Dr Kimberly Ashdown
Research Fellow - Occupational Performance Research Group
About
Having obtained both her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at Chichester, Kimberly also completed her PhD here. Kimberly’s PhD considered the use of hypoxia combined with prescribed exercise for weight loss in obese humans. Since graduating, Kimberly has joined the Occupational Performance Research group at the University to aid in the development of Physical Employment Standards for Military Personnel.
Kimberly has conducted laboratory and field based studies in the UK and around the world at high altitude destinations, with the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society, including South America and the Italian and Swiss Alps. She is currently in preparation for the next research expedition to the Himalayas.
Professional
Education
2014 – 2018 University of Chichester, PhD Exercise Physiology
2011 – 2012 University of Chichester, MSc Sport and Exercise Physiology
2008 – 2011 University of Chichester, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
Teaching
Sport and Exercise in Extreme Environments (undergraduate)
Professional Practice in Sport and Exercise Physiology and Nutrition (postgraduate)
Key Publications
Publications
Journal articles
Joyce KE, Ashdown K, Lewis CT, Bradley C, Letchford A, Lucas RAI, Malein W, Thomas O, Bradwell AR and Lucas SJE. Overnight and early-morning peripheral oxygenation are not the same during ascent to altitude. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine High Altitude Medicine Biology 2022; 23:69–77
Lucas SJE, Malein WL, Thomas OD, Ashdown KM, Rue CA, Joyce KE, Newman C, Cadigan P, Johnson B, Myers SD, Myers FA, Wright AD, Delamere JP, Imray CHE, Bradwell AR and Edsell M. Effects of losartan on performance and physiological responses to exercise at high altitude 5035 m. BMJ Open Sport Exercise Medicine 2021 7: p. e000982-e000982
Joyce KE, Delamere JP, Bradley C, Ashdown K, Lucas RAI, Thomas O, Lock H, Malein W, Letchford A, Bradwell AR, Lucas SJE, and the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society. Nocturnal saturation variance is related to Lake Louise Scores during ascent to 4,800 m. High Altitude Medicine & Biology. 2021; 22(4): A2, pA-2. DOI: 10.1089/ham.2021.29024.abstracts
Joyce KE, Delamere J, Bradwell S, Myers SD, Ashdown K, Rue C, Lucas SJE, Thomas OD, Fountain A, Edsell M, Myers F, Malein W, Imray C, Clarke A, Lewis CT, Newman C, Johnson B, Cadigan P, Wright A and Bradwell AR. Hypoxia is not the primary mechanism contributing to exercise-induced proteinuria. BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine 2020; 6:e000662. Doi 0.1136/bmjsem-2019-000662
Lee, B., Hiles, A., Willems, M., Kuennen, M., Ashdown, K., Costello, R., Wheeler, L., Walker, E. & Flood, T. (2019) Dietary supplementation with New Zealand blackcurrant extract enhances fat oxidation during submaximal exercise in the heat. Journal of Medicine and Science in Sport [under review].
Bradwell, A., Ashdown, K., Gallagher, C., Delamere, J., Thomas, O., et al. (2016). Acetazolamide reduces exercise capacity at 4559m on Monte Rosa. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. bioRxiv, 105726.
Edsell, M.E., Wimalasena, Y.H., Malein, W.L., Ashdown, K.M., Gallagher, C.A., et al. (2014). High-intensity intermittent exercise increases pulmonary interstitial edema at altitude but not at simulated altitude. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, 25(4), 409-415.
Bradwell, AR. Myers, SD. Beazley, M. Ashdown, K. Harris, NG. Bradwell, SB. Goodhart, J. Imray, CHE. Wimalasena, Y. Edsell, M. Wright, AD. Harris, SJ. and the Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society (2014). Adverse effect of acetazolamide on exercise at altitude (3,459m). Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 35: 272-277.
Peer reviewed presentations (selected)
Lee, B. Flood, T. Hiles, A. Walker, E. Wheeler, L. Ashdown, K. Willems, M. Kuennen, M. (2019). New Zealand blackcurrant extract increases circulating HSP32 and HSP90α but doesn’t affect circulating HSP72. Abstract accepted for the Annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Orlando, USA.
Lee, B. Flood, T. Hiles, A. Wheeler, L. Costello, R. Walker, E. Ashdown, K. Kuennen, M. Willems, M. (2018). New Zealand Blackcurrant extract enhances fat oxidation during submaximal exercise in the heat. International Sports Exercise and Nutrition Conference, Newcastle, UK.
Myers, SD, Lucas, S. Ashdown, K. Malein, W. Thomas, OD.4, Edsell M. Ladha, C. Bradwell, AR. Wright, A. Gallagher, C. (2017). Losartan Does Not Affect Maximal Exercise Performance at High Altitude (5000 m). Abstract accepted for the 64th Annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, Denver, USA
Gallagher, C. Ashdown, K. Lucas, S. Ladha, C. Wright, A. Edsell, M. Malein, W. Thomas O. Bradwell, A. Myers, S. (2016). Losartan does not affect exercise performance at altitude (5000m) Altitude Research Conference Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society, Birmingham, UK.
Lucas, S. Newman, C. Cadigan, P. Johnson, B. Wright, A. Edsell, M. Ashdown, K. Gallagher, C. Myers, S. Bradwell A. (2016). Effect of losartan on blood pressure during rest and exercise at 5000m. Altitude Research Conference Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society, Birmingham, UK.
