Professor Amaya Albalat

Professor

Institute of Aquaculture Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor Amaya Albalat

Contact details

About me

I am a fish and crustacean physiologist. My research interests are focused in three main areas:

1) A better understanding on how fishing and aquaculture practices impact the physiology of fish and decapod crustaceans from a health and welfare perspective.

2) Development of new strategies and processing methods to ensure fish and crustacean quality is maintained throughout the food chain. This is a topic that aims at linking animal's physiological condition when alive (linked to animal welfare), the conditions around how animals are harvested (peri-slaughter stress) and the effects that all these processes have on seafood quality. Currently, working on a number of projects aimed at optimising harvesting and stunning protocols for decapod species.

3) And finally, expand the approaches we use for assessing physiological changes by proteomic profiling. This approach can then be used to map out, for example, early responses to infection or stress mechanisms in aquatic organisms.

Research projects (17)

AQUASoS; an integrative scalable interdisciplinary approach for climate resilient sustainable aquaculture
PI: Professor Simon MacKenzie
Funded by: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
–

Critical Advances in Insect Welfare Research and Academic Field-Building
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: Open Philanthropy
–

Optimisation and validation of successful stunning practices in tropical prawn farms
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: Open Philanthropy
–

Humane stunning of finfish: demonstrate, validate & facilitate uptake
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: Humane Slaughter Association
–

FHF electrical stunning fish
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund
–

AQUAculture Infrastructures For EXCELlence In European Fish Research 3
PI: Professor Sonia Rey Planellas
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)
–

Effect of swimming training in smolt; A Basic Study
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: The Research Council of Norway
–

Phage-based shelf-life extension of langoustines-Next Steps
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: Centre for Enviroment, Fisheries & Aquaculture
–

OP Validation of operational indicators of consciousness in tropical prawns (Penaeus vannamei)
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: Open Philanthropy
–

Vaccines against AMR in Aquaculture
PI: Professor Margaret Crumlish
Funded by: International Development Research Centre
–

ROBUST-SMOLT Impact of Early Life History in Freshwater Recirculation Aquaculture Systems on A. Salmon Robustness and Susceptibility to Disease at Sea
PI: Professor Herve Migaud
Funded by: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
–

Phage-based shelf-life extension of langoustines
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: Centre for Enviroment, Fisheries & Aquaculture
–

Impact of Net Cleaning and Sea Lice treatment upon Gill Health in Salmon
PI: Professor Simon MacKenzie
Funded by: The Norwegian Seafood Research Fund
–

Curriculum Development for Sustainable Seafood and Nutrition Security
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: European Commission (Horizon 2020)
–

Development of a full season production protocol for rainbow trout
PI: Professor Simon MacKenzie
Funded by: Norwegian Research Council
–

Post catch survivability of discarded Norway lobsters: Further investigations within the large-scale fleet operation
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: Fisheries Innovation Scotland
–

Post-catch survivability of under-sized Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus): Towards a regional and ecosystems-based approach.
PI: Professor Amaya Albalat
Funded by: Fisheries Innovation Scotland
–

Outputs (82)

Article

A modeling framework to meta-analyse discard survival experiments illustrated by Nephrops norvegicus in European demersal trawl fisheries

Morfin M, Savina E, Benoît HP, Teixeira Alves M, Albalat A, Catchpole T, Fox C, McHugh M, Méhault S, Nilsson H, Oliver M, Valentinsson D & Breen M (2025) A modeling framework to meta-analyse discard survival experiments illustrated by Nephrops norvegicus in European demersal trawl fisheries. Fisheries Research, 290, Art. No.: 107513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2025.107513

Article

Performance of Atlantic salmon reared under three different regimes of continuous aerobic exercise during the freshwater phase

Gomes AS, Balseiro P, Iversen MD, Zimmermann F, Shimizu M, Izutsu A, Albalat A, Pedrosa C, Broughton R, Calabrese S, Gorissen M, Zethof J, Rønnestad I, MacKenzie S & Sveier H (2025) Performance of Atlantic salmon reared under three different regimes of continuous aerobic exercise during the freshwater phase. Aquaculture, 609, p. 742797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.742797

Article

The effects of electrical stunning on the nervous activity and physiological stress response of a commercially important decapod crustacean, the brown crab Cancer pagurus L.

