Drane A, Tymko MM, Gasho C, Anholm J, Simpson LL, Moore JP, Bailey DM, MacLeod DB, Ainslie PN. The influence of hemoconcentration on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in acute, prolonged, and lifelong hypoxemia. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2021 Oct 1;321(4):H738-H747. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00357.2021. Epub 2021 Aug 27. PMID: 34448634.
  13. Steele AR, Tymko MM, Meah VL, Simpson LL, Gasho C, Dawkins TG, Williams AM, Villafuerte FC, Vizcardo-Galindo GA, Figueroa-Mujíca RJ, Ainslie PN, Stembridge M, Moore JP, Steinback CD. Global REACH 2018: volume regulation in high-altitude Andeans with and without chronic mountain sickness. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2021 Sep 1;321(3):R504-R512. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00102.2021. Epub 2021 Aug 4. PMID: 34346722.
  14. Hansen AB, Moralez G, Amin SB, Simspon LL, Hofstaetter F, Anholm JD, Gasho C, Stembridge M, Dawkins TG, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN, Villafuerte F, Romero SA, Hearon CM Jr, Lawley JS. Global REACH 2018: the adaptive phenotype to life with chronic mountain sickness and polycythaemia. J Physiol. 2021 Sep;599(17):4021-4044. doi: 10.1113/JP281730. Epub 2021 Aug 8. PMID: 34245004.
  15. Dawkins TG, Curry BA, Wright SP, Meah VL, Yousef Z, Eves ND, Shave RE, Stembridge M. Right Ventricular Function and Region-Specific Adaptation in Athletes Engaged in High-Dynamic Sports: A Meta-Analysis. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2021 May;14(5):e012315. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.120.012315. Epub 2021 May 17. PMID: 33993732.
  16. Ewalts M, Dawkins T, Boulet LM, Thijssen D, Stembridge M. The influence of increased venous return on right ventricular dyssynchrony during acute and sustained hypoxaemia. Exp Physiol. 2021 Apr;106(4):925-937. doi: 10.1113/EP088657. Epub 2021 Jan 8. PMID: 33369788.
  17. Simpson LL, Steinback CD, Stembridge M, Moore JP. A sympathetic view of blood pressure control at high altitude: new insights from microneurographic studies. Exp Physiol. 2021 Feb;106(2):377-384. doi: 10.1113/EP089194. Epub 2020 Dec 20. PMID: 33345334; PMCID: PMC7898382.
  18. Berthelsen LF, Fraser GM, Simpson LL, Vanden Berg ER, Busch SA, Steele AR, Meah VL, Lawley JS, Figueroa-Mujíca RJ, Vizcardo-Galindo G, Villafuerte F, Gasho C, Willie CK, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN, Stembridge M, Moore JP, Steinback CD. Highs and lows of sympathetic neurocardiovascular transduction: influence of altitude acclimatization and adaptation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Dec 1;319(6):H1240-H1252. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00364.2020. Epub 2020 Sep 28. PMID: 32986967.
  19. Dawkins TG, Curry BA, Drane AL, Lord RN, Richards C, Brown M, Pugh CJA, Lodge F, Yousef Z, Stembridge M, Shave RE. Stimulus-specific functional remodeling of the left ventricle in endurance and resistance-trained men. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Sep 1;319(3):H632-H641. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00233.2020. Epub 2020 Aug 9. PMID: 32772543.
  20. Hoiland RL, Tremblay JC, Stacey BS, Coombs GB, Nowak-Flück D, Tymko MM, Patrician A, Stembridge M, Howe CA, Bailey DM, Green DJ, MacLeod DB, Ainslie PN. Acute reductions in haematocrit increase flow-mediated dilatation independent of resting nitric oxide bioavailability in humans. J Physiol. 2020 Oct;598(19):4225-4236. doi: 10.1113/JP280141. Epub 2020 Jul 29. PMID: 32639605.
  21. Simpson LL, Meah VL, Steele AR, Gasho C, Howe CA, Dawkins TG, Busch SA, Oliver SJ, Moralez G, Lawley JS, Tymko MM, Vizcardo-Galindo GA, Figueroa-Mujíca RJ, Villafuerte FC, Ainslie PN, Stembridge M, Steinback CD, Moore JP. Global REACH 2018: Andean highlanders, chronic mountain sickness and the integrative regulation of resting blood pressure. Exp Physiol. 2021 Jan;106(1):104-116. doi: 10.1113/EP088473. Epub 2020 May 14. PMID: 32271969.
  22. Simpson LL, Meah VL, Steele A, Thapamagar S, Gasho C, Anholm JD, Drane AL, Dawkins TG, Busch SA, Oliver SJ, Lawley JS, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN, Steinback CD, Stembridge M, Moore JP. Evidence for a physiological role of pulmonary arterial baroreceptors in sympathetic neural activation in healthy humans. J Physiol. 2020 Mar;598(5):955-965. doi: 10.1113/JP278731. Epub 2020 Feb 14. PMID: 31977069.​
