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Dr Derek Ball

Dr Derek Ball
Dr Derek Ball
Dr Derek Ball

PhD BSc FRSB FTPS

Senior Lecturer

Accepting PhDs

About
Email Address
derek.ball@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone Number
+44 (0)1224 437456
Office Address

IMS 2.22

School/Department
School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition

Biography

An Aberdeen alumni, Derek Ball completed his PhD at the Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine in medical sciences focussing on the effect of diet on acid-base balance and exercise capacity.  His first Post-doctoral postion was at the Gatty Marine Laboratory (University of St Andrews) examining the effect of temperature on muscle function in the marine species, Myoxcephalus Scorpius (the short-horned scupin). His next post (post-doctoral fellow then senior lecturer) at Manchester Metropolitan University required him to set up the Molecular Biology facilities within the Department of Sport Science. Derek returned to Aberdeen University (2002-2005) as a lecturer in Human Physiology and Biochemistry on the newly established Sport Science degree. Derek was Associate Professor in Applied and Integrative Physiology at Heriot-Watt University (2006-2017) where he held the roles of Director of Sport and Exercise Science and was the Post-graduate Director of Studies for Human Health and Disease. He was a member of Senate at Heriot-Watt (2014-2017) a member of undergraduate studies committee (2011-2014) and chair of the exam and award boards for the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering (2014-2016).

Derek's role as the Head of Sport Science at the University of Aberdeen is to integrate the degree programs in Sport Science with University Sport. This unique collaboration provides the Sport Science students first-hand experience of providing Sport Science support for University Sport and is one of the platforms that enables the University athletes to achieve their full potential.  Derek has worked with International level athletes in Track and Field athletics, judo, weight lifting, and netball.  More recently he has worked with the Scottish Football Association on their SFA Performance School development program.

 

Qualifications

  • PhD Medical Sciences 
    1993 - University of Aberdeen 
  • BSc (Hons) Sport Science 
    1989 - Manchester Metropolitan University 
  • RGN General Nursing 
    1985 - Brent & Harrow School of Nursing 

Memberships and Affiliations

Internal Memberships

Member of examination board, member of teaching executive for the Institute of Education in Medical Sciences, member of University strategy board for sport.

External Memberships

Derek is a member of the following learned societies: The Physiological Society, The Nutrition Society, The Royal Society of Biology, The American Physiological Society, Royal Society of Medicine, British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

Derek is the Physiological Society (see link) representative at the University of Aberdeen and he was awarded fellowship status (FTPS) in 2019 as recognition for the long standing support he has given to the Society.

Derek is the current Secretary of the Scottish Section of the Nutrition Society (see link). After serving for four years as a member of the Scottish Executive Derek took the responsibility of secretary for the Scottish Section (2019-2022).

Derek was awarded fellowship status (FRSB) to the Royal Society of Biology in 2015 in recognition of his research output.

Latest Publications

View My Publications

Research

Research Overview

I have interests (and a track record) in skeletal muscle physiology/biochemistry, cardiovascular function and the impact of nutrition on exercise performance.  The plastic nature of skeletal muscle lends itself to a wide range of research examining the adaptability of skeletal muscle to the stress of exercise. The consequences of exercise stress is the metabolic response to increases in energy turnover and exercise offers a good model to examine the cellular response to metabolic stress and the robust pathways used by muscle to protect the high energy content of skeletal muscle.  Current projects with clinicians in orthopaedics reflects these interests.

As part of my lead role in Sport Science we have ongoing collaborations with coaches (Patrick Miley, Eddie McKenna) and athletes at the Aberdeen Sports Village in particular examining training load, performance analysis using kinematics and gait analysis.

I am interested in accepting potential post-graduate research students at any time.

Research Areas

Accepting PhDs

I am currently accepting PhDs in Biomedical Sciences, Nutrition and Health.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.

