Our members

Professor Louise Mansfield Career History Louise Mansfield is Professor of Sport, Health and Social Sciences and Vice Dean for Research in the College of Health Medicine and Life Sciences. She is Director of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse. Her research focuses on the relationship between sport, physical activity and public health and wellbeing. Louise's expertise are in partnership and community approaches in sport and physical activity and issues of health, wellbeing, inequality and diversity. She has led research projects for the Department of Health, Youth Sport Trust, sportscotland, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, Macmillan Cancer Support, Public Health England and Sport England. She sits on the editorial boards for Leisure Studies, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health and the International Review for the Sociology of Sport and is Managing Editor of Annals of Leisure Research. Louise is known for developing evidence to inform policy and practice. Community approaches to sport, public health and wellbeing Sociology of sport; gender and feminist theories, social inequalities, public health and wellbeing, coproduction and partnership Qualitative research methods and process evaluations Intervention and evaluation strategies in community sport research Evidence reviews for research, policy and practice including focus on qualitative synthesis Translation, dissemination and mobilisation of evidence strategies and practices for UK and international sport and culture sector audiences in policy and practice and both academic and non-academic organisations. Community sport, physical activity and public health and wellbeing. Sociology of sport and social inequalities. Participatory and coproduction strategies and methods in developing evidence to inform policy and practice in the culture and sports sectors. I am a Fellow of the HE Academy. I embrace a research led teaching approach. My teaching skills have been established in both further and higher education and I hold postgraduate teaching qualifications. I advocate a teaching philosophy that embraces a mix of styles from the traditional large lecture to more interactive student-led approaches using new technology. I have designed and delivered a range of modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level that draw from across theoretical and methodological perspectives in the social sciences to understand sport, physical activity, health and well-being and I continue to engage in on-going curriculum developments in those fields.

Dr Emma Norris Dr Emma Norris is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health, within the Department of Health Sciences. She is Deputy Lead of Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse and Co-Chair of the Health Behaviour Change Research Group. Dr Norris is a researcher in behaviour change and health psychology, exploring evidence synthesis of behaviour change interventions, as well as development and assessment of physical activity, smoking cessation and digital interventions. Before joining Brunel, Dr Norris was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London working on the Human Behaviour-Change Project: synthesising published literature on behaviour change using machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (2017-2020). Dr Norris' PhD tested Virtual Field Trips as physically active lesson interventions for primary-school children. Dr Norris is also an advocate for Open Science. She established and Chairs Brunel's Open Research Working Group and is Brunel's UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) Local Network Lead. She is also interested in designing behaviour change interventions to facilitate Open Science behaviours in researchers. She is Brunel's Academic Lead for online Global Public Health programmes and Programme Lead of MSc Public Health and Health Promotion (online) and MSc Public Health and Behaviour Change (online). Dr Norris is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). She is Co-Chair of the European Health Psychology Society’s Open Science Special Interest Group and Associate Editor for Health Psychology & Behavioral Medicine. Follow Dr Norris' research and updates on LinkedIn. Behaviour change, Health psychology, Intervention development, Physical Activity, Evidence synthesis, Ontologies, Open Science, Meta-Science Dr Norris’ research investigates the development and evaluation of behaviour change interventions using a range of theory and methods. Emma explores evidence synthesis for health interventions and behaviour change, using meta-analyses, systematic reviews and innovative methods such as ontologies. Emma is also interested in increasing uptake of Open Science behaviours in researchers.

Dr Elmar Kal I have a BSc (2011) and MSc (2012; cum laude) in Movement Science, both from the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in The Netherlands. For my PhD project I was employed at a specialist rehabilitation centre (Heliomare) in the Netherlands, studying the impact of implicit learning interventions on the rehabilitation of balance and gait in people after stroke. I successfully defended my thesis in November 2018. I joined Brunel in 2019. My research is focused on better understanding the cognitive and psychological processes that underpin motor control and learning, and to use this knowledge to improve motor functioning in aging and neurological populations (stroke, Parkinson’s). Two main themes in my research are: (1) The use of motor learning principles in (re-)learning of balance and gait tasks in different clinical populations. This includes the use of weight-shifting strategies to reduce freezing of gait in people with PD, as well as the use of implicit motor learning techniques as part of Physical Education of children. (2) The role of anxiety and associated changes in attention in unexplained dizziness in older adults.This includes the use of virtual reality to study the effects of standing at a (virtual) height on fear of falling, associated discrepancies in perceived (self-reported) and actual (sway on force platform) balance, and potential neural and muscular control changes that could help explain such discrepancies - and provide options for interventions. In terms of approach, I combine basic science (assessments of brain activity (using fNIRS, EEG), kine(ma)tics of movement (using force plates, 3D movement analysis), and muscular control (EMG)) with clinically applied research (e.g., using clinical outcomes and assessment methods). I have experience with a host of the methodological approaches (systematic reviews, observational studies, experimental studies, RCTs, validation studies) which gives me flexibility in studying these topics. Two key areas of interest are: 1) The use of motor learning principles in (re-)learning of balance and gait tasks in different clinical populations 2) The role of anxiety and associated changes in attention in unexplained dizziness in older adults. In terms of approach, I strive to combine basic science (assessments of brain activity (using fNIRS, EEG), kine(ma)tics of movement (using force plates, 3D movement analysis), and muscular control (EMG)) with clinically applied research (e.g., using clinical outcomes and assessment methods). I have experience with a host of the methodological approaches (systematic reviews, observational studies, experimental studies, RCTs, validation studies) which gives me flexibility in studying these issues. Pre-registration MSc/BSc Physiotherapy HH5819 - Dissertation Module (module lead) HH1604 / HH5602 - Rehabilitation 2 (tutorials on motor learning & gait analysis) PH5640 - Research Methods for Health Sciences (tutorials on applied statistics using JAMOVI) Advanced Clinical Practice PH5603 - Quantitative Methods and Design for Health Science Research (tutorials on applied statistics using JAMOVI) PH5630 - Neurophysiological Basis for Rehabilitation of Movement (tutorial on influence of attention and fear on movement control and learning)

Dr Carolyn Dunford Carolyn was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists in October 2024 in recognition of her dedication to evidence-based and occupation-cetred practice, particularly in children's occupational therapy. Carolyn has a long and varied occupational therapy career combining clinical leadership and research roles as well as working as an academic in Higher Education. Carolyn is dedicated to promoting children and young people's participation in the everyday things that matter to them and founded the Community of Practice Mind the Gap. Participation of children/young people with disabilities Occupation-centred practice Evidence-based practice and Knowledge Translation Goal setting with children/young people and families

Dr Laura Hills Laura is the Department Head for Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, Reader in Sociology Sport. Laura's research and teaching focuses in social inclusion, women/girls and sport, community sport, qualitative research and media studies. My research focuses on sporting inequalities with particular attention to gender and social disadvantage. I have conducted a number of evaluations with charities exploring how to engage girls and women in sport and understanding how sporting opportunities can best lead to positive outcomes for young people. I have an ongoing project with the Football Association exploring mixed gender football policy. Ii am currently working with the English Football Association on their gender inclusive sport policy. Sport and social change Sporting inequalities - especially gender Mediated sport Engaging young people from diverse backgrounds in sport Qualitative research Sociology of sport Safeguarding in sport Sport, Media and Video Production This module aims to: Increase students’ understanding of contemporary social theories and their application to sport; Develop students ability to critically analyse social and cultural discourses and practices; Enhance students’ appreciation of different theoretical perspectives; to consider and evaluate possibilities for social change. Part of this module is taught with the Brunel University of London Media Production Centre. In the first part of the module students’ explore sociological issues and theories and use them to conduct semiotic and discourse analyse of a sports film. In the second part of the module students create a video based on a contemporary controversial issue in sport. This includes access to industry standard equipment and training in camera work and editing using Final Cut Pro.

Professor Vassil Girginov Dr Vassil Girginov is Professor in Sport Management/Development. Previously he has worked as advisor to the Chairman of the Bulgarian Sports Union, on the Sofia bids for the Winter Olympic Games and in higher education institutions in Bulgaria and Canada. He has been researching the sports development legacy of the 2012 London Olympic Games and the relationship between the culture of national sports governing bodies and participation in sport. Vassil is the editor of the two volume collection on the London 2012 Games published by Routledge, and is also an Executive Editor of the 2012 Routledge Special Olympic Journals Issue that involves some 40 journals from a range of academic disciplines. Vassil’s current research projects include: ‘Creation and transfer of knowledge within the Sochi Organizing Committee of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games’ (supported by the Russian International Olympic University), and ‘UK National Governing Bodies of sport leveraging of the London Olympics for capacity building’. His research interests, publications and industry experience are in the field of Olympic movement, sport development, comparative management and policy analysis. His most recent books include Sport Management Cultures (Routledge, 2011), The Olympics: A Critical Reader (Routledge, 2010), Management of Sports Development, (Elsevier, 2008), The Olympic Games Explained (Routledge, 2005, the book has been translated in 5 languages) and Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games (Vol. 1 & 2 - 2012-3). Dr Girginov is Visiting Professor at the Russian International Olympic University, the University of Johannesburg and the KU Leuven. Professor Girginov is the President of the European Association for Sport Management. Over the past several years I have developed a focused research and knowledge transfer programme that uses the Olympic Games as a vehicle for studying a range of social phenomena. In particular, I have pursued two interrelated research strands concerned with culture and sport management, and management of sports development. The former line of research is fundamental for understanding everything we do in sport business including leadership, organisational behaviour, marketing and communications. The latter research concerns the relationship between visions of sports development, personal and organisational change, and delivery of programmes in various contexts including the Olympics. My main research areas include policy analysis and governance, management of sports development, and the relationship between culture and management. I teach level one 'Introduction to the Social Sciences of Sport', level three 'Management of Sport Development' and the joint sport-business honors synoptic assessment across level one, two and three.

Professor Nana Anokye Nana Anokye is a Professor of Health Economics and the Convenor of Brunel Global Health Academy, and Africa Regional Working Group. He is the Health Economics Lead for NIHR North West London Applied Research Collaboration. Nana is a Visiting Professor at Imperial College London and the Chair of the International Society of Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) low and middle-income countries research council. He is a member of Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) College of Experts and an Institute of Leadership and Management certified coach and mentor. His research explores the interconnectedness between demand/uptake of lifestyle behaviour and the value for money of public health interventions. Nana's work on Economics of Physical Activity has been used by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to formulate four national public health guidelines on exercise referral schemes, and brief advice for adults in primary care. It also informed the 2016 position statement by Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise. His economic models have been adapted by researchers in UK, Africa, Europe and South America. He has quantified how time and money prices influence behaviour change. Having won the Walduck Prize for Research Impact, Nana’s work further secured prestigious UK Department of Health funding to conduct the first ever English general population survey on the economics of physical activity. His interests in public health are wide-ranging. How primary care can improve health outcomes; whether financial incentives improve maternal and child health; and what the link between shopping vouchers and breastfeeding may be, are some of the public health questions Nana is keen to answer. He an ardent gym goer, and his quest for knowledge led him to investigate whether physical activity was any more independent from sedentary behaviour. As a former broadcast journalist, Nana is passionate about communicating research and supporting research careers through podcasts – the Research Life, which he co-founded with colleagues. Nana has a PhD in Health Economics (Brunel), an MSc in Environmental Resources Management from Brandenburg University of Technology (Germany) and, a BA in Economics and Sociology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana). Google Profile ResearchGate Orcid LinkedIn Nana’s research is an integral part of the Economics of Public Health work programme at HERG. His research interest covers addressing methodological challenges in understanding why (and how) people make decisions on behaviour change, with a view to informing the design of public health interventions and methods for assessing the value for money of such interventions. His work has involved collaborations with public health professionals, clinicians and health service researchers at Universities of Sydney, Sao Paolo, Exeter, Oxford, Sheffield, St. George’s, London, the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), and policy makers at National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and Department of Health. Google Profile ResearchGate Orcid LinkedIn Nana is the Course Director for Msc Public Health and Health Promotion. He teaches costing in economic evaluation for: MSc Genomic Medicine (Imperial College London): Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics; Short course in Economic Evaluation in Health Care, Brunel University London Nana has taught at all stages of education including the primary, secondary, undergraduate, postgraduate and professional (including public health practitioners, health economists, and clinicians) levels. He has taught in both UK and overseas (Africa).