  23. R L. Hoiland, D B. MacLeod, B S. Stacey, H G. Caldwell C A. Howe, D Nowak-Flück, J M.J.R. Carr, M M. Tymko, G B. Coombs, A Patrician, J C. Tremblay, M Van Mierlo, C Gasho, M Stembridge, M S. Sekhon, D M. Bailey, P N. Ainslie. Hemoglobin and cerebral hypoxic vasodilation in humans: evidence for nitric oxide-dependent and S-nitrosothiol mediated signal transduction. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. In Press.
  24. Berthelsen L, Douglas AJ, Dawkins T, Curry B, Phillips D, Zaidi A, Yousef Z, Stembridge M, Steinback CD. The influence of training status and parasympathetic blockade on the cardiac rate, rhythm and functional response to autonomic stress. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2023 Jan 12(ja).
  25. Rieger MG, Tallon CM, Perkins DR, Smith KJ, Stembridge M, Piombo S, Radom- Aizik S, Cooper DM, Ainslie PN, McManus AM. Cardiopulmonary and cerebrovascular acclimatization in children and adults at 3800 m. J Physiol. 2022 Sep 27. doi: 10.1113/JP283419. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36165275.
  26. Carr JM, Ainslie PN, MacLeod DB, Tremblay JC, Nowak-Flück D, Howe CA, Stembridge M, Patrician A, Coombs GB, Stacey BS, Bailey DM, Green DJ, Hoiland RL. Cerebral O2 and CO2 transport in isovolumic haemodilution: Compensation of cerebral delivery of O2 and maintenance of cerebrovascular reactivity to CO2. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2022 Sep 21:271678X221119442. doi: 10.1177/0271678X221119442. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36131560.
  27. Tallon CM, Talbot JS, Smith KJ, Lewis N, Nowak-Flück D, Stembridge M, Ainslie P, McManus AM. Dynamic onset response of the internal carotid artery to hypercapnia is blunted in children compared with adults. Physiol Rep. 2022 Aug;10(16):e15406. doi: 10.14814/phy2.15406. PMID: 36017901; PMCID: PMC9413871.
  28. Williams AM, Levine BD, Stembridge M. A change of heart: Mechanisms of cardiac adaptation to acute and chronic hypoxia. J Physiol. 2022 Sep;600(18):4089-4104. doi: 10.1113/JP281724. Epub 2022 Aug 28. PMID: 35930370; PMCID: PMC9544656.
  29. White AJ, Boulet LM, Shafer BM, Vermeulen TD, Atwater TL, Stembridge M, Ainslie PN, Wilson RJA, Day TA, Foster GE. The coronary vascular response to the metaboreflex at low altitude and during acute and prolonged high altitude in males. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2022 Jun 1;132(6):1327-1337. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00018.2022. Epub 2022 Apr 28. PMID: 35482323.
  30. Stembridge M, Ainslie PN, West JB. Elevating physiology: Griffith Pugh on the limits of human performance and survival. J Physiol. 2022 Apr;600(8):1811-1813. doi: 10.1113/JP282834. Epub 2022 Feb 6. PMID: 35072272.
  31. Perkins DR, Talbot JS, Lord RN, Dawkins TG, Baggish AL, Zaidi A, Uzun O, Mackintosh KA, McNarry MA, Cooper SM, Lloyd RS, Oliver JL, Shave RE, Stembridge M. The influence of maturation on exercise-induced cardiac remodelling and haematological adaptation. J Physiol. 2022 Feb;600(3):583-601. doi: 10.1113/JP282282. Epub 2022 Jan 18. PMID: 34935156.
  32. Dawkins TG, Curry BA, Drane AL, Lord RN, Richards CT, Lodge FM, Yousef Z, Pugh CJA, Shave RE, Stembridge M. Evidence of region-specific right ventricular functional adaptation in endurance-trained men in response to an acute volume infusion. Exp Physiol. 2022 Jan;107(1):6-15. doi: 10.1113/EP089882. Epub 2021 Nov 23. PMID: 34743381.
  33. Patrician A, Dawkins T, Coombs GB, Stacey B, Gasho C, Gibbons T, Howe CA, Tremblay JC, Stone R, Tymko K, Tymko C, Akins JD, Hoiland RL, Vizcardo-Galindo GA, Figueroa-Mujíca R, Villafuerte FC, Bailey DM, Stembridge M, Anholm JD, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN. Global Research Expedition on Altitude-related Chronic Health 2018 Iron Infusion at High Altitude Reduces Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction Equally in Both Lowlanders and Healthy Andean Highlanders. Chest. 2022 Apr;161(4):1022-1035. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.08.075. Epub 2021 Sep 8. PMID: 34508740.