Email Me

Biomedical Sciences

Supervising
Accepting PhDs
View Research Area

Nutrition and Health

Accepting PhDs
View Research Area

Research Specialisms

  • Physiology
  • Sport and Exercise Sciences
  • Nutrition
  • Metabolic Biochemistry
  • Biomedical Engineering

Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

Current Research

Our current research project is designed to link the effects of acute compartment syndrome on the high-energy phosphate content and surrogate biomarkers that reflect these changes as a clinical toll to guide surgical intervention. The projects is run in collaboration with orthopaedic surgeons in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Collaborations

Professor Alan Johnston (Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary)

Dr Jun Lim (Aberdeen Royal Infirmary)

Supervision

My current supervision areas are: Biomedical Sciences.

I am currently supervising one postgraduate student completing their degree by research (MD).

 

Past doctoral students

RA Ferguson 1997-2000(Reader, Loughborough University)

G Sakkas 1998-2001 (Assoc Professor, University of Thessaly)

E Dawson 2000-2003 (Senior Lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University)

GI Smith 2002-2006 (Assoc Professor, University of Washington Medical School)

D Linnane 2002-2006

T Choudhary 2010-2014 (Research Fellow, Unversity of Cork)

N Aberdein 2011-2014 (Lecturer, University of Sheffield)

M Gholoum 2011-2015 (Kuwait Government)

M King 2014-2018 (Lecturer, University West of Scotland).

 

Funding and Grants

2019-2021 Orthopaedic Trauma Association (Co-lead with Prof Alan Johnston)

2019-2020 Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (Lead Dr Jun Lim, Co-applicant with Prof Johnston)

Teaching

Programmes

Courses

Teaching Responsibilities

In addition to my responsibilities as Programme Director of our three degree programmes in the Sport and Exercise Sciences (Sport and Exercise Science, Exercise and Health, Applied Sport Science) I teach across the range of Biomedical Science degree programmes. My main teaching areas are related to exercise physiology/biochemistry and nutrition. I usually supervise between 5 and 7 honours project each year (that includes both laboratory and library-based projects) as well as a supervisory role for post-graduate research students.

Current course co-ordinator roles:

SR2003 Prinicples of Strength and Conditioning

SR3023 Academic Skills for Sport Science Professionals

SR3009 Applied Practice in Sport 1

SR3509 Applied Practice in Sport 2

SR3508 Clincal Exercise Physiolgy

SR4007 Research topics in Sport Sciences and Sport Studies

 

Course teaching role

SR2003 Prinicples of Strength and Conditioning

SM3003 Frontiers in Medical Sciences

SR3023 Academic Skills for Sport Science Professionals

SR3009 Applied Practice in Sport 1

SR3509 Applied Practice in Sport 2

SR3506 Exercise Biochemistry & Nutrition of Exercise

SR3508 Clincal Exercise Physiolgy

SR3511 Nutrition, Health and Disease

SR4007 Research topics in Sport Sciences and Sport Studies

SR4501 Exercise Science Project

SM3003 Frontiers of Applied Medical Sciences

BM4301 Science of Aging - From Cradle to Grave

RN5008 Assessment of Nutritional Status

PU5403 Human Nutrition in Context

MBChB Medicine - Year 1 SSC: Year 2 SSC The Mysteries of How Molecules Cause Disease

 

 

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

I serve on the year 1-3 exam boards for Biomedical Sciences

I am a member of the Honours year exam/award board

I am member of the IEMDS line managers commmittee

Publications

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  • Initial fitness, maturity status, and total training explain small and inconsistent proportions of the variance in physical development of adolescent footballers across one season

    King, M., Ball, D., Weston, M. C., McCunn, R., Gibson, N. V.
    Research in Sports Medicine, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 283-294
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Contrasting effects of heat stress on neuromuscular performance

    Ball, D.
    Fatigue as a limitation to performance, pp. 2328-2334
    Contributions to Journals: Review articles

  • Fatigue as a limitation to performance

    Ball, D., Maughan, R. J.
    Experimental Physiology, vol. 106, no. 12, pp. 2291-2293
    Contributions to Journals: Editorials

  • Conference report: The importance of the gut microbiome and nutrition on health

