Professor Frank Thies

Biography

Frank Thies graduated in animal Physiology from the University of Burgundy (France) in 1987 before undertaking a PhD in Nutritional Physiology, also at the University of Burgundy and awarded in 1991. Dr Thies then completed a 3 year Postdoctoral Fellowship at the National Institute of Health (Bethesda, USA) before joining Prof Philip Calder's group within the Department of Biochemistry at Oxford University. In 1998, he moved to the University of Southampton before taking a lecturer position in Human Nutrition  at the University of Aberdeen in 2001. Dr Thies was then promoted to Senior lecturer in 2005, and Reader in  2013.  

Research Overview

  

My research interests mainly relate to the influence of various dietary components on cardiovascular function and cardiovascular risk, with particular emphasis being placed on the role of inflammatory processes. My research activities include relatively large as well as pilot intervention studies in healthy individuals and patients, supported by in vitro work for the mechanistic aspects. Other current projects relates to identifying methods for  beneficially changing eating behaviour in low income populations via social prescribing, in order to reduce health inequalities.

Funding and Grants

Grant income since 2005: >£4millions

2004-2007- PhD scholarship, Food Standard Agency (G Duthie, F Thies)

2005-2007- Effect of n-3 PUFA on platelet activation, markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with peripheral arterial disease, British Heart foundation, (J Brittenden, F. Thies, I. Ford, M. Greaves)

2005-2008- Effect of whole grain food on CVD risk markers, Food Standard Agency,  (F Thies, G. Duthie, J. Brittenden)

2006- Diet, aspirin and platelets aggregation in patients with peripheral arterial disease NHS Grampian Endowments (J Brittenden, F Thies)

2007-2010- Tomato, lycopene, and CVD risk, Food Standard Agency, (F Thies, G. Duthie, L Masson)

2008-2009- Development of a method to measure methylated  derivatives of arginine in plasma , Development Trust, (F. Thies, J. Brittenden, G. Cameron)

2007-2009- Imaging atherosclerotic plaque inflammation with flurodeoxyglucose positron emisson tomography and CT angiography TMRI Ltd (J Brittenden, K Cassar, F Thies)

2008-2011- Effect of 1 year vitamin D intervention on risk of cardiovascular disease: a randomized controlled trial at 57ºN, Food Standard Agency (H MacDonald, F Thies, A Mavroiedi, D Reid)

2008-2009- In Vivo 18-FDG PET Imaging and Atherosclerotic Plaque Inflammatory Biomarkers in Mouse Model of Atherosclerosis- A Randomized Controlled Trial TMRI Ltd (J Brittenden, S Shaikh, G Small, H Wilson , A Welch, F Thies, P Brown)

2009-2012- A comprehensive longitudinal study of diet and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation in a well-characterized population of postmenopausal women Food Standard Agency (H MacDonald, F Thies,  D Reid, G Duthie)

2010- Fish oil supplementation and immune function and inflammatory responses to exerciseTenovus Scotland (S Gray, F Thies)

2011-2012-Development of novel DDAH inhibitors for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases SULSA Pooling network  (A Mangoni, I Creig, F Thies , P Teismann, M Zanda)   

2011-2012-Dimethylarginine dimethylamino hydrolase (DDAH) modulation as a potential therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s disease:a pilot study. Alzeihmer’s research trust  (A Mangoni, F Thies, R Soiza)

2011-2012- Can ADMA predict cognitive decline? NHS Grampian endowments (A Mangoni, R Soiza, F Thies)

2011-2015- Strategic partnership on food and drink science, Scottish Government (K Scott, F Thies, M Frenneaux)

2016-2018- Muscle fat compartments and turnover as a determinant of insulin sensitivity. British heart Foundation (D Dawson, M Delibegovic, F Thies)

2017-2018- DHA supplementation as a treatment for ischaemic stroke (DASTIS). NHS Grampian Endowment (MJ MacLeod, M. J. & F Thies)

2018-2022-Modelling individual responses to healthier diets and new ways to quantify the importance of physiology and behaviour for successful dietary changes. BBSRC database 39358/Unilever studentship, BBSRC (B de Roos & F Thies)

2018-2022- Modelling individual responses to healthier diets and new ways to quantify the importance of physiology and behaviour for successful dietary changes. BBSRC database 39364/Unilever studentship, Unilever R&D/Vlaardingen  (B de Roos & F Thies)

2018-2022- Using wearable technology to optimise timing of concomitant metformin and exercise prescription. NHS Grampian Endowments (B Gabriel, F Thies, S Philips)

2021-2022- Newton fund: exploitation of mesquite tree as a sustainable source of food with high nutritional and economicl value in the mezquital valley, Hidalgo. British Council, Newton Fund (F Thies, W Russel, N Hoggard, V Raikos)               

Teaching Responsibilities

Teaching of nutritional physiology and biochemistry at undergraduate (exercise physiology (year 3) and year1 MBChB (year 1) and postgraduate level (MSc Human nutrition and MSc cardiovascular and diabetes).

MSc Human Nutrition & Metabolism programme coordinator 2001-2007

MSc Molecular Nutrition course coordinator  2010-2014

MSC Metabolic nutrition course coordinator 2014

MSc Human Nutrition Research project course coordinator 2015-2017

MSc Assessment of nutritional status course coordinator 2018-present

Teaching Lead, Rowett Institute (2022-)