The Faculty hosted an engaging Science Café, moderated by PhD candidate Liam O'Brien, on April 15, 2025.
The discussion explored the science behind nutritional strategies that optimize exercise performance, improve recovery, and promote long-term health outcomes. Topics included the latest research and specific nutritional interventions designed to enhance strength, endurance, and overall exercise efficiency.
Panelists
- Robert Bentley is an assistant professor of cardiovascular physiology in U of T's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. His overarching research goal is to is to understand how individuals match oxygen delivery to oxygen demand to help inform strategies and interventions to improve exercise performance, exercise tolerance and quality of life across the health spectrum.
- Jenna Gillen is an assistant professor of exercise physiology in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education at U of T. Her research program aims to advance understanding of how exercise and nutrition influence whole-body and skeletal muscle substrate metabolism in humans.
- Ira Jacobs is a professor of exercise physiology and former dean of U of T's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. His research interests include performance enhancement through pharmacological, physiological, and nutritional manipulation of metabolism, the physiological responses to physical exertion in environmental extremes, and energy metabolism.
- Daniel Moore is a professor of muscle physiology at U of T's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. His research interests include muscle protein metabolism, musculoskeletal health with exercise and disuse, sports nutrition, training adaptations and muscle stem cell regulation.
- Liam O’Brien is a former national team kayaker and current third year PhD candidate under the supervision of Ira Jacobs. Liam’s research interests include neurophysiological mechanisms responsible for the perceptions of strain during exercise, and integrative physiological approaches to performance enhancement.