Skip navigation

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.

Iain Brownlee

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.

  • 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

  • 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

Katie Boulton Informing solution to diet and lifestyle management of reflux-associated upper gut symptoms. Start Date: 01/10/2022

  • Teaching & Learning PGCert September 30 2211
  • Member Physiological Society 2019


a sign in front of a crowd
+

Northumbria Open Days

Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.

Research at Northumbria
+

Research at Northumbria

Research is the life blood of a University and at Northumbria University we pride ourselves on research that makes a difference; research that has application and affects people's lives.

NU World
+

Explore NU World

Find out what life here is all about. From studying to socialising, term time to downtime, we’ve got it covered.


Latest News and Features

AHRC banner, showing different people involved doing different activites.
Relief workers walking through rubble in the aftermath of a storm in North Africa.
£1 million funding award supports leading new medical research at Northumbria University
a photo of monsoon rain in a mountainous location
Norman Franklin and Dr Jane Greaves in the OSCE test centre at Northumbria University
More news
More events

Upcoming events

Some prickly Predicaments in Sonification
The Quorn Story

Back to top