Michael Fertleman

Prof. Michael Fertleman is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London’s Faculty of Engineering. He is also a consultant physician specializing in geriatric surgical care, focusing on perioperative management of elderly patients. Leading the Cutrale Perioperative & Ageing Group, his research integrates bioengineering tools to mitigate surgical risks for older adults, with a focus on frailty, postoperative cognitive decline, and home-based health monitoring systems. He currently supervises 12 doctoral students and chairs the Specialty Advisory Committee (SAC) for UK geriatric medicine training, overseeing 800+ registrars. His work spans clinical research, medical device innovation, and improving surgical outcomes through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Research Interests: Prof. Fertleman’s work bridges geriatric medicine and bioengineering, addressing challenges such as perioperative neurocognitive disorders, sarcopenia post-surgery, and remote patient monitoring. His team develops AI-driven diagnostic tools and wearable sensors to assess mobility, cognitive function, and recovery in older adults undergoing surgery. Key themes include frailty assessment, geriatric trauma outcomes, and optimizing care transitions post-hospital discharge.

Recent Work Trends: Recent publications emphasize home monitoring technologies for TBI patients, cytokine changes post-surgery, and the impact of cervical collars on swallowing function. His work also explores genetic risk factors for hip fractures and immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in diabetic populations. Clinical trials focus on reducing postoperative delirium and improving geriatric surgical protocols through multidisciplinary team approaches.

• Scientific Awards: None explicitly listed.
• Advising & Grants: Supervises 12 active PhD/MRes students; leads the SAC for UK geriatric medicine training; oversees multiple clinical studies funded by Imperial College and NHS partnerships.

Labs/Teams: Cutrale Perioperative & Ageing Group (Imperial College London) focuses on bioengineering solutions for aging populations, collaborating with the St Mary’s Hospital surgical teams and NHS Trusts. Active projects include developing smart-home monitoring systems and predictive analytics for surgical risk assessment in elderly patients.