People in Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease

Dr Daniel Bailey Dr Daniel Bailey is a Reader in Sedentary Behaviour and Health in the Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Department of Life Sciences. He is Director of the Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease after previously establishing and leading the Sedentary Behaviour, Health and Disease Research Group. Dr Bailey's research investigates the relationship between sedentary behaviour and chronic health conditions, with a particular focus on non-communicable disease. This research includes the epidemiology of sedentary behaviour and associations with non-communicable disease risks, controlled laboratory studies examining the acute effects of breaking up prolonged sitting on cardiometabolic biomarkers, and the development and evaluation of interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity in a range of population groups and long-term conditions including Type 2 diabetes, office workers, spinal cord injury, and frailty. Dr Bailey has been awarded multiple research grants from funding bodies and industry partners to support his research and has published a large number of research articles in his field of research. He has delivered multiple conference presentations and invited talks across the UK and Europe and was Technical Advisor for the Qatar National Physical Activity Guidelines 2nd edition, 2021. Dr Bailey is Chair of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Physical Activity for Health Division and was Chair of the BASES 2024 Conference Planning Group. Dr Bailey was also a member of the scientific global leadership committee for the 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress. Dr Bailey has a wealth of experience teaching physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health topics at undergraduate and postgraduate level and uses innovative teaching approaches in his practice including research-informed teaching, bleneded and authentic learning, and flipped classrooms. Dr Bailey's research investigates the relationship between sedentary behaviour and long-term health conditions with examples being cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia and Fabry disease. His research has spanned from the epidemiological analyses of sedentary behaviour and chronic disease risk, laboratory-based studies examining the benefits of breaking up prolonged sitting time on markers of health to provide proof-of-concept, leading to the development and evaluation of interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour. Dr Bailey has established an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional network of collaborators to deliver this programme of research. His research has been conducted in a range of population groups and settings, including young people, workplaces, people with Type 2 diabetes, spinal cord injury, older adults with frailty and sarcopenia, cardiac rehabilitation patients and police officers. This has been facilitated with external partners such as local councils, the NHS, police forces, health charities and community organisations. Dr Bailey’s research has shown that high amounts of daily sitting time are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. He has also published a large number of studies showing that regularly breaking up sitting time with short, frequent bouts of light, moderate or high-intensity physical activity leads to improvements in a range of metabolic biomarkers including blood glucose, lipid levels and blood pressure. His first laboratory based study published in 2014 was the first to show postprandial glucose attenuation in response to breaking up sitting time with light-intensity walking in young healthy adults. This paper has received over 430 citations on google scholar as of May 2024. Dr Bailey has led successful research grant applications to various funding bodies to support his research, such as: MPS Society, Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the enhancement of mental health and quality of life in Fabry disease, £84,007. Diabetes UK, A tailored intervention to reduce sitting behaviour in people with Type 2 Diabetes: A randomised-controlled feasibility study, £137,510. Abbeyfield Research Foundation, Reducing sarcopenia and maintaining independent living in frail older adults via reductions in sitting time: The Frail-LESS (LEss Sitting and Sarcopenia in Frail older adults) intervention, £73,247. Heart Research UK, The benefits of breaking up prolonged sedentary time on cardiovascular disease risk markers in people with spinal cord injury, £86,434. He has also supervised a number of PhD students to completion in addition to supervising current PhD students studying in fields related to physical activity, sedentary behaviour and long-term health conditions.

Dr Oliver Gibson Dr Oliver Gibson is a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology and a member of staff in the Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Department of Life Sciences and a member of the Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease. Oliver is the MSc Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences programme lead and module leader for SP1616 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology, SP2605 Physiology of Sport and Exercise, and SP5603 Sport Performance Science. He is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of The Physiological Society. Oliver's primary research interests relate to Applied Human Physiology and in particular the impact of Heat Stress on Human Health, Performance, and Function. Please see the Research Tab, for further details. Publications can be viewed in the 'Selected Publications' tab and via Google Scholar. Oliver provides peer-review for a number of international journals, and has presented at numerous of national and international conferences winning several young investigator awards. Throughout his career he has provided physiology consultancy to a number of high performance sports. Oliver's primary research interests relate to Applied Human Physiology and in particular the impact of Heat Stress on Human Health, Performance, and Function. Research in this area can be broadly divided into three areas Understanding the impact of climate change/heat waves on human health. This work has a particular emphasis on examining the independent effects of temperature and/or physical activity on gut permeability and systemic inflammation. Associated work considers strategies to improve the resilience of the gut to stress. Examining the efficacy of thermal interventions to enhance health and physiological function and address disease states in clinical and exercise contexts. Experimental work in this area has a specific emphasis on the impact of passive heating as a means to stimulate angiogenesis in skeletal muscle, and improve force production during dynamic contractions Quantifying changes in endurance and team sport performance in the heat and examining methods to attenuate performance declines and risk to health. Work in this domain includes laboratory and field based testing and interventions to characterise changes in performance and establish the efficacy of heat alleviation strategies. Experimental work commonly involves an array of thermophysiological and metabolic measurement techniques to quantify systemic and local responses during passive or exertional heat stress. In addition, projects may utilise at variety of tissue sampling techniques e.g., muscle biopsies and venepuncture/cannulation, with the collected samples ultimately analysed using benchtop or advanced measurement approaches e.g., RT-PCr, Western Blotting and ELISA techniques. In addition to conducting human experimental trials, cell culture techniques are being utilised as a complement to the established in vivo work. Oliver lectures in Human Physiology across undergraduate and postgraduate Sport, Health and Exercise Science programmes. He is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a member of The Physiological Society. Much of Oliver's teaching content is aligned to his research interests in topics such as Aerobic and anaerobic metabolism Environmental physiology including heat and cold stress, and altitude responses Muscle function Nutrition (for sport and health) and dehydration Oliver is the MSc Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences programme lead and module leader for SP1616 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology SP2605 Physiology of Sport and Exercise SP5603 Sport Performance Science.

