Dr Rona Antoni
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Biography
I graduated from the Â鶹ÊÓƵ with a 1st class degree in BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Dietetics in 2012. After a year out working full time in the NHS as an acute dietitian, I was awarded the University's prize PhD studentship for nutritional science and undertook research investigating the metabolic effects of intermittent fasting with a specific focus on postprandial metabolism. Alongside my PhD, I continued to work part time in the NHS as a diabetes specialist dietitian.
I am currently a research fellow in nutritional metabolism primarily working on a large scale BBSRC funded study which aims to identify the biological mechanisms underlying the variability in LDL-cholesterol responses to saturated fat. During my research career, I have had the opportunity to lecture, work in TV, produce webinars, podcasts and I have presented my work both domestically and internationally.
I also work in the NHS as a diabetes specialist dietitian - a diverse role that primarily involves providing nutrition support to inpatients, the development of guidelines for inpatient diabetes management, student/staff training and I am the PI of a number of research/audit projects designed to evaluate and improve inpatient management.
Areas of specialism
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS:
- 2020: British Nutrition Foundation Early Career Researcher Award (Top 3)
- 2019: British Nutrition Foundation Early Career Researcher Award (Top 5)
- 2018: European Association for the Study of Obesity Best Thesis Award
- 2018: Paper of the month Nutrition Society
- 2016: Nutrition Society Postgraduate Award
- 2016: Clinical Nutrition Magazine Student of the Year (Short-list)
- 2015: Nutrition Society Best Presentation Award
- 2013: Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences) Prize PhD Studentship
INVITED PRESENTATIONS, WEBINARS AND PODCASTS
- Nutrition Society - Training Academy (2020): Intermittent fasting: effects on weight-loss and beyond (webinar)
- Association for the Study of Obesity UK - Novel dietary approaches symposium (2019): Intermittent fasting: weight-loss and beyond. Leeds, UK.
- Rhitrition Nutrition Podcast (2019): Why intermittent fasting is so popular. Available: ;
- Diabetes Association of America - Intermittent fasting symposium (2019): Metabolic effects of intermittent compared to continuous energy restriction. San Francisco, USA.
- Diabetes, Obesity and Cardiovascular Network of Dietitians of Canada (2019): Intermittent fasting (webinar).
- Diabetes UK (2019): Intermittent fasting: weight-loss and beyond. Liverpool, UK.
- Â鶹ÊÓƵ - MSc Nutritional Medicine (2019): Intermittent fasting: Facts and myths. Guildford, UK.
- European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) - Best Thesis Award (2018): Effects of intermittent fasting: weight-loss and beyond. Vienna, Austria.
- Nutrition Society - Postgraduate Prize Symposium (2016): Metabolic effects of intermittent fasting. Dublin, Ireland.
- York Festival of Ideas - Sleep, Clocks and Health Alarms (2016): Effects of time-restricted feeding on body weight and metabolism: evidence from rodent and human studies. York, UK.
- Nutrition Society (2015): Acute effects of intermittent energy restriction on postprandial metabolism. London, UK.
- British Dietetic Association - Consolidating Practice in Diabetes course (2014): Role of weight management in diabetes. Guildford, UK.
- British Dietetic Association - Consolidating Practice in Diabetes course (2014): Non-insulin therapies in diabetes. Guildford, UK.
ResearchResearch interests
My PhD research investigated the short and longer term metabolic effects of intermittent fasting, encompassing intermittent energy restriction (e.g. the 5:2 diet) and time-restricted feeding (TRF). I also conducted the first study of 5:2 within a 'real life' NHS weight-management service. I now consult and provide scientific expertise for intermittent fasting research projects within both clinical and research settings.
I am currently working on a large scale BBSRC funded study which aims to identify the biological mechanisms underlying the variability in LDL-cholesterol responses to saturated fat: . To elucidate these mechanisms the study will implement measures of changes in intestinal absorption (stable isotopes), gut permeability (absorption/recovery of 51Cr-EDTA probe), expression of LDL-receptors (PBMC by PCR), serum deconjugated bile acids (targeted UPLC-MS) and gut microbiota (ISH, NGS & CLS genomics). Moreover, the study aims to apply metabolomic techniques in an attempt to identify serum biomarkers of these metabolic differences that can be used to predict an individual's responsiveness to saturated fat.
In the NHS, I am the PI for a number of research/audit projects designed to evaluate and improve inpatient diabetes services.
Research interests
My PhD research investigated the short and longer term metabolic effects of intermittent fasting, encompassing intermittent energy restriction (e.g. the 5:2 diet) and time-restricted feeding (TRF). I also conducted the first study of 5:2 within a 'real life' NHS weight-management service. I now consult and provide scientific expertise for intermittent fasting research projects within both clinical and research settings.
I am currently working on a large scale BBSRC funded study which aims to identify the biological mechanisms underlying the variability in LDL-cholesterol responses to saturated fat: . To elucidate these mechanisms the study will implement measures of changes in intestinal absorption (stable isotopes), gut permeability (absorption/recovery of 51Cr-EDTA probe), expression of LDL-receptors (PBMC by PCR), serum deconjugated bile acids (targeted UPLC-MS) and gut microbiota (ISH, NGS & CLS genomics). Moreover, the study aims to apply metabolomic techniques in an attempt to identify serum biomarkers of these metabolic differences that can be used to predict an individual's responsiveness to saturated fat.
In the NHS, I am the PI for a number of research/audit projects designed to evaluate and improve inpatient diabetes services.