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David W. EvansView profile

Assistant Professor

• Musculoskeletal Pain
• Low Back Pain
• Pain Measurement and Disability
• +7 more

Dr David W. Evans is an Assistant Professor in Musculoskeletal Health Care at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, where he has been a faculty member since 2017. He serves as Programme Lead for the MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration) programme and teaches across multiple physiotherapy degrees including MSci and MSc programmes. Education: PhD in Low Back Pain, Keele University (2007) BSc (Hons) in Osteopathy, Health Sciences University (formerly British School of Osteopathy), London (1998) His research focuses on understanding and measuring disabling musculoskeletal pain, particularly low back pain, with an emphasis on improving patient outcomes through better treatment matching. His work spans pain mechanisms, measurement of disability, and the effectiveness of physical interventions. He has maintained a clinical practice in musculoskeletal health since 1998. Dr Evans's recent publications (2022–2025) reflect a strong trend in quantitative and clinical research, utilizing wearable technology for lumbar mobility assessment, analyzing pain drawings and spatial pain patterns, and investigating psychological factors such as fear of movement. His work integrates biomechanics, neuroscience, and clinical rehabilitation, often through large-scale studies and systematic reviews. He has also contributed to advancing definitions and educational approaches in manual therapy. Professional Memberships and Roles: Member, Society for Back Pain Research (since 2001) Lead, Pain-focused PPIE Group (since 2021) Member, University of Birmingham REDCap Committee (since 2022) Dr Evans has secured over £2 million in research funding as lead or co-applicant and has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers. He is actively involved in research leadership and has contributed to major clinical trial protocols and systematic reviews in pain and rehabilitation. He is affiliated with research platforms including ORCID, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate, and his work is supported by institutional and national research infrastructures. He coaches javelin throwing at a local athletics club, reflecting a personal commitment to physical activity and sports.

Sophie SchwartzView profile

Professor

• Sleep Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging (fMRI, hd-EEG, MEG)
• +7 more

Prof. Sophie Schwartz is a leading neuroscientist at the University of Geneva , where she heads the Sleep & Cognition Lab within the Faculty of Medicine . Her research integrates neuroimaging (fMRI, hd-EEG, MEG) , behavioral testing , and computational modeling to unravel the neural mechanisms underlying memory consolidation , emotion processing , and dreaming during sleep, while also developing clinical interventions to enhance sleep in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Hypertension
• Heart Disease in Women
• +7 more

Eva Gerdts is a Professor at the Clinical Institute 2, University of Bergen, and is affiliated with Haukeland University Hospital. She is a Member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and leads the Bergen Hypertension and Cardiac Dynamics Group. Her work is central to the Center for Research on Heart Disease in Women, established in 2020 with support from the Heart Foundation, Bergen Women's Health Association, and the Grieg Foundation. University: University of Bergen Affiliation: Clinical Institute 2 Research Group: Hypertension and Cardiac Dynamics Center: Center for Research on Heart Disease in Women Email: eva.gerdts@uib.no Her research focuses on heart disease in women , particularly as influenced by hypertension, aortic valve stenosis, obesity, and autoimmune diseases. She investigates sex-specific differences in cardiac strain, arterial stiffness, and myocardial remodeling. Her work emphasizes how male-based data cannot be extrapolated to women, advocating for gender-specific cardiovascular guidelines. Her recent publications span population studies like the Tromsø and Hordaland Health Surveys, clinical trials, and international collaborations. Key trends include sex differences in hypertension outcomes , cardiac effects of bariatric surgery , cryptogenic stroke in young adults , and inflammatory markers in autoimmune diseases . Her research integrates echocardiography, longitudinal data, and public health implications. Scientific recognition includes: Member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences National Heart Association's Heart Research Prize 2022 She supervises multiple PhD and Master’s students, including Ester Kringeland, Sahrai Saeed, and Arleen Aune. She leads the PhD course NORHEART901 in Cardiovascular Imaging and teaches in medical education on hypertension, cardiac ultrasound, and women's heart health. Her research is supported by large-scale population studies and clinical collaborations, particularly through the NOR-SYS and SECRETO projects. She also organizes professional education on valvular disease and dyspnea. She leads or collaborates with several research teams: Bergen Hypertension and Cardiac Dynamics Group Center for Research on Heart Disease in Women NOR-SYS (Norwegian Stroke in the Young Study) SECRETO (Searching for Explanations for Cryptogenic Stroke in the Young) FATCOR Study (Fitness, Adiposity, and Cardiovascular Risk)

