Dr Ash Willmott

Dr Willmott is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Research at the Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences (CCSES).

Ash is a BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist, Lab Director and Chair of the Climate Change Action Team (CCAT). He is also a Course Leader, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and a trustee for the altitude awareness charity, Para-Monte.

[email protected]

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Background

Ash joined the Sport and Exercise Science (SES) team at ARU in 2019 and teaches across all levels of our SES related courses.

With over ten years experience in SES, in particular the physiological responses within environmental extremes, Ash has worked at various institutions including the University of Brighton (where he completed his PhD and BSc), Westminster and Roehampton.

Ash has published over 40 peer-reviewed research articles in the field of exercise and environmental physiology, and regularly presents his work at national and international conferences.

Ash specialises in the understanding of human responses and adaptations to extreme environmental conditions, specifically heat stress and altitude exposure.

He is also a trustee for an altitude awareness charity, Para-Monte, where he is continuing his commitment with ongoing knowledge exchange, translation of research and educational services relating to the susceptibility to altitude illness, with a range of populations, charities and organisations.

Ash has worked with many elite athletes in their preparation for performance in extreme environments and collaborates with national and international sports institutes.

Research interests

• Optimising health and well-being with traditional and alternate heat therapy strategies/techniques
• Heat acclimation and pre-cooling strategies for occupation and sports performance
• Gut health during exercise in heat stress: causes and potential alleviation strategies
• Quantifying the energy expenditure within alternate sports and physical activities
• Altitude illness and educational awareness for Para-Monte

Areas of research supervision

Current PhD supervision

Ollie Jones - Understanding the contributing factors to, and prevalence of injury in professional league 1 footballers

Thomas Hall - Establishing a sport-specific, evidence-based classification system for golfers with a vision impairment

Matthew Slater - Pace selection and fatigue resistance: Analysing pacing in the marathon

Joseph Lillis - The impact of a hydroxytyrosol rich phytocomplex on inflammatory mediators and functional mobility in an adult population

David Whitelock - A holistic plan for marathon training support

Jorge Pinto - Explore the effects of Herring Roe-derived Omega-3 phospholipids on exercise metabolism, performance, and recovery

Dakota De Roeck - Hypoxia and human health

Teaching

BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science 

BSc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning with Rehabilitation 

BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching and Physical Education 

BSc (Hons) Coaching for Performance in Football 

BSc (Hons) Coaching for Development in Football

MSc Sport and Exercise Science

Qualifications

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
• PhD in Sport and Exercise Science - Physiology, University of Brighton - “Quantifying heat acclimation state & refining heat acclimation protocols to optimise heat adaptations”
• BSc (Hons.) in Sport and Exercise Science (1st Class), University of Brighton
• British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) Physiology Accreditation, University of Brighton
• Sport and Exercise Chartered Scientist (CSci) Accreditation, University of Brighton
• Teaching and Learning Certificate in Higher Education, University of Brighton

Memberships, editorial boards

Physiological Society

British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES)

Environmental Extremes Laboratory (EEL)

Chair of the Climate Change Action Team (CCAT)

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

Research Funding:

• Para-Monte Altitude Charity: Acute mountain sickness research and education awareness.
• BodyChilz Ltd.: CAERvest® safety and efficacy.
• UK National Fire Service: UK fire instructor health.

 

Consultancy:

• Sport and Exercise Science Consultancy Unit (SESCU) officer
• Centrica Energy: Environmental extreme support for Kilimanjaro.
• MicroScooter®: Energy expenditure associated of MicroScooter®.
• UNA Health Medicine: FieldWiz GPS validity and reliability.
• Extreme Environmental Support: Marathon des Sables, Greenland expedition, Hampshire scouts Antarctica 2018

Selected recent publications

Roberts, J. D., Lillis, J. B., Pinto, J. M., Chichger, H., López-Samanes, Á., Coso, J. D., & Willmott, A. G. (2023). The Effect of a Hydroxytyrosol-Rich, Olive-Derived Phytocomplex on Aerobic Exercise and Acute Recovery. Nutrients, 15(2), 421.

