World leaders in elite soccer and sport

Currently

Neil Walsh is a distinguished researcher at the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University. Before joining this institution, he spent 19 years at Bangor University, where his team conducted groundbreaking research on nutritional strategies to prevent immune suppression and infections, practical methods for heat acclimation, and innovative non-invasive biomonitoring techniques for athletes and soldiers.

Professional Career

Neil’s work has influenced UK military policy by demonstrating the benefits of preventing nutritional deficits in soldiers to enhance immune health and physical performance. He has published extensively in international journals and is a co-author of a textbook on Exercise Immunology. Additionally, he led a highly cited consensus statement on exercise and immunity in 2011 and has contributed to statements on "dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete" for the International Olympic Committee and "immunonutrition and exercise" for the International Society of Exercise Immunology.

Scientific Contributions

Neil Walsh is also a member of the editorial boards for Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise and Exercise Immunology Review. Previously, he served as the Physiology Editor for the Journal of Sports Sciences. His expertise enables him to provide education and training to staff from world-renowned sports teams and organizations..

Skills and Expertise

Immunity - Immune Response - Exercise - Exercise Science - Sports Physiology - Function - Strength and Conditioning - Human Physiology - Exercise Physiology

Currently

Stuart M. Phillips is a Distinguished Professor and holds the Canada Research Chair in Skeletal Muscle Health in Aging at McMaster University. He is the Director of the McMaster Physical Activity Centre of Excellence (PACE), a facility that provides exercise programs for older adults and individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities.

Professional Background

With over 28 years of academic research experience, his work focuses on the interaction between nutrition and exercise to optimize muscle function and quality of life in aging populations. He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed articles and has received numerous awards and grants. Additionally, he serves as the President and CEO of NutriFitEx Consulting Ltd., where he applies scientific strategies in nutrition and exercise.

Currently

Susan Backhouse is the Director of Research and Professor of Psychology and Nutrition at Leeds Beckett University, where she leads the Centre for Human Performance. She graduated in Physical Education and Sport Sciences from Loughborough University and earned her PhD there under the guidance of renowned professors in the field.

Professional Background

Since joining Leeds Beckett in 2003, Susan has led a research team on sports integrity, focusing on the complexities of doping in sports. She has spearheaded international projects such as REACT and CoachMADE, as well as collaborative initiatives funded by Erasmus+ like FAIR and RESPECT. She is an active member of the clean sport community, serving on the WADA Social Science Research Committee and co-founding the Clean Sport Alliance.