Staff Profile

Dr Gerry O’Brien is a Lecturer in Food Science, and is Deputy Programme Director (Nutrition and Dietetics). He has over 24 years’ experience of University-level teaching. This includes three years at a public university in Colombia, South America, over five years in Singapore, and more than 15 years in the United Kingdom. He was named a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy in March 2007. Since February 2013, he has been based at Newcastle University, working firstly on its Singapore Campus until August 2018. Since then, he has been based at Newcastle's main UK campus.

Gerry's research interests include the assay / elimination of toxicity of cassava (a tropical root crop) and its potential effects in human populations. He is also interested in the relationship between nutrition and cognitive function in children (study conducted in Malawi, Southern Africa) and in older adults (possible role of dietary nitrate in slowing cognitive decline). He has also recently become involved in research into the anti-cancer properties of carrots.

During his time working in the UK, Gerry has also gained considerable experience as a consultant to the food industry, having worked with a number of food SMEs in projects aimed at building technical and product-development capacity.

Contact Details

• Email: gerard.o'brien@ncl.ac.uk
• Telephone: 44-191-2087650
• Address: School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Sciences,
  Newcastle University 
  Framlington Place
  Newcastle upon Tyne
  NE2 4HH

• Member, Institute of Food Science and Technology IFST (since May 2002);
• Fellow, UK Higher Education Academy (since March 2007);
• Associate Member, Singapore Institute of Food Science and Technology SIFST (July 2013 - July 2018);
  
• Member, Nutrition Society (since April 2014);
• Fellow, Institute of Food Science and Technology IFST (since October 2021)

Research Interests

Assuring safety / improving quality /extending shelf-life of food products

Research interests include monitoring of cyanogens in cassava (tapioca) and processing / transportation of tropical fruits.

Developing-country nutrition

Investigation of the relationship between nutrition and cognitive development in children in Malawi (Southern Africa).

Investigation of potential exposure to dietary cyanide in cassava-consuming areas of developing countries (SE Asia).

Diet and Health

Investigation of the possible role of dietary nitrate in delaying cognitive decline in older adults.

Investigation of the protective role of carrots against cancer.

Other Expertise

Research Ethics (five years' experience as Chairman of a Biomedical Sciences Research Ethics Filter Committee at Ulster University).

• Consultant and/or Academic Supervisor of three Intertrade Ireland FUSION projects (1– 2 year duration) with Irish bakery / brewing SMEs (April 2006 – December 2011). Involvement (2012-13) in three further FUSION projects with food SMEs.
• Consultant (under Invest Northern Ireland Innovation Voucher Scheme) with a N. Ireland SME, aiming to replace artificial ingredients in sauces (February – November 2010); further project with the same SME, exploring methods to extend the shelf-life of ready-to-use sauces (July 2011 – May 2012).
• Consultant with a Republic of Ireland SME aiming to improve technical standards in production of cookie mixes - funded under Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher Scheme (February – December 2011).
• Consultant (under Invest Northern Ireland Innovation Voucher Scheme) with a N. Ireland SME, aiming to improve technical standards in production of chilled fresh desserts (January – October 2012).

Supervision / examining of Postgraduate Research Projects 

• Currently co-supervising two PhD projects (one due for completion in 2021, the other in 2022). 
• One PhD successfully supervised to completion (Oct 2009 – Jan 2013) as main supervisor.
• Eight MSc projects successfully supervised to date.
• Experience as External / Internal Examiner of several PhD projects, and Chairman of two PhD viva voce examinations. 

Teaching / course administration

•  Over 24 years’ experience of University-level teaching, comprising three years at a public university in Colombia, over five years at a UK university in Singapore, and over 15 years at public universities in the United Kingdom. 
• Subjects taught include: Food Science and Technology; Food Chemistry; Food Microbiology; Biochemistry; Organic Chemistry; Research Skills; Food Biotechnology; Food Sensory Analysis; EU Food Regulation.
• Nine years' experience of coordinating academic programmes in Food and Nutrition at BSc Hons level. 