Professor Meriel Norris As a qualified physiotherapist (since 1993) I have worked in the UK, India and Indonesia specialising in neurorehabilitation. I completed an MA in Medical Anthropology in 2002 and PhD in 2009. My PhD topic brought together the fields of stroke, rehabilitation and anthropology by exploring the experience and health seeking behaviour following stroke in Aceh, Indonesia. I joined Brunel Univeristy London in 2009. A substantial part of my current post is to deliver expert and clinically relevant research-led teaching predominantly post-graduate courses. I am currently the programme lead for the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, MSc Advanced Professional Practice and MSc Integrated ACP Apprenticeship programmes. I also lead three post-graduate modules. I have a strong international research profile and currently supervise seven post-graduate researchers. I have specialised in applied qualitative research methods and process evaluation of trials as well as clinical education. I have published over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals and present at national and international conferences. I am currently co-investigator in three large international trials and have held grants totaling more than £1.8 million over the last 10 years. I also act as the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion lead within my division. My main research interests are in stroke and neurorehabilitation more generally including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons and Cerebral Palsy. This includes the subjective experience, rehabilitation, and cultural influences on the therapeutic relationship. Research is based both in the UK and internationally. Methodologically my speciality is social sciences within clinical and educational research. I have a specific interest in creative methods and co-creation. My main research area is the application of qualitative research methodologies within neurorehabilitation and education. This includes development of innovative interventions, evaluation within clinical trials and understand the experience of living with long term conditions from the perspective of all stake-holders. I am a core member of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse, delivering masterclasses and contributing to the research festivals and have developed significant national and international collaborations. I have co-edited invited special topics and since 2019 attracted six new PGRs, five of which are fully funded with two on the ESRC DTP. Teaching Responsibilities: MSc Pre-reg Physiotherapy Co Module Lead - Research Methods Teach – Rehabilitation II Supervisor Research Dissertations MSc Advanced Clinical Practice, Advanced Professional Practice and Apprenticeship route Programme lead Module Lead PH5604 Qualitative Research in Health and Social Care Module Lead PH5645 End Point Assessment Module Lead PH5666 Advanced Practice Portfolio Contribute to PH5615, PH5629, PH5631 CPPD co-ordinator Supervisor MSc Dissertations Personal tutor Tripartite co-ordinator Other Teaching Responsibilities: PGR tutor qualitative research

Dr Wendy Martin Wendy’s research focuses on the social and cultural aspects of ageing. This includes the digital and ageing, the body and embodiment, care and caring, memory and ageing, materiality and rhythms and everyday life. Her research is qualitative and includes the use of visual, material and digital methods in ageing research. Wendy is Convenor of the interdisciplinary Ageing Studies research group within the university. Since March 2025 Wendy has been the Director of Research in the Department of Health Sciences. Previously she was the Department Director for Postgraduate Research (2023-2025). She is an experienced supervisor for doctoral researchers and has acted as an internal and external examiner and Chair for PhDs Vivas. Wendy's research has been supported by a range of funders including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), UKRI Ageing Development Award, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), British Academy, The Leverhulme Trust and The Dunhill Medical Trust. A key dimension of her research is disseminating to a wide and diverse array of audiences and the public engagement of her research can be viewed through photographic exhibitions that have emerged from her research. Wendy is an elected Executive Board member (Events Chair) of the interdisciplinary International Network of Socio-Gerontechnology and was previously an elected Executive member of the British Society of Gerontology. She is a member of the Editorial Board for the Ageing and Society journal and Electoral College Member and Regional Liaison for Europe for Journal of Global Ageing. She has previously served on the Editorial Boards of the Sociological Research Online and Sociology journals. Wendy is Co-Editor of the Routledge Handbook of Cultural Gerontology, the 2nd edition was published in 2026, and for the edited Routledge book Socio-gerontechnology: Interdisciplinary Critical Studies of Ageing and Technology. The focus of her teaching is on the MSc Public Health and Health Promotion and has involved leading both the programme and key modules, such as, inequalities in health, research methods and the dissertation. Wendy has extensive experience in curriculum development and is a Recognised Programme Developer within the university. Other key roles that Wendy has undertaken within the university include Programme Leader, MSc Public Health and Health Promotion, Recognised Programme Developer that resulted in internal and external validation of new programmes across the university, Chair of Board of Studies, Chair of Exam Boards and Panels, Department Ethics Officer and as Vice Chancellor Representative for Misconduct and Appeals. Qualifications: PhD (2008) Department of Sociology, University of Warwick. ESRC funded. Thesis ‘Embodying ‘active’ ageing: health, bodies and emotions in later life’. MA (with distinction) in Sociological Research in Health Care. University of Warwick (1999). ESRC funded. BSc (First Class Honours) Sociology and Anthropology. Oxford Brookes University (1997) Registered General Nurse. St. Mary’s Hospital, London (1986) Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice. University of Reading (2011)

Professor Christina Victor Christina joined Brunel in October 2009. She is Professor of Gerontology and Public Health in the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences and Associate PVC-Research Culture and Governance. She is also Chair of the University Research Ethics Committee. Christina started her academic career as a geographer with a particular interest in the spatial distribution of health and illness and access to, and provision of, health and social care. She has a BA in Geography from Swansea University and an M Phil in medical geography from Nottingham. It was whilst working at the Medical School in Cardiff that she developed her interests in gerontology and her PhD investigated outcome after discharge for older people in Wales and she now focuses her interests in public health/population medicine on to the experiences of old age and later life. She has a special interest in researching loneliness and isolation. Christina’s initial research interests were focussed upon health and health inequalities and the evaluation of services for older people. More recently she developed a keen interest in loneliness and isolation; the benefits of exercise and activity in later life and the experiences of old age and later life amongst minority communities and the experience of ageing for people with intellectual disabilities. She has received funding for her research from a range of funders including ESRC, NIHR, Dunhill Medical Trust, Leverhulme and the British Academy. Christina has written over 400 peer reviewed articles and published 8 books in the field of gerontology. She is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health and an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences. In 2017 Christina was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award of the British Society of Gerontology and awarded Fellowship of the Gerontological Society of America. Her work has been cited 27,000 times and her H idex is 83. She has 3 articles in the list of the 100 most cited articles in the field of loneliness and is ranked as one of the top 100 social science and humanities researchers in the UK. Qualifications: PhD, M Phil, BA Ageing and later life Wellbeing across the lifecourse Loneliness and isolation My principal research interests are focussed around understanding the social context of ageing and later life. More specifically I have specialist interests around loneliness and social isolation in later life; care and caring; growing old amongst minority communities; physical activity, exercise and later life and the use of secondary data analysis in gerontological research. I also am active in the broad areas of service evaluation, health inequalities and public health aspects of old age and population ageing, especially in the developing world. Teaching Responsibilities: Contributor to research methods and evidence based public health modules Contribute to modules focusing upon older people MSc Dissertation supervisor

Miss Emma Farquharson Emma is a teaching fellow and the module lead for the upper quadrant Level 2 musculoskeletal module as well as Physiotherapy admissions tutor. She has work within some of the large teaching hospitals in London gaining valuable neuromusculoskeletal clinical experience. Emma currently works for the MOD specialising in the lower limb and has a special interest in exercise induced leg pain. Emma completed her Physiotherapy Pre-registration MSc at Brighton University before completing an MSc at the University of Queensland Australia. Outside of work Emma enjoys socialising and travelling as much as possible!

Dr Michael Thomas I am a Senior Lecturer in Social Work. My research interests focus on sexualities, equalities and the interplay between public services and personal life. I am interested in subjective experiences of loneiness among older people and people in minority groups. I am also interested in professionalism and values in Social Work. My research interests focus on investigating the diversity of contemporary family life and the interplay between public policy and personal life, with a particular focus on Social Work. I am interested in the impact of ageing on LGB identities and in using narrative approaches to understanding identity and experience. I am module leader for the following modules on the MSc in Social Work: SW5635: The Dissertation, and SW5629: Social Justice: Theory, Policy and Practice. I was awarded 'Lecturer of the Year' at the 2018 Student-Led Teaching Awards, 'Best Small Module' across the College of Health and Life Sciences at the 2019 Awards, Liberation Champion at the 2022 Awards and the Brunel Union of Students' Officers Choice Award for 2024. Student Testimonials, 2024/5 Very informative. Mike is a great teacher – very engaging and interactive Very detailed and informative. His teaching was very clear and comprehensive. Very engaging as well. Very informative, Mike makes sure you are engaged. Well thought and examples clarified things. He had time for students and went to great lengths to ensure learning.

Dr Sara De Benedictis Sara joined Brunel in May 2017. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Communications in the Department of Social and Political Sciences. Sara’s research analyses gender and class inequalities, culture and the mediating role of technology, speaking to broader debates on power, welfare, reproduction, health and policy. She has published on topics like televisual birth, ‘poverty porn’, #MeToo and feminist digital activism related to reproduction. She has contributed to public and political debates on such topics. Sara is currently writing a monograph on the cultural politics of reproduction (under contract with Manchester University Press), which brings together various case studies on this topic from over a decade of research in this area. Sara teaches various modules in Media and Communications, Sociology and Sociology (Digital) at Brunel. She has taught on cultural sociology, cultural studies and media studies courses at various universities at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, such as City University London, King’s College London and the London School of Economics. Before entering academia, Sara worked for charities in the women’s sector. Culture and power Gender, class and culture Cultural politics of reproduction Digital feminist activism Reproductive technologies and culture I teach on a variety of modules: L4 Key Ideas in Media L6 Gender, Sexuality and Feminism L6 Media and Communications Dissertation Convenor

Dr Amy Prescott

Dr Misia Gervis Misia gained a degree in Psychology in London, and then went on to study in America to gain her masters in Sport Psychology. She completed her PhD at Brunel which examined the issue of emotional abuse in children’s sport. Misia has been a member of the College for many years and was commended on her teaching ability by receiving the Vice Chancellors Teaching Excellence Award 2003. Misia has been an active sports psychologist for many years; she was a founder member of the British Olympic Association Psychology Advisory Group. She has worked with many international athletes and coaches from a variety of sports in her capacity as sports psychologist. This has included working with National Governing Bodies and attending World Championships in a number of sports. She was also an international gymnastics coach and has represented her country on numerous occasions in this capacity, including World and European Championships. Misia was appointed by The Football Association in July 2002 as a psychology consultant with specific remit to develop sports psychology through coach education. Currently, several courses are running as part of the FA learning programme, she has also taught on the prestigious Pro Licence. Misia was the sport psychologist to the women’s senior national team football and accompanied them to the World Cup in 2007 and the European championship 2009 where they were runners up in the final. More recently she has developed bespoke sport psychology programmes within the men’s professional game as well as being immersed in a pro club working with players, coaches and managers. She is also currently providing psychological support for a number of international athletes in a variety of sports. Misia has been involved in coach education for many years, and has been instrumental in developing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in coaching and sport psychology at Brunel University London. Misia mainly teaches on the postgraduate programme focusing on the applied aspects of sport psychology and athlete welfare. . Misia primarily teaches on the postgraduate programme, specifically delivering on the BPS accredited programme. She is also supervising a number of stage II trainee sport psychologists as they prepare to become accredited practitioners. Misia is committed to enhancing the coaching process and the coaching experience for athletes. Currently she is researching into the emotional abuse of elite child athletes by their coaches, and through this work takes an active role in the Child protection in Sport Unit as a member of their Research and Evidence Advisory Group. She is currently working within BASES to prepare the expert statement on safeguarding in sport. Examples of media coverage www.telegraph.co.uk/.../World-Cup-2010-Fabio-Capellos-new-thinking-could-finally-shrink-Englands-inhibitions.html www.telegraph.co.uk/.../World-Cup-2010-Gordon-Banks-admits-to-Wayne-Rooney-fears.html www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/.../Mum-the-football-hooligan.html www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/.../article2138937.ece www.news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/3241024.stm Current areas of interest: Issues relating to child athlete welfare within sport, explicitly exploring emotional abuse and mental toughness. Understanding eating disorders and disordered eating in elite athletes Implementation of positive psychological principles to enhance emotional resilience in young athletes, in particular in football Development of a Psychological Treatment Plan for long-term injured players

Professor Michael Wayne Michael has been an academic most of his working life. In part this is because studying film at the North London Polytechnic in the mid-1980s was a revelation to him in so far as it simultaneously provided not just an education in film but a political framework with which to understand the world around him. That connection between the study of a medium as a medium through which to learn about the world, remains central to his work as a teacher and researcher. I am interested in popular film and alternative political film traditions (especially Third Cinema), media studies and film production. I main methodological tools for approaching film and media is through the rich and complex history of Marxism. I am especially interested in the cultural questions that Marxism helps us to pose and the links between culture, politics and education (in the broad sense of everyday learning and reflection). I have also made three feature length documentary films. Marxist cultural theory Cultural political economy Popular British and contemporary Hollywood film Alternative political filmmaking cultures and practices Media and political communications Professor Wayne is currently the Convenor of the MA in Media and Public Relations. He has taught film and media studies widely in his career and has also made a number of documentary feature films, He was for eleven years the Convenor of the MA in Documentary Practice at Brunel. He brings extensive experience of integrating theory and practical skills to his teaching.

Professor Neil O'Connell Neil is Professor of Evidence-Based Healthcare in the Physiotherapy Division of the Department of Health Sciences. He divides his time between teaching and research and previously worked as a musculoskeletal physiotherapist. Neil's research interests focus on the evidence-based management of persistent pain, and on research integrity. He leads and teaches modules on clinical research methods and evidence-based practice for pre- and post-graduate clinicians. Neil was the Co-ordinating editor for the Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care (PaPaS) group from 2020-23 and is a member of Cochrane's central editorial board. He was a member of the Guideline Development Group for the UK's National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2016 clinical guideline on the management of low back pain and sciatica and was a specialist committee member for the NICE Quality Standard on that topic. Neil is the current Chair of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Methods, Evidence Synthesis and Implementation Special Interest Group (MESIGIG). Neil is the Scientific Co-ordinator ENhancing TRUST in Pain Evidence (ENTRUST-PE) network supported by the ERA-NET Neuron Cofund. See He is the Co-chair of the IASP 2026 Global Year on Neuropathic Pain campaign. Neil's main research interest is in persistent pain, with a specific focus on evaluating the effectiveness of clinical interventions for people in pain. He is also interested in methodological aspects of evidence synthesis, researech quality and integrity. Chronic low back pain, chronic pain, evidence based practice, systematic reviews. Teaching Responsibilities: Neil teaches across a number of programmes, including the BSc Physiotherapy, MSc (pre-reg) Physiotherapy and MSc Advanced Clinical Practice. Neil currently leads 2 Masters-level modules in Research Methods and contributes teaching across musculoskeletal physiotherapy moduled and the ACP module "Pain: Contemporary Science and Practice".