Miss Sara Horne Sara is a Research Fellow and Laboratory Manager within the Biomechanics discipline in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences at Brunel University London. Her role involves the day-to-day management of the Biomechanics Laboratory and teaching and research within the areas of Biomechanics and Performance Analysis. Sara is currently conducting PhD research assessing the risk factors and mechanisms of injury in elite Netball. Career History After completing her BA (Hons) degree at West London Institute of Higher Education Sara was offered the position of Biomechanics Scientific Officer while completing her MSc in Sport Sciences at the same Institute (which became a College of Brunel University). Subsequently she has worked as the Biomechanics Laboratory Manger at Brunel for many years being instrumental in the development of the laboratories and particularly the interfacing and integration of the advanced imaging and biomechanical techniques that support the biomechanics research group projects. Sara has also been actively involved in the teaching of Biomechanics at all levels and the Biomechanics groups various research projects. In 2012 her position changed to Research Fellow and Laboratory Manager in recognition of her involvement in a number of funded research projects. Throughout her career Sara has also conducted consultancy work with a range of sports teams and athletes. She is a qualified Netball coach and applied Level 4 accredited performance analyst with the International Society of Performance Analysis of Sport. She has worked as performance analyst for the Brunel Hurricanes and Glasgow Wildcats Netball Superleague Teams and for the Scotland Netball squads. She continues to work with junior and elite athletes in a range of racket sports. Sara has more recently introduced Performance Analysis into the Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences curriculum and currently supports student projects and work experience in this area. Sara has a particular interest in identifying the risk factors and mechanisms which cause injury in sport. A greater understanding of these factors can enable better prediction of injuries and inform more appropriate injury prevention strategies. She is also interested in the use of video-based methods to more accurately assess injury causation across a range of sports. She has been a Co-Investigator on 6 Football Association funded research projects assessing injury risk in mixed gender football at various age levels. This research has subsequently informed FA policy on mixed gender participation age limits. Sara is currently conducting PhD research which aims to identify the risk factors and mechanisms of injury in elite Netball in the UK. This project is being conducted in collaboration with England Netball assessing injuries in the Vitality Netball Superleague competition. Sara was also a Co-Investigator on a UEFA funded project assessing the risks and benefits of youth football players taking creatine supplementation. Sara has been involved in a wealth of research projects with the Biomechanics and wider Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences research teams. She has a particular interest in the biomechanics of sports injuries. Sara is affiliated to the Centre for Human Performance, Exercise and Rehabilitation (CHPER). Sara has taught across a range of Biomechanics, Coaching and Research Methods modules. She has also supervised numerous major projects within Biomechanics and Performance Analysis. She is currently joint Study Block Leader for SP2700: Applying Sport Sciences to Practice: Coaching and Teaching effectiveness and part of the teaching team for SP1700: Fundamentals of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences and SP2020: Biomechanical Analysis of Sport.

Dr Aliah Shaheen Aliah Shaheen joined the Division of Sports Science and Exercise in Brunel University London in 2018. She is an engineer by background, holding a BEng degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Birmingham and graduating with a PhD in Bioengineering from Imperial College London in 2010. Following her PhD, she worked as a Research Associate in Imperial College London between 2010 and 2011 and then she joined the University of Surrey as a Lecturer in July of 2011. During her time in the University of Surrey, she supervised a number of PhD students, Postdoctoral researchers and Research Assistants working on experimental and computational biomechanics. Her research focus is in the areas of functional morphology and movement coordination with applications in upper limb biomechanics, active ageing and animal locomotion. Upper limb and shoulder movement and biomechanics Movement coordination and coordination variability and their role in function Functional morphology Animal locomotion

Dr Claire Nolan Dr Claire Nolan is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy in the Department of Health Sciences and an NIHR Advanced Fellow with clinical expertise in pulmonary rehabilitation. Dr Nolan completed her PhD in Imperial College London in 2018 on gait speed and prognosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Dr Nolan’s research interests include strategies to increase engagement in and alternative models of rehabilitation programmes for people living with chronic lung conditions and multiple long-term conditions. She has expertise in intervention co-design, mixed-methodologies, as well as feasibility and randomised controlled trials. Dr Nolan is Chair Elect of the American Thoracic Society Pulmonary Rehabilitation Assembly Programme Committee, a committee member of the NHSE National Respiratory Programme and the British Thoracic Society Quality Standards for Pulmonary Rehabilitation committee, and Impact Champion for the Department of Health Sciences, Brunel University. Dr Nolan's research interests include strategies to increase engagement in and alternative models of rehabilitation programmes for people living with chronic lung conditions and multiple long-term conditions. She has expertise in intervention co-design, mixed-methodologies, as well as feasibility and randomised controlled trials. Dr Nolan's current areas of research include: - Co-design and testing of Very Brief Advice for pulmonary rehabilitation - Co-design of a financial incentive intervention to increase engagement with pulmonary rehabilitation - Non-inferiority randomised controlled trial comparing pulmonary rehabiltiation delivered using minimal versus specialist equipment in people with chronic respiratory disease - Randomised controlled trial comparing SPACE for COPD to usual care following pulmonary rehabilitation