Neil DM, Albalat A & Thompson J (2022) The effects of electrical stunning on the nervous activity and physiological stress response of a commercially important decapod crustacean, the brown crab Cancer pagurus L.. PLOS ONE, 17 (7), Art. No.: e0270960. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0270960

Article

Changes in circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 and its binding proteins in yearling rainbow trout during spring under natural and manipulated photoperiods and their relationships with gill Na+, K+-ATPase and body size

Cui W, Takahashi E, Morro B, Balseiro P, Albalat A, Pedrosa C, Mackenzie S, Nilsen TO, Sveier H, Ebbesson LO, Handeland SO & Shimizu M (2022) Changes in circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 and its binding proteins in yearling rainbow trout during spring under natural and manipulated photoperiods and their relationships with gill Na+, K+-ATPase and body size. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular and Integrative Physiology, 268, Art. No.: 111205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111205

Article

CD99 and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor peptides deregulation in critical COVID-19: A potential link to molecular pathophysiology?

Siwy J, Wendt R, Albalat A, He T, Mischak H, Mullen W, Latosinska A, Lübbert C, Kalbitz S, Mebazaa A, Peters B, Stegmayr B, Spasovski G, Wiech T & Staessen JA (2021) CD99 and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor peptides deregulation in critical COVID-19: A potential link to molecular pathophysiology?. Proteomics, 21 (20), Art. No.: 2100133. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.202100133

Article

The Effect of Temperature on the Physiological Condition and Immune-Capacity of European Lobsters (Homarus gammarus) During Long-Term Starvation

Albalat A, Johnson L, Coates CJ, Dykes GC, Hitte F, Morro B, Dick J, Todd K & Neil DM (2019) The Effect of Temperature on the Physiological Condition and Immune-Capacity of European Lobsters (Homarus gammarus) During Long-Term Starvation. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, Art. No.: 281. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00281

Article

Effects of different photoperiod regimes on the smoltification and seawater adaptation of seawater-farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Insights from Na+, K+-ATPase activity and transcription of osmoregulation and growth regulation genes

Morro B, Balseiro P, Albalat a, Pedrosa C, Mackenzie S, Nakamura S, Shimizu M, Nilsen TO, Sveier H, Ebbesson LO & Handeland SO (2019) Effects of different photoperiod regimes on the smoltification and seawater adaptation of seawater-farmed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): Insights from Na+, K+-ATPase activity and transcription of osmoregulation and growth regulation genes. Aquaculture, 507, pp. 282-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2019.04.039

Book Chapter

Tissue Proteomics in Vascular Disease

Albalat A, Mullen W, Husi H & Mischak H (2017) Tissue Proteomics in Vascular Disease. In: Touyz R & Schiffrin E (eds.) Hypertension: Tissue Proteomics in Vascular Disease. Methods in Molecular Biology, 1527. New York: Springer, pp. 53-60. http://link.springer.com/protocol/10.1007/978-1-4939-6625-7_4; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6625-7_4

Article

Comparative proteome and peptidome analysis of the cephalic fluid secreted by Arapaima gigas (Teleostei: Osteoglossidae) during and outside parental care

Torati LS, Migaud H, Doherty MK, Siwy J, Mullen W, Mesquita PEC & Albalat A (2017) Comparative proteome and peptidome analysis of the cephalic fluid secreted by Arapaima gigas (Teleostei: Osteoglossidae) during and outside parental care. PLoS ONE, 12 (10), Art. No.: e0186692. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186692