Roberts, J., Dugdale-Duwell, D., Lillis, J., Pinto, J. M., Willmott, A., Yeshurun, S., ... & Souren, T. (2023). The efficacy of a home-use metabolic device (Lumen) in response to a short-term low and high carbohydrate diet in healthy volunteers. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 20(1), 2185537.

Zenk, F., Willmott, A. G., Fortin-Guichard, D., Austick, K., Mann, D. L., Winckler, C., & Allen, P. M. (2023). The profile of athletes with a vision impairment: Exploring demographics and ocular pathologies of athletes in three Paralympic sports. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Zenk, F., Willmott, A. G., Mann, D. L., & Allen, P. M. (2023). The impact of running with and without a guide on short distance running performance for athletes with a vision impairment. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Roberts, D., Lillis, J., Pinto, J., Willmott, A., Gautam, L., Davies, V., López-Samanes, A., Del Coso, J., and Chichger, H. (2022). The Impact of a Natural Olive-Derived Phytocomplex (OliPhenolia®) on Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress in Healthy Adults. Nutrients 14, no. 23 (2022): 5156.

Mark A Faghy, Thomas Maden-Wilkinson, Ross Arena, Robert J Copeland, Rebecca Owen, Henry Hodgkins & Ash Willmott (2022) COVID-19 patients require multi-disciplinary rehabilitation approaches to address persisting symptom profiles and restore pre-COVID quality of life. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2022.2063843.

James, C. A., Gibson, O. R., Willmott, A. G., Stewart, C., & Dhawan, A. (2022). Relationships between opponent ranking and locomotor activity in international field hockey. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 17479541221131773.

Walter, E., W Watt, P., Gibson, O. R., Wilmott, A. G., Mitchell, D., Moreton, R., & Maxwell, N. S. (2021). Exercise hyperthermia induces greater changes in gastrointestinal permeability than equivalent passive hyperthermia. Physiological Reports, 9(16), e14945.

James, C. A., Willmott, A. G., Dhawan, A., Stewart, C., & Gibson, O. R. (2022). Increased air temperature decreases high-speed, but not total distance, in international field hockey. Temperature, 9(4), 357-372.

James, C. A., Gibson, O. R., Dhawan, A., Stewart, C., & Willmott, A. G. (2021). Volume and intensity of locomotor activity in international men’s field hockey matches over a two-year period. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, 108.

Roberts, J. D., Willmott, A. G., Beasley, L., Boal, M., Davies, R., Martin, L., ... & Del Coso, J. (2021). The Impact of Decaffeinated Green Tea Extract on Fat Oxidation, Body Composition and Cardio-Metabolic Health in Overweight, Recreationally Active Individuals. Nutrients, 13(3), 764.

Pinto, J. M., Merzbach, V., Willmott, A. G., Antonio, J., & Roberts, J. (2020). Assessing the impact of a mushroom-derived food ingredient on vitamin D levels in healthy volunteers. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 17(1), 1-10.

Willmott, A.G., Holliss, R., Saynor, Z., Corbett, J., Causer, A.J. and Maxwell, N.S., 2020. Heat acclimation improves sweat gland function and lowers sweat sodium concentration in an adult with cystic fibrosis. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis.

Willmott, A.G., Hayes, M., James, C.A., Gibson, O.R. and Maxwell, N.S., 2020. Heat acclimation attenuates the increased sensations of fatigue reported during acute exercise-heat stress. Temperature, 7(2), pp.178-190.

Gibson, O.R., James, C.A., Mee, J.A., Willmott, A.G., Turner, G., Hayes, M. and Maxwell, N.S., 2020. Heat alleviation strategies for athletic performance: a review and practitioner guidelines. Temperature, 7(1), pp.3-36.

Pinto, J.M., Merzbach, V., Willmott, A.G., Antonio, J. and Roberts, J., 2020. Assessing the impact of a mushroom-derived food ingredient on vitamin D levels in healthy volunteers. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 17(1), pp.1-10.