Dr Daniel Low Daniel Low joined the Division of Sports, Health and Exercise Sciences at Brunel University London in 2019. He is a Brunel University graduate, completing the Sports Science degree in 2004. He then completed an MSc and PhD in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Exeter, whereby his Masters and Doctorate theses focused on the effect of different playing surfaces and footwear on lower extremity biomechanics of football (soccer) players. He has a continued research interest in the effects of sports playing surface and footwear on the body, as well as the biomechanical mechanisms behind balance and the effect that exercise, anxiety and ageing has on our ability to remain upright. During his time as a lecturer at Aberystwyth University, Daniel supervised many undergraduate and post-graduate students including those studying for a PhD; he has also externally and internally examined research students theses. He also regularly reviews for national and international academic journals. Daniel is a Senior Fellow of the HEA and is accredited by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science for his pedagogical work; he has also developed a number of degree programmes relating to sport and exercise science and biology. Daniel is a member of staff in the Division of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Department of Life Sciences and a member of the Centre for Human Performance, Exercise and Rehabilitation The impact of aging on human movement Factors impacting postural control Factors impacting lower extremity injury including footwear and playing surfaces Biomechanics of human movement

Dr Emily Hunt Emily Hunt joined Brunel University London in January 2019 as a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Psychology). Emily completed her PhD at Loughborough University, completing in July 2021. The focus of Emily's PhD was narrative behaviour change and well-being, specifically exploring the power of stories as a means to promote physical activity for people with arthritis. Most recently, Emily's research has focused on utilising digital storytelling as a means to explore experiences of living with multiple long-term conditions and chronic disease. Emily is a member of the Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease, the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse and contributes to the Health Behaviour Change Research Group. Emily's research interests are grounded in understanding experiences of sport, exercise and physical activity for people living with chronic health conditions, such as multiple long-term conditions, arthritis, diabetes and chronic pain. To explore these topics, Emily utilises qualitative and narrative research methods (semi-structured interviewing, focus groups, life story interviews, narrative interviews, digital storytelling) and various forms of qualitative and narrative analysis. Physical activity, health and wellbeing Health and Exercise Psychology Chronic disease and/or multiple long-term conditions (e.g. arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain) Digital storytelling Qualitative and narrative methods Emily contributes to teaching on the following modules and study blocks: SP1602/SP1610 Introduction to Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing (Module Leader) SP1706 Introduction to Research Methods and Data Analysis SP2603 Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Lifecourse SP3602-SP3706 Applied Sport and Exercise Pscyhology SP3600 Final Year Project (Dissertation supervision) SP5508 Research Methods and Data Analysis SP5530 Dissertation (MSc) SP5601 Physical Activity and Health

Dr Lee Romer Dr Romer holds a Readership in Human and Applied Physiology. After completing undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Brunel, he worked for several years at the British Olympic Medical Centre where he was responsible for the design, management and provision of physiological support services to Olympic Governing Bodies. He completed a PhD at the University of Birmingham and received post-doctoral training at the John Rankin Laboratory of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. He rejoined Brunel in 2004 and served as Division Lead from 2014 to 2018. Dr Romer’s research is focused on the cardiorespiratory responses, interactions and limitations to exercise in health and disease. His research has shown that the respiratory muscles are susceptible to fatigue under specific conditions and that it is possible to improve performance in various settings by specifically training these muscles. More recent work has shown that the cardiovascular consequences of respiratory muscle work/fatigue and arterial hypoxaemia have direct implications for limb muscle function and exercise tolerance. These findings in healthy individuals have relevance for the management of conditions in which the function of the respiratory muscles is impaired or the loads that they must overcome are elevated (e.g., cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular disorders). He has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles on topics related to these areas, including several invited scholarly reviews. Furthermore, he has produced invited textbook chapters for leading national and international organisations, including American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Physiological Society (APS), British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and International Olympic Committee (IOC). He has also delivered numerous invited presentations at international conferences, including several prestigious keynotes. His research has been supported by external agencies, including the Canadian Lung Association, UK Sport, British Paralympic Association, Integrated Spinal Rehabilitation Foundation, The Royal Society, The Physiological Society (PhySoc), The Nuffield Foundation, amongst others. He has been awarded fellowships from ACSM, BASES and PhySoc in recognition of his continuous and active service to these societies and their respective disciplines. He has completed several terms as Associate Editor and served on the Editorial Board for prominent journals in his field. He currently serves as Senior Editor for Experimental Physiology - a publication of The Physiological Society. He has a wide network of national and international collaborators and has ongoing projects with academics in the UK, EU, US and Canada. Dr Romer has been a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2006. He leads modules at undergraduate and masters, and teaches across all levels. He has supervised several research assistants/fellows and has successfully supervised a significant number of doctoral students, many of whom have been awarded prestigious prizes and have progressed to senior roles within academia and other sectors. He has served as an External Advisor for course validations and as an External Examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at world-leading institutions for exercise science and medicine. Furthermore, he has examined a significant number of doctoral dissertations, both at home and abroad.

