Mariel Purcell

Dr Mariel Purcell serves as Consultant in Spinal Injuries and Lead Clinician at the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit while holding an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer position at the University of Glasgow. She additionally functions as Director of Research for the Scottish Centre for Innovation in Spinal Cord Injury, coordinating clinical research initiatives focused on enhancing quality of life for spinal cord injury patients.

Her educational background includes medical graduation (MB CHB BAO) from University College Dublin in 1997 followed by completion of rehabilitation training in 2007.

Research interests center on spinal cord injury rehabilitation through functional electrical stimulation for respiratory complications and upper extremity performance, early intensive motor training protocols for neurological recovery, and electroencephalography-based prediction of neuropathic pain. These efforts consistently target practical improvements in patient functionality and quality of life metrics.

Professional recognition includes:

• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP)
• NRS Senior Research Fellow designation

As Research Director at the Scottish Centre for Innovation in Spinal Cord Injury, she oversees multiple clinical trials including abdominal FES for respiratory support, LIFT System-based upper extremity assessment, comparative motor training efficacy studies, and EEG biomarker research for pain prediction.