Christian HellandView profile

Assistant Professor

• Physical Training
• Strength Training
• Athlete Testing
• +4 more

Christian Helland serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sport and Social Sciences at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH). Additionally, he works as a consultant in the strength department at Olympiatoppen (the Norwegian Olympic Training Center), where he is responsible for physical training programs for beach volleyball, para table tennis, and rowing athletes. Christian holds a master's degree from the Institute of Physical Performance and has been engaged in both practical and theoretical lecturing since 2012. His professional background includes competing as a beach volleyball player at the World Tour level since 2014, which provides him with valuable practical experience to complement his academic work. Dr. Helland's research focuses on optimizing athletic performance through scientific approaches to physical training. His work examines strength development, jump and sprint performance metrics, tendon mechanics, and recovery processes in elite athletes. His research has significant practical applications for coaches and athletes seeking to improve performance while minimizing injury risk. His publication record demonstrates a strong focus on force-velocity profiling, strength and power testing methodologies, and the physiological responses to different training modalities. A recurring theme in his work is the comparison of different training approaches and assessment methods, particularly examining how strength-oriented versus power-oriented training affects recovery needs and performance outcomes. His research often involves collaborations with other leading sports scientists across Norway and internationally. Christian teaches courses in volleyball, coaching methodologies, sports psychology, and sports practice for children and youth. His practical experience as an elite athlete informs his teaching approach, bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world application.

Claire O'NeillView profile

Research Fellow

• Clinical Trials
• Qualitative Methods
• Health Services Research
• +3 more

Dr Claire O'Neill is a Senior Research Fellow at the Swansea University Medical School, specializing in Health Data Science. She is the Manager of the South West Wales Research Design and Conduct Service, funded by Health and Care Research Wales, and has over 15 years of post-doctoral experience in health services research and clinical trials. Research Expertise: Trials, Qualitative Methods, Health Services Research Committee Involvement: Member of Swansea University Health Board’s Joint Scientific Research Committee Research Themes include the integration of clinical trials with qualitative data in emergency medicine, trauma care, and healthcare policy. Her work focuses on blunt chest trauma, self-treatment of COPD exacerbations, and sun safety policies in Welsh schools. Publications highlight trials like STUMBL and ELECT2, emphasizing feasibility studies and patient-clinician communication in trauma management. She also explores health-related quality of life assessments and third-sector influence on NHS Wales. Teaching: Leads module PM-353: Introduction to Clinical Trials , covering trial methodology and responsible reporting of outcomes. Supervision: Available for postgraduate supervision in health data science and clinical research areas.

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Muscle Physiology
• +6 more

Eduardo Saez De Villarreal Sáez is a Professor in the Department of Sports and Information Technology at Universidad Pablo de Olavide, where he is affiliated with the Center for Research in Physical and Sports Performance (CIRFD) and the AFSD Physical Activity, Health and Sport research group. His academic work spans both theoretical and applied aspects of sports science, with a particular focus on physical performance metrics and training methodologies. His research interests center on athletic performance optimization, with specific expertise in strength training methodologies, sprint mechanics, and resistance training adaptations. Dr. Saez De Villarreal's work frequently examines velocity-based training, blood flow restriction techniques, and the biomechanical aspects of athletic movement. His research bridges laboratory findings with practical applications for athletes across multiple sports disciplines including football (soccer), water polo, cycling, and even unique applications to professional bullfighting performance. Analysis of his recent publications (2024-2026) reveals a strong focus on velocity-based resistance training, with particular attention to velocity loss thresholds and their impact on strength development. His work demonstrates increasing sophistication in training methodology research, with systematic reviews and meta-analyses becoming more prominent alongside experimental studies. The research spans multiple sports contexts while maintaining a strong physiological and biomechanical foundation. Dr. Saez De Villarreal supervises doctoral students in the Physical Activity, Sports and Health Sciences program and collaborates with researchers internationally. His work shows consistent output with publications extending into 2026, indicating ongoing active research. His laboratory work appears to focus on practical applications of sports science research across various athletic populations, from youth athletes to professionals.

