Mike Fray

Mike Fray is a Professor of Ergonomics and Assisted Performance at Loughborough University, affiliated with the School of Design and Creative Arts. He holds dual first degrees in Ergonomics (1987) and Physiotherapy (1993), and transitioned to full-time academia in 2011 after a career spanning NHS, consultancy, and education.

• Ergonomics and Physiotherapy education
• Back-Care Management programme founder (1996)
• PhD completed in 2010

Mike Fray's research focuses on applying ergonomics and human factors to healthcare, with a core mission to enhance human performance and reduce risks for healthcare staff while improving patient care. His work spans assistive technology design, patient handling equipment evaluation, and healthcare system safety analysis. Key themes include:

• Development of assistive devices for healthcare workers and patients
• Biomechanical studies of patient transfers and seated posture
• Healthcare safety culture and weak signal detection
• Commercial collaborations in automotive, medical devices, and healthcare delivery

His 15 most recent publications (2020–2025) reveal trends in healthcare ergonomics, including patient handling equipment evaluation, home healthcare risk assessments, and metabolic efficiency optimization through wearable technology. Notable subfields include vascular function interventions, care transition protocols, and cognitive ergonomic strategies for office productivity.

Mike Fray has held international advisory positions in the USA, New Zealand, and the UK, and maintains a strong global profile through invited presentations (e.g., Sweden 2022, Denmark 2024, New Zealand 2025). He collaborates extensively with industries in automotive production, medical devices, and assistive technology sectors.

His research includes field trials across the European Union, focusing on the economic and process evaluation of patient handling interventions, and developing tools like TROPHI to measure complex healthcare ergonomics. He also investigates ergonomic challenges in pre-hospital care environments and neonatal treatment spaces.