    Ball, D., Athanasiadou, S.
    The Nutrition Society Spring Conference 2021, pp. 1-3
    Contributions to Journals: Review articles

  • Rest days are important for fitness – here’s why, according to science

    Ball, D.
    The Conversation
    Contributions to Specialist Publications: Articles

  • Remote sensing of blood oxygenation using red-eye pupil reflection

    Choudhary, T. R., Ball, D., Ramos, J. F., Stefansson, E., Harvey, A. R.
    Physiological Measurement, vol. 40, no. 12, 12NT01
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Physiology 2019

    Bewick, G. S., Ball, D., Scott, D. A.
    Physiology News, pp. 28
    Contributions to Specialist Publications: Articles

  • The Effect of Maturation on Performance During Repeated Sprints With Self-Selected Versus Standardized Recovery Intervals in Youth Footballers

    Brownstein, C. G., Ball, D., Micklewright, D., Gibson, N. V.
    Pediatric Exercise Science, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 500-505
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The interaction between nutrition and exercise for promoting health and performance

    Witard, O. C., Ball, D.
    Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, vol. 77, no. 1, pp. 1-3
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Physiological, perceptual and performance responses associated with self-selected versus standardized recovery periods during a repeated sprint protocol in elite youth football players: A preliminary study

    Gibson, N., Brownstein, C., Ball, D., Twist, C.
    Pediatric Exercise Science, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 186-193
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Four things you should know before starting that exercise regime

    Ball, D.
    The Conversation
    Contributions to Specialist Publications: Articles

  • Metabolic and endocrine response to exercise: Sympathoadrenal integration with skeletal muscle

    Ball, D.
    Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 224, no. 2, pp. R79-R95
    Contributions to Journals: Review articles

  • Assessment of Acute Mild Hypoxia on Retinal Oxygen Saturation Using Snapshot Retinal Oximetry

    Choudhary, T. R., Ball, D., Ramos, J. F., McNaught, A. I., Harvey, A. R.
    Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, vol. 54, no. 12, pp. 7538-7543
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The Effect of Sodium Acetate Ingestion on the Metabolic Response to Prolonged Moderate-Intensity Exercise in Humans

    Smith, G. I., Jeukendrup, A. E., Ball, D.
    International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 357-368
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Using systems biology to define the essential biological networks responsible for adaptation to endurance exercise training

    Keller, P., Vollaard, N., Babraj, J., Ball, D., Sewell, D. A., Timmons, J. A.
    Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 35, no. 5, pp. 1306-1309
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Neuromuscular and hormonal responses to a single session of whole body vibration exercise in healthy young men

    Erskine, J., Smillie, I., Leiper, J., Ball, D., Cardinale, M.
    Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 242-248
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Sodium acetate induces a metabolic alkalosis but not the increase in fatty acid oxidation observed following bicarbonate ingestion in humans

    Smith, G. I., Jeukendrup, A. E., Ball, D.
    Journal of Nutrition, vol. 137, no. 7, pp. 1750-1756
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Preload maintenance and the left ventricular response to prolonged exercise in men

    Dawson, E. A., Shave, R., Whyte, G., Ball, D., Selmer, C., Jans, , Secher, N. H., George, K. P.
    Experimental Physiology, vol. 92, no. 2, pp. 383-390
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Haemostasis, inflammation and renal function following exercise in patients with intermittent claudication on statin and aspirin therapy

    Collins, P., Ford, I., Croal, B. L., Ball, D., Greaves, M., MacAulay, E., Brittenden, J.
    Thrombosis Journal, vol. 4, no. 9, pp. 1-8
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • A preliminary study on the effects of exercising to maximum walking distance on platelet and endothelial function in patients with intermittent claudication

    Collins, P., Ford, I., Ball, D. R., MacAulay, E., Greaves, M., Brittenden, J.
    European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 266-273
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Effect of temperature on skeletal muscle energy turnover during dynamic knee-extensor exercise in humans