Dr Rich Mullen I am a Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Science (Sport Psychology) in the Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences. I am a Chartered Psychologist with, and Associate Fellow of, the British Psychological Society and registered to practice as a sport psychologist with the HCPC. I am primarily interested in investigating the areas outlined above using a variety of primarily quantitative research methods including network analysis of psychological constructs and Bayesian statistical methods. I am a researcher in the broadly defined area of stress and performance in sport. My current interests lie in the following areas: 1. The measurement of competitive state anxiety and its relationship with sports performance. 2. The relationship between Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and hardiness in sport. 3. The relationship between Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and competitive state anxiety in sport. 4. Using network analysis to model athlete responses to competitive state anxiety.

Dr Ming-Yao Jen Dr. Ming-yao is a Lecturer in International Business at Brunel Business School. Her research has evolved from foundational work in consumer behaviour — spanning trust, risk, and technological adoption — to an emerging focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence, governance, and social impact. Equipped with certifications from SAS and Microsoft Azure, which underpin her expertise in data-driven approaches, she now directs her work towards some of the most pressing challenges facing underrepresented communities. Her current research centres on AI governance, assistive chatbot technology, and the role of neurodivergent human capital in community well-being, with a particular commitment to supporting late-diagnosed neurodivergent individuals. This work is driven by a belief that impactful research should translate into meaningful change for the communities it serves. After completed her PhD, she continues to pursue high-impact publications and collaborative research that bridges business, technology, and social inclusion. AI Governance Neurodivergent Inclusion Assistive Technology Lonliness and Social Anxiety Community Well-being MG5565 International Management MG5593 International Business Ethics and Corporate Governance MG2634 International Business in Emerging Markets General office hours (Open to all): Wednesday 13.30 - 15.30 Office hours for MSc dissertation students: Thursday 14.00 - 16.00 Please e-mail in advance to book an appointment

Dr Tarryn Godfrey Tarryn is a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Science (Sport Development). Her research employs qualitative methodologies and focuses on third sector partnerships, organisational capacity, and capacity building. She has extensive experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) and has established impactful partnerships with Sport for Development charities, International Federations and National Governing Bodies of sport across the UK and internationally. She received the Early Career Researcher of the Year Award (CHMLS) in 2026. Tarryn is the Director of Recruitment and Admissions for Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences and is a member of the Centre for Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse. I AM CURRENTLY ADVERTISING FOR A FULLY FUNDED PHD STUDENT HERE: Capacity Building in Sport for Development: Contexts, Challenges and Change in East Africa - ESRC GRAND UNION DTP CDA Sport for Development Third/Voluntary Sector Sports Organisations Capacity building Opportunities for women and girls - sport development and policy Codesign Qualitative methods, including creative and participatory methods Evidence reviews for research, policy and practice Sport for development; community sport; social inequalities; women in sport; participatory and place-based methods; creative methods Tarryn is the Module Lead for the following units: SP1618 - Sport Development Issues and Policy SP3612 - Critical Issues in Sport

Dr Shirley Crankson Shirley is a Lecturer in Public Health in the Division of Global Public Health, Department of Health Sciences, Brunel University London. Her research interests include infectious diseases, health policy evaluation, health promotion and stakeholder research. She was awarded a presidential honour by the President of Ghana in 2023 for her distinguished contribution to addressing the burden of COVID-19 in Ghana. Shirley was the Head of the physiotherapy department at the Ga East Municipal Hospital in Ghana, contributing to establishing a full-fledged physiotherapy department in the municipality. She was also among the team that established physiotherapy departments in the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital and La General Hospital in Ghana. She is a Chevening Scholar, a member of the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network. Infectious diseases Non-communicable diseases Health policy evaluation Childhood disabilities

Dr Helen Ives Dr Helen Ives is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Health and Exercise Sciences (Pedagogy and Youth Sport). Her research focuses on how physical education and school sport is a political area of interest with the aim of engaging with young people to become physically literate and active. Dr Ives is specifically interested in how physical education and youth sport is socially constructed through Government ideology, policy and strategy and 'used' by schools, clubs, coaches and volunteers to delivery outcomes and performance indicators through the receipt of funding/investment. She is also interested in the role of agents/agencies and teachers in this process. Her work focuses on applying social constructionism to explore these issues. The PE and School Sport Premium and its impact in Physical Education and School Sport Primary School Physical Education: Teacher pedagogy and CPD Physical Literacy: Operationalising physical literacy from philosophy to practice Funding in Sport: The role of Sport England, NGBs and Government Coaching Pedagogies Government ideology, policy and strategy in sport Funding (and grant reliance) in sport and physical education Sport England Strategy: Delivery and Impact Physical Literacy School Sport Partnerships and Youth Sport frameworks The Primary PE and School Sport Premium Coaches understanding and use of Game Sense in Northern Hemisphere Rugby Union

Dr Andrew Siu Dr. Andrew Siu is a mental health specialist in occupational therapy practice. He is experienced in teaching courses on research methods and statistics, mental health, health promotion, and primary care. His research interests are in the areas of nature-based therapy (horticulture, forest therapy), virtual reality interventions in mental health, and resilience in people with chronic illness and disabilities. He published over 100 research journal papers and reviews, and more than 30 book chapters and clinical manuals. Evaluation of occupation therapy interventions. Use of Virtual Reality in rehabilitation. Ecotherapy in rehabilitation, e.g. horticulture, forest walking/bath, outdoor activities. Psychosocial adaptation to Chronic Illness and Disablities. Understanding and managing addictions, e.g. internet/gaming, substance.

Dr Utsa Mukherjee I am a Senior Lecturer and Director of Research at the Department of Education, Brunel University of London. My research spans the disciplines of Sociology and Social Geography, with inter-connected research interests in the study of childhood, youth and families, social inequality, and leisure. My work across these thematic areas is guided by a commitment to equity and social justice. I am interested in exploring and theorising the way social inequalities are reproduced across time and place, and the way structural inequalities mediate the lived experiences of minoritized subjects. I am currently PI of two British Academy funded projects: (i) Centring Families in Iceland’s Just Transition (with Dr Auður Magndís Auðardóttir and Dr Auður Aðalsteinsdóttir) (BA funding contribution: £ 294,842) (ii) Enhancing Writing Skills and Building Academic Networks: Supporting Career Development of EarlyCareer Social Science Researchers in Indonesia (with Dr Fitri Arlinkasari, Prof Vina Adriany, Prof Emma Wainwright and Dr Indra Yohanes Kiling) (BA funding contribution: £ 21,210) My first monograph Race, Class, Parenting and Children’s Leisure (Bristol University Press, 2023) was the runner-up of the British Sociological Association's Philip Abrams Memorial Prize 2024. I have also solo-edited two interdisciplinary volumes: Childhoods & Leisure (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023) and Debating Childhood Masculinities (Emerald, 2024). I am the Associate Editor of two peer-reviewed international journals: Journal of Family Studies and Schole: A Journal for Recreation & Leisure Studies Education. I am also the Book Review editor of Sociological Forum and Children & Society. I am an editorial board member of the following peer-reviewed journals: British Journal of Sociology British Journal of Sociology of Education Sociology Compass Children & Society Sociological Forum Leisure Studies World Leisure Journal I am a Trustee of Academy of Social Sciences (the UK's national academy of academics, practitioners and learned societies in social science). I sit on the executive committee of Leisure Studies Association and I am currently an executive committee member cum Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Officer of the Geographies of Children, Youth and Families Research Group of the Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers). Within Brunel, I am a member of the Education, Identities and Society (EIS) research group within the Department of Education as well of the pan-university Centre for Global Lives and Centre for Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse (CHWL). Utsa's research interests broadly centre around the following axes: Children's everyday lives with a particular focus on generational order, parenting strategies, and children's agency Intersection of race and class within parenting ideologies and family practices Reproduction of social inequalities in the context of leisure Critical race theory approaches to the study of childhood and parenting South Asia and global South Asian diaspora Critical sexuality studies Sociology of Childhood and Family Sociology of Education Race and Class Environmental and Climate Social Sciences Leisure Studies I teach on a number of study blocks/modules across the BA Education programme and currently lead the following study blocks: ED1712 Education & Society ED3700 Education in Different Contexts

Dr Dominik Havsteen-Franklin Dominik Havsteen-Franklin’s work explores how arts therapies and creative health practices contribute to personal, social, technological, and systemic change. As Professor of Practice in Arts Therapies at Brunel University London and Consultant in Arts Psychotherapies at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, he works across clinical practice, research, education, public health, digital innovation, and cultural partnership. His scholarship is concerned with the conditions through which change becomes possible. Drawing on complexity theory, critical realism, new materialist and posthumanist thought, systems thinking, ecological models, mentalization-based approaches, and critically pluralist arts therapies theory, Dominik examines how wellbeing emerges through relations between people, materials, places, institutions, cultures, technologies, and forms of knowledge. A central theme in his recent work is the relationship between creativity, artificial intelligence, and wellbeing. He is interested in how AI and digital systems organise patterns of convergence and divergence: how they can narrow complex experience through prediction, classification, optimisation, and repetition, but also how they may support generative reflection, relational insight, and imaginative forms of inquiry when developed within ethical and participatory frameworks. His methodological work spans realist evaluation, arts-based inquiry, participatory research, mixed-methods evaluation, psychometric development, and complexity-informed programme design. He is particularly interested in methods that can account for emergence, uncertainty, power, context, and lived experience, especially where conventional models of evidence struggle to capture the relational, material, and ecological dimensions of arts-based practice. Dominik’s current projects include research on ethical digital creative health through p_ART_icipate!, education and wellbeing through the Art of Wellbeing in Education Project, AI-informed approaches to relational and linguistic change in mental health contexts, and creative systems approaches to NHS team development and organisational learning (CaRE Project). His work with teams focuses on how affect, communication, leadership, professional identity, institutional pressures, and psychological safety interact within complex organisational ecologies. Across these projects, Dominik works with partners in health services, higher education, cultural organisations, digital innovation, community settings, and international arts therapies networks. His research seeks to develop approaches that are theoretically rigorous, practically useful, and accountable to the communities, practitioners, institutions, and technologies through which contemporary wellbeing practices are shaped. My research explores how arts therapies and creative health practices contribute to wellbeing, mental health, education, social change and systems development. I am particularly interested in relational and ecological approaches to practice, and in how change emerges through interactions between people, materials, places, institutions, technologies and wider socio-political contexts. My work draws on complexity theory, critical realism, new materialist and posthumanist thought, systems thinking, mentalization-based practice and critically pluralist arts therapies theory. Methodologically, I work across realist evaluation, arts-based research, participatory inquiry, mixed-methods evaluation, psychometric development and complexity-informed programme theory. Current research interests include digital creative health, ethical wellbeing technologies, artificial intelligence and creativity, convergence and divergence in mental health and wellbeing, arts-based approaches to team development, creative health in education, social art therapy, trauma-informed practice, and context-sensitive approaches to evaluating creative health interventions. Arts therapies and creative health Social art therapy and arts-based approaches to social change Digital creative health, digital wellbeing, and ethical online practice Artificial intelligence, creativity, mental health, and wellbeing Complexity theory, systems thinking, and ecological approaches to care Realist evaluation, Living Logic Models, and complexity-informed programme evaluation Participatory, arts-based, and practice-based research methods Mentalization, relational practice, and psychodynamic approaches in arts therapies Team development, organisational learning, and psychological safety in healthcare systems Education, curriculum development, and wellbeing in higher education Trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and socially situated arts therapies practice Psychometric development and evaluation of creative wellbeing measures Ethics, regulation, accessibility, and inclusion in creative health and arts therapies Interdisciplinary partnerships across health, education, culture, community, and technology sectors

Dr Isla Rippon I am a research fellow within the Department of Health Sciences working on the ESRC funded project ‘Socially inclusive ageing: a lifecourse study of new ageing populations. The project is led by Professor Christina Victor and it investigates social health in older adults from minority groups. I obtained a PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London. Using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), my doctoral research examined perceptions of age discrimination among older adults in England and the USA and the relationship between self-perceived age, health and mortality. After completing my PhD I worked on the ‘Improving the experience of dementia and enhancing active life: The IDEAL study’ (www.idealproject.org.uk). The project aimed to identify what helps people to live well with dementia or when caring for someone with dementia. My main research interests focus on health and wellbeing at older ages and across the lifecourse. I have a particular interest in loneliness and social isolation, the experiences of people living with dementia, carers and caring, age discrimination and the use of secondary data analysis in gerontological research.