  34. Stembridge M, Hoiland RL, Williams AM, Howe CA, Donnelly J, Dawkins TG, Drane A, Tymko MM, Gasho C, Anholm J, Simpson LL, Moore JP, Bailey DM, MacLeod DB, Ainslie PN. The influence of hemoconcentration on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in acute, prolonged, and lifelong hypoxemia. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2021 Oct 1;321(4):H738-H747. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00357.2021. Epub 2021 Aug 27. PMID: 34448634.
  35. Steele AR, Tymko MM, Meah VL, Simpson LL, Gasho C, Dawkins TG, Williams AM, Villafuerte FC, Vizcardo-Galindo GA, Figueroa-Mujíca RJ, Ainslie PN, Stembridge M, Moore JP, Steinback CD. Global REACH 2018: volume regulation in high-altitude Andeans with and without chronic mountain sickness. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2021 Sep 1;321(3):R504-R512. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00102.2021. Epub 2021 Aug 4. PMID: 34346722.
  36. Hansen AB, Moralez G, Amin SB, Simspon LL, Hofstaetter F, Anholm JD, Gasho C, Stembridge M, Dawkins TG, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN, Villafuerte F, Romero SA, Hearon CM Jr, Lawley JS. Global REACH 2018: the adaptive phenotype to life with chronic mountain sickness and polycythaemia. J Physiol. 2021 Sep;599(17):4021-4044. doi: 10.1113/JP281730. Epub 2021 Aug 8. PMID: 34245004.
  37. Dawkins TG, Curry BA, Wright SP, Meah VL, Yousef Z, Eves ND, Shave RE, Stembridge M. Right Ventricular Function and Region-Specific Adaptation in Athletes Engaged in High-Dynamic Sports: A Meta-Analysis. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2021 May;14(5):e012315. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.120.012315. Epub 2021 May 17. PMID: 33993732.
  38. Ewalts M, Dawkins T, Boulet LM, Thijssen D, Stembridge M. The influence of increased venous return on right ventricular dyssynchrony during acute and sustained hypoxaemia. Exp Physiol. 2021 Apr;106(4):925-937. doi: 10.1113/EP088657. Epub 2021 Jan 8. PMID: 33369788.
  39. Simpson LL, Steinback CD, Stembridge M, Moore JP. A sympathetic view of blood pressure control at high altitude: new insights from microneurographic studies. Exp Physiol. 2021 Feb;106(2):377-384. doi: 10.1113/EP089194. Epub 2020 Dec 20. PMID: 33345334; PMCID: PMC7898382.
  40. Berthelsen LF, Fraser GM, Simpson LL, Vanden Berg ER, Busch SA, Steele AR, Meah VL, Lawley JS, Figueroa-Mujíca RJ, Vizcardo-Galindo G, Villafuerte F, Gasho C, Willie CK, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN, Stembridge M, Moore JP, Steinback CD. Highs and lows of sympathetic neurocardiovascular transduction: influence of altitude acclimatization and adaptation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Dec 1;319(6):H1240-H1252. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00364.2020. Epub 2020 Sep 28. PMID: 32986967.
  41. Dawkins TG, Curry BA, Drane AL, Lord RN, Richards C, Brown M, Pugh CJA, Lodge F, Yousef Z, Stembridge M, Shave RE. Stimulus-specific functional remodeling of the left ventricle in endurance and resistance-trained men. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Sep 1;319(3):H632-H641. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00233.2020. Epub 2020 Aug 9. PMID: 32772543.
  42. Hoiland RL, Tremblay JC, Stacey BS, Coombs GB, Nowak-Flück D, Tymko MM, Patrician A, Stembridge M, Howe CA, Bailey DM, Green DJ, MacLeod DB, Ainslie PN. Acute reductions in haematocrit increase flow-mediated dilatation independent of resting nitric oxide bioavailability in humans. J Physiol. 2020 Oct;598(19):4225-4236. doi: 10.1113/JP280141. Epub 2020 Jul 29. PMID: 32639605.
  43. Simpson LL, Meah VL, Steele AR, Gasho C, Howe CA, Dawkins TG, Busch SA, Oliver SJ, Moralez G, Lawley JS, Tymko MM, Vizcardo-Galindo GA, Figueroa-Mujíca RJ, Villafuerte FC, Ainslie PN, Stembridge M, Steinback CD, Moore JP. Global REACH 2018: Andean highlanders, chronic mountain sickness and the integrative regulation of resting blood pressure. Exp Physiol. 2021 Jan;106(1):104-116. doi: 10.1113/EP088473. Epub 2020 May 14. PMID: 32271969.
  44. ​​Simpson LL, Meah VL, Steele A, Thapamagar S, Gasho C, Anholm JD, Drane AL, Dawkins TG, Busch SA, Oliver SJ, Lawley JS, Tymko MM, Ainslie PN, Steinback CD, Stembridge M, Moore JP. Evidence for a physiological role of pulmonary arterial baroreceptors in sympathetic neural activation in healthy humans. J Physiol. 2020 Mar;598(5):955-965. doi: 10.1113/JP278731. Epub 2020 Feb 14. PMID: 31977069.
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Conference Presentations

