Dr Maria Perissiou
Biography
I joined the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science at the University of Portsmouth in 2019 as a Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology. As part of the Physical Activity, Health and Rehabilitation Thematic Research Group, and Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Research Team (CHaRT) my research focusses on cardiovascular physiology and the use of exercise to inform the prevention, delay and treatment of cardiovascular disease. I have extensive experience measurements assessing vascular function and structure.
I completed my BSc and MSc studies in Sports Science at the National and Kapodestrian University of Athens. In 2014 I was awarded a full time PhD scholarship from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, where I completed my doctoral studies that focused on the effect of exercise in vascular health of individuals with abdominal aortic aneurysm. During 2018 I was a post-doctoral fellow at the Queensland University of Technology, exploring the effect of low carbohydrate diet on cardiometabolic parameters in obese individuals. During 2020, I secured a grant from the Physiological Society that will explore the effect of prolonged head-down tilt surgery on vascular haemodynamics.
Research interests
My research interests are exploring the effect of different stimuli (exercise, physical inactivity, posture, nutrition) on cardiovascular health in an effort to help improve and inform clinical treatment.
Teaching responsibilities
- Physical Activity and Exercise for Healthy Agein (module co-ordinator, Level 5)
- Introduction to Sport and Exercise Physiology (Level 4)
- Clinical Exercise Physiology (Level 7)
- Undergraduate and MSc level research projects
- PhD Research Supervisor
Research outputs
2025
Head‐down tilt lithotomy position and well‐leg compartment syndrome: an international survey of current practice
Uzoma, C. C., Shepherd, A. I., Saynor, Z. L., Khan, J. S., Piozzi, G. N., Duhoky, R., Askew, C., Ozmen, M. M., Middleton, T. R. F., Masum, S., Perissiou, M.
7 Jun 2025, In: Colorectal Disease. 27, 6, 9p., e70134
Research output: Article
The effect of intact vs hydrolysed collagen on recovery from exercise induced muscle damage: A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial
James, T. J., Mayes, H., Alnajjar, M., Newell, Y., Kohlert, E., Shute, J., Perissiou, M., Corbett, J., Costello, J. T., Neupert, E., Moore, J. M., Morgan, P. T., Simms, C., Saynor, Z. L., Shepherd, A. I.
15 May 2025, In: The Journal of Nutritional Physiology. 1, 11p., 100003
Research output: Article
Cardiovascular function in people with cystic fibrosis on Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor: A cross-sectional, observational, single-centre study
Clayton, L. J., Shepherd, A. I., Corbett, J., Perissiou, M., Connett, G., Legg, J., Allenby, M., Daniels, T., Urquhart, D. S., Mackintosh, K. A., McNarry, M. A., Saynor, Z. L.
15 Feb 2025, In: Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 8p.
Research output: Article
Ketone monoester ingestion improves cardiac function in adults with type 2 diabetes: a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomised, crossover trial
Perissiou, M., Saynor, Z. L., Feka, K., Edwards, C., James, T. J., Corbett, J., Mayes, H., Shute, J., Cummings, M., Black, M. I., Strain, W. D., Little, J. P., Shepherd, A. I.
17 Jan 2025, In: Journal of Applied Physiology
Research output: Article
2024
The effect of repeated hot water immersion on vascular function, blood pressure and central haemodynamics in individuals with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
James, T. J., Corbett, J., Cummings, M., Allard, S., Bailey, S. J., Eglin, C., Belcher, H., Piccolo, D. D., Tipton, M., Perissiou, M., Saynor, Z. L., Shepherd, A. I.
1 Dec 2024, In: Journal of Thermal Biology. 126, 10p., 104017
Research output: Article
Impact of nocturnal hypoxia on glycaemic control, appetite, gut microbiota and inflammation in adults with T2DM: A single-blind crossover trial
Shepherd, A., James, T. J., Gould, A. A. M., Mayes, H., Neal, R., Shute, J., Tipton, M., Massey, H., Saynor, Z., Perissiou, M., Montgomery, H., Sturgess, C., Makaronidis, J., Murray, A. J., Grocott, M. P. W.,
1 Nov 2024, In: The Journal of Physiology. 602, 21, p. 5835-5854
Research output: Article
Device-based 24-hour movement behaviours in adult phase III cardiac rehabilitation service-users during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods prospective observational study
Meredith, S. J., Shepherd, A. I., Saynor, Z. L., Scott, A., Gorczynski, P., Perissiou, M., Horne, M., McNarry, M. A., Mackintosh, K. A., Witcher, C. S. G.
11 Sep 2024, In: Disability and Rehabilitation, 12p.
Research output: Article
2023
The effect of repeated hot water immersion on insulin sensitivity, heat shock protein 70 and inflammation in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus
James, T. J., Corbett, J., Cummings, M. H., Allard, S., Shute, J. K., Belcher, H., Mayes, H., Gould, A. A. M., Piccolo, D. D., Tipton, M., Perissiou, M., Saynor, Z. L., Shepherd, A. I.
1 Dec 2023, In: American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism. 325, 6, p. E755-E763
Research output: Article
Effect of different levels of acute hypoxia on subsequent oral glucose tolerance in males with overweight: a balanced cross-over pilot feasibility study
Corbett, J., Tipton, M., Perissiou, M., James, T., Young, J., Newman, A., Cummings, M. H., Montgomery, H., Grocott, M. P. W., Shepherd, A.
5 May 2023, In: Physiological Reports. 11, 9, 8p., e15623
Research output: Article
Long-term adverse effects of mild COVID-19 disease on arterial stiffness, and systemic and central hemodynamics: a pre-post study
Podrug, M., Koren, P., Dražić Maras, E., Podrug, J., Čulić, V., Perissiou, M., Bruno, R. M., Mudnić, I., Boban, M., Jerončić, A.
8 Mar 2023, In: Journal of Clinical Medicine. 12, 6, 14p., 2123
Research output: Article