Professor Ann Gallagher Professor Gallagher is a national and international leader in the field of ethics and care. She is committed to professional education, innovation, research and scholarship that contribute to excellence in health and social care. As Professor and Head of the Department of Health Sciences, Brunel University of London, Ann applies leadership and management experience to six subject areas: global public health, nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work and workforce development. Ann works with local and global partners to facilitate enriching learning experiences for students and impactful research and scholarship. She is committed to operationalising innovative interprofessional education and parity of esteem amongst diverse professions and disciplines in research and scholarship. Ann’s professional career began at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, during ‘The Troubles’, where she qualified as a general/adult nurse. She achieved registration as a mental health nurse at West Park Hospital in Epsom and went on to manage a regional adolescent day unit. Ann was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing in 2018, the highest RCN award for services to nursing, demonstrating an outstanding professional profile and commitment to care. Ann is highly experienced in educational leadership and development including co-leading the award-winning practice-based learning nursing course at the Open University and, later, co-production of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) ‘Ethical Decision-Making in Care’. Ann was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2018, enabling collaboration with the Bioethics team at Tuskegee University in Alabama, and a Hastings Center Fellowship in 2021. She is Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Nursing Ethics (first quartile journal in ethics and nursing with 2025 impact factor of 2.7) and Fellow of the Hastings Center. Ann is author of over 190 publications including 9 books (co-authored, co-edited and single authored). She has research collaborations with regulators and international scholars, has been expert Code advisor to the International Council of Nurses and is co-organiser of annual international nursing ethics conferences. Ann has extensive experience of a range of research methodologies, PhD supervision and national and international research and education collaborations, generating over £1m of funding. Previous university senior leadership roles have included Chair of the University of Surrey Research Ethics Committee and Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee and Clinical Ethics Committees. Ann is Visiting Professor at the University of Genoa. She was a working group member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics in-depth inquiry on the ‘Future of Ageing’ (see The future of ageing - The Nuffield Council on Bioethics (nuffieldbioethics.org)). Her single authored book Slow Ethics and the Art of Care was described as ‘accessible and incredibly moving, its lessons are profoundly relevant to the changing world we find ourselves in. Every hospital, every care agency, every funding body should have this book in their library & put its lessons into practice’. Professor Gallagher's overall research interests relate to ethics in health and social care. She has researched a wide range of topic areas (see previous section) and has extensive experience of successfully supervising local and international PhD Students to completion. As Editor-in-Chief of an international ethics journal, Professor Gallagher has an in-depth understanding and appreciation of current ethical issues that impact health and social care, locally and globally. She is committed to supporting and co-creating research and scholarship with educators, researchers, members of Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Group and students. Research and scholarship which positively impacts the experiences of patients, families and communities and students on professional programmes. Professor Gallagher's research areas are, broadly, in the areas of ethics and professionalism in health and social care. She has researched areas such as: dignity in social care; compassion in the NHS; professionalism in paramedic practice; innovative approaches to ethics education; and the application of AI to Fitness to Practise processes. Examples of recent publications are listed below: Haddad, A.A., Arber, A., Cox, A. and Gallagher, A., (2025) The Meaning of Being a ‘Good Nurse’ in the ICU During the COVID‐19 Pandemic. Nursing Inquiry, 32(1), p.e12694. Al Haddad, A., Arber, A., Cox, A. and Gallagher, A. (2024) The Challenges Experienced by ICU Nurses in Kuwait during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Nursing Studies Ad van der Gaag A., Jago R., Gallagher A., Stathis K.,Webster M., Austin Z., Stathis K., Krishnamurthy Y. & Austin Z. (2023) Artificial Intelligence in Health Professional Regulation: An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Nursing Regulators in Three Jurisdictions Journal of Nursing Regulation 14 (2) p.1-8 Gallagher A, Lane A., Egan C., Katsumasa O., Keiko A., Nakayama N., Kasimovskaya N., Fomina E., Geraskina N., Shalakhova A. & Cox A. (2021) Views of Generation Z regarding care and care careers: a four-country study International Journal of Care and Caring ( Cox A., Parsons T., Watkin S. & Gallagher A. (2021) Supporting the delivery of good maternity care for parents with learning disabilities Midwifery Vol. 102 ( Jago R., van der Gaag A., Stathis K., Petej I., Lertvittayakumjorn P., Gao Y., Caceres Silva J., Webster M., Gallagher A. & Austin J. (2021) Use of Artificial Intelligence in Regulatory Decision-Making Journal of Nursing Regulation 12 (3): 11-10 Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Service Clinical Ethics Group (2020) Resuscitation During the Pandemic: Optional Obligation? or Supererogation? Clinical Ethics ( Lead/Corresponding author Gallagher A., Williams E., Peacock M., Zasada M. & Cox A. (2020) Findings from a Mixed Methods Pragmatic Cluster Trial Evaluating the Impact of Ethics Education Interventions on Residential Care-Givers Nursing Inquiry 28 (2) Gallagher A., Dopson A., Brighton D. & Nicholson C. (2020) Ensuring the Best Possible End of Life Care Experience for Patients with COVID-19: Key Question Areas Nursing Standard ( Gallagher A., Banks S., Jago R., Austin Z., Zasada M. & Van Der Gaag (2020) Exploring the context of fitness to practise concerns about social workers in England: Explanations beyond Individuals Ethics and Social Welfare (published online 15th January – Gallagher A., Peacock M. & Cox A. (2020) Exploring the experiences of domiciliary caregivers simulating the role of care recipients Nursing Standard (published online April 2020 – doi:10.7748/ns.2020.e11382) Banks S., Zasada M., Jago R., Gallagher A., Austin Z. & Van Der Gaag (2020) Social Workers under the Spotlight: An Analysis of Fitness to Practise Referrals to the Regulatory Body in England 2014-2016 The British Journal of Social Work 50 (2): 326-347 (see Books Gallagher A., Jago R., Morley G., Monteverde S., Peters E., Sperling D. and Suhonen R. (In press) Handbook of Nursing Ethics Routledge Gallagher A., Davies N., Bowen N. & Sicat S. (2026) Interprofessional Ethics Across the Lifespan in Health and Social Care: A Scenario-based Approach Routledge – in press and due for publication in October 2025 Gallagher A., Deering K. & de Luca E. (Editors) (2023) Nursing Practice and Education: Aspiring to Excellence through Seven Pillars of Learning Routledge, London – co-produced text with students, PPI members & members of the Academy of Nursing, University of Exeter Gallagher A. (2020) Slow Ethics and the Art of Care Emerald Points, Bingley [Published in Japanese in 2022] Gallagher A. & Herbert C. (Editors) (2019) Faith and Ethics in Health and Social Care: Improving Practice through Understanding Diverse Perspectives Jessica Kingsley, London Chadwick C. & Gallagher A. (2016) Ethics and Nursing Practice 2nd Edition, Palgrave/MacMillan, Basingstoke Gallagher A. & Hodge S. (Editors) (2012) Ethical, legal and professional aspects in healthcare: a practice-based approach Palgrave/MacMillan Banks S. & Gallagher A. (2009) Ethics in Professional Life: Virtues for Health and Social Care Palgrave/MacMillan, Basingstoke McHale J. & Gallagher A. (2003) Human Rights and Nursing Butterworth Heinemann/Elsevier, Edinburgh

Dr Cristina Asenjo Palma I am a lecturer in Social Work at the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences. My research focuses on community development, well-being and conflict resolution. These research interests stem from my practice. I have over twenty years of professional experience, having worked for a wide range of community development organisations in Spain, Bangladesh, Ireland and the U.K. I have a strong commitment to undertake research that contributes to community practice and social justice. As a practitioner, I became interested in how different organisations address social justice issues differently, some focussing on what people can improve by themselves; others on promoting changes at a structural level. I undertook my PhD to explore the strengths, weaknesses, and complementarities of applying different community development approaches. Participation/participatory approaches to research and practice Community development and youth work Community-based social work Interdisciplinary approaches to well-being Research and professional ethics Community-based social work Community development Rights-based approaches Asset-based approaches Well-being and quality of life Conflict Resolution

Professor Fiona Verity Fiona has a background in community development in Australia. She worked in various community-based roles for 15 years, including community development roles in local government and the community health sector, and management roles in community health. She has a B. A (Classical Studies), Bachelor of Social Administration and a PhD (Sociology). Her research and teaching have been in areas of community development, social policy and social planning. She has expertise in participatory forms of evaluation, and has been a team member of the Developing Evidence Enriched Practice Programme (DEEP), developed in Wales. In 2000 she moved to work in the higher education sector and has worked at the University of South Australia and Flinders University (South Australia) and Swansea University (2016-2023). Before joining Brunel University in 2023, she was Professor, Swansea University and a former Director of the Wales School for Social Care Research (2016-2020). Fiona is the Academic Lead for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Northwest London (NWL), Social Care Research Capacity Building Programme She is Visting Professor at Swansea University and the University of South Wales. Community development Community based social work Participatory action research Practitioner research Prevention in social care My research focus is broadly on social development, which includes community development and social policy. I have been part of collaborative research teams undertaking research in Australia, Wales, England, Indonesia and Uganda. This research has included studies about the following topics; community impacts of the closure of a car manufacturing industry; refining a community based mental health intervention; community development in childhood obesity prevention; social policy evaluations; and the evaluation of health and social care integration. I worked on the evaluation of the implementation of the Welsh Social Services and Wellbeing Wales Act (SSWB), and am currently part of the team evaluating the Welsh Government Regional Integration Fund (RIF). For many years I have worked to support the development of social care research capacity, which includes supporting practitioner research and developing evidence enriched practice drawing on diverse forms of knowledge. I am involved in the Developing Evidence Enriched Practice Programme (DEEP) Welcome (deepcymru.org)

Professor Cherry Kilbride Cherry is a Professor of Neurorehabilitation and Applied Clinical Research. Cherry is a state registered physiotherapist and active proponent of developing AHP research capacity and capability in allied health professions. Cherry is the Lead Allied Health Professional for Clinical Research at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, where she previously worked as a senior manager and specialist physiotherapist in neurology. Cherry is an active researcher in the field of neurological rehabilitation, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and the development of complex interventions that promote health and well being and quality of life in people with neurological conditions. Qualifications: PhD MSc FCSP PGCert (LTHE), FHEA Stroke, ataxia, evaluating clinical practice, guideline development, mixed methods, action research Teaching Responsibilities: Research methods, neurology and rehabilitation

Dr Adam Cocks Adam is a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Psychology). Following the completion of his BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees, Adam joined Brunel University of London as a PhD student on the Isambard Scholarship Scheme in October 2012. His PhD research focussed on applying theories relating to anxiety and performance to novel dynamic domains. This included investigating how anxiety influences anticipation judgements during sport as well as fall-risk-related behaviours in older adults. After being awarded his PhD, and completing a short term Research Assistant post in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Brunel, he began his current role in November 2017. Control of attention Anxiety and performance Fear of falling in older adults Fall-risk and fall prevention in older adults Psychological influences on visual processes and the control of posture and gait Neurological disorders and motor performance SP1614 - Introduction to Academic and Personal Development​ SP2616 - Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Life Course SP3606 - Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology SP3607 - The Psychology of Physical Activity for Health SP5606 - Physical Activity and Exercise for Clinical and Special Populations

Dr Yohai Hakak Dr Yohai Hakak joined Brunel in September 2014. Dr. Hakak's practice experience is in mental health social work. His areas of research interests are migration, embodiment, parenting, risk-perception, youth, religion, gender and mental health and the connection of these areas with social work. Dr Hakak published in these areas numerous articles. His last manuscript titled Haredi Masculinities between the Yeshiva, the Army, Work and Politics: The Sage, the Warrior and the Entrepreneur was an ethnographic study of Jewish Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) young men in Israel. It was published by Brill in 2016. The outcomes of Yohai’s academic work included also several award-winning documentary films. Yohai is interested in supervising students in the following areas and in relation to social work: Migration Embodiment Religious minorities Masculine identities Mental health Risk and its perception Mixed couples Yohai's current areas of research interest are: Embodiment in Academic and Professional Practice | Brunel University London The migration of professionals Mixed families Religious minorities Mental health State power

Dr Charlotte Kerner Dr Charlotte Kerner is a Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences whose research examines the social and psychological factors influencing physical activity and body image. Her reserach focuses on motivation for physical activity participation, particularly among young people, and explores how pedagogical environments can support engagement in physical activity. This research also examines the relationships between physical activity environments and body image outcomes. Dr Kerner’s research also explores the role of digital technologies, including health and fitness social media (e.g. Instagram and TikTok) and wearable technologies, in influencing body image, exercise motivation, and health behaviours across different populations. Her current work also focuses particularly on the social, behavioural, and psychological implications of GLP-1 medications (e.g. Mounjaro, Wegovy etc). Recent publications examine social media representations of GLP-1 medications on TikTok, while current projects explore how GLP-1 medications may influence body image and physical activity behaviours. Her emerging research interests also include visible differences and appearance-related experiences, including exploring conceptual links with body image and body functionality theory, and the place of physical activity in the lives of those living with visible differences Technology (e.g. social media, wearable technology) and its relationship to body image, physical activity and health Body image and body functionality in sport, health and exercise The lived experience of visible difference conditions and links with body image and physical activity Programmes to support the development of body image The construction of effective environments to promote self-determined motivation in sport, health and exercise The social, behavioural and psychological implications of GLP-1 medications, with a focus on body image and physical activity Charlotte is module leader for the following modules: SP1617 Pedagogy and Policy in Physical Education and Sport SP2612 Pedagogy, Social Psychology & Learning in Sport SP3613 Critical pedagogy and Learning Environments SP5607 Physical Activity Behaviour Change and Public Health Charlotte contributes to the following modules: SP3700 Major Project SP5530 MSc Dissertations SP3706 Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology SP2612 Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Lifecourse