Mike has presented as part of symposia and submitted over 55 conference abstracts to both national and international conferences. An example of the most recent invited talks are provided below:

Conference participation and presentations

Invited Presentations

  • Intravascular volume changes at altitude: causes and consequences. International Hypoxia Symposium. February 2023, Lake Louise, Canada.
  • ​Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adaptation to exercise training during adolescence. Wales-Quebec Cerebrovascular Health Symposium, January 2023, Montreal, Canada.
  • No heartbreak at high altitude: adaptation to short-term and life-long hypoxia. British Society of Echocardiography, October 2020 (online).
  • Cardiovascular adaptation to high altitude: lessons from high altitude natives. The Alpine Club, September 2020, London, UK.
  • Cardiac, vascular and cerebrovascular adaptation to hypoxia at rest and during exercise; lessons from high altitude natives. European College of Sport Science, Prague, 2019. Cardiovascular Responses to High Altitude; Lessons from Lowland Adaptation. Okanagan Cardiorespiratory Conference, 2016, Silverstar, Canada.
  • Impaired myocardial function does not explain reduced left ventricular filling and stroke volume at rest or during exercise at high altitude. Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 2015, Nagasaki, Japan.
  • Short-term adaptation and chronic cardiac remodelling to high altitude in lowlanders and native highland populations. The Physiological Society Annual Meeting 2014, London, UK.

In addition, I have submitted 56 conference abstracts that have been presented at a wide range of health and exercise physiology conferences across the globe. An itemised list is provided following my list of publications.

