Vitamin D, lifestyle and environment

Andrew Scholey is Professor of Human Psychopharmacology at Northumbria University. He has led over 100 clinical trials into the neurocognitive effects of natural products, metabolic substrates, recreational drugs, hangover, nutraceuticals and nutrients. This work has included neuroimaging and biomarker techniques to better understand the mechanisms of cognitive impairment and enhancement and neuroprotection. His current work focuses on translating research findings into evidence-based, end-user benefits to brain and mental health. 

Oly is an exercise physiologist interested in exercise strategies to improve health and physical function over the life course. In particular, Oly is actively researching ‘minimal dose’ strength training interventions to maintain function in older adults, and application of these interventions in clinical settings to prevent sarcopenia. Oly has led clinical trials exploring the role of exercise in mobilising vitamin D from adipose, and nutritional interventions to control blood lipids.  

Rebecca Harper is the Research Governance Lead at West Yorkshire R&D and West Yorkshire ICB, with over 20 years’ experience in health, academia, and research. She provides project and governance support for NHS and NIHR-funded initiatives, linking with universities across West Yorkshire. Rebecca is an experienced trainer in research ethics, GCP, and consent, and sits on a university research ethics panel. She holds an MSc in Health Research and is CMI Level 5 certified in leadership and management. 

Adele joined Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber in September 2021 as programme manager supporting the workforce element of the FH-Lipid programme. She led the Inclisiran project before becoming Head of Portfolio in January 2022 with responsibilities for Health Inequalities, Mental Health and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement. 
 
Before joining the organisation, Adele was the programme lead for domestic and international supply at NHS Employers, supporting trusts in England to upscale their recruitment, particularly focussed on the ethical overseas supply of nurses to meet the 50,000 nurse mandate. Here Adele worked with arms-length bodies, regulators, training providers and unions to help ensure employers could both navigate the new immigration system and increase their workforce capacity. Adele also managed the list of agencies adhering to the Code of Practice for International Recruitment and the People Performance Management Toolkit. 
 
Something Adele is really proud of was the instigation of a resettlement refugee project for the NHS, designed to recruit nurses from Lebanon and Jordan into the UK. The project which became partially funded is now matching qualified nurses to NHS posts with arrivals due throughout 2021/22. 
 
From starting her healthcare career in 1999 as a qualified dental nurse, Adele moved into healthcare policy within the Department of Health and Social Care where she worked on walk-in centre, GP exemplar and regulation policy. In 2004 she joined NHS Employers where she worked on a number of programmes spanning 17 years, including professional standards, reducing agency spend and widening participation.

As a mum of three who all love camping and outdoors, Adele enjoys walking in North Yorkshire, particularly in and around Burnsall and Malham. Adele’s guilty pleasure is Netflix and she also enjoys crafting and art.

Deaglan is a senior lecturer in nutritional sciences and muscle physiology at the Carnegie School of Sport. He leads the Level 5 Sport and Exercise Nutrition course and is a registered nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition. His research applies biomolecular techniques to explore how exercise and diet influence health and disease across the lifespan, with a particular focus on young and older adults. 

Dr. Jackie Hargreaves is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Leeds Beckett University. Her research is centred on the relationship between physical activity and mental health and is passionate about promoting greater participation in physical activity using behaviour change theory. Jackie has worked with a wide range of people, including students, individuals  living with cancer, obesity and mental health conditions. She is a Chartered Psychologist and a registered Health Psychologist with the HCPC. 

Dr Jim Parker is a Reader within the Leeds Sustainability Institute at Leeds Beckett University, where he leads the group’s work on Sustainable Urban Environments. Specialised in building energy modelling and the urban environment, he manages externally funded research projects, collaborates with industrial partners and supports undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students. Dr Parker’s research work has covered a wide range of topics, including modelling of domestic and non-domestic buildings and environmental monitoring in urban environments, with a particular focus on urban heat islands, air quality and the impact of urban green space. 

Richard is a registered mental health nurse working as a Wellbeing Practitioner at Leeds Beckett University. Working in the third space between academic colleagues and student services, Richard is one of five School-based Wellbeing Practitioners who work to improve the wellbeing and mental health of all students in their allocated academic schools, delivering interventions tailored to the needs of each school.  

Lisa is Course Director for undergraduate and postgraduate tourism programmes and is seconded to the Centre for Learning and Teaching, where she contributes to institution-wide initiatives on curriculum innovation and pedagogical cohesion. Her collaborative work of embedding wellbeing throughout the curriculum supported the University’s successful Mental Health Charter submission. Through experiential learning and a compassionate teaching ethos, she helps prepare graduates who are ready to challenge and advance the tourism sector. 

Working within the Deputy CEO’s Office at Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, Kimberley leads initiatives that drive innovation, equity, and strategic alignment across the health and care landscape. She leads the organisation’s Women in HealthTech and Innovation strategy, supporting inclusive opportunities and advancing impactful projects. A graduate of the Improving Population Health Fellowship, she now mentors on the programme and champions sustainable, people-centred change. 

Professor Lauren Owen leads the Human Behavioural Neuroscience Lab, Leeds Beckett University. Her research largely examines the neurocognitive effects of nutrition and food components. Over her career she has worked as an academic researcher and lecturer of biopsychology, psychopharmacology and nutrition physiology and as a senior specialist within the industrial sector. Professor Owen has a passion for creating, interpreting, and communicating innovative science to improve health and well-being across the lifespan.  

 Professor Theocharis Ispoglou is the Director of the Centre for Active Lifestyles and Healthy Ageing (ACTLIFE) at Leeds Beckett University. His research focuses on promoting physical activity across all ages, preventing sarcopenia, and exploring how nutrition and exercise support lifelong health. Committed to translating research into practice, he collaborates with policymakers, clinicians, and industry partners to develop inclusive, sustainable health interventions, leading interdisciplinary initiatives that address health inequalities and promote active lifestyles.