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Staff Profile

Dr Anthony Watson

Lecturer

Background

My primary role is as a lecturer in human nutrition in the School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences. I am also a researcher within the Population Health Sciences Institute where I am a Principal Investigator in the the Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre. I have an interest in investigating the impact of nutritional interventions upon biological outcomes which could impact acute and chronic cognitive performance, health, and healthy ageing. I have experience of conducting Research Council and Industry funded research projects and Industry funded consultancy.


Area of Expertise

Nutrition, Ageing, Cognition, Nutraceuticals, Food quality.


External Roles

Editorial Board member, European Journal of Nutrition

External Examiner, Queen Margaret University


Google Scholar

SCOPUS

Research

Research Interests

General research areas (in no particular order):

  • Use of nutraceuticals to support cognitive performance, health, and healthy ageing
  • Links between diet and cognitive function
  • Links between diet and healthy ageing
  • Novel Proteins
  • Sustainability and food quality


Current Projects

I am current involved in UKRI and industry funded projects. Several of these are commercially sensitive or considered consultancy. Below is a list of projects with public facing profiles. My past projects are generally published and can be found under the publication tab.


Microbial Protein for Human Consumption: Towards sustainable protein production.

Funder: Star Hub Surrey - a Diet and Health Open Innovation Research Club (OIRC) innovation hub, a network funded by the UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) that promotes collaborations between industry and academia

Synopsis - This project is an industry and academic collaboration that aims to understand the nutritional benefits of adding protein from bacteria obtained through fermentation to commonly consumed plant-based foods and whether the consumer would accept this emerging protein source. The project outcomes will be used to identify areas to commercially exploit the microbial protein in human food systems.

Role - Principal Investigator


The Thirst study - Twenty-four Hour Intake for Research and Student Teaching.

Funder: Research Development Award- Newcastle University.

Synopsis - The principal research question is "How do the diets of children in Northeast England contribute to the attendance at the child dental health clinic".

The secondary research question is "what information and support do parents/guardians need to improve the dietary intake and oral health of their children". The objective is to run a series of interviews with parents and carers of the child patients to understand how they value the nutritional support in clinic.

Role - Principal Investigator


A feasibility assessment of the Sensmart Multi-Sensory Menu: Olfactory Stimulation To Tackle Malnourishment and Dehydration.

Funder - MRC RDA

Synopsis - This project will assess if using a prototype multi-sensory menu called Numenyu which was developed by a Newcastle based start-up company called Sensmart can influence feelings of hunger and the release of gastric hormones.

Role - Principal Investigator


A comparison between different approaches to increase fruit and vegetable intake and influence markers of metabolic health in humans.

Funder - Industry

Synopsis - This study is being carried out to evaluate the effects of different health promotion materials on fruit and vegetable intake, alongside markers of metabolic health, over a 4-week period. This study will provide valuable information to help inform dietary guidelines, public health bodies and policy makers. 

Role - Co-Investigator


Repletion rate of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D following sublingual and capsular vitamin D supplementation among individuals with sub-optimal vitamin D status. 

Funder - Industry

Synopsis - This study aims to identify the rate of change and repletion of circulating vitamin D levels following supplementation among older adults and adults with a Fitzpatrick skin phototype classification of IV, V, VI (Fitzpatrick, 1988) who have sub-optimal (<50 nmol/l) and deficient (<30 nmol/L) 25(OH)D status. The study is focused on two forms of nutritional supplements: one in spray form (sublingual) and one taken as a capsule and swallowed (capsular). 

Role - Co-Investigator


Current PhD Students

Mrs Fay Shahatah - Association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and health outcomes in the very old.

Mrs Shatha Alhulaefi - Feasibility and acceptability of a whole-food approach to increasing dietary nitrate intake and its effects on oral and systemic health.


Future PhD projects.

I have capacity for further PhD supervision and will be happy to see proposals from students with funding and academics/industry who wish me to be part of a supervisory team or funding application. I'm interested in the following areas:

  • Diet and health
  • Diet and cognitive performance
  • Nutraceutical research (proof of concept and evidence building)
  • Protein and health



Teaching

Module leader

Nutrition Through the Lifecycle

Measurement and Assessment of Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status

Nutrition Professional Placement Year



Lecturer on the following modules

Human Physiology and Practical Skills

Introduction to Food and Nutrition

Macro- and Micronutrients

Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition

Research Project

Nutrition Enterprise and Career Skills

Contemporary Issues in Food and Human Nutrition

Publications