Dr Bryna Chrismas

Bryna completed her BSc (Sport, Health and Exercise Science; 1^st Class honours; 2008), MSc by research (Exercise Physiology & Biochemistry; 2011), and PhD (Exercise Physiology; 2013) at the University of Hull. In 2012, Bryna was appointed as Lecturer in Sport Science at the University of Derby. Bryna then went on to work at the University of Bedfordshire (2013-2015) as a Lecturer in Exercise Physiology, and course leader for the FD in Applied Sports Science & PE. She was also the Laboratory Director. In 2015 Bryna moved to Qatar to take up the role of Assistant Professor in Sport and Exercise Science at Qatar University. She was the Academic PLO coordinator for the Sport Science Program (2018-2021) and the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Leader of the Qatar Active Healthy Kids Report Card (2019-2021). Bryna was promoted to Associate Professor in 2021. In 2024 Bryna joined Loughborough University as a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology.

Bryna is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), accredited with the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES) and Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA), and a certified Health Mindset Coach.

Bryna’s research focusses on the importance of exercise and physical activity for females, from a health and performance perspective, including the removal of barriers which present for many sub-populations within this cohort. Related to a rapidly warming planet and sustainability more generally, Bryna has a keen passion and research interest in sustainable physical activity and high-performance sport. Whether that be sustainable materials for sporting apparel or facilitating training, performance and/or recreational pursuits within environmental extremes. Such hypothesis-driven research has directly informed policy and practice (e.g., Qatar National Physical Activity Guidelines and high-performance sport SOPs), most notably for men’s and women’s Olympic sports at Tokyo 2020. Within this elite performance focused research theme, a core pillar has been the influence of hot-humid environmental conditions on female athletes’ health and performance; a legacy of spending time in 55^oC Qatari summers. More generally, she has provided evidence-based solutions to the world’s best teams, athletes and practitioners across four continents.

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
• Accredited by the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES), and Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA)
• Health Mindset Coach
• Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) Level 2 Gym Instructor
• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PgCAP)
• ACSM International Relations Committee member (2020-2023)
• Co-chair of ACSM Physiological & biological mechanisms underlying health & performance interest group (2019-2023)
• Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Leader of the Qatar Active Healthy Kids Report Card (2019-2021)
• The Sport and Exercise Scientist (BASES) – Editorial advisor for Physical Activity for Health (2017-2021)
• BASES CPD representative for the Division of Physiology and Nutrition (2015)
• Applied elite athlete support and consultancy for a number of individual athletes and teams across the globe