Garry TewView profile

Professor

• Clinical Exercise Science
• Physical Activity Interventions
• Long-term Health Conditions
• +4 more

Professor Garry Tew serves as the founding Director of the Institute for Health and Care Improvement and holds the position of Professor of Clinical Exercise Science at York St John University's School of Science, Technology and Health. As a BASES Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist, he leads interdisciplinary research initiatives focused on improving community health through evidence-based practices. He also serves as the Academic Lead of Scarborough Coastal Health and Care Research Collaborative (SHARC), a partnership with York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Tew's research program centers on the role of physical activity and exercise in preventing, managing, and treating long-term health conditions. He is internationally recognized for his pioneering work on exercise interventions for intermittent claudication and exercise-based prehabilitation to enhance surgical readiness. His research spans mental health contexts, inflammatory bowel disease, peripheral artery disease, and multimorbidity in older adults, with a particular focus on developing accessible interventions for diverse patient populations. His extensive publication record demonstrates significant contributions across multiple health domains, with recent work emphasizing co-produced physical activity programs for severe mental illness, chair-based yoga for older adults with multiple conditions, and digital health coaching for surgical preparation. These publications reflect a consistent trajectory toward developing practical, evidence-based exercise interventions that can be implemented in real-world healthcare settings. Professor Tew actively contributes to the research community as a member of the East Midlands Nottingham One Research Ethics Committee and serves on the Selection Committee for the NIHR Doctoral Fellowship Programme. He regularly reviews grant applications for major funding bodies including the National Institute for Health and Care Research, Medical Research Council, and British Heart Foundation. His teaching expertise encompasses research methods and exercise physiology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He also conducts specialized workshops for staff and postgraduate research students on research-related topics, demonstrating his commitment to developing the next generation of researchers in health and care disciplines.

• Oxygen Transport
• Vascular Physiology
• Skeletal Muscle Metabolism
• +3 more

Russell Richardson is a tenured Professor at the University of Utah , holding joint appointments in the Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Geriatrics) and the Department of Exercise and Sport Science . He directs the Utah Vascular Research Laboratory (UVRL) at the Salt Lake VA Medical Center. Education: Fellowship (University of California San Diego), Doctoral Training (University of Utah), PhD (Colorado State University), MS (Loughborough University), PGCE (West London Institute of Higher Education) His research focuses on oxygen transport from air to tissue , with a current emphasis on the link between vascular and skeletal muscle function , particularly how oxidative stress regulates skeletal muscle metabolism and vascular control. He has authored numerous studies on aging, vascular dysfunction, and exercise hemodynamics. Recent publications highlight work on mitochondrial respiration, passive limb movement techniques, antioxidant interventions, and age-related vascular decline. His lab employs both in vivo and ex vivo methodologies to investigate these mechanisms. Collaborations span clinical and physiological domains, including studies in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, and breast cancer. His work integrates gerontology , exercise physiology , and vascular biology . Notable affiliations include the Salt Lake VA Medical Center and contributions to understanding the interplay between physical activity, aging, and vascular plasticity.

Maria SydnesView profile

Associate Professor

• Emergency Management
• Crisis Response
• Organizational Resilience
• +4 more

Maria Sydnes serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Technology and Security at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø. Her academic work focuses on emergency management and organizational resilience within high-risk Arctic environments, with particular emphasis on maritime safety and cross-border crisis coordination between Norway and Russia. Her research interests span interorganizational coordination during emergencies, organizational learning for resilience building, and practical applications of lean production principles in crisis contexts. She investigates Arctic-specific challenges including avalanche response in Longyearbyen, oil spill management in polar waters, and integration of unorganized volunteers into formal emergency systems, consistently addressing the intersection of climate change impacts and security vulnerabilities. Analysis of her publication record reveals a strong trend toward interdisciplinary solutions for Arctic safety, with recurring themes of Norwegian-Russian cooperation, maritime risk assessment, and adaptive governance structures. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with real-world case studies—from Svalbard waters to the Barents Sea—demonstrating practical approaches to disaster risk reduction in extreme environments. Dr. Sydnes actively participates in multiple research initiatives including the Climate Change Adaptation and Secure Societies groups. Her current projects encompass Co-producing knowledge about risk and safety of maritime activities around Svalbard SPRICE (spray icing modelling for maritime decision support) GLOBSEC (North-South security partnerships) NoCoU (civil security for Norwegian communities) Beredt! (risk-based governance for climate-driven natural hazards) highlighting her commitment to scalable, community-focused security solutions in vulnerable Arctic regions.