Professor Veena Kumari Professor Veena Kumari obtained a PhD in Psychology from Banaras Hindu University, India in 1993 prior to joining the Institute of Psychiatry, London for post-doctoral research. She became a Beit Memorial Research Fellow in 1999, a Wellcome Senior Fellow in Basic Biomedical Science in 2002, and a Full Professor in 2006 at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (formerly known as the Institute of Psychiatry), King’s College London, UK. She joined Brunel University of London in Jan 2018 as Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Centre for Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (CCN). Her research interests include the neurobiological effects of pharmacological and psychological treatments in psychosis, neurobiology of violence in mental illness, psychobiology of addiction, and personality and brain functioning. Prof Kumari has over 300 publications in reputed psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience journals and received various national and international awards for her research including the Young Investigator Award from the National Alliance of Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, USA (1999), research fellowship from BEIT Memorial Foundation (1999-2002), the BAP (British Association of Psychopharmacology) Clinical Psychopharmacology Prize (2002), Wellcome Senior Fellowship in Basic Biomedical Science (2002-2009), the prestigious Humboldt Research Award (2014), and most recently a Bonn International Fellowship (2020/21). Professor Kumari has supervised a large number of post-graduate and doctoral students and served in editor or editorial board member roles for a number of psychology and psychiatry journals. Cognitive and affective deficits in schizophrenia, depression and personality disorders Neurobiological effects and predictors of outcome following drug and psychological treatments Neurobiology of violence in psychosis and personality disorders Sleep deprivation and mental health Neuroscience of mindfulness Cognitive psychopharmacology, particularly the effects of psychostimulants, antipsychotics, nicotine and anxiolytics Neurobiology of sex related differences Personality neuroscience MSc Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience Module Lead for PY5616 - Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience - Core Topics

Professor Nicola Ansell Since I arrived at Brunel in 1999, my interests have focused on social and cultural change in the lives of young people in the Global South (particularly southern Africa). I have researched the impacts of AIDS on young people’s migration; how education sectors are adjusting to the needs of AIDS-affected young people; and the impacts of AIDS on young people’s current livelihoods and future food security. Recently, I have completed two research projects. The first examines the impacts of social cash transfers (for instance old age pensions and child grants) on generational relations in Malawi and Lesotho. The second investigates links between education and aspiration in remote rural areas of Lesotho, Laos and India. I have also authored a book on Children, youth and development (second edition published 2016) and launched an MA programme on Children, Youth and International Development and more recently undergraduate programmes in Geography. Social and cultural change in the lives of young people in the Global South (particularly in southern Africa); politics and impacts of global policy agendas (particularly in the areas of education, children’s rights and social protection); geographies of youth and childhood; scalar politics; participatory research. Teaching Responsibilities: Module convenor: Understanding Childhood and Youth (UG and PG) Applied Learning for Children, Youth and International Development (PG)

Dr Annette Payne Having gained a PhD in 1992 in Molecular Biology from the Royal Postgraduate Medical College, University of London I undertook two post doctorial positions; the first at the National Heart and Lung Institute, University of London researching the molecular biology of atherosclerosis, the second at The Institute of Ophthalmology, University of London researching the molecular genetics of retinal diseases, before joining Brunel University London Dept. of Bioscience in 2000. I have since transferred to the Department of Computer Science as my interest in computational biology grew. I have now additional research interests in technology and computer assisted learning, and the use of technology to monitor and manage medical conditions. I have over 100 peer reviewed publications many of them can be found on my Research Gate profile at These publications highly cited over 2000 times by other researchers (RG score of over 35 most months, and a ISI h-index of 31). I a Research Interest Score that is higher than 92% of researchers in my field. Disciplines Data Mining Human-computer Interaction Computing in Mathematics, Natural Science, Engineering and Medicine Bioinformatics Molecular Biology Systems Biology Skills and expertise Human Genetics Next Generation Sequencing Gene Expression Genomics Transcriptomics E-Learning Blended Learning TEL Synthetic Biology Bioinformatics and Computational Biology My research interests are divided into two areas: 1. Computational and systems biology, including machine learning, bioinformatics and medical informatics. 2. Technology assisted learning, including e-learning, blended learning, cross discipline use of technology in the arts and design. As well as supervising PhD students in my areas of interest I teach the following modules: Ethics and Governance Data and Information Management Group projects Dissertations

Professor Peggy Froerer I found my way into anthropology after studying politics, completing my PhD in Social Anthropology at the London School of Economics in 2002. My doctoral research on the emergence of Hindu nationalism within adivasi communities in central India became the subject of my first book, Religious Division and Social Conflict. I joined Brunel’s Anthropology department in 2004, following postdoctoral work on the inculcation of nationalist ideologies in educational settings. Since then, I have returned regularly to India to pursue research on education, learning and schooling; childhood and youth; poverty and development; and inequality and social mobility. My second book, Education, Aspiration and Social Mobility: Uncertain Futures for Rural Youth in India' (Berghahn 2025), considers how marginalized young people’s differentiated engagement with school education articulates with their livelihood options and aspirations for a better future. I have also been co-Investigator on a collaborative, multi-regional research project (ESRC-DfID, 2016-2018) which examines education systems, aspiration and learning outcomes in remote rural areas of India, Lesotho and Laos. I have recently started a new project on educational inequalities in the UK, with a focus on the role that education plays in the (re)production of class privilege. I have directed an ethnographic film (Village Lives, Distant Powers; produced by Margaret Dickinson), which is based on my research on development, the state and corruption in central India. Qualifications: PhD Anthropology (LSE) MSc Anthropology (LSE) MA Political Science (Jawaharlal Nehru University) BA Political Science (University of Utah) I am a social anthropologists with nearly 25 years of research experience in India on subjects ranging from nationalism and ethno-religious politics, poverty and social mobility, childhood and youth, and education and schooling. Much of this research has been driven by my interest in the relationship between education and social reproduction, and the specific role that schooling plays in the reproduction of social inequalities amongst marginalised communities in rural India. This has culminated in my second book, Futures in Flux: Education, Aspiration and Social Mobility in India. With my new research, I turn my attention to educational inequalities in the UK, and specifically to the role that education plays in the (re)production of class privilege. Research area(s) South Asia Education and schooling Childhood and youth Social reproduction, class and privilege Poverty and development Inequality and social mobility Nationalism and ethnic conflict Programme convenor MSc, Childhood, Youth and Education MSc, International Development and Humanitarianism Module convenor Cross-cultural Perspectives on Education and Learning Critical Perspectives on Global Development Undergraduate Dissertation Additional teaching Understanding Childhood and Youth Fieldwork Encounters Administration Co-Director, Equality and Diversity (2023-present) Director, Postgraduate Research, Department of Social Sciences, Media and Communications (2014-2021) Director, Centre for Anthropological Research on Childhood, Youth and Education (CARCYE) (2009-2014) Convenor, Undergraduate Dissertations (2012-present) Admissions Tutor (2004-2011)

Dr Gabriella Spinelli Dr Spinelli holds a Laurea in Human-Computer Interaction, a PhD in Computer Science, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (FHEA). Her research spans more than two decades and centres on human factors and user-centred design in complex socio-technical systems, with 60+ peer-reviewed journal and conference publications. Her interdisciplinary research portfolio encompasses public and third-sector settings; in healthcare specifically, her major applied work includes the design and evaluation of inclusive, intuitive and sustainable medical products (supported by AHRC, NHS Charity, NHS England, MRC, Innovate UK and NIHR). More recently, her focus has shifted to strategic design and regulatory innovation in digital health. She is Principal Investigator of the RADIANT CERSI, a Centre for Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation in Transformative Digital Health and AI. She also leads programmes on innovation leadership in the NHS, and support the NIHR funded Commercial Delivery Research Centre led by the London North West NHS University Trust to achieve inclusive community engagement and participation in clinical trials for responsible research and innovation. Dr Spinelli is named inventor on two medical-device patents and co-directs the Centre for Research into Smart Technologies for Health and Rehabilitation (STAHR). She leads the Design for Health programme to facilitate co-development of clinically-led innovations through NHS, medtech and academic collaboration. In addition to her research leadership, Gabriella teaches Human Factors to final-year students and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate reserach students in healthcare innovation. Previous notable projects include the analysis of police command and control room operations in collaboration with the National Police Intelligence Agency (EPSRC); long-term research on technology adoption and inclusive product design for ageing populations (ESRC; DAIWA Foundation); and the development of intuitive product-service systems for later life (Design Council). She has led international research into community currencies and their role in reimagining social care and sustainable economic exchange (Innovate UK, £1M), as well as the development and evaluation of digital complementary currencies aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (FORMAS). Dr Spinelli is a member of the MHRA National Commission for the Regulation of AI in Healthcare. She serves as Scientific Advisor to the UK Home Office (HOSAC) and she is also a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Design for Augmented Humanity. Gabriella heads the Brunel Design School since March 2026. Healthcare Innovation Regulatory Science for medtech Human Factors User-centred design Design Thinking in healthcare engineering Digital Health and AI in healthcare

Professor Emma Wainwright Emma is Professor of Education, Space and Society within the Department of Education at Brunel University of London. A geographer by background, she is co-lead of the Human Geography: Space, Place and Society research group (with Nicola Ansell and Monica Degen) and the Education, Identities and Society research group (with Utsa Mukherjee). Emma studied Geography at the University of Aberdeen and, after completing her PGCE (Secondary) at the University of Edinburgh and a brief period of secondary teaching, was awarded a scholarship by the University of St Andrews to undertake her PhD in Social and Historical Geography. Prior to working at Brunel, Emma was a Research Executive in the Social Research Institute at MORI (now part of Ipsos). Emma's research interests focus on the geographies of education, training and welfare, and educational access and engagement. In particular her works explores higher education and student experience; social housing and resident wellbeing; family, parenting and home-school partnership; embodiment, body work and emotional labour. Emma's research often engages low-income, marginalised and 'hard to reach' groups. Research has been funded through external grants awarded by the ESRC, the British Academy, the City of London Corporation, Barclays, the Froebel Trust, the Learning and Skills Council, and the Money Advice Service. Emma has successfully collaborated with various social housing providers across London and the South East including A2Dominion, Catalyst and East Thames (now L&Q) to deliver research and evaluation projects. The impact of this research was captured in a REF 21 case study. For six years, Emma was editor of the British Educational Research Journal (Jan 2018- Dec 2023). She has been external examiner at the University of Hertfordshire (BSc Geography), University of Newcastle (BSc Geography) and Cardiff University (MSc Education and MSc Childhood and Youth), and acts as a regular reviewer for various academic journals. In 2006 Emma was awarded the Newbigin Prize by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for her paper published in the Scottish Geographical Journal. Recent work has been published in Area, Educational Review, Education 3-13 and Population, Space and Place. Emma has worked at Brunel for 23 years, the majority of which has been part time. She currently works 4-days a week (Monday, Wednesday to Friday). Qualifications PhD, Geography, University of St Andrews PGC in Higher Education, Brunel University London PGC in Secondary Education (Geography and Modern Studies), Moray House, University of Edinburgh MA (Hons) Geography (1st Class), University of Aberdeen Awards and Prizes Brunel Colleage of Arts, Law and Social Sciences award for Research Group of the Year, 2026 Brunel Impact Award nomination for Enhancing Research Culture, 2025 BERA Conference Award for Best Paper in the Educational Policy and Educational Research SIG, 2023 BERA Conference Commendation for Best Paper in the Alternative Education SIG, 2021 Brunel Teach Award for Innovative Assessment, 2018 University's Student-Led Teaching Award for Outstanding Feedback, 2017 Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Newbigin Prize, 2006 Current research interests include: HE participation, student success, commuter students, student poverty Early years, play and inclusion Social housing, welfare provision, training and financial inclusion Embodied learning and professionalism Home-school engagement, parenting and care Engaging low-income families in research REF 21 Case Study based on resident engagement in education, training and welfare support REF21 Case Study - Education, Training and Welfare-to-Work Through a geographical lens, my research focuses on social and educational inequalities. In particular, my work explores: Higher education, student experience, widening access, poverty and precarity Family, parenting and home-school engagement Further education, lifelong learning and training for work Embodiment, body work and emotional labour Social housing and resident engagement Current teaching I currently teach on the following programmes: BA Education, Department of Education BSc Geography, Department of Social and Political Sciences Modules led: ED1705 Human Development ED2700 The Social Study of Children and Young People ED1802 Education and Society 1 ED2800 Education and Society 2 Focusing on Geography, Sociology, Social Policy and Research Methods I have previously taught on the following programmes: MA Children, Youth and International Development; MA Education; Doctorate of Eduction; BA and MA Social Work. Teaching awards: 2017 recipient of the University's Student-Led Teaching Award for Outstanding Feedback 2018 recipient of Brunel Teach Award for Innovative Assessment

Dr Rebecca Hings Dr Rebecca Hings (pronouns: she/her) is a Senior Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Psychology) at Brunel University London. Beckie is an expert in the emotional labour and wellbeing of sport, health, and exercise employees across a range of domains including high-performance sport, the NHS, and third sector sport organisations. Beckie graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a First Class Honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science and went on to complete her PhD in Organisation Studies at Portsmouth Business School. Beckie's doctoral research examined how and why sports medicine and science practitioners manage their emotions when interacting with clients as part of their professional practice. Prior to her role at Brunel, she was a Research Planning Officer (Impact) at the University of Birmingham. Beckie's research interests span the fields of sport and exercise psychology, sport sociology, and organisation studies in the following topic areas: Emotional labour and wellbeing of sport, health and exercise employees including; Health and care professionals including Occupational Therapists, Sport and Exercise Psychologists, Physiotherapists, and Sport and Exercise Medicine Specialists Sport match officials Community sports coaches and third-sector volunteers Psychological resilience, stress and wellbeing in performance domains Developing evidence-based professional development and education Beckie is a dedicated teacher with over ten years of experience teaching sport and exercise psychology and qualitative research methodologies in undergraduate and postgraduate modules at UK universities. Beckie is committed to teaching in line with her values, (1) developing evidence-based teaching materials, (2) prioritising the student voice and experience, and (3) fostering inclusive and supportive classroom environments to discuss, critique, and solve problems. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and is Module Lead for the SP2613-SP2623 Developing Research Methods and Data Analysis Skills.

