معرفی
Dr. Rebekah Lucas is a Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham. She holds a PhD in Integrative Physiology from the University of Otago, New Zealand, and has held postdoctoral positions at the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine (Texas) and Umeå University, Sweden. Her research is centered on translating exercise and environmental physiology into clinical and public health contexts.
- Education:
- BPhEd(Hons), University of Otago, New Zealand
- PhD in Integrative Physiology, University of Otago, New Zealand
Her research interests focus on human tolerance and adaptation to physical and environmental stressors, particularly thermal vascular physiology and heat stress. She investigates how extreme climates affect functional capacity, with emphasis on occupational health, vulnerable populations, and the therapeutic potential of environmental stress. Her work also explores the role of exercise and heat in mitigating health risks such as chronic kidney disease.
The most recent publications highlight a strong trend in heat acclimation, cerebrovascular responses, and occupational health impacts of climate change. Her studies often involve field research in extreme environments and collaborations across disciplines including nephrology, public health, and biometeorology. Topics include heat stress in sugarcane workers, cardiovascular adaptations to heat, and interventions to reduce kidney injury.
- Scientific Involvement:
- Member, UK Physiological Society
- Member, Consortium of the Epidemic of Nephropathy in Central America and Mexico (CENCAM)
- Organizing Committee Member, International Research Workshop on Mesoamerican Nephropathy (2012–present)
Dr. Lucas has been involved in advising through collaborative research and has contributed to major reports and policy-relevant publications. Her work is supported by international networks and has informed interventions such as the Water-Rest-Shade programs for laborers in hot climates. She is actively engaged in research grants focused on climate change, occupational health, and kidney disease prevention.
She leads and contributes to research in the Rebekah Lucas's Lab at the University of Birmingham, focusing on human integrative physiology under environmental stress. Her team conducts studies on heat tolerance, cardiovascular regulation, and the health implications of climate change, often in partnership with global health organizations and interdisciplinary research groups.