Professor Meriel Norris As a qualified physiotherapist (since 1993) I have worked in the UK, India and Indonesia specialising in neurorehabilitation. I completed an MA in Medical Anthropology in 2002 and PhD in 2009. My PhD topic brought together the fields of stroke, rehabilitation and anthropology by exploring the experience and health seeking behaviour following stroke in Aceh, Indonesia. I joined Brunel Univeristy London in 2009. A substantial part of my current post is to deliver expert and clinically relevant research-led teaching predominantly post-graduate courses. I am currently the programme lead for the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, MSc Advanced Professional Practice and MSc Integrated ACP Apprenticeship programmes. I also lead three post-graduate modules. I have a strong international research profile and currently supervise seven post-graduate researchers. I have specialised in applied qualitative research methods and process evaluation of trials as well as clinical education. I have published over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences. I am currently co-investigator in three large international trials and have held grants totaling more than £1.8 million over the last 10 years. I also act as the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead within my division. My main research interests are in stroke and neurorehabilitation more generally including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons and Cerebral Palsy. This includes the subjective experience, rehabilitation, and cultural influences on the therapeutic relationship. Research is based both in the UK and internationally. Methodologically my speciality is social sciences within clinical and educational research. I have a specific interest in creative methods and co-creation. My main research area is the application of qualitative research methodologies within neurorehabilitation and education. This includes development of innovative interventions, evaluation within clinical trials and understand the experience of living with long term conditions from the perspective of all stake-holders. I am a core member of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse, delivering masterclasses and contributing to the research festivals and have developed significant national and international collaborations. I have co-edited invited special topics and since 2019 attracted six new PGRs, five of which are fully funded with two on the ESRC DTP. Teaching Responsibilities: MSc Pre-reg Physiotherapy Co Module Lead - Research Methods Teach – Rehabilitation II Supervisor Research Dissertations MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, Advanced Professional Practice and Apprenticeship route Programme lead Module Lead PH5604 Qualitative Research in Health and Social Care Module Lead PH5645 End Point Assessment Module Lead PH5666 Advanced Practice Portfolio Contribute to PH5615, PH5629, PH5631 CPPD co-ordinator Supervisor MSc Dissertations Personal tutor Tripartite co-ordinator Other Teaching Responsibilities: PGR tutor qualitative research

Dr Carla Harkness-Armstrong Dr Carla Harkness-Armstrong joined Brunel University London in June 2022 as a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Biomechanics). Carla completed her BSc (Hons) in Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Northumbria University in 2016, before gaining her MSc in Sport and Clinical Biomechanics at Liverpool John Moores University in 2017. She was then awarded a PhD scholarship to continue her studies at Liverpool John Moores University, whereby her thesis focussed on the musculoskeletal mechanisms of paediatric idiopathic toe-walking. Following completion of her PhD in 2021, Carla worked as a post-doctoral research associate in Biomechanics at Manchester Metropolitan University, working on a project aiming to improve the neuromuscular control of balance in children with developmental coordination disorder. Carla is a member of the Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease. Her primary research interests focus on the musculoskeletal adaptations of those with a motor impairment and/or neuromuscular degeneration. Muscle-tendon mechanics Balance and postural control Childhood disability SP2604 - Biomechanics of Human Movement (Module Lead) SP1613/SP1610 - Introduction to Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing SP2607 - The Application of Sport Science to Coaching: Working with Individuals SP3604 - Issues in Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Life Course Level 5 Study Group Facilitator

Professor Amanda Harvey Qualifications: PhD - Studies into the growth survival and cell death of cancer cell lines, University of Sheffield Medical School BSc (Hons) Biochemistry - University of Wales, College of Cardiff Professional development 2008: PGCert TLHE 2006: Enrolled PG Cert Brunel University London 2001: College Certificate in Teaching Skills for Higher Education, Royal Holloway University of London Current Research Interests and Expertise Breast cancer biology Cell Signalling Mechanisms of therapeutic resistance Assessment of alternative therapies Resistance to anti-cancer treatment is a major issue for cancer patients. Our work focuses on (i) understanding the contribution that cell signalling plays to the development of therapeutic resistance in breast cancer, (ii) identifying new therapeutic targets and (iii) discovering potential new treatments. Teaching Responsibilities: Co-ordination Roles BB3733 Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology BB5500 MSc Dissertation Contribution to other modules BB3091 Final Year Project BB3704 Biology, Genetics and Treatment of Cancer BB2802 Primary Literature Interrogation and Synthesis (Assessment) BB2804 Data Analysis and Presentation (Assessment) BB5514 Cell Signalling and Cancer BB5506 Biology Genetics and Treatment of Cancer BB5501 Research Planning (Assessment) BB5500 MSc Research Dissertation Academic appointments 2015: Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, Division of Biosciences, College of Health and Life Sciences 2006: Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, Division of Biosciences, School of Health Sciences and Social Care 2000-2006: Post-doctoral researcher, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London 1998-2000: Post-doctoral researcher, Human metabolism and Clinical Biochemistry, University of Sheffield Medical School 1997-1998: Research Assistant, Clinical Sciences Centre, University of Sheffield 1993-1997: Robert-Boulcher PhD scholarship, Institute for Cancer Studies, University of Sheffield Medical School

Dr Rebecca Hings Dr Rebecca Hings (pronouns: she/her) is a Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Psychology) at Brunel University London. She is an expert in the emotional labour and wellbeing of sport, health, and exercise employees across a range of domains including high-performance sport, the NHS, and third sector sport organisations. Beckie is a founding member of the international Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology Development and Training research group that focuses on advancing the practice of sport and performance psychologists through evidence-based research, education and training. Beckie graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a First Class Honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science and went on to complete her PhD in Organisation Studies at Portsmouth Business School. Beckie's doctoral research examined how and why sports medicine and science practitioners manage their emotions when interacting with clients as part of their professional practice. Prior to her role at Brunel, she was a Research Planning Officer (Impact) at the University of Birmingham. Beckie's research interests span the fields of sport and exercise psychology, sport sociology, and organisation studies in the following topic areas: Emotional labour and wellbeing of sport, health and exercise employees including; Health and care professionals including Occupational Therapists, Sport and Exercise Psychologists, Physiotherapists, and Sport and Exercise Medicine Specialists Sport match officials Community sports coaches and third-sector volunteers Psychological resilience, stress and wellbeing in performance domains Developing evidence-based professional development and education Beckie is a dedicated teacher with over ten years of experience teaching sport and exercise psychology and qualitative research methodologies in undergraduate and postgraduate modules at UK universities. Beckie is committed to teaching in line with her values, (1) developing evidence-based teaching materials, (2) prioritising the student voice and experience, and (3) fostering inclusive and supportive classroom environments to discuss, critique, and solve problems. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is Module Lead for the following units: SP2720 Developing Research Methods and Data Analysis Skills SP5535 Social Processes in Exercise and Sport