• Chrismas, B.C.R., Majed, L., Al-Mohannadi, A.S., Sayegh, S. (2022). Adherence and retention to the self-managed community-based Step Into Health (SIH) program in Qatar (2012-2019). Frontiers in public health, 10, 927386. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.927386
• Chrismas, B., Hogben, P., Fletcher, I. (2020). Changes in peak force output, rate of force development and jumping performance over a full season in elite English rugby union players. Sport Performance & Science Reports. SPSR – 2020, Mar. 84 v1
• Chrismas, B.C.R., Majed, L., Kneffel, Z. (2019) Physical fitness and physical self-concept of male and female young adults in Qatar. PLOS ONE 14 (10). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223359
• Chrismas, B.C.R., Taylor, L., Cherif, A., Sayegh, S., Bailey, D.P. (2019). Breaking up prolonged sitting with moderate-intensity walking improves attention and executive function in Qatari females. PLOS ONE 14(7). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219565
• Chrismas, B.C.R., Taylor, L., Cherif, A., Sayegh, S., Rizk, N., El-Gamal, A., Allenjawi, S., Bailey, D.P. (2019). Postprandial insulin and triglyceride concentrations are suppressed in response to breaking up prolonged sitting in Qatari Females. Frontiers in Physiology. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00706
• Chrismas, B.C.R, Taylor, L., Thornton, H.R., Murray, A, Stark, G (2019). External training loads and smartphone derived heart rate variability indicate readiness to train in elite soccer. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport. DOI: 10.1080/24748668.2019.1578097.
• Alabdulwahed, S., Galán-López, N., Hill, T., James, L., Chrismas, B., Racinais, S., Stellingwerff, T.,  Leal, D., Hausen, M., Chamari, K., Fullagar, H., Esh, C., Taylor, L (2022). Heat Adaptation and Nutrition Practices: Athlete and Practitioner Knowledge and Use. International journal of sports physiology and performance, 17(7), 1011–1024. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2021-0462
• Esh, C.J., Chrismas, B.C.R., Mauger, A.R., Cherif, A., Molphy, J., Taylor, L. (2021). The influence of environmental and core temperature on cyclooxygenase (COX) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in healthy humans. Scientific Reports. 11:6531. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84563-5
• Esh, C.J., Chrismas, B.C.R., Mauger, A.R., Taylor, L. (2021) Pharmacological hypotheses: Is acetaminophen selective in its cyclooxygenase inhibition? Pharmacol Res Perspect. DOI: 10.1002/prp2.835
• Field, A., Harper, L.D., Chrismas, B.C.R., Fowler, P.M., McCall, A., Paul, D.J., Chamari, K., Taylor, L. (2021). The use of recovery strategies in professional soccer: a worldwide survey. International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0799
• Galan-Lopez, N., Esh, C.J., Leal, D.V., Gandini, S., Lucas, R., Garrandes, F., Bermon, S., Adami, P.E., Kajeniene, A., Hosokawa, Y., Chrismas, B.C.R., Stevens, C.J., Taylor, L. (2023). Heat Preparation and Knowledge at the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 2022. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2022-0446
• Harper, L.D., Field, A., Fowler, P.M., Akenhead, R., Chrismas, B.C.R., Paul, D.J., McCall, A., Taylor, L. (2019). Recovery monitoring tool use and perceived usefulness in soccer. Sport Performance & Science Reports, August, 71, v1
• Henderson, M.J., Grandou, C., Chrismas, B.C.R., Coutts, A.J., Impellizzeri, F.M., Taylor, L. (2023). Core Body Temperatures in Intermittent Sports: A Systematic Review. Sports Medicine. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-023-01892-3
• Henderson, M.J., Chrismas, B.C.R., Fransen, J., Coutts, A.J., Taylor, L. (2022). Responses to a 5-day sport-specific heat acclimatization camp in elite female rugby sevens athletes. International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2021-0406
• Henderson, M.J., Chrismas, B.C.R., Stevens, C.J., Novak, A., Fransen, J., Coutts, A.J., Taylor, L. (2021). Additional clothing increases heat-load in elite female rugby sevens players. International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance. 26;1-8. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0620.
• Henderson, M.J., Chrismas, B.C.R., Stevens, C.J., Fransen, J., Coutts, A.J., Taylor, L. (2021). Limiting rise in heat-load with an ice-vest during elite female rugby sevens warm-ups. International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance. 21;1-8. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0833
• Henderson, M.J., Chrismas, B.C.R., Stevens, C.J., Coutts, A.J., Taylor, L. (2020). Changes in core temperature during an elite female rugby sevens tournament. International Journal of Sport Physiology and Performance. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2019-0375
• Hillman, A.R., (nee Chrismas), Taylor, B.C.R., Thompkins, D. (2017). The effects of tart cherry juice with whey protein on the signs and symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage following plyometric exercise. Journal of Functional Foods. 29, 185 -92. DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2016.12.026
• Hillman, A.R., Chrismas, B.C. (2021). Thirty days of Montmorency tart cherry supplementation has no effect on gut microbiome composition, inflammation, or glycemic control in healthy adults. Frontiers in Nutrition. DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.733057
• Hillman, A.R., Trickett, O., Brodsky, C., Chrismas, B. (2022). Montmorency tart cherry supplementation does not impact sleep, body composition, cellular health, or blood pressure in healthy adults. Nutrition and Health. DOI: 10.1177/02601060221111230