About

I am a Senior Lecturer in Health and Performance Nutrition and the Programme Leader for the BSc Sports Nutrition and Health degree. My academic role is deeply informed by my previous career in performance sport, where I gained extensive applied experience working directly with elite athletes and multidisciplinary teams. This practical foundation enriches my teaching, allowing me to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application for my students.

In addition to my academic responsibilities, I provide applied performance nutrition consultation through the Human Performance Unit. This ongoing engagement with athletes and practitioners ensures that my teaching and research remain current, evidence-based, and grounded in the realities of elite sport and health performance.

Teaching responsibilities

As a module leader, I oversee and deliver core content for Nutrition for Public Health, Nutrition and Metabolism for Sport and Exercise, and Advanced Nutrition and Metabolism for Sport and Exercise. I also guest lecture in sport and exercise immunology, sharing insights that integrate current research and applied practice.

My teaching approach blends biochemistry, physiology, nutrition, and metabolism to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how these disciplines intersect in both health and performance contexts. I also supervise final-year students undertaking Independent Study projects in nutrition, supporting them in developing critical research skills and applied knowledge.

Professional interests

I am deeply committed to enhancing the student experience and championing equality, diversity, inclusion, and belonging within higher education. As a passionate advocate for neurodivergent students, I actively contribute to creating supportive and accessible learning environments. I am a proud member of several Inclusion Networks within the university, where I collaborate on initiatives that promote inclusive practice and foster a sense of belonging for all students.

Research interests

My research focuses on the interplay between sport, exercise, and immune function, with a particular interest in how strategies can reduce infection risk and enhance immune resilience in athletes. By supporting immune health, athletes are better positioned to maintain consistent training and competition schedules, ultimately improving performance outcomes.

I currently supervise two PhD studentships: one investigating the physiological and biochemical basis of long-COVID, and another exploring the relationship between epigenetics, physical activity, and body composition. Both projects reflect my broader interest in the biological mechanisms underpinning health.

Membership of professional bodies

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy - University of Kent
• Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) - University of Kent
• PhD in Training, Nutrition and Exercise Immunology - University of Kent

Experience in industry

I bring extensive applied experience to my academic role, having spent several years working in high-performance sport. My career began in non-league football and progressed to elite environments, including Arsenal Football Club and England Rugby Union. I have also worked across a diverse range of sports such as athletics, fencing, cycling, and swimming, which has broadened my understanding of sport-specific nutritional demands and performance strategies.

Currently, I serve as the Performance Nutrition Lead for Team Derby, supporting our university’s sport scholars with tailored, evidence-based nutrition guidance. This role allows me to remain actively engaged in applied practice, ensuring that my teaching and research are continually informed by real-world performance environments.

Recent publications

Chambers, J., Roscoe, C. M. P., Chidley, C., Wisniewska, A., & Duggirala, A. (2025). Molecular Effects of Physical Activity and Body Composition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International journal of environmental research and public health, 22(4), 637.

Davison, G., Schoeman, M., Chidley, C., Dulson, D. K., Schweighofer, P., Witting, C., Posch, W., Matta, G. G., Consoli, C., Farley, K., McCullough, C., & Wilflingseder, D. (2025). ColdZyme® reduces viral load and upper respiratory tract infection duration and protects airway epithelia from infection with human rhinoviruses. The Journal of Physiology, 603(6), 1483–1501. 

Thomas, C., Faghy, M. A., Chidley, C., Phillips, B. E., Bewick, T., & Ashton, R. E. (2024). Blood Biomarkers of Long COVID: A Systematic Review. Molecular diagnosis & therapy, 28(5), 537–574. 

Faghy, M. A., Tatler, A., Chidley, C., Fryer, S., Stoner, L., Laddu, D., Arena, R., & Ashton, R. E. (2024). The physiologic benefits of optimizing cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity - From the cell to systems level in a post-pandemic world. Progress in cardiovascular diseases, 83, 49–54. 

Briggs, I., Chidley, J. B., Chidley, C., & Osler, C. J. (2021). Effects of Caffeine Ingestion on Human Standing Balance: A Systematic Review of Placebo-Controlled Trials. Nutrients, 13(10), 3527. 

Giles, D., Barnes, K., Taylor, N., Chidley, C., Chidley, J., Mitchell, J., Torr, O., Gibson-Smith, E., & España-Romero, V. (2021). Anthropometry and performance characteristics of recreational advanced to elite female rock climbers. Journal of sports sciences, 39(1), 48–56. 

Chidley, C., & Davison, G. (2018). The effect of Chlorella pyrenoidosa supplementation on immune responses to 2 days of intensified training. European journal of nutrition, 57(7), 2529–2536. 

Davison, G., Kehaya, C., Diment, B. C., & Walsh, N. P. (2016). Carbohydrate supplementation does not blunt the prolonged exercise-induced reduction of in vivo immunity. European journal of nutrition, 55(4), 1583–1593. 

Davison, G., Kehaya, C., & Wyn Jones, A. (2014). Nutritional and Physical Activity Interventions to Improve Immunity. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 10(3), 152–169. 

Please see my ORCiD for a full, up-to-date list of publications.