Dr Emily Hunt Emily Hunt joined Brunel University London in January 2019 as a Lecturer in Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences (Psychology). Emily completed her PhD at Loughborough University, completing in July 2021. The focus of Emily's PhD was narrative behaviour change and well-being, specifically exploring the power of stories as a means to promote physical activity for people with arthritis. Most recently, Emily's research has focused on utilising digital storytelling as a means to explore experiences of living with multiple long-term conditions and chronic disease. Emily is a member of the Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease, the Centre for Health and Wellbeing across the Lifecourse and contributes to the Health Behaviour Change Research Group. Emily's research interests are grounded in understanding experiences of sport, exercise and physical activity for people living with long-term health conditions, such as multiple long-term conditions, arthritis, diabetes and chronic pain. To explore these topics, Emily utilises qualitative and narrative research methods (semi-structured interviewing, focus groups, life story interviews, narrative interviews, digital storytelling) and various forms of qualitative and narrative analysis. Topics/Field: Sport and exercise psychology; physical activity for health and wellbeing; psychology of health and wellbeing Population/Context: Chronic disease (e.g. arthritis, diabetes, chronic pain); multiple long-term conditions; mental health/illness; community sport Methodology/Methods: Qualitative approaches to data collection (e.g. interviews, focus groups, participatory workshops); narrative inquiry and analysis; digital storytelling and creative methods; thematic analysis; framework analysis Emily contributes to teaching on the following modules and study blocks: SP1602/SP1610 Introduction to Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing (Module Leader) SP1706 Introduction to Research Methods and Data Analysis SP2603 Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing in the Lifecourse SP3602-SP3706 Applied Sport and Exercise Pscyhology SP3600 Final Year Project (Dissertation supervision) SP5508 Research Methods and Data Analysis SP5530 Dissertation (MSc) SP5601 Physical Activity and Health

Dr Kei Long Cheung You said: Dr Kei Long Cheung is a Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Programme Lead for the online Master of Public Health at Brunel University London. His work focuses on health behaviour change, computer tailored communication, and co creation methods for personalised digital health solutions. He integrates behavioural science with digital interventions to support implementation in real world settings and builds collaborations across academia, industry, and policy. His research applies socio cognitive frameworks including the Integrated Change Model, Intervention Mapping, and the Behaviour Change Wheel to design and evaluate pragmatic, patient centred interventions. He has led multidisciplinary, stakeholder centred projects such as the EU funded EQUIPT programme, directing stakeholder engagement and usability evaluations to co create a decision support tool across several European countries. As part of an EIT Health initiative, he co developed a training programme on co creation methods, behaviour change, and digital health business models. He co leads the Health Behaviour Change Research Group at Brunel and has contributed to programme evaluations and the development of personalised health interventions with clear links between components and behaviour change mechanisms. His methods include Delphi studies, best worst scaling, and qualitative research to elicit stakeholder and organisational preferences and ensure solutions are inclusive, scalable, and ready for practice. He welcomes enquiries from prospective PhD students and collaborators on projects related to behaviour change, digital and data enabled public health, intersection of sexual identity and cultural background., and the co design and evaluation of interventions, and can be contacted via Brunel email. Health promotion; behaviour change; intervention mapping; intersection of sexual identity and cultural background, tailoring; digital health; preference research, perceptions Methods: Health promotion; Systematic reviews; Delphi method; Best-worst scaling; Usability evaluation; (M)ANOVA/Regression analyses Topics: (Cost-)effectiveness of health promoting interventions; Understanding and eliciting behaviour change; Smoking cessation and tobacco control; digital health, tailoring; facilitating and hindering factors

Professor Felicity Gavins Felicity read Pharmacology at the University of Sunderland, where she also embarked on an industrial placement year at Bayer Pharmaceuticals in Slough. After completing her BSc (Hons), she moved to London to study for a Ph.D. in Pharmacology at Queen Mary University London, supported by the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Felicity was then awarded a BHF Junior Research Fellowship to undertake further research both in the UK and the USA. In 2007 Felicity joined Imperial College London to take up a Lectureship position in the Centre for Integrative Mammalian Physiology and Pharmacology (CIMPP). This was shortly followed by a senior lectureship and the appointment to Deputy Head of The Centre of Neurodegeneration & Neuroinflammation. In 2013 she accepted an academic position in the USA at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport (LSUHSC-S) and was appointed Director of The Small Animal Imaging Facility. Felicity is a Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society and of the Royal Society of Biology. She joined Brunel University London in August 2019 as Professor of Pharmacology and Royal Society Wolfson Fellow, and is the Director of The Centre for Inflammation Research and Translational Medicine (CIRTM). Throughout her academic career, Felicity has worked with and served on numerous national and international research councils, medical charities and learned societies. She has published widely in her field and received a number of awards and honours for her work. She has received funding for her research from a range of funders including: the Royal Society and the Wolfson Foundation (RSWF), the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH/NHLBI). Felicity continues to be actively involved in public and patient organizations which has been immensely instructive for her research. She is also dedicated to promoting mentoring and collaborative research, along with facilitating mentoring of post-doctoral fellows/early-career investigators. Inflammation Thrombosis (arterial and venous) Resolution of inflammation Immune mediated responses in normal and pathological conditions Neutrophil-Platelet interactions Ischaemia reperfusion injury (I/RI) Healthy ageing Formyl Peptide Receptors (FPRs) Annexin A1 Biology Sickle Cell Disease Inflammation in Cancer Pre-clinical imaging Drug discovery and resolution biologics Novel drug delivery systems e.g Nanocarriers The principle focus of my research is elucidate and understand the complex roles played by immune cells in vascular inflammation and thrombosis. The aim of my research it to design tailored next generation therapeutics for inflammatory pathologies that temper inflammation and enhance resolution. Within the continuum of an inflammatory response, the objective of my research is to study the role of the microvasculature as a dynamic-interface between circulating blood cells and immune cells (such as neutrophils and platelets) and tissue. My lab focuses on how circulating cells communicate, adhere and migrate across the endothelium and the pathways by which these circulating and resident cells can render systemic inflammatory responses and alter local inflammatory and thrombotic states. By targeting the pathophysiology of endogenous pro-resolving pathways such as the Annexin A1-Formyl Peptide Receptor (AnxA1-FPR) pathway, we hope to identify novel and innovative anti-inflammatory therapeutics for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerbrovascular diseas The research in my laboratory crosses the boundaries between Integrative physiology and pharmacology and uses multidisciplinary approaches to advance understanding of the vascular physiology and pathophysiology of inflammatory and related disorders, at the molecular, cellular, tissue and whole organism levels. To achieve this goal, we use a technological toolbox compromising of various experimental in-silico, in-vitro and in-vivo systems and advanced imaging modalities (including confocal intravital microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]; positron emission tomography [PET], and in-vivo imaging systems [IVIS]), coupled with multi-omics approaches to dissect the contribution of neutrophils and platelets in inflammation, thrombosis and vascular dysfunction. Development of research students and post-doctoral fellows/early career researchers. Dedicated to promoting mentoring and ensuring equality and diversity. Teaching Responsibilities: BB3091 Final Year Project (Block lead) BB5604 MSc Dissertation Research Project BB3802 Problem Solving and Data Analysis BB3801 Scientific Communication BB2802 Primary literature interrogation & synthesis BB2803 Data Evaluation and Reporting BB2555 Work Placement BB1700 Tutoring BB2700 Tutoring BB3700 Tutoring

Dr Solon Solomon Dr Solon Solomon is Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in the Division of Public & International Law at Brunel University of London, having established and serving as co-Director of the BUL International Law Group and heading the BUL Emerging Law Voices interview series on the BUL Law School's YouTube Channel and on Spotify. Former Member of the Knesset Legal Department on international and constitutional issues and holder of the George Weber Award from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he has held visiting positions in a number of academic institutions including King's College London, Humboldt zu Berlin, Tel Aviv University and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. He is co-convenor of the International Law Section in the Society of Legal Scholars of the United Kingdom and Ireland, member of the International Law Network at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and has served as mentor for new international lawyers in the realms of the mentorship program established by the American Society of International Law. Whereas Dr Solomon's research lies primarily on the interdisciplinarity between psychology and international law, he has also written and spoken also about general international and global law issues. In November 2025, he rendered the opening speech in London at the conference on 'The U.S. and International Law in Changing Times' and in 2024, his award-winning film 'Migrating Fears', discussing the feelings around migration and encompassing interviews with UK politicians, refugees, psychologists and legal experts, premiered in London. The film received a number of international awards and is now available on Amazon Prime. More information about it can be found at the film's website, www.migratingfears.com Solomon is the author of The Justiciability of International Disputes (WLP, 2009) cited before the Permanent Court of Arbitration and co-editor of the volume Applying International Humanitarian Law in Judicial and Quasi-Judicial Bodies: International and Domestic Aspects (TMC Asser Press, 2014), presented in a special event in The Hague by the then serving judges Sir Christopher Greenwood and Silvia Fernandez de Gurmendi, the British judge to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court's President. His research has appeared in a number of journals including the Journal of International Dispute Settlement, the Journal of Conflict & Security Law, the Chinese Journal of International Law, the Nordic Journal of International Law and the German Law Journal. He has rendered lectures and talks in various academic venues, most notably at the University of Cambridge, the Harvard Law School, the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University. He sits on the Editorial Board of the Military Law and the Law of War Review, published under the auspices of the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War and has submitted evidence on the legal assessment of war trauma to the House of Commons Defence Committee. Dr Solomon holds a PhD from King’s College London Dickson Poon School of Law, an LLM in Public International Law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a First-Class Honors Bachelor of Laws from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has extensive media presence, with his views hosted in outlets such as The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The BBC, Newsweek Magazine, The Times, The Financial Times, The Globe & Mail, The Straits Times and Haaretz. Dr Solomon's research interest focuses on how the human rights discourse and particularly socio-economic rights and the right to mental health, can interact with disciplines beyond the legal world, such as psychology and psychiatry. On this account, Dr Solon Solomon is currently researching on the legal assessment of civilian war trauma and the repercussions for the warfare rhetoric and for the laws of war existing framework. Research areas include the interrelation between psychology and human rights law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law and refugee law

