Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here.
About the Project
Proposed supervisory team: Dr Justin Roberts (Justin.roberts@anglia.ac.uk) Dr Lee Smith (lee.smith@anglia.ac.uk)
https://auth-authoring-prod.anglia.ac.uk/people/justin-roberts
https://auth-authoring-prod.anglia.ac.uk/people/lee-smith
Theme: Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Probiotics and Gut Health
https://www.anglia.ac.uk/science-and-engineering/research/institutes-and-groups/cambridge-centre-for-sport-and-exercise-sciences/health-nutrition-and-physical-activity
Summary of the research project
It is known that the bacteria of the intestinal tract differs between obese and non-obese cohorts (Dibaise et al., 2008). It has been proposed that such differences may explain transient gut wall permeability leading to conditions associated with increased circulating toxins. Additionally, with increased visceral fat stores in obese conditions (Depres et al., 2008), there would appear to be a connection between gut health and hormonal ‘messaging’ from adipose tissue. Increased levels of inflammatory hormones (e.g., resistin) have been demonstrated to result in higher concentrations of circulating low density lipoprotein (Steppan et al., 2001; Steppan et al., 2002; Al-Daghri et al., 2005) cholesterol (LDL-c), so called ‘bad cholesterol’. Levels of ‘bad cholesterol’ have been implicated alongside increased cardio-metabolic health risks.
It is proposed that nutritional strategies to support the gastrointestinal bacteria and provide competitive exclusion of endotoxins may alter such ‘messaging’, leading to a reduction in cardio-metabolic risk either with or without exercise. The use of omega-3 fatty acids combined with probiotic strains may offer practical interventions to support gastrointestinal health (Das, 2002). Improvements in cardio-metabolic risk offer considerable economic and societal impact considering evident obesity trends in the United Kingdom.
Resources required: the programme would require access to exercise physiology laboratory space for standard exercise testing/training, as well as access to the saliva laboratory for storage of plasma samples. Additionally, access to the main analytical laboratories would be required for assessment of endotoxin assays, cholesterol assessment and resistin assessment using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA).
The project would require sponsorship of nutritional supplementation throughout the research programme (omega-3 fatty acid, probiotic formulas), and we have an excellent working collaboration with a leading clinical nutrition company. Purchase of, and training in, assay use would be required, if applicable.
Where you’ll study:
Cambridge - https://www.anglia.ac.uk/student-life/life-on-campus/cambridge-campus
Next steps
If you wish to be considered for this project, you will need to apply for our Sport and Exercise Sciences MPhil, PhD. In the section of the application form entitled ’Outline research proposal’, please quote the above title and include a research proposal.
Funding Notes
Details of studentships for which funding is available are selected by a competitive process and are advertised on our jobs website as they become available: View Website
Email Now
Why not add a message here
The information you submit to Anglia Ruskin University ARU will only be used by them or their data partners to deal with your enquiry, according to their privacy notice. For more information on how we use and store your data, please read our privacy statement.

Search suggestions
Based on your current searches we recommend the following search filters.
Check out our other PhDs in Cambridge, United Kingdom
Check out our other PhDs in United Kingdom
Start a New search with our database of over 4,000 PhDs

PhD suggestions
Based on your current search criteria we thought you might be interested in these.
The use of green tea strategies combined with exercise training to promote enhanced fat oxidation and cardio-metabolic health: part 1
Anglia Ruskin University ARU
Evaluating the effects of commercial exercise programmes and combined dietary strategies on cardio-metabolic risk
Anglia Ruskin University ARU
Stress and health: Lifespan stress and cardio-metabolic disease risk pathways through cardiovascular stress reactivity
University of Stirling