Dr Ant Shepherd
Biography
Ant graduated from Bangor University with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science and an MSc in Exercise Rehabilitation. He was awarded his PhD from the University of Exeter in 2015. Shortly after starting a post-doctoral research positon and teaching fellow post at the university of Exeter Medical School. He joined the School of Sports Health and Exercise science, here at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú in 2016 as a Lecturer in Physical Activity, Exercise and Health.
His current role involves supervising a team of PhD students and post-doctoral researchers. He also lecturer in Advanced Sports Nutrition, Clinical Exercise Physiology and consults for professional sports teams.
During his career, he has designed bespoke training programmes and / or run clinical trials in a range of different clinical conditions including; type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and rheumatoligcal disorders such as raynaud’s phenomenon.
Research interests
Ant Shepherd is an Associate Professor in Clinical Exercise Physiology whose research is dedicated to improving metabolic and cardiovascular health, physical function, and overall quality of life across a range of clinical and at‑risk populations. His work centres on translating innovative, evidence‑based interventions—such as targeted nutritional strategies and passive heating paradigms, and controlled exposure to extreme or atypical environments—into practical approaches that can deliver meaningful ‘patient’ benefit.
A key thread running through Ant’s research is the integration of mechanistic physiology with applied clinical science. He is particularly interested in understanding the pathophysiological processes underpinning chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic disorders and conditions characterised by impaired metabolic flexibility. By probing these underlying mechanisms, his work aims to identify novel therapeutic targets and optimise interventions that can be deployed in clinical and community settings.
Ant collaborates widely across disciplines including nutrition science, environmental physiology, rehabilitation medicine, and biomedical engineering. His research contributions span acute experimental studies through to longer‑term intervention trials, with a consistent focus on enhancing patient outcomes, informing clinical practice, and shaping public health guidance.
Research outputs
2025
Steele-Turner, B., Gonçalves, A. C., Shepherd, A. I., Drummond, H., Allison, K., Bennell, K. L., Exell, T. A.
20 Nov 2025, In: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
Research output: Article
Uzoma, C. C., Shepherd, A. I., Saynor, Z. L., Khan, J. S., Piozzi, G. N., Duhoky, R., Askew, C., Ozmen, M. M., Middleton, T. R. F., Masum, S., Perissiou, M.
7 Jun 2025, In: Colorectal Disease. 27, 6, 9p., e70134
Research output: Article
James, T. J., Mayes, H., Alnajjar, M., Newell, Y., Kohlert, E., Shute, J., Perissiou, M., Corbett, J., Costello, J. T., Neupert, E., Moore, J. M., Morgan, P. T., Simms, C., Saynor, Z. L., Shepherd, A. I.
15 May 2025, In: The Journal of Nutritional Physiology. 1, 11p., 100003
Research output: Article
Clayton, L. J., Shepherd, A. I., Corbett, J., Gruet, M., Connett, G., Allenby, M., Legg, J., Daniels, T., Urquhart, D. S., Saynor, Z. L.
12 Mar 2025, In: Pediatric Pulmonology. 60, 3, 9p., e71044
Research output: Article
Clayton, L. J., Shepherd, A. I., Corbett, J., Perissiou, M., Connett, G., Legg, J., Allenby, M., Daniels, T., Urquhart, D. S., Mackintosh, K. A., McNarry, M. A., Saynor, Z. L.
15 Feb 2025, In: Journal of Cystic Fibrosis. 24, 8p.
Research output: Article
Perissiou, M., Saynor, Z. L., Feka, K., Edwards, C., James, T. J., Corbett, J., Mayes, H., Shute, J., Cummings, M., Black, M. I., Strain, W. D., Little, J. P., Shepherd, A. I.
17 Jan 2025, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
Research output: Article
2024
James, T. J., Corbett, J., Cummings, M., Allard, S., Bailey, S. J., Eglin, C., Belcher, H., Piccolo, D. D., Tipton, M., Perissiou, M., Saynor, Z. L., Shepherd, A. I.
1 Dec 2024, In: Journal of Thermal Biology. 126, 10p., 104017
Research output: Article
Shepherd, A., James, T. J., Gould, A. A. M., Mayes, H., Neal, R., Shute, J., Tipton, M., Massey, H., Saynor, Z., Perissiou, M., Montgomery, H., Sturgess, C., Makaronidis, J., Murray, A. J., Grocott, M. P. W.,
1 Nov 2024, In: The Journal of Physiology. 602, 21, p. 5835-5854
Research output: Article
Meredith, S. J., Shepherd, A. I., Saynor, Z. L., Scott, A., Gorczynski, P., Perissiou, M., Horne, M., McNarry, M. A., Mackintosh, K. A., Witcher, C. S. G.
11 Sep 2024, In: Disability and Rehabilitation, 12p.
Research output: Article
Antoun, J., Shepherd, A. I., Corbett, J., Sangala, N. c., Lewis, R. J., Lane, E., Saynor, Z. L.
10 Sep 2024, In: Physiological Reports. 12, 17, 14p., e70050
Research output: Article