Staff Profiles
Dr Neil Chester BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD - Senior Research Officer
Neil is based in the Research Unit into Human Development and Ageing where he is responsible for managing the research laboratories and undertaking research within the Exercise and Health research area. His current role, whilst primarily research based also includes teaching and sport science support.
Neil has spent 14 years at Liverpool John Moores University as both a student and a member of staff. Following completion of his MSc in Sports Physiology Neil worked as a research assistant within the area of drug use in sport. This work paved the way to the completion of a PhD entitled: Use of Exogenous Sympathomimetic Amines in Sport and Exercise. In recent years Neil has had a number of roles both technical and academic involved in teaching and research.
Undergraduate and postgraduate teaching:
BSc I Physiological Foundations (SPSSS1042)
BSc II Exercise Physiology (SPSSS2086)
BSc III Muscle Metabolism (SPSSS3088)
BSc III Sports Nutrition and Supplementation (SPSSS3009)
BSc III Major Project (SPSSS3001)
MSc Technical Training in Physiology (SPSSSM146)
MSc Research Dissertation (SPSSSM103)
Research Areas:
The main thrust of Neil’s research has been within the area of drug use in sport primarily assessing the physiological effects and pharmacology of stimulants found in over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Current work, with Prof. David Mottram (School of Pharmacy and Chemistry) is concerned with the prevalence of OTC drug use following recent changes to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited Substance List.
A major focus of recent work has been on the myotoxic effects of drug administration, namely b2-adrenergic agonists on skeletal and cardiac muscle working closely with Dr. Jatin Burniston and Prof. David Goldspink.
Other research interests relate to assessment of sports performance and the effects of supplementation (i.e. creatine, caffeine and alkalinisers) on sports performance.
Recent Publications:
Mottram, D.R., Reilly, T. and Chester, N. (1997) Doping in Sport: the extent of the problem. In, Reilly, T. and Orme, M. (Ed’s.) Proceedings of the Estelle Foundation Symposium: The Clinical Pharmacology of Sport and Exercise. Vol. 7 pp.3-10 Elsevier, Amsterdam
Armstrong, D.J. and Chester, N. (2002) IOC regulations in relation to drugs used in the treatment of respiratory tract disorders. In, Mottram, D.R. (Ed.) Drugs in Sport, 3rd Edition pp. 102-137 Routledge
Chester, N., Reilly, T. and Mottram, D.R. (2003) Physiological, subjective and performance effects of pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine during endurance running exercise. Int. J. Sport Med; 43: 111-118
Chester, N., Reilly, T. and Mottram, D.R. (2003) Over-the-counter drug use amongst athletes and non-athletes. J. Sport Med. Phys. Fitness; 24: 3-8
Chester, N., Mottram, D.R., Reilly, T. and Powell, M. (2004) Elimination of ephedrines in urine following multiple dosing and the consequences for athletes, regarding doping control. Brit. J. Clin. Pharmacol; 57: 62-67
Burniston, J.G., Chester, N., Clark, W.A., Tan, L.B. and Goldspink, D.F. Dose-dependent apoptosis and necrotic myocyte death induced by the beta-2-adrenergic agonist, clenbuterol. Muscle Nerve (In Press)