Dr Raha Pazoki Raha Pazok MD PhD FHEA is a medical doctor and an epidemiologist. She studied Epidemiology at the Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences (NIHES) and in the University of Amsterdam. She worked with various cohort and case control studies such as the Arrhythmia Genetics in the Netherlands (AGNES), the Rotterdam Study, the Airwave Health Monitoring Study and the UK Bio bank. In 2016, she joined the Department of Epidemiology and Bio-statistics at Imperial College London as a Research Associate. In 2020, she started a Teaching & Research academic position at Brunel University London. Dr Pazoki specializes in the field of health data research, with a primary focus on the epidemiology of cardiometabolic diseases. She holds a particular interest in exploring causal inference and precision medicine by leveraging genomics and extensive health data sets with sample sizes exceeding 500,000 individuals. Her expertise spans various domains, including precision medicine, global health, interventions, and the application of artificial intelligence for predicting health outcomes. She harbors a keen interest in identification of the relationship between circulating molecules and biomarkers, nutrition, lifestyle choices, genetic factors, and their collective contribution to the modulation of health risk factors and outcomes. She was the first to identify 517 novel genetic loci associated with liver enzymes and the first to show the causal effect of liver dysfunction on cardiovascular diseases. In addition, she is the first to show the effect of the alcohol consumption WDPCP gene in lipid metabolism, and liver cirrhosis. Available PhD projects: Exploring artificial Intelligence for precision medicine, focusing on the interplay between gene and environemnt Cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke, remain the leading causes of mortality worldwide and their prevalence continues to rise. These conditions are influenced by a combination of modifiable (e.g., diet, physical inactivity, smoking) and non‑modifiable (e.g., age, sex, genetic background) risk factors. Genetic variation, in particular, plays an important role in differentiating individuals at high and low risk, enabling more precise and targeted prevention strategies. As precision medicine advances, artificial intelligence (AI) and data‑driven approaches offer powerful tools for integrating genetic, environmental, and lifestyle information to better predict disease risk and improve population health outcomes.This umbrella project brings together a series of PhD opportunities focused on applying AI‑enabled precision‑medicine approaches to understand how genetic and environmental factors, such as alcohol consumption, smoking, mental‑health‑related exposures, and other lifestyle variables, contribute to cardiovascular diseases. Using data from the UK Biobank comprising 500,000 participants, students will employ statistical and machine‑learning methods to conduct advanced analyses at scale. (Genetic) Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases Big Data Genome-wide Association Studies Genetic risk scores Mendelian Randomization Machine Learning Dr. Raha Pazoki’s research focuses on health data science with a strong emphasis on cardiometabolic and ageing-related diseases. Her work integrates genomics, epidemiology, and artificial intelligence to uncover genetic and environmental determinants of conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, liver dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease. She was the first to identify 517 novel genetic loci linked to liver enzymes and demonstrated their causal role in heart disease. Using Mendelian randomization, she clarifies causal pathways between biomarkers (e.g., liver enzymes, lipid levels) and age-related conditions, improving understanding of how genetic predispositions interact with lifestyle factors like diet, alcohol, and physical activity. Her studies also show that lifestyle interventions, such as exercise, can mitigate genetic risk, offering actionable insights for prevention and healthy ageing. The impact of her work spans clinical and societal domains. Clinically, she advances precision medicine by integrating genetic risk scores with lifestyle and clinical data to enable personalized treatment strategies, particularly for ageing populations with complex health profiles. Her research supports early detection of stroke, liver cirrhosis, and metabolic syndrome, and informs screening guidelines for at-risk individuals. Societally, her findings guide public health campaigns promoting healthy behaviours tailored to genetic risk, reduce health inequities through inclusive genomic research, and leverage AI to predict health outcomes in ageing populations. By bridging big data with clinical practice, Dr. Pazoki’s work not only addresses global challenges in cardiometabolic and ageing diseases but also shapes the future of personalized medicine, prevention strategies, and wellbeing across diverse populations. Scorll down this page for full detail of her research. Dr Paozki is a founder and director of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research Group hosting researchers and academics across Brunel university with direct or indirect research interest involving cardiometabolic aetiology, prevention, and health. We work in various areas to identify causes of cardiometabolic diseases (environmental, lifestyle, molecular, and clinical) and provide insight into how they interplay. We use the information for better prevention of cardiometabolic diseases in the community. If you are a MSc graduates (with upper second class degree or higher) in the relevant field to the above research area, please contact Dr Raha Pazoki (raha.pazoki@brunel.ac.uk). Postgraduate fees and funding | Brunel University London or Scholarships and Bursaries | Brunel University London and Other funding | Brunel University London Selected list of publications by Dr Raha Pazoki Karkia, R., Maccarthy, G., Payne, A., Karteris, E., Pazoki, R., & Chatterjee, J. (n.d.). The Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and the Risk of Endometrial Cancer in Pre- and Post-Menopausal Women: A UK Biobank Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(3), 751. doi:10.3390/jcm14030751 Hezekiah, C., & Pazoki, R. (2024). Physical activity and favourable adiposity genetic liability reduce the risk of hypertension among high body mass individuals. doi:10.1101/2024.12.18.24319295 MacCarthy, G., & Pazoki, R. (2024). Using Machine Learning to Evaluate the Value of Genetic Liabilities in the Classification of Hypertension within the UK Biobank. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(10), 1-20. doi:10.3390/jcm13102955 Hezekiah, C., Blakemore, A. I., Bailey, D. P., & Pazoki, R. (2024). Physical activity alters the effect of genetic determinants of adiposity on hypertension among individuals of European ancestry in the UKB. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 34(5), 1-13. doi:10.1111/sms.14636 O’Farrell, F., Aleyakpo, B., Mustafa, R., Jiang, X., Pinto, R. C., Elliott, P., . . . Pazoki, R. (2023). Evidence for involvement of the alcohol consumption WDPCP gene in lipid metabolism, and liver cirrhosis. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1-13. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-47371-7 Hezekiah, C., Blakemore, A. I., Bailey, D. P., & Pazoki, R. (2023). Physical activity reduces the effect of adiposity genetic liability on hypertension risk in the UK Biobank cohort. doi:10.1101/2023.09.22.23295992 Roa-Díaz, Z. M., Teuscher, J., Gamba, M., Bundo, M., Grisotto, G., Wehrli, F., . . . Muka, T. (2022). Gene-diet interactions and cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review of observational and clinical trials. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 22(1), 1-22. doi:10.1186/s12872-022-02808-1 O'Farrell, F., Jiang, X., Aljifri, S., & Pazoki, R. (2022). Molecular Alterations Caused by Alcohol Consumption in the UK Biobank: A Mendelian Randomisation Study. Nutrients, 14(14), 1-14. doi:10.3390/nu14142943 Jiang, X., Anasanti, M. D., Drenos, F., Blakemore, A. I., & Pazoki, R. (2022). Urinary Sodium Excretion Enhances the Effect of Alcohol on Blood Pressure. Healthcare, 10(7), 1-13. doi:10.3390/healthcare10071296 Jiang, X., Anasanti, M., Drenos, F., Blakemore, A., & Pazoki, R. (2022). Urinary Sodium Excretion Enhances the Effect of Alcohol on Blood Pressure. doi:10.20944/preprints202205.0385.v1 Said, S., Pazoki, R., Karhunen, V., Võsa, U., Ligthart, S., Bodinier, B., . . . Dehghan, A. (2022). Genetic analysis of over half a million people characterises C-reactive protein loci. Nature Communications, 13(1), 1-10. doi:10.1038/s41467-022-29650-5 Roa-Díaz, Z. M., Asllanaj, E., Amin, H. A., Rojas, L. Z., Nano, J., Ikram, M. A., . . . Muka, T. (2021). Age at natural menopause and blood pressure traits: Mendelian randomization study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(19), 1-13. doi:10.3390/jcm10194299 Jiang, X., Gao, H., Elliott, P., & Pazoki, R. (2022). Percentage of explained variance in alcohol consumption by genetic risk score in the UK Biobank. In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS Vol. 30 (pp. 528-529). Online. doi:10.1038/s41431-021-01026-1 Evangelou, E., Suzuki, H., Bai, W., Pazoki, R., Gao, H., Matthews, P. M., & Elliott, P. (2021). Alcohol consumption in the general population is associated with structural changes in multiple organ systems. eLife, 10. doi:10.7554/eLife.65325 Pazoki, R., Vujkovic, M., Elliott, J., Evangelou, E., Gill, D., Mohsen, G., . . . elliott, P. (2021). Genetic analysis in European ancestry individuals identifies 517 loci associated with liver enzymes. Nature Communications, 12, 1-12. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-22338-2 Pazoki, R., Lin, B. D., van Eijk, K. R., Schijven, D., de Zwarte, S., Guloksuz, S., & Luykx, J. J. (2020). Phenome-wide and genome-wide analyses of quality of life in schizophrenia. BJPsych Open, 7(1), 1-7. doi:10.1192/bjo.2020.140 Cabrera, C. P., Pazoki, R., Giri, A., Hellwege, J. N., Evangelou, E., Ramirez, J., . . . Warren, H. R. (2020). Multi-trait genome-wide association analysis of blood pressure identifies 45 additional loci. In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS Vol. 28 (pp. 105). Virtual Conference. doi:10.1038/s41431-020-00740-6 Elliott, P., Muller, D. C., Schneider-Luftman, D., Pazoki, R., Evangelou, E., Dehghan, A., . . . Tzoulaki, I. (2020). Estimated 24-Hour Urinary Sodium Excretion and Incident Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality among 398628 Individuals in UK Biobank. Hypertension, 76(3), 683-691. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.14302 Robinson, O., Chadeau Hyam, M., Karaman, I., Climaco Pinto, R., Ala-Korpela, M., Handakas, E., . . . Vineis, P. (2020). Determinants of accelerated metabolomic and epigenetic aging in a UK cohort. Aging Cell, 19(6), 1-13. doi:10.1111/acel.13149 Schmidt, A. F., Holmes, M. V., Preiss, D., Swerdlow, D. I., Denaxas, S., Fatemifar, G., . . . Dehghan, A. (2019). Phenome-wide association analysis of LDL-cholesterol lowering genetic variants in PCSK9. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 19(1). doi:10.1186/s12872-019-1187-z Pazoki, R., Lin, B. D., van Eijk, K. R., Schijven, D., Guloksuz, S., & Luykx, J. J. (2019). Phenome-wide and Genome-wide Analyses of Quality of Life in Schizophrenia. bioRxiv, preprint. doi:10.1101/744045 Pazoki, R., Evangelou, E., Mosen-Ansorena, D., Pinto, R., Karaman, I., Blakeley, P., . . . Dehghan, A. (2019). PATHWAYS UNDERLYING URINARY SODIUM AND POTASSIUM EXCRETION AND THE LINK TO BLOOD PRESSURE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. In Journal of Hypertension Vol. 37 (pp. e74). Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). doi:10.1097/01.hjh.0000571108.82708.c0 Pazoki, R., Evangelou, E., Mosen-Ansorena, D., Pinto, R. C., Karaman, I., Blakeley, P., . . . Dehghan, A. (2019). GWAS for urinary sodium and potassium excretion highlights pathways shared with cardiovascular traits. Nature Communications, 10(1), 1-11. doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11451-y Evangelou, E., Gao, H., Chu, C., Ntritsos, G., Blakeley, P., Butts, A. R., . . . Elliott, P. (2019). New alcohol-related genes suggest shared genetic mechanisms with neuropsychiatric disorders. Nature Human Behaviour, 3(9), 950-961. doi:10.1038/s41562-019-0653-z Luykx, J., Pazoki, R., Lin, B., Guloksuz, S., Schijven, D., van Eijk, K., & GROUP collaborators. (2019). T168. Phenome-Wide and Genome-Wide Analyses of Quality of Life in Patients With Psychosis. In Biological Psychiatry Vol. 85 (pp. S194). Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.03.491 Pazoki, R. (2019). Cardiovascular disease, ABO locus, and markers of platelet functionality. International Journal of Cardiology, 286(1 July 2019), 162-163. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.03.061 De Vries, P. S., Brown, M. R., Bentley, A. R., Sung, Y. J., Winkler, T. W., Ntalla, I., . . . Giulianini, F. (2019). Multiancestry Genome-Wide Association Study of Lipid Levels Incorporating Gene-Alcohol Interactions. American Journal of Epidemiology, 188(6), 1033-1054. doi:10.1093/aje/kwz005 Robinson, O., Hyam, M. C., Karaman, I., Pinto, R. C., Fiorito, G., Gao, H., . . . Vineis, P. (2018). Determinants of accelerated metabolomic and epigenetic ageing in a UK cohort. bioRxiv, preprint. doi:10.1101/411603 Kilpeläinen, T. O., Bentley, A. R., Noordam, R., Sung, Y. J., Schwander, K., Winkler, T. W., . . . Krieger, J. E. (2019). Multi-ancestry study of blood lipid levels identifies four loci interacting with physical activity. Nature Communications, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-018-08008-w Ashar, F. N., Mitchell, R. N., Albert, C. M., Newton-Cheh, C., Brody, J. A., Müller-Nurasyid, M., . . . Sotoodehnia, N. (2018). A comprehensive evaluation of the genetic architecture of sudden cardiac arrest. European Heart Journal, 39(44), 3961-3969. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy474 Evangelou, E., Warren, H. R., Mosen-Ansorena, D., Mifsud, B., Pazoki, R., Gao, H., . . . Gandin, I. (2018). Genetic analysis of over 1 million people identifies 535 new loci associated with blood pressure traits. Nature Genetics, 50(10), 1412-1425. doi:10.1038/s41588-018-0205-x Davies, G., Lam, M., Harris, S. E., Trampush, J. W., Luciano, M., Hill, W. D., . . . Kleineidam, L. (2018). Study of 300,486 individuals identifies 148 independent genetic loci influencing general cognitive function. Nature Communications, 9(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04362-x Pazoki, R., Dehghan, A., Evangelou, E., Warren, H., Gao, H., Caulfield, M., . . . Tzoulaki, I. (2018). Genetic predisposition to high blood pressure and lifestyle factors: Associations with midlife blood pressure levels and cardiovascular events. In Circulation Vol. 137 (pp. 653-661). doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.030898 Pazoki, R. (2018). Methods for polygenic traits. International journal of cardiology, 1793, 145-156. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-7868-7_10 Code and Academic Year Title Level Credits % teaching contribution BB3711-2022/3 Introduction to Epidemiology and Disease Prevention (Block leading and delivery) 6 20 95 BB3711-2023/4 Introduction to Epidemiology and Disease Prevention (Block leading and delivery) 6 20 100 BB3711-2024/5 Introduction to Epidemiology and Disease Prevention (Block leading and delivery) 6 20 100 BB3804-2023/4 Synoptic Examinations 3 (Leading and marking) 6 20 75 BB3804-2024/5 Synoptic Examinations 3 (Leading and marking) 6 20 75 BB3804-2021/22 Synoptic Examination 3 (marking, cross moderating) 6 20 5 BB1719-2021/22 Introduction to Data Analysis (Leading, delivering, marking) 4 20 90 BB3091-2021/22 Final Year Project (Leading, delivering, marking) 6 40 50 BB3091-2022/23 Final Year Project (support of leading, marking, delivering, supervision) 6 40 20 BB3091-2023/24 Final Year Project (marking, delivering, supervision) 6 40 6 BB3091-2024/25 Final Year Project (marking, delivering, supervision) 6 40 6 BB3803-2022/23 Biomedical Sciences Examinations 3 (marking, question design) 6 20 20 BB3803-2023/24 Biomedical Sciences Examinations 3 (marking, question design) 6 20 20 BB3803-2024/25 Biomedical Sciences Examinations 3 (marking, question design) 6 20 20 BB1804-2023/24 Practical Skills 3: Molecular Analysis (marking) 4 20 20 BB1804-2022/23 Practical Skills 3: Molecular Analysis (marking) 4 20 20 BB2710-2021/22 Analytical Biochemistry (moderation) 5 20 3 BB2709-2021/22 Genetics, Genomics and Human Health 5 20 15 BB2709-2024/5 Genetics, Genomics and Human Health 5 20 15 BB3801-2022/3 Scientific Communication -Essay (Coursework design & delivery, marking) 6 20 20 BB3801-2023/4 Scientific Communication -Essay (Coursework design & delivery, marking) 6 20 20 BB3801-2024/5 Scientific Communication -Essay (Coursework design & delivery, marking) 6 20 20 BB2801-2021/22 Career Skills 5 20 5 BB2555-2022/23 Placement 5 20 5 BB2555-2023/24 Placement 5 20 5 BB2555-2021/22 Placement 5 20 5 BB1801a-2023/24 Research and Communication Skills - Presentation 4 20 3 BB1801a-2024/25 Research and Communication Skills - Presentation 4 20 3 BB1801c-2023/24 Research and Communication Skills - Portfolio 4 20 3 BB1806-2023/24 Synoptic Examination 1 (marking) 4 20 3 BB1806-2022/23 Synoptic Examination 1 (marking) 4 20 3 BB2802-2021/22 Primary Literature Interrogation and Synthesis (supervision, marking) 5 20 3 BB2802-2022/23 Primary Literature Interrogation and Synthesis (supervision, marking) 5 20 3 BB2802-2023/24 Primary Literature Interrogation and Synthesis (supervision, marking) 5 20 3 BB2804-2023/24 Data Analysis, Interpretation and Presentation (poster, marking) 5 20 3 BB2804-2021/22 Data Analysis, Interpretation and Presentation (poster, marking) 5 20 3 BB2805-2021/22 Biomedical Sciences Examinations 2 (moderation) 5 20 3 BB2805-2022/23 Biomedical Sciences Examinations 2 (moderation) 5 20 3 BB2805-2023/24 Biomedical Sciences Examinations 2 (moderation) 5 20 3 BB3801-2021/22 Scientific Communication – Presentation (marking) 6 20 3 BB3801b (term 1)-2022/23 Scientific Communication – Presentation (marking) 6 20 3 BB3801b (term 1)-2023/24 Scientific Communication – Presentation (marking) 6 20 3 BB3802b (term 2)-2023/24 Problem Solving and Data Analysis – Reflection (marking) 6 20 3 BB3802b (term 2)-2022/23 Problem Solving and Data Analysis – Reflection (marking) 6 20 3 BB1801a-2022/23 Research and Communication Skills - Presentation 4 20 3 BB1801-2021/22 Research and Communication Skills - Presentation 4 20 3 PGT Modules: Code and Academic Year Title Credits Core/Option (C/O) Module leader (Y/N) % teaching Contribution (excluding PGT dissertation supervision) BB5716-2024/2025 Vaccines and Treatment for Infection and Inflammation 7 20 N 10 BB5716-2023/2024 Vaccines and Treatment for Infection and Inflammation 7 20 N 10 BB5713-2022/2023 Radiation, Toxicology and Pollution 7 20 N 10 BB5713-2021/2022 Radiation, Toxicology and Pollution 7 20 N 10 BB5804-2024/25 Scientific Communication 7 20 N 10 BB5804-2021/22 Scientific Communication 7 20 N 10 PGT Dissertation Supervision: Code and Academic Year Title Number Primary supervisions Number of Secondary supervisions 2024/25-BB5604 Mendelian Randomisation study of lipid levels on alcohol consumption using MR-Base 1 0 2022/23-BB5604 Genetic Risk score of Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes 1 0

