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Dr Peter Watt

Reader

contact:
Sport and Service Management
Gaudick Road
Eastbourne
BN20 7SR

Telephone: +44 (0)1273 643789

Email: P.Watt@brighton.ac.uk

Peter Watt's Google Scholar Profile

Research Interests & Groups

  • Exercise and nutrition interactions affecting muscle growth and function
  • Ammonia and fatigue
  • Exercise and hypoxia effects on whole body metabolism in diabetes
  • Application of stable isotopes to measure human metabolic processes
  • Ageing, sarcopenia and dementia
  • University of Brighton Exercise and Environmental Tolerance Group
  • University of Brighton Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing Group

Biography

BSc (Hons) Zoology (University of Nottingham), Ph.D (University of Hull). Post doctoral research fellow at University of Hull (1981-1984). Post doctoral research fellow, University of Dundee (1984-1985) then Wellcome Lecturer (1985-1992). Lecturer at University of Dundee (1992-2001). Reader, University of Brighton (2001-present)

Peter’s research focuses on the application of stable isotope methods to measure metabolic and physiological changes occurring in humans during exercise, with application to health related problems, e.g. diabetes, obesity.

Recent Publications

Cecil, J. E., Tavendale, R, Watt, P., Hetherington, M.M. and Palmer C.N.A. (2008) An obesity-associated FTO gene variant and increased energy intake in children. New Eng. J. Med. 359, 2558-2556

Atherton, P.J., Etheridge, T., Watt, P.W., Wilkinson, D., Selby, A., Rankin, D., Smith, K., and Rennie, M.J. (2010) The muscle full effect after oral protein: time-dependent concordance and discordance between muscle protein synthesis and mTORC1 signalling. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 2010. 92 (5) 1080-1088.

Wilkinson, D., Smeeton, N., and Watt PW (2010) Ammonia metabolism, the brain and fatigue; revisiting the link. Progress in Neurobiology. 91, 200-219.

Mackenzie, R.W.A., Maxwell, N., Castle, P., Brickley, G. and Watt, P. (2011) Acute hypoxia and exercise improve insulin sensitivity (SI2*) in individuals with type 2 diabetes Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews, 27 (1). pp. 94-101. ISSN 1520-7560

Wilkinson, D.J., Smeeton, N.J., Castle, P. and Watt, P. (2011) Absence of neuropsychological impairment in hyperammonaemia in healthy young adults; possible synergism in development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) symptoms? Metabolic Brain Disease, 26 (3). pp. 203-212. ISSN 0885-7490‎.

Mackenzie, R., Elliott, B., Maxwell, N., Brickley, G. and Watt, P. (2012) The effect of hypoxia and work intensity on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 97 (1). pp. 155-162. ISSN 1945-7197

Recent Conference Presentations

Wilkinson, D.J., Smeeton, N.J., Castle, P.C.  and Watt, P.W. (2010) Hyperammonemia induces sensations of fatigue in the absence of psychological impairment. Physiological Society Meeting, Manchester. June 2010.

Mackenzie, R. Elliott, B.T, Brickley, G. and Watt ,P.W. (2010) Acute hypoxia improves insulin sensitivity (Si2*) and ß-cell function in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Physiological Society Meeting, Manchester. June 2010.

Etheridge, T. Atherton, P.J., Smith, K, Selby, A., Webborn, N., Wilkinson, D., Watt, P.W. and Rnnie, M.J (2010) Systemic hypoxia attenuates increases in muscle protein synthesis (MPS) after resistance exercise (RE). Physiological Society meeting, Copenhagen.

Wilkinson, D. and Watt, P.W.(2010) New methods for the analysis of 15N ammonium using GCMS. British Mass Spectrometry Society meeting, Cardiff, September 2010.

Watt, P.W. & Wilkinson, D.J. (2012) Ammonia and fatigue: Innocent until proven guilty!. ACSM meeting San Francisco, May 2012.

Income

TENOVUS Scotland (2001-2003) £4,507

‘Body composition analysis in a genetically identified cohort of pre-pubertal children having a potential predisposition towards obesity’, (with Dr. J. Cecil, Department of Psychology, University of Dundee).

BBSRC.(2000-2003) £410036

A three and a half year grant entitled “Mechanisms of obesity development: Interactions between energy balance, satiety cues and PPAR-l expression” With Colin Palmer, Marion Hetherington, Wendy Wrieden and Caroline Bolton-Smith.

ARCS (2012-2013) £15000

Research into nutrition and exercise effects in stroke patients. With Dr K. Ali and Prof Rajkumar.

ARCS (2012-2013) £10000

Research into the influence of exercise to physiological function and progression of dementias. With Dr Naji Tabet and Prof J. Rusted

Recent PhD student completions

Adam MacDonald ( 2005). “ The effects of low intensity exercise on glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes”. Supported by RAE monies awarded to the Department of Pharmacy, University of Brighton.

Oluwaleke Sokunbi (2007) “Exercise induced endogenous endorphin release and treatment outcome in back pain”. Supported by a Commonwealth studentship.

Richard Mackenzie (2009) “Exercise and hypoxia effects on fuel metabolism in type 2 diabetes” Self funded project and support from University of Brighton

Andrew Philp (2009). “The influence of exercise intensity and time of day on carbohydrate metabolism” Self funded project

Timothy Etheridge (2010) “Exercise and hypoxia effects on fuel metabolism in the Metabolic Syndrome”. Self funded project.

Peter Watt