Brunel University of London’s health science research is poised for a significant leap forward with a £540,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation, funding state-of-the-art equipment and a refurbished, accessible laboratory in the Mary Seacole building, set to open in 2026.
Named the Wolfson Health Sciences Laboratory, this new facility will feature a pioneering robotic multidirectional bodyweight support system – the first of its kind in the UK – and an electromagnetically shielded room. Alongside the planned refurbishment, these investments will create a space that optimally integrates advanced scientific capability with an open and inclusive environment that caters for participants of all ages, physical abilities and cognitive capacities.
The funding builds on Brunel’s recent strides, including staged strategic investment in laboratory equipment over the past few years, the intensification of interdisciplinary health research, and expanding partnerships with local NHS trusts and international academic institutions.
Prof Louise Mansfield, Vice-Dean of Research for Brunel’s College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences said: “We are very grateful for the Wolfson Foundation’s funding, which stands as a clear testament to both the lab’s ambitions and Brunel’s broader leadership in health science research.”
This investment will cement Brunel’s Department of Health Sciences as a global leader in researching the causes, mechanisms, and treatments of conditions affecting balance, mobility, and cardiorespiratory function.
One key line of research focuses on fear of falling – particularly in older adults and those with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s. Dr Elmar Kal is a movement scientist and senior lecturer in Physiotherapy, and lead for the project. He explained: “The lab’s new harnessing system will allow us to test individuals in more challenging, realistic scenarios, such as navigating obstacles or responding to sudden balance disturbances. It will enable safe testing of more vulnerable groups, ensuring research can directly inform clinical interventions.”
Dr Vicky MacBean, senior lecturer in Physiotherapy, also highlighted the potential for respiratory research: “The lab’s electromagnetically shielded room will allow precise measurement of neural and physiological responses during breathing tasks. These detailed laboratory studies help us better understand how the nervous system and muscles regulate breathing, which we can then apply in healthcare settings. Recent lab-based research has already led to funded studies focusing on patients in intensive care.”
The Wolfson Health Sciences Laboratory will expand research capacity and strengthen research-led clinical education. Dr Elmar Kal said: “The new lab will offer hands-on research placements for clinical and medical students, as well as dissertation projects for MSc and doctoral students linked to clinical and industry collaborations.” By embedding research into teaching, the lab therefore aims to enhance student learning and support the development of future healthcare professionals.
The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to support civil society by investing in excellent projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts. Since it was established in 1955, some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) has been awarded to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review. Learn more at www.wolfson.org.uk.
For further details about the laboratory, please contact Dr Elmar Kal at elmar.kal@brunel.ac.uk
Reported by:
Vic Gill,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 266867
vic.gill@brunel.ac.uk