Professor Robert James,Dean of Faculty of Life Sciences
Information about Professor Robert James at the University of Bradford.
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Biography
Rob James is muscle physiologist who obtained his BSc and PhD at University of Leeds. After 4 years of postdoctoral research at University of St Andrews he started as a lecturer at Coventry University. His teaching was focused on biomechanics and muscle physiology. He undertook various leadership roles at Coventry including Dean of Faculty, Deputy Dean and Associate Dean (Research), before joining Bradford as Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences in July 2022.Rob is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), a chartered scientist (CSci) and an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (FRSB). His main research focus is to utilise physiological techniques, such as the work loop technique, to better understand the effects of drugs, temperature, obesity or ageing on muscle performance.
Research
Awarded a range of research grants (project, studentship, equipment, travel) to study drug induced changes in myocardial performance, thermal physiology of skeletal muscle, effects of natural periods of hypometabolism (aestivation and hibernation) on muscle performance, the causes and mechanisms of muscle fatigue, trade-offs between sprint and endurance performance, effects of body size on skeletal muscle performance.Sept. 2019-Aug. 2022 Australian Research Council Discovery Project, Plastic pollution: new driver altering responses to variable environments, Seebacher F (PI), James RS (Partner Investigator), Little A. AUS$543k; Sept. 2016-Apr. 2020 Innovate UK NC3R, Novel human-cell based assay for assessment of cardiovascular liability, Maddock H (co-PI), James RS (co-PI), £982,000; Sept. 2016-Aug 2019 Australian Research Council Discovery Project, The physiological mechanisms underlying animal group dynamics, Seebacher F (PI), Sumpler D, James RS (Partner Investigator), AUS$460k; Sept. 2014-Mar. 2016, Technology Strategy Board/Innovate UK NC3R, Human Traberculae Work-Loop Feasibility, Maddock H (co-PI), James RS (co-PI), £248,000; Dec. 2013-Nov. 2015, Mercia Growth Fund, Inocardia spin out company for commercial application of the work loop technique, Maddock H (PI), James RS (Academic Partner), £200,000; Dec. 2013-Apr.2015, KEEN-EDRF, Development of in vitro rat papillary muscle work loop assay to accurately predict potential drug induced cardiac toxicity, Maddock H (PI), James RS (Academic Partner), £67,000; Sept. 2013-Aug. 2016, Gerald Kerkut Charitable Trust & Southampton University VC Scholarship Scheme, PhD studentship, Green L (PI), Newland, Cleal, Poore, Rustighi (all Southampton University) and James RS. i.e. I was the external collaborator on this project, £78,000; Oct. 2009-Oct 2013, EU FP7: Marie Curie International Reintegration project grant (based in France), Genetic and epigenetic basis of adaptive responses in frogs, Bonneaud (PI) Herrel, James RS, Adriens, Seebacher, Euros 100,000; 2009-2013, FAPESP (Brazil) project grant, Effects of global climate change on the Brazilian fauna: a conservation physiology approach, Navas CA (PI), collaborators included James RS, US$1,000,000; 2007-2011, Heart Research UK PhD studentship, An investigation into lethal ischaemia/reperfusion injury and anti-apoptotic therapies in the human myocardium, Maddock H (PI), James RS, £55,435; 2004-2007, Sultan Qaboos Oman University, PhD studentship, Effect of caspase inhibitors on ischaemia reperfusion injury in heart muscle, Maddock H (PI), James RS, £62,000;
Research collaborators
| Name | Company | Country | Type | Role | Theme | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Frank Seebacher | University of Sydney | AU | EXTERNAL | Professor | focusing on responses of animals to changing environments, and how these responses have evolved in space and time. | 17 collaborative journal papers; current collaborative Australian Research Council funded project |
| Professor Robbie Wilson | University of Queensland | AU | EXTERNAL | Professor | Environmental decision science, ecosystem services, and environmental evaluation | 14 collaborative journal papers and a book chapter |
| Associate Professor Jason Tallis | Coventry University | GB | EXTERNAL | Associate Professor | Effects of obesity and ageing on muscle mechanics | 30 published collaborative journal papers |
Professional activities
Information about education, employment and areas of particular interest for Professor Robert James is as follows:
- B.Sc.(Hons) Applied Zoology in the year 01-JAN-91 (specified as 01/01/1991)
- Ph.D. (The Mechanical and Physiological Properties of Mammalian Muscle) in the year 01-JAN-94 (specified as 01/01/1994)
- PgCert Teaching and Learning in HE in the year 01-JAN-99 (specified as 01/01/1999)
Publications
There are 21 publications involving or that are attributed to Professor Robert James. They are listed as:
- peer reviewed journal (20)
- reviews (1)
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Title | Year | Publication name | Journal | Volume | Pages | Authors | Editors | ISSN | Publisher | DOI | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effect of stimulation frequency on force, power and fatigue of isolated mouse extensor digitorum longus muscle. | 2022 | Journal of Experimental Biology | 225 | Shelley SP;James RS;Eustace SJ;Eyre E;Tallis J; | 1477-9145 | 10.1242/jeb.243285 | |||||
