Professor Ashley Adamson
Prof of Public Health Nutrition

  • Email: ashley.adamson@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 5276
  • Address: Human Nutrition Research Centre
    Institute of Health & Society
    University of Newcastle
    M1.151 William Leech Building
    Medical School
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE2 4HH

Background

After graduation in 1987 I worked as a dietitian in the NHS before moving to Newcastle University as a Research Associate to work on the Northumberland cross sectional cohort studies. I was awarded PhD from Faculty of Medicine Newcastle University in 1993. From 1992-95 I worked in clinical practice in a number of community dietetic posts and in primary care in London. I returned to Newcastle University in 1995 to take up a post as Lecturer in the then newly created Human Nutrition Research Centre to develop a research programme in Public Health Nutrition. The Human Nutrition Research Centre is an now an established University Research Centre directed by Prof John Mathers. As co-director of the Human Nutrition Research Centre I lead a thriving and vibrant team in Public Health Nutrition Research. In 2009 I joined the Institute of Health and Society where I lead the Public Health and Applied Health Intervention research theme. I was awarded a personal chair in 2010 and Fellowship of Faculty of Public Health in 2011.

Roles and Responsibilities

Programme Director of Public Health Nutrition Research
Theme lead of IHS, Public Health and Applied Health Intervention 
Co-director of  Human Nutrition Research Centre
Associate Director of Fuse (UKCRC funded Centre for Translation Research in Public Health) 
Member of Department of Health Public Health Research Consortium
NIHR School for Public Health Research (SPHR)
Co-chair of IHS Research Strategy Group
Member of Faculty of Medical Science Research Strategy Group
Member of Newcastle University Senate

Qualifications

BSc Dietetics with distinction, Queen Margaret College, Edinburgh
PhD, University of Newcastle

Professional Registration

State Registration in Dietetics (SRD) From 1987 
Registered Public Health Nutritionist (RPHNutr.) From 2001 

Previous Positions

NIHR Public Health Career Scientist 2005-2010
Visiting Senior Lecturer, University of York 2006-7
Senior Lecturer, Newcastle University
Lecturer, Newcastle University
Senior Community Dietitian Haringey and Enfield NHS Trust
Research Associate, University of Newcastle
Dietitian, Northwick Park Hospital, Middlesex 

Memberships

Member of The Nutrition Society
Member of Association of Study of Obesity 
Member of British Dietetic Association

Honours and Awards

Fellowship of the Faculty of Public Health (FPH), through distinction since 2011
Department of Health (NIHR) Public Health Career Scientist 2005-2010

Research Interests

Nutritional epidemiology
Dietary assessment methods
Diet of children and adolescents
Childhood obesity - prevention
Nutrition and ageing
Intervention studies

Recent/Current Work and Projects

The Hairy Bikers turn Hairy Dieters 

How can we help parents recognise unhealthy body weight in their children

Research to support the evaluation and implementation of adult cooking skills interventions in the UK: Phase 1 

Development and Pilot Evaluation of Scalable Interventions to Maintain Body Weight [Medical Research Council – NPRI]

Scran24 - further development and testing

My Dietitian Online 

The process and impact of change in school food policy on food and nutrient intake both in and outside of school

Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children (DNSIYC)

Gateshead Millennium Study  More information on this study is available at: www.ncl.ac.uk/gms/

The Newcastle 85+ study collaborator in the nutritional aspects of ageing - the Newcastle 85+ study: led by Prof Tom Kirkwood funded by MRC.

Exploring Adolescent Food Choice using a Food Environment Exposure Perspective, PhD studentship funded by Food Standards Agency; Supervisor

The New TV Diet - Evaluating the Effect of the UK 2007 (OfCom) Restrictions on Television Food Advertising to Children [National Prevention Research Initiative]

Research Roles

Research led for Public Health Nutrition Research in Human Nutrition Research Centre and the Institute of Health in Society
Supervisor for post-graduate studies in Public Health Nutrition 

Postgraduate Supervision

PhD student supervision in major areas of research interest especially tracking diet from childhood to adulthood, diet in children, and diet and obesity

Esteem Indicators

Fellowship of the Faculty of Public Health (FPH), through distinction since 2011
Member of Department of Health Public Health Research Consortium 2005-2016
Department of Health Public Health Career Scientist 2005-2010 'Meeting the challenge of Obesity Epidemic in Children and Young Adults'
Member of the Board of Trustees for the National Obesity Forum from 2006-2008
Member of Food Standards Agency to Project Management Panel for Front of Pack Signposting Jan 2007 Member of Editorial Board for Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics from June 2007
Member of Joint Taskforce of British Dietetic Association and Nutrition Society Public health nutrition career framework to develop a nutrition career framework with special reference to public health, within the context of the developing National Public Health Career Framework as guidance to Dept of Health, from April 2007
Elected member of Nutrition Society Programmes Committee 2004-2007
Invited member of DFES school meals study advisory group 2002-2005
Invited member of British Dietetic Association National Campaign Planning Group 2006
Member of Editorial Board for Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 

Funding

Food Standards Agency
Department of Health
Medical Research Council
National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI-MRC)
Wellcome Trust

Projects

Undergraduate Teaching

Food and Human Nutrition BSc (Hons)
and Undergraduate MBBS

Postgraduate Teaching

Masters in Health Sciences
PhD Supervision