Biography
Dr. Matthew Herring joined the PESS faculty in August 2014 as a Lecturer in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology. His internationally-recognized transdisciplinary research program uses epidemiological, experimental, and mechanistic approaches to better understand the influence of physical activity dose and acute and chronic aerobic, resistance, and non-traditional exercise for anxiety and depression among preclinical and clinical populations, and the psychobiological underpinnings of those relationships. He is Director of the Exercise is Medicine Ireland National Centre, Visiting Research Fellow and Steering Committee Member for The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Physical Activity Lead for the Healthy UL Framework, Co-Director of Exercise is Medicine On Campus UL, and Co-Investigator in the Physical Activity for Health Research Cluster of the Health Research Institute.Dr. Herring's long-term research goals are to: 1) understand the psychobiological mechanisms that link physical activity and exercise to positive changes in anxiety and depression, including the influence of inflammation, the serotonin system, including kynurenines, and central autonomic network activity; 2) longitudinally investigate large, diverse populations to determine the optimal exercise dose for improved anxiety and depression; 3) implement large prospective trials to establish the effects of exercise as an alternative therapy for anxiety and depression in clinical populations; and, 4) understand how and in whom exercise is an effective intervention and to identify impediments to response and adherence.
Research Interests
Dr. Herring's internationally-recognized transdisciplinary research program uses epidemiological, experimental, and mechanistic approaches to better understand the influence of physical activity dose and acute and chronic aerobic, resistance, and non-traditional exercise for anxiety and depression among preclinical and clinical populations, and the psychobiological underpinnings of those relationships. Ongoing and planned research focuses on potential inflammatory, attentional, and autonomic underpinnings of dynamic relationships between physical activity, exercise, and mental health. As Director of the Exercise is Medicine Ireland National Centre, Dr. Herring has a keen interest in increased recognition, assessment, and prescription of physical activity as a vital sign for health, and the implementation of regular physical activity and exercise training as personalized medicine.Professional Activities
Association
- 2018 Co-Chair Psychobiology & Behavior Special Interest Group, American College of Sports Medicine
- 2012 Annual Meeting Program Committee Assistant, Psychobiology, Behavior & Neuroscience Interest Group, American College of Sports Medicine
- 2007 Member, American College of Sports Medicine
Award
- 2018 - Fellow
- 2018 - 2018 Altmetric Top 100
- 2017 - Editorial Board
- 2015 - 23rd European Congress on Psychiatry (EPA2015) Travel Grant Award
- 2013 - UAB Public Health Research Day Poster Competition
- 2007 - Technical Assistant, Mental Health Subcommittee, Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report
- 2007 - Mary Ella Lunday Soule Competitive Research Award
Committee
- 2015 UL EHS Research Ethics Committee,
- 2014 Masters of Science in Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology Course Board,
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing Steering Committee,
- Exercise Is Medicine - On Campus UL (EIM-OC UL),
- UL Working Group National Curriculum on Self-Management Support for Chronic Disease,
- UL Working Group National Undergraduate Curriculum on Health Behaviour Change for Chronic Disease Management,
- EHS Research Committee,
- Physical Education and Sport Sciences Research Committee,
- MedExUL Steering Committee,
Employment
- 2013 University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Epidemiology - Research Faculty Instructor
- 2011 University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Epidemiology - Research Associate
- 2010 University of South Carolina, Department of Exercise Science - Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- 2005 The University of Georgia, Department of Kinesiology - Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant
- 2004 The University of Georgia, Department of Counseling and Human Development - Counseling Intern
- UAB Center for Exercise Medicine - Associate Scientist
Education
- 2010 The University of Georgia - PhD
- 2007 The University of Georgia - MSc
- 2005 The University of Georgia - MEd
- 2002 The University of Georgia - BSc
Research Collaborators
- - Outgoing Visitor - University of Edinburgh -Scotland
- - Outgoing Visitor - Swedish School of Sport & Health Sciences -Sweden
- Agneta Ojehagen - Joint Publication - Lund University -Sweden
- Amy Early - Joint Publication - Wheaton College -USA
- Barbara Gower - Joint Publication - University of Alabama Birmingham -USA
- Bjorg Helgadottir - Joint Publication - Karolinska Institutet -Sweden
- Brian Hunt - Joint Publication - Wheaton College -USA
- Christopher E. Kline - Joint Publication - University of Pittsburgh -USA
- David Dunstan - Joint Publication - Australian Catholic University -Australia
- Kristen Johnson - Joint Publication - University of Georgia -USA
- Mats Hallgren - Joint Publication - Karolinska Institutet -Sweden
- Molly Bray - Joint Publication - University of Texas Austin -USA
- Molly Bray - Funding Award - University of Texas Austin -USA
- Nanette Mutrie - Funding Award - University of Edinburgh -Scotland
- Nathaniel Thom - Joint Publication - Wheaton College -USA
- Neville Owen - Joint Publication - Baker IDI Heart & Diabetes Institute -Australia
- Nils Lindefors - Joint Publication - Karolinska Institutet -Sweden
- Olivia Aya Nakitanda - Joint Publication - Karolinska Institutet -Sweden
- Orjan Ekblom - Joint Publication - Swedish School of Sport & Health Sciences -Sweden
- Patrick J. O' Connor - Joint Publication - University of Georgia -USA
- Richard Shelton - Joint Publication - University of Alabama Birmingham -USA
- Robert Motl - Funding Award - University of Alabama Birmingham -USA
- Rodney Dishman - Joint Publication - University of Georgia -USA
- Ryan Harris - Joint Publication - Augusta University -USA
- Shawn D. Youngstedt - Joint Publication - Arizona State University -USA
- Timothy W. Puetz - Joint Publication - National Institutes of Health Clinical Center -USA
- Viktor Kaldo - Joint Publication - Karolinska Institutet -Sweden
- Yvonne Forsell - Joint Publication - Karolinska Institutet -Sweden
- Zangin Zeebari - Joint Publication - Karolinska Institutet -Sweden