| High-fat diet affects measures of skeletal muscle contractile performance in a temperature-specific manner but does not influence regional thermal sensitivity. | 2022 | Journal of Experimental Biology | 225 | Tallis J;James RS;Eyre ELJ;Cox VM;Hurst J; | 1477-9145 | 10.1242/jeb.244178 | |||||
| Pre-schoolers fundamental movement skills predict BMI, physical activity, and sedentary behavior: A longitudinal study | 2021 | Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports | 31 | 8 - 14 | Duncan M.J.;Hall C.;Eyre E.;Barnett L.M.;James R.S. | 0905-7188 | 10.1111/sms.13746 | ||||
| Do muscle contractile properties drive differences in locomotor performance in invasive populations of Xenopus laevis in France? | 2020 | Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology | 190 | Padilla P;Tallis J;Hurst J;Courant J;James RS;Herrel A; | 1432-136X | 10.1007/s00360-020-01310-4 | |||||
| The cardiac work-loop technique: An in vitro model for identifying and profiling drug-induced changes in inotropy using rat papillary muscles. | 2020 | Scientific Reports | 10 | Fletcher S;Maddock H;James RS;Wallis R;Gharanei M; | 2045-2322 | 10.1038/s41598-020-58935-2 | |||||
| Age-related changes in isolated mouse skeletal muscle function are dependent on sex, muscle, and contractility mode. | 2020 | American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology | 319 | Hill C;James RS;Cox VM;Seebacher F;Tallis J; | 1522-1490 | 10.1152/ajpregu.00073.2020 | |||||
| Increased physical activity does not improve obesity-induced decreases in muscle quality in zebrafish (Danio rerio). | 2019 | Journal of Applied Physiology | 127 | Seebacher F;James RS; | 1522-1601 | 10.1152/japplphysiol.00433.2019 | |||||
| The likely effects of thermal climate change on vertebrate skeletal muscle mechanics with possible consequences for animal movement and behaviour. | 2019 | Conservation Physiology | 7 | James RS;Tallis J; | 2051-1434 | 10.1093/conphys/coz066 | |||||
| Accelerometer-based physical activity levels, fundamental movement skills and weight status in British preschool children from a deprived area. | 2019 | European Journal of Pediatrics | 178 | Roscoe CMP;James RS;Duncan MJ; | 1432-1076 | 10.1007/s00431-019-03390-z | |||||
| Does Dietary-Induced Obesity in Old Age Impair the Contractile Performance of Isolated Mouse Soleus, Extensor Digitorum Longus and Diaphragm Skeletal Muscles? | 2019 | Nutrients | 11 | Hill C;James RS;Cox VM;Tallis J; | 2072-6643 | 10.3390/nu11030505 | |||||
| The Effect of Increasing Age on the Concentric and Eccentric Contractile Properties of Isolated Mouse Soleus and Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscles | 2018 | Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences | 73 | 579 - 587 | Hill C.;James R.S.;Cox V.M.;Tallis J. | 1079-5006 | 10.1093/gerona/glx243 | ||||
| An exercise-induced improvement in isolated skeletal muscle contractility does not affect the performance-enhancing benefit of 70 µmol l-1 caffeine treatment. | 2018 | Journal of Experimental Biology | 221 | Tallis J;Higgins MF;Cox VM;Duncan MJ;James RS; | 1477-9145 | 10.1242/jeb.190132 | |||||
| The effects of 8 weeks voluntary wheel running on the contractile performance of isolated locomotory (soleus) and respiratory (diaphragm) skeletal muscle during early ageing. | 2017 | Journal of Experimental Biology | 220 | Tallis J;Higgins MF;Seebacher F;Cox VM;Duncan MJ;James RS; | 1477-9145 | 10.1242/jeb.166603 | |||||
| Obesity-induced decreases in muscle performance are not reversed by weight loss. | 2017 | International Journal of Obesity | 41 | Seebacher F;Tallis J;McShea K;James RS; | 1476-5497 | 10.1038/ijo.2017.81 | |||||
| Relationships Between Measures of Physical Fitness Change When Age-Dependent Bias is Removed in a Group of Young Male Soccer Players. | 2017 | Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research | 31 | James RS;Thake CD;Birch SL; | 1533-4287 | 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001537 | |||||
| Can animals tune tissue mechanics in response to changing environments caused by anthropogenic impacts? | 2023 | Journal of Experimental Biology | 226 | James RS;Seebacher F;Tallis J; | 1477-9145 | 10.1242/jeb.245109 | |||||
| High-fat diet effects on contractile performance of isolated mouse soleus and extensor digitorum longus when supplemented with high dose vitamin D. | 2023 | Experimental Physiology | Shelley SP;James RS;Eustace SJ;Eyre ELJ;Tallis J; | 1469-445X | 10.1113/EP091493 | ||||||
| Intra and Inter-Rater Reliability of a Novel Isometric Test of Neck Strength. | 2022 | Sports (Basel, Switzerland) | 11 | McBride L;James RS;Alsop S;Oxford SW; | 2075-4663 | 10.3390/sports11010002 | |||||
| The Effects of Muscle Starting Length on Work Loop Power Output of Isolated Mouse Soleus and Extensor Digitorum Longus Muscle | 2024 | Journal of Experimental Biology | 227 | jeb.247158 | Sharn P. Shelley, Rob S. James, Jason Tallis | 0022-0949 | Company of Biologists | 10.1242/jeb.247158 | |||
| Effect of high-fat diet on isometric, concentric and eccentric contractile performance of skeletal muscle isolated from female CD-1 mice | 2024 | Experimental Physiology | 109 | 1163 - 1176 | Jason Tallis, Rob S. James, Emma L. J. Eyre, Sharn P. Shelley, Cameron Hill, Derek Renshaw, Josh Hurst | 0958-0670 | The Physiological Society | 10.1113/EP091832 |
Reviews
| Title | Year | Publication name | Journal | Volume | Pages | Authors | Editors | ISSN | Publisher | DOI | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The likely effects of thermal climate change on vertebrate skeletal muscle mechanics with possible consequences for animal movement and behaviour | 2019 | Conservation Physiology | 7 | James R.S.;Tallis J. | 2051-1434 | 10.1093/conphys/coz066 |