معرفی
Ricardo Da Costa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food at the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University. He is an active academic, researcher, consultant, and practitioner in Sports Dietetics and Extremes Physiology, with extensive experience in both research and applied sports nutrition.
His research focuses on the impact of multi-stressor activities—such as ultra-endurance events, heat stress, and sleep deprivation—on gastrointestinal health, immune function, and thermoregulation. He has led an international multi-centre research team investigating nutritional and hydration status during ultra-endurance competitions. His expertise includes dietary assessment, indirect calorimetry, exercise immunology, and gastrointestinal assessment during exercise.
The most recent publications highlight a strong trend in understanding exertional heat stress, gut barrier dysfunction, bacterial translocation, and the development of novel sports nutrition products. His work spans experimental, clinical, and field-based studies, with increasing emphasis on translational applications for athletes and occupational workers under environmental stress.
- HCPC Registered Dietitian (UK)
- SENr Registered Sport Dietitian (UK)
- Accredited Practicing Dietitian (Australia)
- Advanced Sports Dietitian (Australia)
Ricardo has secured multiple research grants as Primary Chief Investigator from organizations such as the Ultra Sports Science Foundation and Entrinsic Biosciences LLC. He actively supervises postgraduate research students and provides nutritional support to elite athletes, including Olympic-level competitors. His collaborative network includes researchers across Australia, the UK, and the US.
He leads or contributes to key research projects including the development of modified hydrogel nutrition products, assessment of amino acid beverages on intestinal barrier function, and performance nutrition strategies for ultra-endurance sailing. These projects reflect a strong industry-academia partnership aimed at innovation in sports nutrition and health.