Ashdown, K. Wright, A. Myers, SD. (2013). The tortoise & the hare hypothesis or is a slow steady plod better than rushing & resting. Altitude Research Conference Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society, Birmingham, UK.
Myers, SD. Ashdown, K. & Wright, A. (2011). Assessment of the efficiency of two high-altitude walking strategies in humans. The Physiological Society Annual meeting, Oxford, UK.
Ashdown, K. & Myers, SD. (2011) Assessment of the efficiency of two strategies for high-altitude trekking: Slow plod vs. rush and rest. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Student Conference University of Chester.
Research
Research Interests
Kimberly has research interests in the following areas:
- Exercise in extreme environments
- Exercise responses in hypoxia
- Applied and Occupational Physiology
- Obesity
Memberships
Birmingham Medical Research Expeditionary Society
Research Output
Articles
Walker, F. S., Needham-Beck, S., Vine, C., Blacker, S. D., Greenlees, I. A., Sharpe, B. T., Siddall, A. G., Maroni, T. D., Ashdown, K., Hinde, K., Elliott, E., Rayson, M. P., Knight, E. and Myers, S. D. (2024) External workload and cognitive performance of a tactical military scenario-based field exercise. BMJ Military Health. pp. 1-23. ISSN 2633-3767 10.1136/military-2024-002672
Rue, C. A., Myers, S. D., Coakley, S. L., Ashdown, K., Lee, B. J., Hale, B. J., Siddall, A. G., Needham-Beck, S., Hinde, K., Osofa, J. I., Walker, F. S., Fieldhouse, A., Vine, C., Doherty, J., Flood, T. R., Walker, E. F., Wardle, S. L., Greeves, J. P. and Blacker, S. D. (2023) Changes in Physical Performance during British Army Junior Entry, British Army Standard Entry, and Royal Air Force Basic Training. Changes in Physical Performance during British Army Junior Entry, British Army Standard Entry, and Royal Air Force Basic Training. ISSN 2633-3775 10.1136/military-2022-002285
Lee, B. J., Flood, T. R., Hiles, A., Walker, E. F., Wheeler, L., Ashdown, K., Willems, M. E. T., Costello, R., Greisler, L., Romano, P., Hill, G. and Kuennen, M.R. (2022) Anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract preserves gastrointestinal barrier permeability and reduces enterocyte damage but has no effect on microbial translocation and inflammation after exertional heat stress. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 32 (4). pp. 265-274. ISSN 1543-2742 10.1123/ijsnem.2021-0330
Lucas, S. J. E., Malein, W. L., Thomas, O. D., Ashdown, K., Rue, C. A., Joyce, K. E., Newman, C., Cadigan, P., Johnson, B., Myers, S. D., Myers, F. A., Wright, A. D., Delamere, J., Imray, C. H. E., Bradwell, A. R. and Edsell, M. (2021) Effect of losartan on performance and physiological responses to exercise at high altitude (5035 m). BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 7 (1). ISSN 2055-7647 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000982
Joyce, K. E., Delamere, J., Bradwell, S. B., Myers, S. D., Ashdown, K., Rue, C. A., Lucas, S. J. E., Thomas, O. D., Fountain, A., Edsell, M. R., Myers, F., Malein, W., Imray, C., Clarke, A., Lewis, C. T., Newman, C., Johnson, B., Cadigan, P., Wright, A. and Bradwell, A. (2020) Hypoxia is not the primary mechanism contributing to exercise-induced proteinuria. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6 (1). ISSN 2055-7647 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000662
Hiles, A., Flood, T. R., Lee, B. J., Wheeler, L., Costello, R., Walker, E. F., Ashdown, K., Kuennen, M.R. and Willems, M. E. T. (2020) Dietary supplementation with New Zealand blackcurrant extract enhances fat oxidation during submaximal exercise in the heat. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 23 (10). pp. 908-912. ISSN 1440-2440 10.1016/j.jsams.2020.02.017
Myers, S. D., Bradwell, A. R., Ashdown, K., Rue, C. A., Delamere, J., Thomas, O. D., Lucas, S. J. E., Wright, A. D. and Harris, S. J. (2018) Acetazolamide reduces exercise capacity following a 5-day ascent to 4559 m in a randomised study. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 4 (1). pp. 1-7. ISSN 2055-7647 10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000302
Edsell, M. R., Wimalasena, Y., Malein, W., Ashdown, K., Gallagher, C. A., Imray, C. H. E., Wright, A. D. and Myers, S. D. (2014) High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise Increases Pulmonary Interstitial Edema at Altitude but not at Simulated Altitude. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, 25 (4). pp. 409-415. ISSN 1080-6032 10.1016/j.wem.2014.06.016
Bradwell, A. R., Myers, S. D., Beazley, M., Ashdown, K., Harris, N. G., Bradwell, S. B., Goodhart, J., Imray, C. H., Wimalasena, Y., Edsell, M. R., Pattinson, K. T. S., Wright, A. D. and Harris, S. J. (2014) Exercise Limitation of Acetazolamide at Altitude (3459 m). Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, 25 (3). pp. 272-277. ISSN 1080-6032 10.1016/j.wem.2014.04.003
Conference or Workshop Items
Willems, M. E. T., Hiles, A., Flood, T. R., Wheeler, L., Costello, R., Walker, E. F., Ashdown, K., Kuennen, M.R. and Lee, B. J. (2022) Anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant extract reduces running-induced gastro-intestinal symptoms in the heat. In: International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference 19th Annual Conference and Expo, 16-18 June 2022, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
