A/Prof Ricardo Costa completed his PhD at the University of Wales- UK, in neuroendocrine and nutritional immunology on the influence of sleep deprivation, cold exposure, exercise stress and nutritional intervention on selected immune responses, supported by the UK Ministry of Defence. Follow-on research in ultra-endurance sporting activities encompassed his Post-Doctorate research at Coventry University- UK. Prior to joining Monash in 2013, his academic activities at Coventry University- UK (2009-2013), included postgraduate Sport and Exercise Nutrition Course Director, Research Fellow, and led the Coventry University Sport and Exercise Nutritional Support and Research Team. Before entering a career in academics, he was a professional/semi-professional Trialthlete/Duathlete competing on the World and European circuit between 1994-2003 and obtained World, European, and National titles.

Internationally acknowledged as the leading expert on the impact of exercise on gut health, and the application of nutrition and hydration for ultra-endurance activities, A/Prof Costa has contributed to >200 authored publications in the area. These include exploration into the causes of gut issues and gut symptoms in response to exercise, the pathophysiological mechanisms of exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome and exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms, methodological advancement in exercise gastroenterology, prevention and management strategies for gut issues during exercise, the gut microbiome, and the practical translation of nutrition and hydration in ultra-endurance sports to avoid the health complication of excessive exercise. As a result of this original research outputs, he has contributed to various international guidelines, recommendations, and best-practice publications (i.e., ultra-marathon, ultra-endurance, and exercise gastroenterology), and provides topic specific education and training to athlete support practitioners, both nationally and internationally (i.e., ‘managing gut issues in athletes’). His research, education, and services expand to industry engagement, in which he has worked with both national and international industry partners in testing current commercial products for their efficacy; and support in novel product development, prototyping, efficacy testing, and commercialisation, with application to gut health and ultra-endurance activities. 

Research Interest: Ricardos research interests include the impact of exercise stress with and without other stressors on gut health, and role of nutrition in attenuating or exacerbating stress induce perturbations to gut health. Over the last few years he has established and led an international multi-centre research team investigating the impact of ultra-endurance competition on nutritional and hydration status, and on various physiological and immunological parameters; in which issue of gut health have been identified. Previously, as course director for Sports Dietetic training in the UK, he is an active consultant and supervisor in Sports Dietetics, providing and supervising sport and exercise nutritional support to a wide range of sports at recreational, amateur, and elite (Olympic athletes) level.

Research Expertise: Dietary assessment and analysis, recipe development, indirect calorimetry, hydration status measurement techniques, thermoregulation, exercise physiology measurement techniques (including anthropometrics), exercise immunology, gastrointestinal assessment during exercise; sample collection techniques and processing, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay techniques, field and laboratory based experimental designs.