Professor Emmanouil Karteris Dr Manos Karteris graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Surrey in 1995. He then was awarded an MSc with Distinction in Medical Genetics with Immunology from Brunel University London in 1996 and completed his PhD in Molecular Endocrinology from the University of Warwick in 2000. He then undertook post-doctoral appointments at the University of Warwick, including a prestigious VIP Research Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust. He was appointed as Lecturer in Endocrinology at the University of Warwick from 2005-2006 and then he transferred to Brunel University London as a Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences in June 2006. Currently he is a Reader in the Division of Biomedical Sciences. Dr Karteris is the Departmental Director International. Role of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the feto-placental unit Detection and characterisation of circulating tumour cells Use of liquid biopsies as cancer biomargers of diagnostic and prognostic value Development of fetal-placental 3D cultures as a screening platform for EDCs Dr Karteris has a long standing interest in mTOR signalling with emphasis in reproductive endocrinology and ovarian cancer. His lab is also active in the field of biomarker development using liquid biopsies. Dr Karteris has a recognized publication record in receptor biochemistry and cell signalling. He has published 89 research manuscripts, presented over 100 research abstracts in leading national and international conferences. Many of these papers are generating a strong and influential impact not only to the biomedical field (h index; 31) but also to the society as they deal with topical issues such as effects of stress during pregnancy. Moreover Dr Karteris has established collaborations with leading authorities in their fields and has been successful in obtaining research grants at national and international level. Teaching Responsibilities: Co-ordination Roles Study Block co-ordinator for BB3714 Endocrine Disorders Contribution to other modules BB3091 Final Year Project BB2802 Primary Literature Interrogation and Synthesis (Assessment) BB2804 Data Analysis and Presentation (Assessment) BB5514 Cell Signalling and Cancer BB5500 MSc Research Dissertation

Dr Amir Mohagheghi Dr Mohagheghi holds academic degrees in Physiotherapy and Motor Control and currently works as a Clinical Biomechanist. As a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy of England, his research focuses on translating laboratory findings into clinical practice. His work primarily addresses movement disabilities of neural origin, including the study of biomechanical properties of muscles and tendons in both healthy and clinical populations. His research also explores the use of alternative motor pathways, manipulation of movement contexts for motor rehabilitation, and balance impairments in individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Qualifications PhD – Motor Control & Learning – Otago University, New Zealand (1999) MSc – Physiotherapy – Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran (1994) BSc – Physiotherapy – Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran (1987) Employment Brunel University London (2009 – present) University College London (2007 – 2009) Manchester Metropolitan University (2004 – 2007) StartReact for the rehabilitation of arm movement in stroke survivors: Our team has found evidence supporting the use of StartReact—a phenomenon referring to the early initiation of prepared or pre-programmed movements (possibly) through neural pathways other than the corticospinal tract—in the rehabilitation of arm movements in stroke survivors. We have demonstrated that the inflexible coordination patterns between arm segments can be disrupted, leading to increased variability of movement coordination and improved movement accuracy when reaching for an object in this population. In vivo examination of muscle and tendon architecture and mechanical properties: Muscle and tendon architectural and biomechanical properties can affect function. These characteristics are changed in clinical populations with neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, cerebral palsy). Dr Mohagheghi’s interest is focused on the effect of neurological disorders and efficacy of different therapeutic interventions on muscle and tendon properties and functional abilities. He has been a contributing author to the development of the UK national guideline for “Splinting for the prevention and correction of contractures in adults with neurological dysfunction” published 2015. Movement disorders and musculoskeletal injuries: many neurological and musculoskeletal disorders affect walking, balance, arm movement and coordination between limbs. In stroke survivors, we examine the effect of experimentation in a StartReact context on the recovery of arm movements. In patients with Parkinson's Disease, our focus is on improving balance instability using vestibular stimualtion. SP5604 - Assessment of Human Performance SP2555 – Work Placement

Dr Liam O'Reilly Dr Liam O'Reilly joined Brunel University London in 2021 as a lecturer in Biomechanics. He completed his PhD at the University of Portsmouth with a programme of research which investigated interference between cognitive tasks and vision during walking. Liam's research interests include active travel and barriers to the uptake of walking. In particular, Liam is interested in the effect of urban environments on pedestrian performance, safety, and wellbeing. In addition to leading and teaching on a range of biomechanics modules, he has previously taught on a range of modules relating to health and exercise prescription, and delivered and assessed industry qualifications in fitness and personal training. Research interests include all aspects of locomotion with a particular focus on multitasking. This research investigates the interfering effects of vision, cognition, and other aspects of locomotor control. These topics hold relevance for: populations with physical or cognitive impairments, performance and safety in demanding occupations, and safe design of public spaces. Visual control of locomotion Cognitive-motor interference Cognitive and physical impairments Ageing and falls Active travel and the effects of urban environments on pedestrians

