Dr Naomi Brooks

Honorary Senior Lecturer

Sport University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Naomi Brooks

Contact details

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http://www.stir.ac.uk/people/nebrooks

About me

I joined the University of Stirling as a Lecturer in 2012. I grew up in Glasgow and completed my undergraduate degree in Physiology at the University of Glasgow. I then took the long way from Glasgow to Stirling by spending 6.5 years in the USA studying for my PhD in Exercise Physiology & Muscle Biology from Ohio University and then a post-doctoral fellowship at Tufts University, Boston. From there I spent 5 years in South Africa with a post-doctoral associate position at Stellenbosch University and then 2 years as a Lecturer at Stellenbosch. I returned to Scotland at the end of 2011 and began my lectureship in Stirling.

I am currently the Programme Director for the Sport and Exercise Science UG degree programme and I chair the Faculty Equality, Diversity & Inclusion / Athena SWAN committee.

External Examiners and Validations

External Examiner, Sport and Exercise Science BSc (Hons), University of Essex
University of Essex

I was the External Examiner for the Undergraduate Programme in Sport and Exercise Science.

External Examiner, Sport and Exercise Science MSc Programme, University of Essex
University of Essex

Professional membership

Member of Physiological Society, American Physiological Society, Physiological Society of Southern Africa

Research (5)

My research investigates physical activity / inactivity and health; skeletal muscle physiology including satellite cells (muscle stem cells) and molecular pathways in various conditions of muscle atrophy; and involved with capacity building in lower-middle-income countries.

My research (published and current) incorporates a number of important areas of exercise physiology, muscle biology and nutrition in both laboratory, applied and community environments.

My research interests include investigation of muscle metabolism during atrophy – atrophy with ageing (sarcopenia), disuse atrophy (such as with bed rest and sedentary lifestyle) and lack of atrophy seen in skeletal muscle during hibernation. The practical application of studying these factors is relevant to clinical physiology in relation to preventing atrophy (consequence of disease or disuse) as well as combating sarcopenia (consequence of ageing) and metabolic diseases.

Furthermore, my research interests include the applied influences of exercise and nutrition, particularly in the community, and previous experience includes initiating and developing a community based exercise programme for African women of disadvantaged backgrounds at high risk for disease as well as investigating the impact of the Daily Mile in school children.

I am leading a UK-South Africa Doctoral Training Programme for academics from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions in South Africa to undertake PhDs.

I have presented invited seminars at universities in the UK, USA and South Africa and given research presentations at various international conferences.

Projects

Evaluation of Legacy 2014 Physical Activity Fund
PI: Dr Naomi Brooks
Funded by: Active Stirling Ltd
–

Protein Deficiency, sacropenia and cardiometabolic risk in older urban black Cape Town populations: feasibility studies
PI: Professor Angus Hunter
Funded by: Medical Research Council
–

UK-SA University Staff Doctoral Programme Collaboration Grant
PI: Dr Naomi Brooks
Funded by: The British Council
–

Are systemic and local skeletal muscle responses to immobilisation gender specific?
PI: Dr Naomi Brooks
Funded by: Society for Endocrinology
–

Impact of antioxidant supplementation on satellite cell activity during recovery from plyometric-induced muscle damage
PI: Dr Naomi Brooks
Funded by: Royal Society
–

Outputs (36)

Outputs

Article

Understanding factors associated with sarcopenic obesity in older African women from a low-income setting: a cross-sectional analysis

Mendham AE, Goedecke JH, Micklesfield LK, Brooks NE, Faber M, Christensen DL, Gallagher IJ, Lundin-Olsson L, Myburgh KH, Odunitan-Wayas FA, Lambert EV, Kalula S & Hunter AM (2021) Understanding factors associated with sarcopenic obesity in older African women from a low-income setting: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC Geriatrics, 21 (1), Art. No.: 247. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02132-x

Article

School-based interventions modestly increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness but are least effective for youth who need them most: an individual participant pooled analysis of 20 controlled trials

Hartwig TB, Sanders T, Vasconcellos D, Noetel M, Parker PD, Lubans DR, Andrade S, Ávila-García M, Bartholomew J, Belton S, Brooks NE, Bugge A, Cavero-Redondo I, Christiansen LB & Moran C (2021) School-based interventions modestly increase physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness but are least effective for youth who need them most: an individual participant pooled analysis of 20 controlled trials. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 55 (13), pp. 721-729. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2020-102740

Article

Intensity Matters for Musculoskeletal Health: A Cross-Sectional Study on Movement Behaviors of Older Adults from High-Income Scottish and Low-Income South African Communities

Pina I, Mendham AE, Tomaz SA, Goedecke JH, Micklesfield LK, Brooks NE, Gallagher IJ, Crockett R, Dudchenko P & Hunter AM (2021) Intensity Matters for Musculoskeletal Health: A Cross-Sectional Study on Movement Behaviors of Older Adults from High-Income Scottish and Low-Income South African Communities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (8), Art. No.: 4310. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084310

Article

Food Security, Dietary Intake, and Foodways of Urban Low-Income Older South African Women: An Exploratory Study

Odunitan-Wayas FA, Faber M, Mendham AM, Goedecke JH, Micklesfield LK, Brooks NE, Christensen DL, Gallagher IJ, Myburgh KH, Hunter AM & Lambert EV (2021) Food Security, Dietary Intake, and Foodways of Urban Low-Income Older South African Women: An Exploratory Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (8), Art. No.: 3973. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18083973

