George Balanos

Dr George Balanos is an Associate Professor in Exercise Physiology at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, specializing in respiratory physiology with emphasis on pulmonary blood flow and sleep disordered breathing. He employs advanced ultrasonography for non-invasive physiological measurements and blood gas manipulation techniques in his research.

His educational qualifications include:

• BSc and MSc in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation from City University of New York (1996, 1998)
• DPhil in Cardiorespiratory Physiology from the University of Oxford (2003)

Balanos's research spans Exercise Physiology, Respiratory Physiology, Sleep Medicine, and Environmental Physiology, investigating sleep-exercise interactions in disordered breathing and glucose tolerance, pulmonary circulation control, and breathing regulation during exercise. His methodology involves sophisticated ultrasound imaging and respiratory perturbation systems mimicking high-altitude or pathological conditions.

His publication record shows consistent contributions to ventilatory control mechanisms, hypoxia responses, and sleep-metabolism relationships, with recent work exploring cerebral hemodynamics during hypoxia, sleep apnea interventions, and chronotype influences on vascular function.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Excellence in Teaching Award (2008, 2009, 2011, 2019)
• Outstanding Teaching Award (2008, 2009, 2011, 2019)

He supervises PhD candidates Kelsey Joyce (Environmental Physiology), Sultan Alsalahi (Cardiovascular Regulation During Exercise), and Emily Senior (Physical Activity for Sleep Apnoea treatment), with research funding supporting investigations into intermittent hypoxia models, sleep laboratory applications, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation protocols.

His research group operates a dedicated sleep laboratory and advanced ultrasound suite, studying intermittent hypoxia mechanisms in sleep apnea and examining connections between sleep quality, metabolic health, and athletic performance outcomes.