Dr Raha Pazoki Raha Pazok MD PhD FHEA is a medical doctor and an epidemiologist. She studied Epidemiology at the Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES) and in the University of Amsterdam. She worked with various cohort and case control studies such as the Arrhythmia Genetics in the Netherlands (AGNES), the Rotterdam Study, the Airwave Health Monitoring Study and the UK Bio bank. In 2016, she joined the Department of Epidemiology and Bio-statistics at Imperial College London as a Research Associate. In 2020, she started a Teaching & Research academic position at Brunel University London. Dr Pazoki specializes in the field of health data research, with a primary focus on the epidemiology of cardiometabolic diseases. She holds a particular interest in exploring causal inference and precision medicine by leveraging genomics and extensive health data sets with sample sizes exceeding 500,000 individuals. Her expertise spans various domains, including precision medicine, global health, interventions, and the application of artificial intelligence for predicting health outcomes. She harbors a keen interest in identification of the relationship between circulating molecules and biomarkers, nutrition, lifestyle choices, genetic factors, and their collective contribution to the modulation of health risk factors and outcomes. She was the first to identify 517 novel genetic loci associated with liver enzymes and the first to show the causal effect of liver dysfunction on cardiovascular diseases. In addition, she is the first to show the effect of the alcohol consumption WDPCP gene in lipid metabolism, and liver cirrhosis. (Genetic) Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases Big Data Genome-wide Association Studies Genetic risk scores Mendelian Randomization Machine Learning Dr Paozki is a founder and director of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Group hosting researchers and academics across Brunel university with direct or indirect research interest involving cardiometabolic aetiology, prevention, and health. We work in various areas to identify causes of cardiometabolic diseases (environmental, lifestyle, molecular, and clinical) and provide insight into how they interplay. We use the information for better prevention of cardiometabolic diseases in the community. If you are a MSc graduates (with upper second class degree or higher) in the relevant field to the above research area, please contact Dr Raha Pazoki (raha.pazoki@brunel.ac.uk). Postgraduate fees and funding | Brunel University London or Scholarships and Bursaries | Brunel University London and Other funding | Brunel University London

Dr Elizabeth Prabhakar

Dr Alyson Warland

Miss Alex Harvey Alex Harvey is a Reader in Physiotherapy (Education) and is the Programme Lead for the BSc Physiotherapy programme. She is the module lead for the HH1606/HH5604 respiratory module and also teaches on the PH5601/PH3601 critical care module. Alex is the module lead for the postgraduate MSc ACP module PH5618 'Rehabilitation after Critical illness'. Alex is the Departmental Director of Teaching and Learning (DDTL) (Department of Health Sciences). Alex still works clinically at the Royal Brompton Hospital and specialises in critical care. Alex's research interests are 'dysfunctional breathing/hyperventilation syndrome', 'physiotherapy management of bronchiectasis' and 'manual and ventilator hyperinflation'. Alex teaches on the MSc in Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy at UCL.

Dr Georgia Spiliotopoulou Prior to joining the Department of Clinical Sciences, Georgia worked in physical, learning disabilities and children’s settings both in Greece and in the UK. Her doctoral research explored the impact of cognitive skills on school-aged children’s reading ability. As part of her research, she pilot-tested assessment tools for children’s working memory and metamemory. She is interested in research focusing on provision of assistive devices and quality of life of people with long-term conditions, outcome measures and effectiveness of provision of occupational therapy services. Qualifications: PhD (Brunel) PGCert LTHE (Brunel) MSc in Neurorehabilitation (Brunel) BSc (OT) (TEI Athens) Assessment process and use of assistive devices and home adaptations to improve quality of life for adults with long-term conditions and older people. Enabling people with long-term conditions to self-assess for provision of assistive devices. Validity and reliability of assessment tools Assistive technology Quality of life of people with long-term conditions Effectiveness of provision of occupational therapy services Practice guidelines development Evidence-based practice using mostly quantitative approaches Development of assessment tools Evaluation of reliability and validity of assessment tools Teaching Responsibilities: Lecturer in Occupational Therapy for the BSc and MSc programmes: Research methods (BSc) Research proposal (BSc) Enabling health and well-being through occupations (BSc) Evidence-based Occupational Therapy (MScOT) Approaches to Research (MScOT) Preparation for Dissertation (MScOT) The Art of Professional Practice (MScOT)

Mr Arturo Lawson Qualified from West Middlesex University Hospital School of Physiotherapy in 1988. Appointed as Lecturer in physiotherapy in 1998 at Brunel University. Currently shares academic time with clinical physiotherapy work in private practice. Currently PhD candidate investigating imaging, biomechanics and subgrouping in Achilles tendinopathy Qualifications: MSc Neuromusculokeletal physiotherapy 2002, UCL gait analysis lower limb biomechanics overuse injury in athletes achilles tendinopathy Teaching Responsibilities: HH1600/HH5700 anatomy 1, the lower quadrant - module lead HH1603/HH5701 anatomy 2, the upper quadrant- module lead HH1105 - musculoskeletal I, the lower quadrant PH2101 - musculoskeletal II, the upper quadrant HH3157 - project proposal supervision MSc project supervision Clinical visiting Year 2 lead Topics: Clinical Reasoning, Musculoskeletal Assessment and Treatment, Basic Physiology