Article

Validation of a vigour index for trawl-caught Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus) destined for the live market: underlying links to both physiological condition and survivability

Albalat A, Sinclair S & Neil DM (2017) Validation of a vigour index for trawl-caught Norway lobsters (Nephrops norvegicus) destined for the live market: underlying links to both physiological condition and survivability. Fisheries Research, 191, pp. 25-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2017.02.016

Article

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14 Promotes AKI

Ortiz A, Husi H, Gonzalez-Lafuente L, Valino-Rivas L, Fresno M, Sanz AB, Mullen W, Albalat A, Mezzano S, Vlahou A, Mischak H & Sanchez-Nino MD (2017) Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 14 Promotes AKI. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 28 (3), pp. 823-836. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2015080898

Article

Lipid Composition of Oil Extracted from Wasted Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) Heads and Comparison with Oil Extracted from Antarctic Krill (Euphasia superba)

Albalat A, Nadler LE, Foo N, Dick JR, Watts AJR, Philp H, Neil DM & Monroig O (2016) Lipid Composition of Oil Extracted from Wasted Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) Heads and Comparison with Oil Extracted from Antarctic Krill (Euphasia superba). Marine Drugs, 14 (12), Art. No.: 219. https://doi.org/10.3390/md14120219

Book Chapter

Proteomic applications for farm animal management

Oskoueian E, Mullen W & Albalat A (2016) Proteomic applications for farm animal management. In: Salekdeh G (ed.) Agricultural Proteomics Volume 1: Crops, Horticulture, Farm Animals, Food, Insect and Microorganisms. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, pp. 147-163. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-43275-5_9

Book Chapter

Methods in Capillary Electrophoresis Coupled to Mass Spectrometry for the Identification of Clinical Proteomic/Peptidomic Biomarkers in Biofluids

Stalmach A, Husi H, Mosbahi K, Albalat A, Mullen W & Mischak H (2015) Methods in Capillary Electrophoresis Coupled to Mass Spectrometry for the Identification of Clinical Proteomic/Peptidomic Biomarkers in Biofluids. In: Vlahou A & Makridakis M (eds.) Clinical Proteomics: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, 1243. New York: Springer, pp. 187-205. http://link.springer.com/protocol/10.1007/978-1-4939-1872-0_11

Book Chapter

Engaging with strategies to impede post mortem hyperpigmentation in commercial crustaceans

Coates C & Albalat A (2014) Engaging with strategies to impede post mortem hyperpigmentation in commercial crustaceans. In: Hay R (ed.) Shellfish: Human Consumption, Health Implications and Conservation Concerns. Fish, Fishing and Fisheries. New York: Nova Science Publishers. https://www.novapublishers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=50197&osCsid=e045ae5d926955d94d857f839a6e655f

Book Chapter

Urinary proteomics employing capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry in the monitoring of patients after stem cell transplantation

Weissinger EM, Mullen W & Albalat A (2014) Urinary proteomics employing capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry in the monitoring of patients after stem cell transplantation. In: Beksac M (ed.) Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplantation. Methods in Molecular Biology, 1109. New York: Springer, pp. 293-306. http://link.springer.com/protocol/10.1007/978-1-4614-9437-9_15#

Article

Capillary Electrophoresis Interfaced with a Mass Spectrometer (CE-MS): Technical Considerations and Applicability for Biomarker Studies in Animals

Albalat A, Husi H, Siwy J, Nally JE, McLaughlin M, Eckersall PD & Mullen W (2014) Capillary Electrophoresis Interfaced with a Mass Spectrometer (CE-MS): Technical Considerations and Applicability for Biomarker Studies in Animals. Current Protein and Peptide Science, 15 (1), pp. 23-35. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389203715666140221123920

Book Chapter

High-resolution proteome/peptidome analysis of body fluids by capillary electrophoresis coupled with MS

