Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Simpson Richard John

Simpson Richard John, PhD
Department of Health and Human Performance
University of Houston, UK

Biography

Dr Simpson is an Assistant Professor in Exercise Physiology and Immunology at the University of Houston. He completed his BSc in Exercise Physiology and his PhD in Immunology at Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland, UK. He is a member of the International Society for Exercise and Immunology (ISEI), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society (PNIRS). Dr Simpson has served as an expert reviewer for most of the leading journals in exercise physiology and psychoneuroimmunology and is a guest editor for Brain, Behavior and Immunity. Among his research interests are how ageing, physical exercise and persistent viral infections affect the immune system. Currently, Dr Simpson is investigating how physical exercise can be used to negate the onset of immunosenescence and improve immune responses to antigenic challenge (i.e. vaccination) in elderly humans. His current research work is funded by NASA and the Texas Institute for Rehabilitation Research (TIRR).

Research Interest

Immune responses to acute stress and physical exercise The impact of ageing and persistent viral infections on the human immune system Immunological changes in response to microgravity and spaceflight T-cell responses to adrenergic stimulation Immunoendocrine responses to neurological impairment Physiological demands of backpack load-carriage in Special Forces soldiers