• Implementation Science
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Nutrition and Metabolism
• +5 more

Dr. Karen Birkenhead is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Implementation Science at the Sydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney. She holds a PhD in Human Movement (2018) and a Master of Sports Nutrition by Research (2014). Her research focuses on cardiovascular diseases, nutrition, exercise physiology, and genetic medicine, with a current project implementing a shared care model for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). She previously worked as a Registered Dietitian in Canada for 14 years, specializing in public health, sports nutrition, telehealth, and chronic disease management. Education: PhD in Human Movement, 2018 Masters in Sports Nutrition, 2014 Her research themes include Obesity, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, Healthy Ageing, and Lifespan Health. Key projects include translational research grants for FH care models and perioperative nutrition strategies. She has received awards such as the HDR Student Research Grant (2015) and the USCIRS (2014). Dr. Birkenhead collaborates with organizations like the Nutrition Society of Australia and Professionals in Nutrition for Exercise and Sport. Her work bridges clinical practice and research, aiming to improve patient outcomes through evidence-based interventions.

Kevin A JacobsView profile

Professor

• Exercise Physiology
• Metabolism and Nutrition
• Spinal Cord Injury
• +3 more

Kevin A Jacobs is a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Sports Sciences at the University of Miami's School of Education & Human Development. His research focuses on exercise physiology, metabolic disorders, spinal cord injury management, and biomechanics. Key areas include postprandial lipemia in spinal cord injury patients, musculoskeletal modeling for gait analysis, and ischemic preconditioning effects on muscle oxygenation. He has contributed to peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Biomechanics and Frontiers in Physiology . His work bridges clinical and applied research, addressing metabolic and biomechanical challenges in populations with mobility impairments. Research Interests: Spinal Cord Injury Metabolism, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanical Modeling, Clinical Nutrition, Muscle Oxygenation, and Rehabilitation Science. Publications highlight innovative methods like markerless motion capture and stable isotope tracers to study metabolic and biomechanical responses in chronic SCI and healthy populations. His studies emphasize practical applications for improving exercise protocols and clinical outcomes in mobility-restricted individuals. Grants and collaborations are implied through multi-institutional authorships, but explicit grant details are not provided. He advises on studies involving upper-body exercise modalities and postprandial metabolism. His lab work involves interdisciplinary approaches, leveraging engineering and clinical expertise to advance rehabilitation science.

• Public Health Nutrition
• Food Literacy
• Childhood Obesity Prevention
• +5 more

Helen Vidgen is a Professor in Public Health at the School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Her research focuses on food literacy, childhood obesity prevention, and nutrition education, with significant contributions to public health policy and program implementation. She has led projects evaluating school meal programs, childhood obesity management services like PEACH™, and food literacy interventions across diverse populations. Her work emphasizes socio-ecological barriers to nutrition education, policy development, and the translation of evidence-based practices into community settings. Dr. Vidgen has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles and edited books, including Food Literacy: Key Concepts for Health and Education (2016), which establishes foundational frameworks for food literacy research. She collaborates with government agencies, non-profits, and healthcare professionals to address systemic challenges in obesity prevention and food system reforms. Recent contributions include analyzing the role of school-provided meals in obesity prevention, evaluating father’s roles in family food practices, and advancing measurement tools like the IFLQ-19 food literacy questionnaire. Her research bridges theory and practice, informing policy initiatives on nutrition education, food regulation, and equitable health outcomes.

• Sleep Disorders
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea
• Digital Health
• +7 more