Albalat A, Bitsika V, Zurbig P, Siwy J & Mullen W (2013) High-resolution proteome/peptidome analysis of body fluids by capillary electrophoresis coupled with MS. In: Volpi N & Maccari F (eds.) Capillary Electrophoresis of Biomolecules: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, 984. New York: Humana Press, pp. 153-165. http://link.springer.com/protocol/10.1007/978-1-62703-296-4_12#; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-296-4_12

Book Chapter

Urinary proteomics based on capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry in kidney disease

Albalat A, Franke J, Gonzalez J, Mischak H & Zurbig P (2013) Urinary proteomics based on capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry in kidney disease. In: Phillips T & Kalish H (eds.) Clinical Applications of Capillary Electrophoresis: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, 919. New York: Humana Press, pp. 203-213. http://link.springer.com/protocol/10.1007/978-1-62703-029-8_19#; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-029-8_19

Article

Performance of different separation methods interfaced in the same MS-reflection TOF detector: A comparison of performance between CE versus HPLC for biomarker analysis

Mullen W, Albalat A, Gonzalez J, Zerefos P, Siwy J, Franke J & Mischak H (2012) Performance of different separation methods interfaced in the same MS-reflection TOF detector: A comparison of performance between CE versus HPLC for biomarker analysis. Electrophoresis, 33 (4), pp. 567-574. https://doi.org/10.1002/elps.201100415

Article

A pilot study on the effect of short-term consumption of a polyphenol rich drink on biomarkers of coronary artery disease defined by urinary proteomics

Mullen W, Gonzalez J, Gonzalez J, Siwy J, Franke J, Sattar N, Mullan A, Roberts SA, Delles C, Mischak H & Albalat A (2011) A pilot study on the effect of short-term consumption of a polyphenol rich drink on biomarkers of coronary artery disease defined by urinary proteomics. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 59 (24), pp. 12850-12857. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf203369r

Article

The influence of defined ante-mortem stressors on the early post-mortem biochemical processes in the abdominal muscle of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Gornik SG, Albalat A, Atkinson RJA, Coombs GH & Neil DM (2010) The influence of defined ante-mortem stressors on the early post-mortem biochemical processes in the abdominal muscle of the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758). Marine Biology Research, 6 (3), pp. 223-238. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000903147468

Article

Targeting the live market: Recovery of Norway lobsters Nephrops norvegicus (L.) from trawl-capture as assessed by stress-related parameters and nucleotide breakdown

Albalat A, Sinclair S, Laurie J, Taylor A & Neil DM (2010) Targeting the live market: Recovery of Norway lobsters Nephrops norvegicus (L.) from trawl-capture as assessed by stress-related parameters and nucleotide breakdown. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 395 (1-2), pp. 206-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2010.09.002

Article

The time course of early post-mortem biochemical processes in the abdominal muscle of a commercially important decapod crustacean (Nephrops norvegicus): Implications for post-catch processing

Gornik SG, Albalat A, Atkinson RJA, Coombs GH & Neil DM (2008) The time course of early post-mortem biochemical processes in the abdominal muscle of a commercially important decapod crustacean (Nephrops norvegicus): Implications for post-catch processing. Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 41 (4), pp. 241-256. https://doi.org/10.1080/10236240802500758

Article

Nutritional and hormonal control of lipolysis in isolated gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) adipocytes

Albalat A, Gomez-Requeni P, Rojas P, Medale F, Kaushik S, Vianen GJ, van den Thillart G, Gutierrez J, Perez-Sanchez J & Navarro I (2005) Nutritional and hormonal control of lipolysis in isolated gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) adipocytes. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 289 (1), pp. R259-R265. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.00574.2004

Article

Insights into insulin and glucagon responses in fish

Navarro I, Rojas P, Capilla E, Albalat A, Castillo J, Montserrat N, Codina M & Gutierrez J (2002) Insights into insulin and glucagon responses in fish. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, 27 (3-4), pp. 205-216. https://doi.org/10.1023/B%3AFISH.0000032726.78074.04