• Babateen AM, Shannon OM, O'Brien GM, Okello E, Khan AA, Rubele S, Wightman E, Smith E, McMahon N, Olgacer D, Koehl C, Fostier W, Mendes I, Kennedy D, Mathers JC, Siervo M. Acceptability and Feasibility of a 13-Week Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Testing the Effects of Incremental Doses of Beetroot Juice in Overweight and Obese Older Adults. Nutrients 2021, 13(3), 769.
• Mota-Gutierrez J, O'Brien GM. Cassava consumption and the occurrence of cyanide in cassava in Vietnam, Indonesia and Philippines. Public Health Nutrition 2020, 23(13), 2410-2423.
• Babateen AM, Rubele S, Shannon O, Okello E, Smith E, McMahon N, O'Brien G, Wightman E, Kennedy D, Mathers JC, Siervo M. Protocol and recruitment results from a 13-week randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of different doses of nitrate-rich beetroot juice on cognition, cerebral blood flow and peripheral vascular function in overweight and obese older people. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications 2020, 18, 100571.
• Tan XL, O'Brien GM. Exploring the Potential of Okara as a Nutrient Source for Soy Kefir Yoghurt. In: Insights to Emerging Trends in Food Science and Technology. 2016, Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore: Nanyang Polytechnic, Jiangnan University and University of California (Davis). In Preparation.
• Liu PWS, McKinley A, Sanchez T, Ceballos H, O'Brien GM. Can lyoprotectant/ cryoprotectant compounds help reduce losses in activity level of cassava linamarase enzyme when it is subjected to freeze-thaw stresses?. In: ASEAN Food Conference 2015. 2015, SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines.
• Kong C, Soh C, O'Brien GM. Substitution of wheat flour with whole-grain spelt flour in cakes and its influence on consumer acceptance. In: Nutrition Society Summer Meeting. 2015, Glasgow, UK: Cambridge University Press.
• Tee M, O'Brien GM. Characterisation of growth of kefir cultures from temperate and tropical origins, and viability of kefir microorganisms undergoing food-relevant thermal treatments. In: The Gut, its Microbes and Health. 2014, Orchard Hotel, Singapore: International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) - SE Asia Region.
• Kong C, Soh C, O'Brien GM. Substitution of wheat flour with whole-grain spelt flour in cakes and its influence on consumer acceptance. In: Nutrition Society Summer Meeting 2014. 2014, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK: The Nutrition Society.
• O'Brien GM, Weir RR, Moody K, Liu PWS. Cyanogenic potential of fresh and frozen cassava on retail sale in three Irish cities: a snapshot survey. International Journal of Food Science & Technology 2013, 48(9), 1815-1821.
• Nkhoma OWW, Duffy ME, Cory-Slechta DA, Davidson PW, McSorley EM, Strain JJ, O'Brien GM. Early-Stage Primary School Children Attending a School in the Malawian School Feeding Program (SFP) Have Better Reversal Learning and Lean Muscle Mass Growth Than Those Attending a Non-SFP School. Journal of Nutrition 2013, 143(8), 1324-1330.
• Nkhoma OW, Duffy ME, Davidson PW, Cory-Slechta D, McSorley EM, Strain JJ, O'Brien GM. Nutritional and cognitive status of entry-level primary school children in Zomba, rural Malawi. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 2013, 64(3), 282-291.
• O'Brien GM, Stewart-Knox BJ, McKinley A, Vaz de Almeida MD, Gibney MJ. Perceived risk of metabolic syndrome and attitudes towards fat-modified food concepts among European consumers. Food Quality and Preference 2012, 23(1), 79-85.
• O'Brien GM, Ip AS. Initial evaluation of a field-friendly incubation procedure for the colorimetric assay of cassava linamarase. Food Chemistry 2008, 106, 576-579.
• McCann MJ, Gill CI, O'Brien GM, Rao JR, McRoberts WC, Hughes P, McEntee R, Rowland IR. Anti-cancer properties of phenolics from apple waste on colon carcinogenesis in vitro. Food and Chemical Toxicology 2007, 45, 1224-1230.
• O'Brien GM, Chow EP, Price RK. Initial evaluation of a field-friendly extraction procedure for the enzymatic assay of cassava cyanogens. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 2007, 42, 999-1006.
• Riis L, Bellotti AC, Bonierbale M, O'Brien G. Cyanogenic Potential in Cassava and Its Influence on a Generalist Insect Herbivore Cyrtomenus bergi (Hemiptera: Cydnidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 2003, 96(6), 1905-1914.
• Vaillant F, Jeanton E, Dornier M, O'Brien G, Reynes M, Decloux M. Concentration of passionfruit juice on an industrial pilot scale using osmotic evaporation. Journal of Food Engineering 2001, 47(3), 195-202.
• Howeler RH, Oates CG, O'Brien GM, ed. Cassava, Starch and Starch Derivatives. Proceedings of an International Symposium held in Nanning, Guangxi, China. Bangkok, Thailand: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), 2000.
• Wilson WM, O'Brien GM, Dufour DL. Application of a picrate semi-quantitative screening assay for the cyanogenic potential of cassava roots at a remote field site. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 2000, 80, 590-594.
• Van-Oirschot Q, O'Brien GM, Dufour D, El-Sharkawy M, Mesa E. The effect of pre-harvest pruning of cassava upon root deterioration and quality characteristics. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 2000, 80, 1866-1873.
• Vaillant F, Millán P, O'Brien G, Dornier M, Decloux M, Reynes M. Crossflow microfiltration of passion fruit juice after partial enzymatic liquefaction. Journal of Food Engineering 1999, 42, 215-224.
• Dufour D, O'Brien GM, Best R, ed. Cassava Flour and Starch: Progress in Research and Development. Proceedings of the International Meeting on Cassava Flour and Starch. Cali, Colombia: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), 1996.
• O'Brien GM, Wheatley CC, Iglesias C, Poulter NH. Evaluation, modification and comparison of two rapid assays for cyanogens in cassava. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 1994, 65, 391-399.
• Gidamis AB, O'Brien GM, Poulter NH. Detoxification of traditional Tanzanian cassava foods. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 1993, 28, 211-218.
• Panigrahi S, Rickard J, O'Brien GM, Gay C. Effects of different rates of drying cassava root on its toxicity to broiler chicks. British Poultry Science 1992, 33, 1025-1041.
• O'Brien GM, Mbome L, Taylor AJ, Poulter NH. Variations in cyanogen content of cassava during village processing in Cameroon. Food Chemistry 1992, 44, 131-136.
• O'Brien GM, Taylor AJ, Poulter NH. Improved enzymatic assay for cyanogens in fresh and processed cassava. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 1991, 56, 277-289.