Human Nutrition Research Centre

Staff Profile

Dr Daniel West

Senior Lecturer

Background

I am currently a Senior Lecturer working within the Human Nutrition & Exercise Research Centre and Diabetes Research Group. I was appointed as a research institute Principal Investigator in 2016, where I was awarded a prestigious Newcastle University Research Fellowship.  Prior to moving to Newcastle I studied a PhD in clinical exercise physiology within the Diabetes Research Group, of the College of Medicine, and the Department of Sport and Exercise Science, at Swansea University. 

My primary research interests focus on the role of exercise and nutrition in the management of chronic disease, with particular interest in the facilitation of safe and effective exercise in those with Type 1 diabetes.  I also explore nutritional and insulin dose adjustment strategies to improve mealtime glucose control in both Type 1 and 2 diabetes.

I have received funding from Diabetes UK, Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation, The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund, NU COVID-19 research fund, Arla Foods Ingredients, Medtronic, Dexcom & Beneo.

For a full list of publications see my Google Scholar page.

 

Expertise

I have conducted various nutrition and exercise projects that are published in highly esteemed clinical journals that have involved measures such as continuous glucose monitoring, exercise in high-risk patient groups, appetite regulation, postprandial glucose control, endothelial progenitor cells, gastric emptying, free-living nutritional interventions.

I am was formerly an expert panel member for the international Type 1 diabetes and exercise education programme ‘JDRF PEAK’.

I have considerable experience in exercise laboratory management, risk assessment, and COVID-19 management protocols in both NHS trust and University laboratory settings. 

 

Education & Training

PhD Human Physiology – Swansea University

BSc Sport & Exercise Science (1st Class Hons) – Swansea University

Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist – American College of Sports Medicine


Faculty Roles

- Early Career Researcher Theme Lead (Nutrition, Exercise, Metabolism)

- Biosafety Academic Lead - Population Health Science Institute


Research

Current projects as Principal Investigator:

- EXPLODE - Exercise to prevent frailty and loss of independence in elderly, insulin treated people with diabetes

- Impact of residual beta-cell function on glucose variability before and after exercise in Type 1 diabetes

- Predictors of the endothelial progenitor cell response to exercise in people with and without Type 1 diabetes

- The influence of a small dose of whey protein on gastric emptying in lean, obese and type 2 diabetes patients.

- The influence of 7 day premeal whey protein supplementation on freeliving glucose on control in Type 2 diabetes


Current Team

Dr Guy Taylor - Exercise Physiologist

Mr Kieran Smith - PhD Diabetes

Dr Andy Shaw - Academic Foundation Programme

Dr Rachel Stocker - Health Psychologist


Co-supervision

Mr Oliver Bell - PhD

Mr Joe Kapusarevic - PhD

Dr Catriona Farrell (Uni of Dundee)





Teaching

I am programme leader for MRES Clinical Exercise Physiology, MSc Exercise Physiology and teach on undergraduate and BSc Sport & Exercise Science.

Publications