Dr Richard Godfrey Richard is a Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching and Human Performance but is a physiologist by background. He lectures at every level in physiology and at level 2, 3 and Masters in Sports Coaching. The bulk of Richard’s research is in the area of human growth hormone and specifically the exercise-induced growth hormone response. He completed his PhD on ‘The exercise-induced growth hormone response in humans and its association with lactate’ in 2003 with Cranfield University. He has published on the physiology of naturally occurring growth hormone and on the consequences of injecting growth hormone in athletes. His interests extend to sports performance and increasingly to health-related aspects of exercise. As a result he has published on a wide range of issues other than growth hormone; on heat, hydration and performance, jet lag, bone health, physiology of rowing, altitude, physiology of exercise training, physiology of triathlon, detraining, cancer and exercise, sleep, immune function and education. In 2003 Richard joined the teaching team in the School of Sport and Education (now College of Health and Life Sciences) following 12 years as a physiologist at the British Olympic Medical Centre (BOMC), the British Olympic Association’s Department of Science and Medicine. During the last 7 years with the BOA he was Chief Physiologist of the BOMC and was involved in organising physiology service provision to elite sport before the home-country sports institutes, including the English Institute of Sport, were operational. During his time with the BOA Richard staffed more than 100 training camps, many abroad and in extreme environments ranging from –30oC in the Canadian Rockies to 47oC in Seville and at altitudes up to 2800m on glaciers in France and Norway. This has provided him with a rich and unique catalogue of experiences which can perhaps best be illustrated in taking blood for lactate analysis. From blood sampling from rowers whilst hanging over the edge of a speedboat on the Thames or on a lake in Italy, to near blizzard conditions, in the dark, with cross-country skiers, on a mountain in Sweden. He has accompanied and supported various British sports teams at training camps and in their final preparations for European and World Championships as well as for Olympic Games. This, either as a scientist in isolation, or as part of a team of staff which may include a doctor, physiotherapist, nutritionist and psychologist. In 1996 he was the Physiologist to the British Olympic Team in Atlanta where heat and humidity were the greatest concerns. In 2002 he was Physiologist / Assistant Coach to the Biathlon Team that competed at the Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, where cold and altitude posed a threat to well-being and to performance. Richard has appeared in the press, and on radio and TV, on more than 40 occasions and has more than 100 publications including peer-reviewed papers, book chapters and articles for the lay press. His interest in science has led to invited presentations at conferences for the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, the English Institute of Sport, the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association for Science Education. In 2000 he gave an invited talk at Oxford University for their part in Science, Engineering and Technology Week. Richard has been a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) since 2005 and was made a Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) in September 2010. Richard’s main research interests are in growth hormone (GH) in sport and exercise, that is the misuse of GH in sport but in particular the body’s (endogenous) GH response to exercise. Other research interests include exercise and sports performance and, increasingly, exercise and health. His teaching interests include all aspects of physiology generally, and specifically physiology related to sport, exercise and health.

Mr Benjamin Beare Ben is a Physiotherapy Lecturer and Researcher. His research interest is shoulder pain in the neurological population. He is also interested in rehabilitation adjuncts, enhanced environments and social initiatives that help people with neurological impairments participate in experiences that are meaningful to them. Ben is interested in shoulder pain in the neurological population and reducing secondary complications that impact on rehabilitation participation. He is also interested in rehabilitation adjuncts, enhanced environments and social initiatives that help people with neurological impairments participate in experiences that are meaningful to them. Shoulder pain in the neurological population Neurological Rehabilitation

Dr Adam Bruton Adam Bruton joined Brunel University London in October 2022 as a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Sport Psychology). Adam completed a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science at Swansea University in 2010, before being awarded his PhD in Sport Science at Swansea University in 2015. His PhD research explored the utility of video-based interventions to improve confidence and performance in groups. After completing his PhD, Adam worked as a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Psychology of Human Performance at the University of Roehampton from 2015-2022. During this time, Adam continued to research the use of movement simulation strategies such as imagery and observation in the contexts of sport and rehabilitation. Simulating actions through action observation and/or motor imagery to: Enhance learning of new motor skills / sequences Improve performance under pressure Increase task- and situation-specific confidence Develop mental representations of action in the long-term memory Understand joint actions and interactions across multiple persons Understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning action simulation: Using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess corticospinal responses to action simulation Using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to probe the roles of different brain areas during action simulation Testing immersive reality technologies as alternative forms of perceptual-cognitive, and/or action training: Investigating the efficacy of virtual- or augmented-reality for perceptual-cognitive, and/or action training Utilizing virtual- or augmented-reality to test possible transfer of perceptual, cognitive or movement outcomes after action simulation training Exploring the validity and reliability of immersive technologies as a training tool in high performance contexts My research interests span the fields of sport psychology, experimental psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. I adopt a multidisciplinary approach to understand interactions between neural, cognitive, psychological and behavioral factors associated with the following topics: Simulating actions via motor imagery and/or action observation. Performance and learning in individuals and teams. Immersive technology use in high performance domains.

Dr Adam Cocks Adam is a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Psychology). Following the completion of his BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees at the University of Central Lancashire, Adam joined Brunel University London as a PhD student on the Isambard Scholarship Scheme in October 2012. His PhD research focussed on applying theories relating to anxiety and performance to novel dynamic domains. This included investigating how anxiety influences anticipation judgements during sport as well as fall-risk-related behaviours in older adults. After being awarded his PhD, and completing a short term Research Assistant post in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Brunel, he began his current role in November 2017. Control of attention Anxiety and performance Fear of falling in older adults Fall-risk and fall prevention in older adults Psychological influences on visual processes and the control of posture and gait Neurological disorders and motor performance SP1706 - Introduction to Research Methods and Data Analysis SP2603 - Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Lifecourse SP3606 - Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology SP3607 - The Psychology of Physical Activity for Health

Dr Helen Douglas Helen is a paediatric respiratory physiotherist. Her research interest is understanding treatment behaviours in children and young people with long-term conditions. She is also interested in physical activity throughout childhood and adolesence and how to support children and young people to be physically active for life. Remote monitoring of airway clearance techniques Long-term monitoring of physical activity in children and young people Understanding treatment behaviours and resultant impact on health in people with cystic fibrosis Physical activity interventions for children and young people with long-term conditions Paediatric respiratory Physical activity

Dr Carolyn Dunford Carolyn has a long and varied occupational therapy career combining clinical leadership, and research roles as well as working as an academic in Higher Education. She has specialised in working with children and young people with disabilities and their families. Carolyn is passionate about children and young people's participation and delivering evidence based practice.