    Ferguson, R. A., Krustrup, P., Kjær, M., Mohr, M., Ball, D., Bangsbo, J.
    Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 101, no. 1, pp. 47-52
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Cardiac drift during prolonged exercise with echocardiographic evidence of reduced diastolic function of the heart

    Dawson, E. A., Shave, R., George, K., Whyte, G., Ball, D., Gaze, D., Collinson, P.
    European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 94, no. 3, pp. 305-309
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Skeletal muscle morphology and capillarization of renal failure patients receiving different dialysis therapies

    Sakkas, G. K., Ball, D., Sargeant, A. J., Mercer, T. H., Koufaki, P., Naish, P. F.
    Clinical Science, vol. 107, no. 6, pp. 617-623
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Effects of massage on limb and skin blood flow after quadriceps exercise

    Hinds, T., McEwan, I., Perkes, J., Dawson, E., Ball, D., George, K.
    Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 1308-1313
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Effects of hyperthermia on the metabolic responses to repeated high-intensity exercise

    Linnane, D. M., Bracken, R. M., Brooks, S., Cox, V. M., Ball, D.
    European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 93, no. 1-2, pp. 159-166
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Neuromuscular and hormonal effects of a single session of whole body vibration

    Erskine, J., Smillie, I., Leiper, J., Ball, D., Cardinale, M.
    Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings

  • An alternative histochemical method to simultaneously demonstrate muscle nuclei and muscle fibre type

    Sakkas, G. K., Ball, D., Mercer, T. H., Naish, P. F.
    European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 89, pp. 503-505
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Atrophy of non-locomotor muscle in patients with end-stage renal failure

    Sakkas, G. K., Ball, D., Mercer, T. H., Sargeant, A. J., Tolfrey, K., Naish, P. F.
    Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, vol. 18, pp. 2074-2081
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Cardiac troponin T in female athletes during a two-day mountain marathon

    Shave, R. E., Dawson, E., Whyte, P. G., George, K., Ball, D., Gaze, C. D., Collinson, P.
    Scottish Medical Journal, vol. 48, pp. 41-42
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Changes in muscle morphology in dialysis patients after 6 months of aerobic exercise training

    Sakkas, G. K., Sargeant, A. J., Mercer, T. H., Ball, D., Koufaki, P., Karatzaferi, C., Naish, P. F.
    Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, vol. 18, pp. 1854-1861
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Does the human heart fatigue subsequent to prolonged exercise?

    Dawson, E., George, K., Shave, R. E., Whyte, G., Ball, D.
    Sports Medicine, vol. 33, no. 5, pp. 365-380
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Effect of antagonist muscle fatigue on knee extension torque

    Beltman, M., Sargeant, A. J., Ball, D., Maganaris, C. N., De Haan, A.
    Pflugers Archiv : European Journal of Physiology, vol. 446, pp. 735-741
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Effect of muscle temperature on rate of oxygen uptake during exercise in humans at different contraction frequencies

    Ferguson, R. A., Ball, D., Sargeant, A. J.
    Journal of Experimental Biology, vol. 205, pp. 981-987
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Effects of prior heavy exercise on Oxygen kinetics during heavy exercise are related to changes in muscle activity

    Burnley, M., Doust, J. H., Ball, D., Jones, A. M.
    Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 93, pp. 167-174
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Evidence-Induced of Exercise-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction and Elevated cTnT in Separate Cohorts competing in an Ultra-Endurance Mountain Marathon Race

    Shave, R. E., Dawson, E., Whyte, G., George, K., Ball, D., Gaze, D., Collinson, P.
    International Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 23, pp. 489-494
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The cardiospecificity of the third-generation cTnT assay after exercise-induced muscle damage

    Shave, R. E., Dawson, E., Whyte, G., George, K., Ball, D., Collinson, P., Gaze, D.
    Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 34, pp. 651-654
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • In vivo specific tension of human skeletal muscle

    Maganaris, C. N., Baltzopoulos, V., Ball, D., Sargeant, A. J.
    Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 90, pp. 865-872
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Muscle oxygen uptake and energy turnover during dynamic exercise at different contraction frequencies in humans