Teaching and Supervision

Completions

  • Dean Perkins (PhD, September 2022; Director of Studies, co-supervised with Prof. Jon Oliver and Prof. Rob Shave)- Cardiovascular adaptation to exercise training during adolescence
  • Katie Price (MRES, August 2022; Co-supervisor with project led by Dr Sharon Kinsella, registered at Institute of Technology Carlow, Ireland)- The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cardiovascular health of children with autistic spectrum disorder.
  • Lydia Simpson (PhD, August 2020; Co-supervisor, co-supervised with Dr Jonathan Moore and Dr Samuel Oliver, registered at Bangor University)- The role of sympathetic activation in the control of blood pressure in hypoxia in lowlanders and high altitude natives.
    • Lydia also won the Michael J Rennie Best Oral Communication, Physiological Society Meeting (Extreme Environmental Physiology) and was a Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation section Finalist at Experimental Biology 2019.
  • Aimee Drane (PhD, July 2020; Director of Studies, co-supervised with Dr David Oxborough and Prof. Rob Shave)- Cardiovascular disease in great apes; developing normative echocardiographic ranges.
  • Bryony Curry (Mphil, June 2020; Director of Studies, co-supervised with Dr Aimee Drane and Prof. Rob Shave)- Cardiac function in human and non-human primates.

Current Students

  • Jack Talbot (PhD; Director of Studies, co-supervised with Prof. Ali McManus and Prof. Rhodri Lloyd)- Cerebrovascular adaptation to exercise training during adolescence
  • Thomas Griffiths (PhD; co-supervisor with Dr Rachel Lord and Prof. Diane Crone)- Work-based interventions to improve cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.
  • Michiel Ewalts (PhD; Co-supervisor with Dr Jonathan Moore, Dr Aimee Drane and Dr Samuel Oliver)- Pulmonary baroreceptors in health and disease.
  • Andrew Douglas (PhD; Director of Studies co-supervised with Dr Chris Pugh and Dr Rachel Lord)- Cerebrovascular responses to exercise in children
  • Elliott Jenkins (PhD; Director of Studies co-supervised with Dr Michael Hughes and Dr Aimee Drane)- Cardiovascular and endurance performance adaptations to long-term thermal conditioning
  • Abbie Williams (PhD; co-supervisor with Dr Chris Pugh, Prof. Barry McDonnell and Dr Rachel Lord)- The interaction between exercise and antihypertensive medication on systemic vascular function and haemodynamics.

Teaching

I currently contribute to physiology and health modules and supervision at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels that span a number of programmes. My main focus is the module leadership of our 3rd year Physiology of Sport Performance Module (SSP6128) where we focus on the extreme limits of human performance during the sub- 2 hour marathon attempts from the last few years.

Qualifications and Awards

Education and Qualifications

  • FHEA Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2018)
  • PhD Short-term adaptation and chronic remodelling of cardiac structure and function in response to high altitude exposure. Director of Studies: Prof. Rob Shave (2015
  • MSc Sport and Exercise Science (physiology)- University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (2008)
  • BSc Science in Health, Exercise and Sport- University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (2006)

Awards and Indicators of Esteem

  • Senior Editor, Experimental Physiology (2022-present)
  • Reviewing, The Journal of Physiology (2021-present)
  • Reviewing Panel for the European College of Sport Science Annual Congress (2016-present)
  • Reviewing Panel for The Physiological Society Europhysiology Congress (2022)
  • Outstanding Supervisor of the Year, Cardiff Met Doctoral Supervisor Symposium (2022)
  • Visiting Professor, University of Innsbruck, Austria (December 2018)
  • Cardiff Metropolitan University Dean’s Contribution to Research Award (2016)
  • Hypoxia Symposium (2015) - 1st place Early Career Researcher
  • European College of Sport Science (2014) 1st place Young Investigator Award

Awards for students under my supervision

  • Michael J Rennie Best Oral Communication, Physiological Society Meeting (Extreme Environmental Physiology 2019) by Ms Lydia Simpson.
  • Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation section Finalist at Experimental Biology 2019 (Ms Lydia Simpson).
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External Links

I collaborate with a number of institutions based in the UK and around the world. The most notable of these are with the Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health at the University of British Columbia in Canada, School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences at Bangor University and the Institute for Sport Science at University of Innsbruck.

Research Active Staff

  • Cardiovascular Physiology Research Group
  • Youth Performance Development Research Group
  • Cardiovascular Health and Ageing Research Group
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