Dexastrong™ Sponsored PhD Studentships in collaboration with the Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University

Funding will consist of UK full tuition fees for three years and the award of a living stipend at UK Research Council rates (£17,668 per annum pro-rata into 12 monthly payments). Funding will be subject to satisfactory progress.

A laptop will be provided and the opportunity to apply for funding to support the research project.

Novel osteogenic loading alongside nutrition and exercise interventions for optimisation of  musculoskeletal and metabolic health in post-menopausal women (PhD1) or older adults with sarcopenia (PhD2)

Musculoskeletal and metabolic health may be compromised in certain populations such as post-menopausal women and older adults. Deficiencies in dietary protein intake and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, which are critical, but not exclusive, for optimisation of muscle and bone health, are also highly prevalent in these groups of people. Proof-of-concept research involving novel means of osteogenic loading  (i.e., bioDensity apparatus) suggests that bioDensity may improve musculoskeletal and metabolic health. Considering that optimisation of musculoskeletal and metabolic adaptations depend upon nutritional support and overall physical activity/exercise levels, there is scope for further research to investigate the efficacy and effectiveness of the bioDensity apparatus singularly or combined with exercise and nutrition interventions.

The aims of this research will be to explore and discover how we can best use and integrate the bioDensity alongside exercise/physical activity and novel nutritional interventions to optimise musculoskeletal and metabolic health. There will be two programmes of study available with one PhD focussed on post-menopausal women and the other one on older adults (both men and women, over 60 years of age) with pre-existing sarcopenia or osteo-sarcopenia.

The work is primarily aligned with the SARCA Theme of the Active Lifestyles Research Centre.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their applications and project proposals with Dr Theocharis Ispoglou (t.ispoglou@leedsbeckett.ac.uk) and Dr Matthew Barlow (matthew.barlow@leedsbeckett.ac.uk)

1. Ispoglou, T., et al., The efficacy of essential amino acid supplementation for augmenting dietary protein intake in older adults: implications for skeletal muscle mass, strength and function. Proc Nutr Soc, 2020: p. 1-13.
2. Lees, M.J., et al., Muscle quality as a complementary prognostic tool in conjunction with sarcopenia assessment in younger and older individuals. Eur J Appl Physiol, 2019. 119(5): p. 1171-1181.
3. Lees, M.J., et al., Novel Essential Amino Acid Supplements Following Resistance Exercise Induce Aminoacidemia and Enhance Anabolic Signalling Irrespective of Age: A Proof-of-Concept Trial. Nutrients, 2020. 12(7).
4. Ispoglou, T., et al., Novel essential amino acid supplements enriched with L-leucine facilitate increased protein and energy intakes in older women: a randomised controlled trial. Nutrition Journal, 2017. 16(1): p. 75.
5. Ispoglou, T., et al., Double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial of L-Leucine-enriched amino-acid mixtures on body composition and physical performance in men and women aged 65-75 years. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2016. 70(2): p. 182-8.
6. Hung, Y.-L., et al., Influence of oestrogen on satellite cells and myonuclear domain size in skeletal muscles following resistance exercise. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle. n/a(n/a).
7. Kissow, J., et al., Effects of Follicular and Luteal Phase-Based Menstrual Cycle Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Mass. Sports Medicine, 2022.
8. Harding, A.T., et al., The LIFTMOR-M (Lifting Intervention For Training Muscle and Osteoporosis Rehabilitation for Men) trial: protocol for a semi randomised controlled trial of supervised targeted exercise to reduce risk of osteoporotic fracture in older men with low bone mass. BMJ Open, 2017. 7(6): p. e014951.
9. Bemben, D., et al., Relevance of Whole-Body Vibration Exercises on Muscle Strength/Power and Bone of Elderly Individuals. Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society, 2018. 16(4): p. 1559325818813066-1559325818813066.
10. Kirk, B., J. Zanker, and G. Duque, Osteosarcopenia: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment—facts and numbers. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, 2020. 11(3): p. 609-618.
11. Giannos, P., Prokopidis, K., Church, D., Kirk, B., Morgan, P., Lochlainn, M., . . . Ispoglou, T. (2022). Associations of bioavailable serum testosterone with cognitive function in older men: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Journal of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35927217/

12. Prokopidis, K., Giannos, P., Ispoglou, T., Witard, O. C., & Isanejad, M. (2022). Dietary fiber intake is associated with cognitive function in older adults: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The American Journal of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35367443/

As part of your application, please provide a CV, cover letter and research proposal. The proposal should align to the above theme and include a brief literature review related to this project, with an outline of the studies that you would propose to the answer the aims of the PhD (maximum 5 pages single spaced).

We can only consider complete applications. The research degree application is complete once you have uploaded all of the following:

1. Your application form (include the project reference DEXA PhD1 or DEXA PhD2
2. Your research proposal, statement of purpose and CV on the Research proposal template
3. Copies of your bachelors and master certificates, including transcripts
4. Copy of your IELTS (or equivalent) certificate (if applicable) further information can be found on our Graduate School FAQs
5. Copy of your passport

Email the documentation above) to researchadmissions@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 

The deadline for applications is midnight on 27th November 2022

Candidates must be available for interview on 9th and 10th January 2023