    Ferguson, R. A., Ball, D., Krustrup, P., Aagaard, P., Kjaer, M., Sargeant, A. J., Hellsten, Y., Bangsbo, J.
    The Journal of Physiology, vol. 536, pp. 261-271
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Skeletal muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms and energy metabolism after clenbuterol treatment in the rat

    Rajab, P., Fox, J., Riaz, S., Tomlinson, D., Ball, D., Greenhaff, P. L.
    American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology, vol. 279, no. 3 48-3
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Total power output generated during dynamic knee extensor exercise at different contraction frequencies

    Ferguson, R. A., Aagaard, P., Ball, D., Sargeant, A. J., Bangsbo, J.
    Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 89, no. 5, pp. 1912-1918
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Fatigue profile: A numerical method to examine fatigue in cycle ergometry

    Karatzaferi, C., Giakas, G., Ball, D.
    European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, vol. 80, no. 5, pp. 508-510
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Human power output during repeated sprint cycle exercise: The influence of thermal stress

    Ball, D., Burrows, C., Sargeant, A. J.
    European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 360-366
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The use of a deuterium tracer technique to follow the fate of fluids ingested by human subjects: Effects of drink volume and tracer concentration and content

    Lambert, C. P., Ball, D., Leiper, J. B., Maughan, R. J.
    Experimental Physiology, vol. 84, no. 2, pp. 391-399
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Training and overload: adaptation and failure in the musculoskeletal system

    Ball, D., Herrington, L.
    Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 161-167
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Dehydration and rapid rehydration: Effects on performance during brief high-intensity exercise

    Brack, A. S., Ball, D.
    Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 39-40
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The influence of temperature on the torque-velocity relationship of human knee extensors and flexors

    Timmis, J. A., Ball, D.
    Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 64
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Blood and urine acid-base status of premenopausal omnivorous and vegetarian women

    Ball, D., Maughan, R. J.
    British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 78, no. 5, pp. 683-693
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The effect of sodium nitrate ingestion on the metabolic response to intense exercise following diet manipulation in man

    Ball, D., Maughan, R. J.
    Experimental Physiology, vol. 82, no. 6, pp. 1041-1056
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Diet composition and the performance of high-intensity exercise

    Maughan, R. J., Greenhaff, P. L., Leiper, J. B., Ball, D., Lambert, C. P., Gleeson, M.
    Journal of Sports Sciences, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 265-275
    Contributions to Journals: Review articles

  • Molecular mechanisms underlying the plasticity of muscle contractile properties with temperature acclimation in the marine fish Myoxocephalus scorpius

    Ball, D., Johnston, I. A.
    Journal of Experimental Biology, vol. 199, no. 6, pp. 1363-1373
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The acute reversal of a diet-induced metabolic acidosis does not restore endurance capacity during high-intensity exercise in man

    Ball, D.
    European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, vol. 73, no. 1-2, pp. 105-112
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Influence of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on plasma ammonia accumulation during incremental exercise in man

    Lambert, C. P., Greenhaff, P. L., Ball, D., Maughan, R. J.
    European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 49-54
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Diet manipulation, citrate ingestion and the metabolic response to intense exercise in man

    Ball, D., Maughan, R. J.
    The Journal of Physiology, vol. 467
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • The influence of dietary manipulation on plasma ammonia accumulation during incremental exercise in man

    Greenhaff, P. L., Leiper, J. B., Ball, D., Maughan, R. J.
    European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, vol. 63, no. 5, pp. 338-344
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Ammonia accumulation and endurance capacity during intense intermittent exercise following sodium bicarbonate ingestion in man

    Lambert, C. P., Greenhaff, P. J., Ball, D., Maughan, R. J.
    The Journal of Physiology, vol. 435
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

  • Dietary manipulation, sodium bicarbonate ingestion and the metabolic response to high-intensity exercise in man

    Ball, D., Greenhaff, P. L., Maughan, R. J.
    The Journal of Physiology, vol. 435
    Contributions to Journals: Articles

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