Dr Iain Brownlee

Associate Professor

Department: Applied Sciences

Iain joined Northumbria University in 2019, having begun his lecturing career in 2010. He completed his first degree in Physiological Sciences at Newcastle University. This inspired his interest in whole-body and systems physiology that led him to pursue a PhD in dietary fibre and gastorintestinal function.

Iain's subsequent research has focused on dietary fibre, whole grains, seaweeds and their potential impacts on parameters of cardiovascular, metabolic and gastrointestinal health. His work has included the design and management of randomised, controlled trials, cross-sectional studies in infants, children and young adults, laboratory modelling of gastrointestinal function, and studies related to digestive enzyme detection and activity. A number of projects he has worked on overlap with international health claims regulations.

Iain has collaborated with pharmaceutical, food and biotechnology industry partners throughout his career. He has successfully supervised 5 PhD students to completion and has research collaborations and networks in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and the Republic of Ireland.

Iain's teaching roles has particularly leant on his physiological background and focus on supporting students in evaluating and filtering information while developing their ability to evaluate existing evidence and apply their knowledge and understanding to address the complex, global challenges that relate to human nutrition.

Email Iain

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

Iain has research interests in most elements of gastrointestinal health and disease. He is particularly interested in a better understanding of how dietary intake could impact on gastric reflux (the backflow of stomach contents up the oseophagus and beyond). His collaborative work on modelling the gastrointestinal system could be applied to early evaluation of a wide range of a wide range of foods, nutraceuticals and novel bioactives of interest but has particularly focused on individual dietary fibres and seaweeds to date. He has also been involved in 3 dietary surveillance projects in young Singaporeans and other projects related international health claims, including randomised, controlled trials in humans.

Iain's previous research has resulted in two international patents and the development of a spinout company.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Acceptability of alginate enriched bread and its effect on fat digestion in humans, Houghton, D., Wilcox, M., Brownlee, I., Chater, P., Seal, C., Pearson, J. 1 Aug 2019, In: Food Hydrocolloids
An overview of whole grain regulations, recommendations and research across Southeast Asia, Brownlee, I., Durukan, E., Masset, G., Hopkins, S., Tee, E. 11 Jun 2018, In: Nutrients
The impact of supplementation with dietary fibers on weight loss: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials, Chew, K., Brownlee, I. 1 Apr 2018, In: Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre
Whole-grain food consumption in Singaporean children aged 6–12 years, Neo, J., Salleh, S., Toh, Y., How, K., Tee, M., Mann, K., Hopkins, S., Thielecke, F., Seal, C., Brownlee, I. 4 Aug 2016, In: Journal of Nutritional Science
Analysis of the lipolytic activity of whole-saliva and site-specific secretions from the oral cavity of healthy adults, Lai, W., Chua, J., Gill, S., Brownlee, I. 18 Jan 2019, In: Nutrients
Alpha-amylase, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of Eucheuma denticulatum (N.L. Burman) F.S. Collins and Hervey, Balasubramaniam, V., Lee, J., Noh, M., Ahmad, S., Brownlee, I., Ismail, A. 1 Jun 2016, In: Journal of Applied Phycology
Inhibitory activity of extracts of Hebridean brown seaweeds on lipase activity, Chater, P., Wilcox, M., Cherry, P., Herford, A., Mustar, S., Wheater, H., Brownlee, I., Seal, C., Pearson, J. 1 Apr 2016, In: Journal of Applied Phycology
Wholegrain food acceptance in young Singaporean adults, Neo, J., Brownlee, I. 8 Apr 2017, In: Nutrients
Memories of traditional food culture in the kampong setting in Singapore, Xiong, D., Brownlee, I. 1 Jun 2018, In: Journal of Ethnic Foods
The effect of high β-glucan flour incorporation into instant rice porridge on satiety and energy intake, Ng, J., Brownlee, I. Jul 2017, In: Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre

Professional Activity

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Editorial work: Nutrients (Journal) 2018
Editorial work: Data in Brief (Journal) 2018
Editorial work: Food Hydrocolloids (Journal) 2016
Editorial work: Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre (Journal) 2015
Invited talk: The role of hydrocolloids as dietary fibre and the influence on human health 2017
Oral presentation: Assessing the overall diet quality of 6 to 12-year-old Singaporean children 2019
Invited talk: Issues on Definition of Whole Grains and Dietary Fiber: Towards Harmonization in Southeast Asia 2019