麻豆传媒

I am an academic in Human Nutrition within the School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences. I am also a Principal Investigator in the the Human Nutrition and Exercise Research Centre. My research focuses on the impact of nutritional interventions on biological outcomes that influence acute and chronic cognitive performance, overall health, and healthy ageing. I have extensive experience leading Research Council–funded and industry-funded projects, as well as providing consultancy for industry partners.

Area of Expertise

Nutrition, Cognition, Nutraceuticals, emerging protein sources Food quality.

External Roles

Editorial Board member, European Journal of Nutrition

External Examiner, Queen Margaret University

External Examiner, Northumbria University

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.

The Effect of 8 Weeks Probiotic Supplementation on Sleep Quality.

Funder - Industry

Synopsis - This project is an industry and academic collaboration that aims to understand the effect of supplementation with a proprietary probiotic on sleep quality.

Role - Principal Investigator

Microbial Protein for Human Consumption: Towards sustainable protein production.

Funder: Star Hub Surrey - a  innovation hub, a network funded by the   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- 麻豆传媒.

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 麻豆传媒 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

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

• Articles

  • Shahatah FA, Hill TR, Fairley A, Watson AW. . Nutrition Reviews 2025, 83(9), 1711–1724.
  • Nazarenko T, Vavourakis CD, Jones A, Evans I, Schreiberhuber L, Kastner C, Ishaq-Parveen I, Redl E, Watson AW, Brandt K, Carter C, Zaikin A, Herzog CMS, Widschwendter M. . Clinical Epigenetics 2024, 16(1), 131.
  • Griffiths A, Alhulaefi s, Hayes EJ, Matu J, Brandt K, Watson A, Siervo A, Shannon OM. . Applied Sciences 2023, 13(12), 7319.
  • Li L, Houghton D, Lietz G, Watson A, Stewart CJ, Bal W, Seal CJ. . Nutrients 2022, 14(22), 4888.
  • Rempelos L, Wang J, Baranski M, Watson A, Volakakis N, Hadall C, Hasanaliyeva G, Chatzidimitriou E, Magistrali A, Davis H, Vigar V, Srednicka-Tober D, Rushton S, Rosnes KS, Iversen PO, Seal CJ, Leifert C. . American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2022, 116(5), 1278-1290.
  • Rempelos L, Wang J, Barański M, Watson A, Volakakis N, Hoppe H-W, Kühn-Velten WN, Hadall C, Hasanaliyeva G, Chatzidimitriou E, Magistrali A, Davis H, Vigar V, Średnicka-Tober D, Rushton S, Iversen PO, Seal CJ, Leifert C. . The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2022, 115(2), 364–377.
  • Watson AW, Scheepens A, Kennedy DO, Cooney JM, Trower TM, Haskell-Ramsay CF. . Nutritional Neuroscience 2020, 23(7), 516-525.
  • Green MA, Watson AW, Brunstrom JM, Corfe BM, Johnstone AM, Williams EA, Stevenson E. . Nutrition Journal 2020, 19, 83.
  • de Grave RB, Rust N, Reynolds C, Watson A, Smeddinck JD, Souza Monteiro D. . Global Food Security 2020, 24, 100344.
  • Watson AW, Okello EJ, Brooker H, Lester S, McDougall GJ, Wesnes KA. . Nutritional Neuroscience 2019, 22(8), 596-606.
  • MCINNES L, JONES E, ROCHESTER L, LORD S, CHASTIN SFM, WATSON AW, LITTLE L, BRIGGS P. MOBILITY IN COMMUNITY DWELLING OLDER ADULTS: PREDICTING SUCCESSFUL MOBILITY USING AN INSTRUMENTED BATTERY OF NOVEL MEASURES. The Journal of Frailty & Aging 2019, E-pub ahead of print - 10 Oct 2019, 1-6. In Preparation.
  • Watson AW, Houghton D, Avery PJ, Stewart C, Vaughan EE, Meyer PD, de Bos Kuil MJJ, Weijs PJM, Brandt K. . Food Hydrocolloids 2019, 96, 688-698.
  • Stevenson EJ, Watson AW, Brunstrom JM, Corfe BM, Green MA, Johnstone AM, Williams EA. . Nutrition Bulletin 2018, 43(1), 97–102.
  • Li L, Lietz G, Bal W, Watson A, Morfey B, Seal C. . Nutrients 2018, 10(6), 777.
  • Haskell-Ramsay CF, Stuart RC, Okello EJ, Watson AW. . European Journal of Nutrition 2017, 56(8), 2633–2633.
  • Wesnes KA, Brooker H, Watson AW, Bal W, Okello E. . Journal of Psychopharmacology 2017, 31(2), 211-221.
  • Haskell-Ramsay CF, Stuart RC, Okello EJ, Watson AW. . European Journal of Nutrition 2017, 56(8), 2621–2631.
  • Stevenson EJ, Watson A, Theis S, Holz A, Harper LD, Russell M. . European Journal of Applied Physiology 2017, 117(11), 2321-2333.
  • Watson AW, Haskell-Ramsay CF, Kennedy DO, Cooney JM, Trower T, Scheepens A. . Journal of Functional Foods 2015, 17, 524-539.
  • Kennedy DO, Veasey RC, Watson AW, Dodd FL, Jones EK, Tiplady B, Haskell CF. Vitamins and psychological functioning: a mobile phone assessment of the effects of a B vitamin complex, vitamin C and minerals on cognitive performance and subjective mood and energy. 2011.
  • McInnes L, Briggs P, Rochester L, Little L, Watson AW, Hopley N. New metrics for exploring the relationship between mobility and successful ageing. Gerontechnology 2010.
  • Kennedy DO, Veasey RC, Watson AW, Dodd F, Jones E, Maggini S, Haskell CF. Effects of high-dose B vitamin complex with vitamin C and minerals on subjective mood and performance in healthy males. 2010.