Willmott, A., & Maxwell, N., (2019). The metabolic and physiological responses to scootering exercise in a field-setting. Journal of Transport & Health, 13, 26-32.

Relf, R., Willmott, A., Flint, M. S., Beale, L., & Maxwell, N. (2019). Reliability of a wearable sweat rate monitor and routine sweat analysis techniques under heat stress in females. Journal of thermal biology, 79, 209-217.

Willmott, A.G.B., Hayes, M., James, C. A., Dekerle, J., Gibson, O. R., & Maxwell, N. S. (2018). Once‐and twice‐daily heat acclimation confer similar heat adaptations, inflammatory responses and exercise tolerance improvements. Physiological reports, 6(24), e13936.

Willmott, A.G.B., James, C., Bliss, A., Leftwich, R., & Maxwell, N. (2018). A comparison of two global positioning system devices for team-sport running protocols. Journal of Biomechanics. 83, 324-332

Willmott, A.G.B., James, C., Gibson, O., Hayes, M. & Maxwell, N. (2018). The physiological and perceptual responses of restrictive heat loss attire in hot and temperate conditions. Temperature. 5:2, 162-174.

Willmott, A.G., Bliss, A., Simpson, W.H., Tocker, S.M., Cottingham, R. and Maxwell, N.S. (2018). CAERvest®–a novel endothermic hypothermic device for core temperature cooling: safety and efficacy testing. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics, 24(1), pp.118-128.

Holland, L., Willmott, A.G.B., Gibson, O., Maxwell, N. & Hayes, M. (2018). Repeatedly training in a sauna suit induces similar magnitudes of physiological and perceptual adaptations to chamber-based heat acclimation protocol. Graduate Journal of Sport, Exercise & Physical Education Research. Vol. 8, Suppl.1: S1-S135

James, C.A., Richardson, A.J., Watt, P.W., Willmott, A.G., Gibson, O.R. and Maxwell, N.S., (2018). Short-Term Heat Acclimation and Precooling, Independently and Combined, Improve 5-km Time Trial Performance in the Heat. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 32(5), pp.1366-1375.

Relf, R., Willmott, A., Mee, J., Gibson, O., Saunders, A., Hayes, M. and Maxwell, N., (2018). Females exposed to 24 h of sleep deprivation do not experience greater physiological strain, but do perceive heat illness symptoms more severely, during exercise-heat stress. Journal of sports sciences, 36(3), pp.348-355.

Gibson, O.R., Willmott, A.G., James, C.A., Hayes, M. and Maxwell, N.S., (2017). Power relative to body mass best predicts change in core temperature during exercise-heat stress. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 31(2), pp.403-414.

James, C.A., Hayes, M., Willmott, A.G., Gibson, O.R., Flouris, A.D., Schlader, Z.J. and Maxwell, N.S., (2017). Defining the determinants of endurance running performance in the heat. Temperature, 4(3), pp.314-329.

Waldock, K., Willmott, A., Relf, R., Hayes, M. & Maxwell, N. (2017). The validity and reliability of a new questionnaire for the detection of heat illness susceptibility. Graduate Journal of Sport, Exercise & Physical Education Research.

Willmott, A., James, C., Gibson, O., Hayes, M. & Maxwell, N. (2017). Long-term heat acclimation improves heart rate recovery when completed once, but not twice daily. Graduate Journal of Sport, Exercise & Physical Education Research.

Willmott, A.G., Hayes, M., Waldock, K.A., Relf, R.L., Watkins, E.R., James, C.A., Gibson, O.R., Smeeton, N.J., Richardson, A.J., Watt, P.W. and Maxwell, N.S., (2017). Short-term heat acclimation prior to a multi-day desert ultra-marathon improves physiological and psychological responses without compromising immune status. Journal of sports sciences, 35(22), pp.2249-2256.

James, C.A., Willmott, A.G., Richardson, A.J., Watt, P.W. and Maxwell, N.S., (2016). Ischaemic preconditioning does not alter the determinants of endurance running performance in the heat. European journal of applied physiology, 116(9), pp.1735-1745.