Commentary

Response to Daly-Smith et al.'s commentary on 'The Daily Mile makes primary school children more active, less sedentary and improves their fitness and body composition: a quasi-experimental pilot study'

Chesham RA, Booth JN, Sweeney EL, Ryde GC, Gorely T, Brooks NE & Moran CN (2019) Response to Daly-Smith et al.'s commentary on 'The Daily Mile makes primary school children more active, less sedentary and improves their fitness and body composition: a quasi-experimental pilot study'. Commentary on: Daly-Smith A, Morris JL, Hobbs M, McKenna J. Commentary on a recent article on the effects of the ‘daily mile’ on physical activity, fitness and body composition: addressing key limitations. BMC Medicine, 2019, 17:96. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-019-1335-4. BMC Medicine, 17 (1), Art. No.: 97. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-019-1336-3

Book Chapter

Health and exercise in the community

Brooks N (2017) Health and exercise in the community. In: Bonner A (ed.) Social determinants of health: An interdisciplinary approach to social inequality and wellbeing. Bristol: Policy Press, pp. 87-102. https://policypress.co.uk/social-determinants-of-health

Article

Influence of exercise on the metabolic profile caused by 28 days of bed rest with energy deficit and amino acid supplementation in healthy men

Brooks N, Cadena SM, Cloutier GJ, Vega-Lopez S, Roubenoff R & Castaneda-Sceppa C (2014) Influence of exercise on the metabolic profile caused by 28 days of bed rest with energy deficit and amino acid supplementation in healthy men. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 11 (12), pp. 1248-1257. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.9694

Book Chapter

Prevention of skeletal muscle wasting: disuse atrophy and sarcopenia

Brooks N & Myburgh KH (2012) Prevention of skeletal muscle wasting: disuse atrophy and sarcopenia. In: Cseri J (ed.) Skeletal Muscle - From Myogenesis to Clinical Relations. Rijeka, Croatia: InTech, pp. 167-188. http://www.intechopen.com/books/skeletal-muscle-from-myogenesis-to-clinical-relations

Article

Effects of resistance exercise combined with essential amino acid supplementation and energy deficit on markers of skeletal muscle atrophy and regeneration during bed rest and active recovery

Brooks N, Cadena SM, Vannier E, Cloutier G, Carambula S, Myburgh KH, Roubenoff R & Castaneda-Sceppa C (2010) Effects of resistance exercise combined with essential amino acid supplementation and energy deficit on markers of skeletal muscle atrophy and regeneration during bed rest and active recovery. Muscle and Nerve, 42 (6), pp. 927-935. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.21780

Article

Creatine Supplementation and DHT:T Ratio in Male Rugby Players Reply

Myburgh KH, van der Merwe J & Brooks N (2010) Creatine Supplementation and DHT:T Ratio in Male Rugby Players Reply. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 20 (3), pp. 220-222. http://www-scopus-com.ezproxy.stir.ac.uk/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-77951986081&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=10.1097%2fJSM.0b013e3181df5f9c&sid=7114744B8D9A37BF469B940477E908E8.euC1gMODexYlPkQec4u1Q%3a520&sot=b&sdt=b&sl=33&s=DOI%2810.1097%2fJ; https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0b013e3181df5f9c

Article

Resistance training and timed essential amino acids protect against the loss of muscle mass and strength during 28 days of bed rest and energy deficit

Brooks N, Cloutier G, Cadena SM, Layne JE, Nelsen CA, Freed AM, Roubenoff R & Castaneda-Sceppa C (2008) Resistance training and timed essential amino acids protect against the loss of muscle mass and strength during 28 days of bed rest and energy deficit. Journal of Applied Physiology, 105 (1), pp. 241-248. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01346.2007

Conference Abstract

Pax7, A Marker Of Satellite Cell Activity, Was Not Changed After 28 Days Bed Rest

Brooks N, Cadena SM, Myburgh KH, Roubenoff R & Castaneda-Sceppa C (2008) Pax7, A Marker Of Satellite Cell Activity, Was Not Changed After 28 Days Bed Rest. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40 (5 (Supplement 1)), pp. S32-S32. http://apps.webofknowledge.com.ezproxy.stir.ac.uk/full_record.do?product=WOS&search_mode=GeneralSearch&qid=4&SID=Y1fo74I2I5FBM3MNAiD&page=1&doc=1; https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000321586.12694.b9

Teaching

Undergraduate teaching

I am the Programme Director for Sport & Exercise Science UG degree https://www.stir.ac.uk/courses/ug/sport/sport-exercise-science/

This role includes leading programme changes and co-ordination, support, supervision, management and mentoring of 11 academic staff who teach on the programme. I have contributed to almost all of our BSc programme.

Module Coordinator: I currently teach and coordinate Anatomy & Physiology 2 (2nd year, semester 4)

Module Contributor: Introduction to Sport Studies 2 (1st year, semester 2) Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 (2nd year, semester 3) Foundations of Physical Activity for Health (2nd year, semester 4) Sports Medicine, Health & Wellbeing (3rd year, semester 5) Psychology of Physical Activity, Exercise and Health (3rd year, semester 6) Research Methods and Research Project in Sport & Exercise Science (4th year, semester 8).

Research programmes

Research centres/groups

Research themes