Anthony Hackney

Anthony Hackney, PhD, DSc, is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health. He specializes in endocrine and metabolic responses to physical stress, particularly exercise. His research includes studies on hormonal adaptations in chronic cold exposure and the impact of exercise on reproductive steroid hormones. He has published over 100 papers in exercise physiology and endocrinology, and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in physiology. Dr. Hackney is a two-time Fulbright Scholar (Medical Sciences in Lithuania and Public Health in Poland) and serves as Assistant Chairman of Exercise & Sport Science. His work bridges basic science and applied practice, focusing on athlete health, low energy availability (RED-S), and sports performance optimization.

Education:

• PhD, Exercise Physiology/Nutritional Biochemistry, Kent State University (1986)
• MA, Exercise Physiology, Kent State University (1981)
• BA, Health and Kinesiology, Berea College (1979)
• D.Sc., Sports Physiology, Lithuanian Academy of Physical Culture

Research Interests: Dr. Hackney’s work examines hormonal and metabolic responses to physical stress, with a focus on female athletes, energy availability, and exercise-induced endocrine changes. He has pioneered studies on low energy availability (RED-S) in athletes, menstrual cycle effects on exercise metabolism, and the impact of training protocols on health metrics. His research also explores genetic factors influencing athletic performance and interventions for obesity and chronic disease prevention.

Recent Article Trends: His publications emphasize RED-S mitigation in athletes, menstrual cycle phase effects on performance, and genetic determinants of exercise outcomes. He frequently addresses gaps between sport science research and applied practice, particularly for female athletes.

Awards & Roles:

• 2× Fulbright Scholar (Medical Sciences/Public Health)
• External reviewer: USDA, National Academy of Sciences, U.S. Army
• Member: Sigma Xi, American College of Sports Medicine, Triangle Consortium for Reproductive Biology

Advising & Grants: Dr. Hackney advises on military research (DoD) and collaborates internationally on athlete health initiatives like the Feminae project. He has secured funding for studies on RED-S, exercise genetics, and interventions for obesity and joint health post-ACL repair.

Labs & Teams: His research integrates with the Gillings School’s Innovation Labs, focusing on translational studies linking physiology, nutrition, and public health. He collaborates with global teams on projects like the Wave Study on weight cycling athletes and the Boston Marathon prospective study on energy availability risks.