James, C.A., Richardson, A.J., Watt, P.W., Willmott, A.G., Gibson, O.R. and Maxwell, N.S., (2016). Short-term heat acclimation improves the determinants of endurance performance and 5-km running performance in the heat. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 42(3), pp.285-294.

Watt, P.W., Willmott, A.G., Maxwell, N.S., Smeeton, N.J., Watt, E. and Richardson, A.J., (2016). Physiological and psychological responses in Fire Instructors to heat exposures. Journal of thermal biology, 58, pp.106-114.

Willmott, A.G.B., Gibson, O.R., Hayes, M. and Maxwell, N.S., (2016). The effects of single versus twice daily short term heat acclimation on heat strain and 3000 m running performance in hot, humid conditions. Journal of thermal biology, 56, pp.59-67.

Willmott, A.G.B., Hayes, M., Dekerle, J. and Maxwell, N.S., (2015). The reliability of a heat acclimation state test prescribed from metabolic heat production intensities. Journal of thermal biology, 53, pp.38-45.

Book chapter:

Maxwell, N., James, C.A., and Willmott, A.G.B. (2022). Chapter: Performing in the heat. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES) Sport and Exercise Physiology Testing Guidelines: Volume I - Sport Testing. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003045281-68/performing-heat-neil-maxwell-carl-james-ash-willmott

Commissioned Scientific Reports:

Firefighters Heat Exposure: Considerations for Preparation, Recovery and Heat Illnesses - Alan Richardson, Mark Hayes, Emily Watkins, Ashley Willmott, Rebecca Relf, Peter Watt

English Institute of Sport: Tokyo 2020 Heat Resource Pack - Neil Maxwell (Editor), Mark Hayes, Benedict Duncan, Matthew Debney, Alex Bliss, Bill Norton, Alan Richardson, Peter Watt, Gareth Turner, Kirsty Waldock, Emily Watkins, Rebecca Relf, Oliver Gibson, Ashley Willmott, Carl James, Rosie Lewis, Jason Newbery, Richard Mackenzie, Jessica Mee, Gary Brickley, Nick Webborn.

Recent presentations and conferences

Scruton, A., Timmis, M., & Willmott, A. (2023). Climate Change & Sustainability: Shaping Practice Across the Sport and Exercise Science Sector. Higher Education SPort (HESP) Conference, Newcastle, 8th September 2023.

Willmott, A., Eichhorn, G., Swann, P., Richardson, A., Hayes, M., & Maxwell, N. (2023). The use of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) to screen for symptoms of acute mountain sickness & predict susceptibility during a long-term exposure in normobaric hypoxia. European College of Sport Science (ECSS). Paris 4-7th July 2023.

Hodgkins, H., Faghy, M., Madden-Wilkinson, T., Owen, R., Willmott, A. (2023). The impact of Long-COVID on patient breathlessness and sleep quality in community settings. Association for Respiratory Technology & Physiology (ARTP) Annual Conference, Brighton, 16-17th March 2023.

Zenk, F., Willmott, AGB., Fortin-Guichard, D., Mann, DL., Allen, PM. (2023). A split decision based on vision: An empirical approach to classify athletes with a vision impairment competing in short-distance track athletics. BASES student conference, 23-24th April, ARU, Cambridge, UK.

Slater, M., Willmott, A., Gordon, D. (2023). Marathon pacing: even pacers think differently to those that slow. BASES student conference, 23-24th April, ARU, Cambridge, UK.

Slater, M., Willmott, A., Gordon, D. (2023). Factors influencing marathon performance and pacing outcome. BASES student conference, 23-24th April, ARU, Cambridge, UK.

Zenk, F., Allen, P., Willmott, A. & Mann, D. (2022). The impact of running with and without a guide on short distance running performance for athletes with a vision impairment. BASES student conference, 15-16th November, King Power Stadium, Leicester, UK.