Dr Bastien Lechat is a Research Fellow at Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI): Sleep Health, within the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. He is also a Full Member of the College of Science and Engineering and the Medical Device Research Institute. As an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, he leads innovative research at the intersection of sleep medicine, artificial intelligence, and wearable technology. Education: PhD in Sleep Health, Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, Flinders University (2018–2021) Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering Science/Acoustics, Université du Maine, France (2014–2017) Dr Lechat’s research focuses on understanding the physiological mechanisms and consequences of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), particularly night-to-night variability and patient subtypes. He develops AI-driven tools for efficient and accurate diagnosis using wearables and signal processing. His work aims to create a scalable, low-cost model of care for sleep-disordered breathing, addressing global diagnostic gaps. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in digital health innovation, with a focus on machine learning for OSA detection, circadian rhythm modeling, cardiovascular risk prediction, and climate impacts on sleep. His research has been published in top journals including Nature Communications , Journal of Sleep Research , and Sleep Medicine , demonstrating interdisciplinary reach. Scientific Awards and Recognition: NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow (2023) Helen Bearpark Memorial Scholarship (2022) Emerging Research Leader Award, Flinders University (2021) Multiple early-career awards from Sleep Down Under, Australasian Sleep Association, and Adelaide Sleep Retreat Ranked in the top 5% of international authors in sleep apnea by Expertscape Dr Lechat has secured over $2.5 million in competitive research funding and actively supervises and mentors junior researchers. He serves on the program committee of the American Thoracic Society meetings and contributes to clinical guidelines. He collaborates globally with industry and academic partners to translate research into clinical practice. Laboratories and Research Teams: He co-leads the 'Novel use of digital innovations & technology development' theme at FHMRI: Sleep Health, working closely with Professor Danny Eckert. His team integrates expertise in biomedical engineering, data science, and clinical sleep physiology to advance digital sleep medicine.

Rodrigo Fernandez GonzaloView profile

Associate Professor

• Physiology
• Skeletal Muscle Physiology
• Space Physiology
• +6 more

Rodrigo Fernandez Gonzalo is a Docent (Associate Professor) in Physiology and Principal Researcher at the Division of Clinical Physiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet. He leads the Space and Environmental Physiology research group focusing on skeletal muscle adaptation under various conditions including microgravity, aging, disease, and exercise. His research interests span skeletal muscle physiology, space physiology, and environmental physiology, with particular expertise in how skeletal muscle interacts with other physiological systems. His work employs diverse methodologies including human clinical studies, animal models, and cellular models to investigate functional, metabolic, morphological, molecular, and neural adaptations. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on space physiology applications, particularly how microgravity affects skeletal muscle and immune systems, along with translational applications for clinical populations like those with cerebral palsy. His research integrates molecular analysis, imaging techniques, and physical performance outcomes to develop countermeasures for spaceflight effects. 4.5 MSEK funding from the Swedish National Space Agency (2020) Member of European Space Agency's Life Science Working Group (2022-2026) Member of Space Researchers Sweden (2021-) Dr. Fernandez Gonzalo serves as course responsible for Anatomy and Physiology in the nursing program (since 2018) and Advanced Human Physiology Research in the Master's programme in Translational Physiology and Pharmacology (since 2023). He also teaches Human Spaceflight at KTH and participates in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master in Physiology and Medicine of Humans in Space and Extreme Environments. His laboratory utilizes facilities at Karolinska University Hospital and ANA Futura for human, animal, and cellular studies investigating space exposome effects.

Heidi Johansen-BergView profile

Professor

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroplasticity
• +3 more

Heidi Johansen-Berg is Pro-Vice Chancellor (Strategic Initiatives) at the University of Oxford and Associate Head (Research and Innovation) in the Medical Sciences Division. She holds a Professorship in Cognitive Neuroscience and a Wellcome Principal Research Fellowship at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, where she leads the Plasticity Group at the Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB). Her research centers on neuroplasticity mechanisms in the sensorimotor system, with emphasis on white matter plasticity, activity-dependent myelination, and implications for stroke rehabilitation and age-related brain decline. She integrates multimodal neuroimaging with behavioral studies to investigate how the brain adapts to learning, experience, and damage, translating findings into therapeutic interventions for neurological conditions. Recent publications reveal strong thematic trends in sleep-motor interactions post-stroke, exercise-induced neuroprotection in aging and adolescence, and experience-dependent white matter remodeling. Her work demonstrates how physical activity modulates brain structure-function relationships across the lifespan, with direct applications for neurorehabilitation protocols. Scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci) Wellcome Principal Research Fellowship Professor Johansen-Berg directs the WIN Plasticity Group and co-leads the WIN Neuroplastics Network and Oxford University Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging (OxCIN). Her research program drives translational initiatives in stroke recovery and brain health maintenance, with ongoing projects examining digital sleep therapies, myelin dynamics, and exercise neuroscience through large-scale clinical trials and advanced imaging methodologies.