• Book Chapter

  • Haskell CF, Watson AW. Cocoa, Blood flow and the Brain. In: Margot Skinner, Denise Hunter, ed. Bioactives in Fruit: Health Benefits and Functional Foods. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2013, pp.367-388.

• Reviews

  • Smith K, Watson AW, Lonnie M, Peeters WM, Oonincx D, Tsoutsoura N, Simon-Miquel G, Szepe K, Cochetel N, Pearson AG, Witard OC, Salter AM, Bennett M, Corfe BM. . European Journal of Nutrition 2024, 63, 1425-1433.
  • Alhulaefi SS, Watson AW, Ramsay SE, Jakubovics NS, Matu J, Griffiths A, Kimble R, Siervo M, Brandt K, Shannon OM. . Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2024, 65(14), 2813-2828.
  • Rempelos L, Baranski M, Wang J, Adams TN, Adebusuyi K, Beckman JJ, Brockbank CJ, Douglas BS, Feng T, Greenway JD, Gur M, Iyaremye E, Kong CL, Korkut R, Kumar SS, Kwedibana J, Masselos J, Mutalemwa BN, Nkambule BS, Oduwole OB, Oladipo AK, Olumeh JO, Petrovic L, Rohrig N, Wyld SA, Xu L, Pan Y, Chatzidimitriou E, Davis H, Magistrali A, Sufar E, Hasanaliyeva G, Kalee HHHA, Willson A, Thapa M, Davenport P, Srednicka-Tober D, Volakakis N, Watson A, Seal CJ, Goltz M, Kindersley P, Iversen PO, Leifert C. . Agronomy 2021, 11(12), 2494.
  • Lonnie M, Hooker E, Brunstrom JM, Corfe BM, Green MA, Watson AW, Williams EA, Stevenson EJ, Penson S, Johnstone AM. . Nutrients 2018, 10(3), 360.