Smith, A., Davis, A., Denis, R., Ellis, L., Garrett, A., Graves, L., Mears S., Zakrzewski-Fruer, J., Willmott, A., (2022). The Role of Scientific and Professional Bodies in Tackling Climate Change (BASES). Climate Conference. The UK pathway to net-zero. Science Council. 29th September, London, UK.

Willmott, A.G.B. (2020). The development and implementation of heat alleviation strategies to enhance athletic performance.. International Sports Medicine & Sports Science Conference 2020 by the Institut Sukan Negara | National Sports Institute. November 2020.

Willmott, A.G.B., Hayes, M., James, C. A., Gibson, O. R., & Maxwell, N. S. (2019). Heat acclimation attenuates the increased sensations of fatigue reported during acute exercise-heat stress. The 18th International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics (ICEE), Amsterdam, Netherlands, July 2019.

Holland, L., Willmott, A., Gibson, O., Maxwell, N. & Hayes, M. (2018). Repeatedly training in a sauna suit induces similar magnitudes of physiological and perceptual adaptations to chamber-based heat acclimation protocol. BASES conference, Newcastle, England, April 2018.

Willmott, A., James, C., Gibson, O., Mee, J., Hayes, M. & Maxwell, N. (2018). English Institute of Sport (EIS) Tokyo 2020 Heat Workshop. Bisham Abbey, England, March 2018

Willmott, A., James, C., Gibson, O., Hayes, M. & Maxwell, N. (2017). The efficacy of twice daily long-term heat acclimation on heat acclimation state, immune function and exercise tolerance. The 17th International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics (ICEE), Kobe, Japan, November 2017.

Willmott, A., James, C., Gibson, O., Hayes, M. & Maxwell, N. (2017). Long-term heat acclimation improves heart rate recovery when completed once, but not twice daily. BASES conference, Plymouth, England, April 2017.

Waldock, K., Willmott, A., Relf, R., Hayes, M. & Maxwell, N. (2017). The validity and reliability of a new questionnaire for the detection of heat illness susceptibility. BASES conference, Plymouth, England, April 2017.

Willmott, A., James, C., Gibson, O., Hayes, M. & Maxwell, N. (2016). The physiological and perceptual responses of restrictive heat loss attire in hot and temperate conditions. The 6th International Conference on the Physiology and Pharmacology of Temperature Regulation (PPTR), Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2016

Willmott, A.G.B., Bliss, A., Simpson, W.H., Tocker, S.M., Cottingham, R. & Maxwell, N.S. (2016). CAERvest® - A Novel Endothermic Hypothermic Device for Core Body Cooling – Safety and Efficacy Testing. Brighton & Sussex Centre for Medicines Optimisation Conference, Brighton, England, January 2016.

Media experience

Willmott, A. & Mee, J. 2023 Is hot yoga good for you? Exploring the science behind the sweat. Prasada Magazine, Japan

Willmott, A. & Mee, J. 2023 Is hot yoga good for you? Exploring the science behind the sweat. The China Review

Willmott, A. & Mee, J. 2023 Is hot yoga good for you? Exploring the science behind the sweat. The Conversation

Willmott, A., Gibson, O., & Roberts, J. 2022 Seven tips for exercising safely during a heatwave. The Conversation

New website for the altitude awareness charity, Para-Monte, and animated video explainer video that features our research, signs/symptoms of altitude illness and raises awareness/provide education to the general public and individuals visiting altitude. YouTube

Impact of MdS support 2020 - EEL Blog

Roberts, J., Willmott, A., & Gordon, D. 2020. ‘Fat burning zone’? The best way to exercise to burn fat’. The Conversation

Running in the Heat – Thermoregulation, Heat Stress & Heat Acclimation 2022. myRaceKit

Running in the Heat – Thermoregulation, Heat Stress & Heat Acclimation 2022. Ultra Coach

Heat Acclimation for Women 2022. Ultra Coach

How to Exercise in the Summer Heat 2021. New York Time

How Runners can Acclimate to Heat 2018. Ultra Coach

Heat Chamber Acclimation 2016. Ultra-Run