Professor Cherry Kilbride Cherry is a Reader in Physiotherapy, and pathway lead for the ACP MSc Neurorehabilitation in the Department of Health Sciences. Cherry is an active proponent of developing capacity and capability for allied health professional clinical research. Cherry is the Director of Research for Brunel Partners Academic Centre for Health Sciences (BPACHS) and the Lead Allied Health Professional for Clinical Research at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, where she previously worked as a senior manager and specialist physiotherapist in neurology. Cherry is an active researcher in the field of neurological rehabilitation, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy. Qualifications: PhD MSc FCSP PGCert (LTHE), FHEA Stroke, ataxia, evaluating clinical practice, guideline development, mixed methods, action research Teaching Responsibilities: Research methods, neurology and rehabilitation

Dr Paapa Kwesi Ampiah Paapa is a musculoskeletal physiotherapist who qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2010 from the University of Ghana. Paapa practised clinically at many levels (in Ghana and UK) in physiotherapy but had keen interest in musculoskeletal and orthopaedic physiotherapy. In 2017, Paapa graduated with an MSc in Physiotherapy, Advancing Neuromusculoskeletal Practice, from the University of Nottingham, where Paapa was introduced to contemporary evidence-based approaches to managing chronic musculoskeletal pain. Paapa’s PhD at the University of Nottingham explored the feasibility of delivering evidence-based interventions for the management of people with chronic musculoskeletal pain in low- and middle-income countries, with Ghana as a starting point. Paapa is very keen on improving global health systems (for example, inequality, low efficacy and nonevidence based approaches, inaccessibility, research) especially in resource-limited contexts like low- and middle-income countries. Paapa is also keen on promoting equality/diversity/inclusivity in both teaching and research in Physiotherapy. Paapa's research interests is focused on improving global health systems especially in resource-limited developing contexts such as low-and-middle-income countries, and exploring the implementation/operationalisation of evidence based musculoskeletal pain research. musculoskeletal pain, systematic reviews, evidence based practice, implementation research, patient public involvement, clinical studies

Dr Dominic Orth Dr. Dominic Orth is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at the Department of Health Sciences. His primary research delves into understanding how individuals perceive and adapt their physical movements, a concept termed as "perceptual-motor learning." He also focuses on how theories and modern technologies can enhance this learning across a diverse range of groups. This includes participants in both elite and community sports, individuals undergoing the natural process of ageing, and those in rehabilitation. Applications of psychological models to health and learning Motor creativity; Functional movement variability; Expertise acquisition; Perceptual-motor learning

Ms Rosemary Doe-Asinyo Rosemary has over six years of experience teaching occupational therapy and coordinating clinical placement in higher education. Rosemary was part of the pioneering cohort of BSc occupational therapy students trained in Ghana and West Africa. In pursuit of professional growth, she completed a clinical placement with the North Umbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Fund in the United Kingdom. Rosemary has an MSc in Occupational Therapy from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Beyond academia, Rosemary is an active private occupational therapist specializing in working with children and young people with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families. She served as the inaugural president of the Occupational Therapy Association of Ghana (OTAG) and a delegate for the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). Her research has primarily focused on school-aged children, both with or without Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), exploring areas such as prevalence, motor performance, related fitness, and the significance of active play. Rosemary’s research is also centered on the development of contextually relevant assessment tools and interventions for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities across diverse populations. She harbors a keen interest in advancing occupational therapy education and practice, transcending conventional boundaries and contexts. She has an interest in intra-professional fieldwork collaboration among occupational therapy practitioners. Rosemary has joined Brunel University, where she endeavors to foster diversity in occupational therapy education and practice.

Dr Liana Nagy I joined the London School of Occupational Therapy team at Brunel in August, 2023 after lecturing for six years at Oxford Brookes University. I have qualified as an OT in the UK in 2010 and my clinical background includes children occupational therapy in a variety of settings, such as children's centres, hospital wards, mainstream and special needs schools, but it also includes OT work with adults with head injury, spinal injury and am currently praticing as Specialist OT for patients with a rare neurological condition (NMOSD) at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. My PhD (2019) was completed under the supervision of Prof Maria Horne, Prof Mohammed A Mohammed and Dr Sally Barber and focused on ethnic differences in sedentary behaviour and physical activity among White British and South Asian children within the Born in Bradford study. Physical activity Lifestyle interventions Behaviour change Child health and wellbeing Reduction of disability stigma and discrimnation in LMICs Circularity I am leading modules MSc modules and I am a year lead of MSc year 1.

Dr Sizhong Wang Sizhong Wang is a Lecturer and Researcher in Physiotherapy at the Department of Health Sciences. Before starting his academic training, Sizhong worked as a physiotherapist at Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University (China) for four years. Then he obtained his master's degree in Clinical Biomechanics from the University of Salford and subsequently worked as a research assistant at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences in Hongkong Polytechnic University. Sizhong earned his PhD in Physiotherapy from the University of Otago. Musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., shoulder pain, knee osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia) Clinical biomechanics (e.g., gait analysis and gait retraining) Clinical trials Manual therapy Exercise Sizhong is a researcher involved in interdisciplinary collaboration with clinicians, engineers, biomechanists, and biostatisticians to improve healthcare services for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions. His research programmes mainly focus on (1) clinimetric assessment of pain for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions, with a particular interest in movement-evoked pain assessment; (2) interventions (e.g., biomechanical intervention, manual therapy, and exercise) for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions through lab-based studies to clinical trials; and (3) understanding the underlying mechanisms of interventions for managing musculoskeletal pain.