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Dr Mark Antrobus

Profile summary

  • Central Academic Staff
  • Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science
  • Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies
  • School of Education, Childhood, Youth & Sport
  • Sport & Fitness
  • mark.antrobus

Professional biography

Dr Mark Antrobus is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at the Open University. Mark’s specialist areas are exercise physiology and strength and conditioning. He is accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He has provided support to a wide range of clients from elite to recreational athletes. 

Research interests

Mark’s research focuses on sports genomics and molecular exercise physiology with current focus on the genetic influence of concussion and impacts on rugby athletes. His research also investigates molecular mechanisms of exercise on neurodegenerative conditions.

A full list of Mark's publications can be found by  clicking on the 'publications' tab above and on his ResearchGate profile.

ORCiD: 0000-0002-4229-6888

Teaching interests

Mark is involved in the writing and development of modules in the Sport and Exercise Science programme.

To find out more about the Sport and Fitness qualifications available at The Open University please click here.

Publications

Epigenetics of concussion: A systematic review (2025-01)
Antrobus, Mark; Desai, Terun; Young, David; Machado, Lee; Ribbans, William; El Khoury, Louis and Brazier, Jon
Gene, 935, Article 149046

Genetics of Performance and Injury: Considerations for the Strength and Conditioning Coach (2024-06)
Brazier, Jon; Turner, Anthony and Antrobus, Mark
Strength and Conditioning Journal, 46(3) (pp. 287-294)

The association of the ACE gene I/D polymorphism and in-game performance in elite Rugby Union players (2024)
Martin, Daniel; Stebbings, Georgina; Erskine, Robert; Heffernan, Shane; Callus, Peter; Brazier, Jon; Antrobus, Mark and Williams, Alun
Graduate Journal of Sports Science, Coaching, Management, & Rehabilitation, 1(3) (pp. 55-55)

Concussion-Associated Gene Variant COMT rs4680 Is Associated With Elite Rugby Athlete Status (2023-09)
Antrobus, Mark; Brazier, Jon; Callus, Peter; Herbert, Adam; Stebbings, Georgina; Day, Stephen; Kilduff, Liam; Bennett, Mark; Erskine, Robert; Raleigh, Stuart; Collins, Malcolm; Pitsiladis, Yannis; Heffernan, Shane and Williams, Alun
Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 33(5) (e145-e151)

Gene Variants Previously Associated with Reduced Soft-tissue Injury Risk: Part 2 - Polygenic Associations with Elite Status in Rugby (2023-08)
Brazier, Jon; Antrobus, Mark; Herbert, Adam; Callus, Peter; Khanal, Praval; Stebbings, Georgina; Day, Stephen; Heffernan, Shane; Kilduff, Liam; Bennett, Mark; Erskine, Robert; Raleigh, Stuart; Collins, Malcolm; Pitsiladis, Yannis and Williams, Alun
European Journal of Sport Science, 23(8) (pp. 1779-1788)

Gene variants previously associated with reduced soft tissue injury risk: Part 1 - independent associations with elite status in rugby (2023-05)
Brazier, Jon; Antrobus, Mark; Herbert, Adam; Callus, Peter; Stebbings, Georgina; Day, Stephen; Heffernan, Shane; Kilduff, Liam; Bennett, Mark; Erskine, Robert; Raleigh, Stuart; Collins, Malcolm and Williams, Alun
European Journal of Sport Science, 23(5) (pp. 726-735)

Collagen Gene Polymorphisms Previously Associated with Resistance to Soft-Tissue Injury Are More Common in Competitive Runners Than Nonathletes (2023)
Dines, Hannah; Nixon, Jennifer; Lockey, Sarah; Herbert, Adam; Kipps, Courtney; Pedlar, Charles; Day, Stephen; Heffernan, Shane; Antrobus, Mark; Brazier, Jon; Erskine, Robert; Stebbings, Georgina; Hall, Elliot and Williams, Alun
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 37(4) (pp. 799-805)

Concussion-Associated Polygenic Profiles of Elite Male Rugby Athletes (2022-05)
Antrobus, Mark R.; Brazier, Jon; Callus, Peter C.; Herbert, Adam J.; Stebbings, Georgina K.; Khanal, Praval; Day, Stephen H.; Kilduff, Liam P.; Bennett, Mark A.; Erskine, Robert M.; Raleigh, Stuart M.; Collins, Malcolm; Pitsiladis, Yannis P.; Heffernan, Shane M. and Williams, Alun G.
Genes, 13, Article 820(5)

Genetic Factors That Could Affect Concussion Risk in Elite Rugby (2021)
Antrobus, Mark R.; Brazier, Jon; Stebbings, Georgina K.; Day, Stephen H.; Heffernan, Shane M.; Kilduff, Liam P.; Erskine, Robert M. and Williams, Alun G.
Sports, 9, Article 19(2)

Anthropometric and Physiological Characteristics of Elite Male Rugby Athletes (2020)
Brazier, Jon; Antrobus, Mark; Stebbings, Georgina; Day, Stephen; Callus, Peter; Erskine, Robert; Bennett, Mark; Kilduff, Liam and Williams, Alun
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(6) (pp. 1790-1801)

The validity and reliability of the My Jump 2 app for measuring the reactive strength index and drop jump performance (2019-02)
Haynes, Tom; Bishop, Chris; Antrobus, Mark and Brazier, Jon
The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 59(2) (pp. 253-258)

Tendon and Ligament Injuries in Elite Rugby: The Potential Genetic Influence (2019)
Brazier, Jon; Antrobus, Mark; Stebbings, Georgina K.; Day, Stephen H.; Heffernan, Shane M.; Cross, Matthew J. and Williams, Alun
Sports, 7, Article 138(6)

Lower Extremity Stiffness : Effects on Performance and Injury and Implications for Training (2014-10)
Brazier, Jon; Bishop, Chris; Simons, Chris; Antrobus, Mark; Read, Paul and Turner, Anthony
Strength and Conditioning Journal, 36(5) (pp. 103-112)

Epigenetics, exercise, and the immune system (2021-07-15)
Antrobus, Mark; Cuttell, Saul and Machado, Lee R.
In: Raleigh, Stuart M. ed. Epigenetics of Exercise and Sports: Concepts, Methods, and Current Research. Translational Epigenetics (pp. 183-199)
ISBN : 9780128206829 | Publisher : Academic Press

The effect of a novel 8-week multi-exercise, home-based isometric resistance training programme on resting and ambulatory blood pressure in pre- and hypertensive adults (2025-07-01)
Wright, Ben; Antrobus, Mark; Jones, Peter and Baross, Anthony
In : European College of Sport Science 2025 (01-04 Jul 2025, Rimini, Italy) ((In press))