Dr Daniel Bailey Dr Daniel Bailey is a Reader in Sedentary Behaviour and Health in the Department of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences. He is Director of Research for the Department having previously been Director of the Centre for Physical Activity in Health and Disease. Dr Bailey's research investigates the relationship between sedentary behaviour and chronic health conditions, with a particular focus on non-communicable disease. This research includes the epidemiology of sedentary behaviour and associations with non-communicable disease risk, controlled laboratory studies examining the acute effects of breaking up prolonged sitting on cardiometabolic biomarkers, and the development and evaluation of interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity in a range of population groups and long-term conditions including Type 2 diabetes, office workers, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Fabry disease and frailty. Dr Bailey has been awarded multiple research grants from funding bodies and industry partners to support his research and has published many research articles in his field of research. He has delivered multiple conference presentations and invited talks across the UK and Europe and was Technical Advisor for the Qatar National Physical Activity Guidelines 2nd edition, 2021. Dr Bailey is Chair of the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) Physical Activity for Health Division and was Chair of the CASES 2024 Conference Planning Group. Dr Bailey was also a member of the scientific global leadership committee for the 8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress. Dr Bailey has a wealth of experience teaching physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health topics at undergraduate and postgraduate level and uses innovative teaching approaches in his practice including research-informed teaching, bleneded and authentic learning, and flipped classrooms. Dr Bailey's research investigates the relationship between sedentary behaviour and long-term health conditions. His research has spanned from the epidemiological analysis of sedentary behaviour and chronic disease risk, laboratory-based studies examining the benefits of breaking up prolonged sitting time on markers of health to provide proof-of-concept, leading to the development and evaluation of interventions to reduce sedentary behaviour. Dr Bailey has established an interdisciplinary and multi-institutional network of collaborators to deliver this programme of research. His research has been conducted in a range of population groups and settings, including young people, workplaces, people with Type 2 diabetes, spinal cord injury, older adults with frailty, multiple sclerosis, Fabry disease and cardiac rehabilitation. His research is conducted in collaboration with external partners such as local councils, the NHS, health charities and community organisations. Dr Bailey’s research has shown that high amounts of daily sitting time are associated with an increased risk of long-term health conditions. He has also published a large number of studies showing that regularly breaking up sitting time with short, frequent bouts of light, moderate or high-intensity physical activity leads to improvements in a range of metabolic biomarkers including blood glucose, lipid levels and blood pressure. His first laboratory based study published in 2014 was the first to show benefits to glucose in response to breaking up sitting with light-intensity walking in healthy adults. Dr Bailey has led successful research grant applications to various funding bodies to support his research, such as: MS Society, iStep-MS II: a physical activity and sedentary behaviour intervention for reducing fatigue in people living with multiple sclerosis, £541,494. MPS Society, Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the enhancement of mental health and quality of life in Fabry disease, £84,007. Diabetes UK, A tailored intervention to reduce sitting behaviour in people with Type 2 Diabetes: A randomised-controlled feasibility study, £137,510. Abbeyfield Research Foundation, Reducing sarcopenia and maintaining independent living in frail older adults via reductions in sitting time: The Frail-LESS (LEss Sitting and Sarcopenia in Frail older adults) intervention, £73,247. Heart Research UK, The benefits of breaking up prolonged sedentary time on cardiovascular disease risk markers in people with spinal cord injury, £86,434. He has also supervised a number of PhD students to completion in addition to supervising current PhD students studying in fields related to physical activity, sedentary behaviour and long-term health conditions.

Professor Danae Manika Danae Manika (PhD, University of Texas at Austin) is Executive Dean and Professor of Marketing at Brunel Business School. In the past, Danae served as Acting Executive Dean and Deputy Dean of the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences at Brunel University of London; and as Associate Head of Brunel Business School. Before joining Brunel, she was Professor of Marketing at Newcastle University Business School, where she led its London Campus as Academic Group Head and held the Deputy Director of Research role at Newcastle University Business School. Danae in the past has also held academic positions at Queen Mary University of London, Durham University and the University of Texas at Austin; and is currently Visiting Professor at Newcastle University and Queen Mary University of London. Prior to her academic career, Danae worked as an Account Planning Intern in advertising agencies such as Latinworks in Austin, TX, and DDB in New York. She obtained a Ph.D and a M.A. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.A. Honours in Marketing from University of Stirling. Danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as Journal of Service Research, Journal of Business Ethics, Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, Psychology and Marketing, European Journal of Marketing, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Business Research, European Management Review, and International Business Review, amongst others. Using an interdisciplinary approach, Danae’s research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change within the contexts of health, well-being and the environment. She is involved in various consultancies (e.g., Harrow Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, RECOUP, Global Action Plan, Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition), and her research has been supported by £450,000+ of funding (e.g., NERC, CRUK, EPSRC/Innovate UK, RED). Danae is Section Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics (section: Marketing Ethics) and an Associate Editor (AE) for Business and Society and the Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising, while in the past she was AE for the Journal of Marketing Management (2017-21). She is also currently on the Editorial Review Boards of: Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Journal of Marketing Management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. Danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for Cancer Research UK (2015-19); and track chair for top marketing conferences (AMS WMC 2025 and 2023, TCR 2021). Using an interdisciplinary approach, blending the lines between marketing, advertising and psychology her research aims to answer a fundamental marketing research question: How to diminish the knowledge-behaviour gap? Particularly, her research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change. It takes an information processing approach, which identifies, classifies and examines cognitive (e.g., knowledge, confidence, trust, values) and affective (e.g., pride, fear, disgust) factors that influence individuals’/consumers’/employees’ decisions and choices after exposure to campaigns/messages/interventions, and translate knowledge acquisition to behaviour change/formation. Her research is theory-based but practically applicable research, and often uses health (e.g., weight control, alcohol consumption, vaccination), well-being and environmental (e.g. energy saving, recycling) social issues as the venue for understanding the knowledge-behaviour gap, with direct implications for persuasive communication and behavioural interventions that motivate health and environmental action. The campaigns/messages/interventions often examined involve digital components (e.g., websites, social media, mobile applications, online tracking tools) and technology adoption behaviours (e.g., adoption and usage of technology-based solutions). Other projects with information technology and effective message construction focus include: social media service failure apologies, online petitions, and online political engagement. Side projects include innovative research methodologies, female-disparaging adverts, and consumer animosity, amongst others. Danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as Journal of Service Research, Journal of Business Ethics, Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, Psychology and Marketing, European Journal of Marketing, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Business Research, European Management Review, International Business Review, Information Technology and People, Studies in Higher Education, Journal of Marketing Management, Computers in Human Behavior, International Journal of Advertising, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Marketing Communications, Health Marketing Quarterly, and Multivariate Behavioral Research, amongst others. She often engages in research projects that require collaborations with other disciplines such as medicine, engineering and geography; and her research has been supported by£450,000+ of funding (e.g., NERC, CRUK, EPSRC/Innovate UK, RED, and Arrow/ERDF). She also strongly believes in the interplay and interdependence of academia, government, business and society and hence she is often involved in various consultancies (e.g., Harrow Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, RECOUP, Global Action Plan, Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition), in line with her research (i.e., effective message construction for behaviour change). Danae is Section Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics (section: Marketing Ethics; FT50 journal), and Associate Editor (AE) for Business and Society and the Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising, while in the past she was AE for the Journal of Marketing Management (2017-21). She is also currently on the Editorial Review Boards of: Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Journal of Marketing Management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. Danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for Cancer Research UK (2015-19); and track chair for the Academy of Marketing Science World Marketing Congress Conference in 2023, the Transformative Consumer Research Conference in 2021, and the European Social Marketing Association Conference in 2016. Knowledge-Behaviour Gap Effective Message Construction for Behaviour Change Information Processing & Persuasive Communication Health Communication (Employee) Pro-environmental Behaviour Technology Adoption for Behaviour Change Consumer Psychology Social Marketing Advertising

Dr Antonina Tereshchenko I am currently an Education MA Programme Leader. Prior to joining the MA Education team at Brunel in 2021, I had worked for five years at the UCL Institute of Education. Over the last few years, I have researched minority ethnic teacher retention, both at UCL and Brunel, including as a Co-I on the recently completed ESRC Education Research Programme project (led by Durham University) on the recrutment and retention of minority ethnic teachers, and relationship to student outcomes (2022-2025). My ongoing reseach on the experiences of migrant and internationally educated teachers has been supported by Brunel Research Initiative and Enterprise Fund (BRIEF), YERUN Research Mobility Award (with University NOVA de Lisboa) and British Academy Horizon Europe Pump Priming Collaboration between UK and EU. I was also a Co-I on the recently completed Student Grouping Study funded by Education Endowment Foundation (and led by UCL) investigating the effects of attainment grouping and mixed attainment teaching on student outcomes in secondary mathematics. I had previously completed three postdoctoral projects on Eastern European migrant students' identities and educational experiences, at King's College London (with funding from the Newton International Fellowship and the British Academy Visiting Scholar Scheme) and at the University of Porto (with funding from the Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology). Prior to my academic career, I worked at the Open Society Foundation in Ukraine on the reform to improve equal access to higher education. Professional experiences of teachers with a migration background is my new area of research funded by the Brunel Research Initiative and Enterprise (BRIEF). More information is availble here.

Mr Amrit Banstola Amrit Banstola is a Researcher in the Health Economics Research Group (HERG) at the Department of Health Sciences. Amrit mainly works for the NIHR ARC Northwest London project working closely with community health providers, local healthcare trusts, clinical commissioning groups, public health departments and other partners. Amrit leads or contributes to research activities in health economics and public health together with other health economists of HERG and the academic staff of the Department of Primary Care and Public Health of Imperial College London as part of the ARC project. Amrit also provides health economics support to monthly evaluation seminars provided to the ARC team in partnership with Innovation and Evaluation Theme (one of the seven themes of ARC NWL). He is an Honorary Research Associate at the Imperial College London. Amrit also provides teaching support to Brunel’s Global Public Health courses particularly MSc Public Health and Health Promotion and contributes to the HERG Short courses. Before joining Brunel, Amrit was working on the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Nepal Injury Research supporting health economics across all projects at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Amrit has a particular research interest in health economics aspects of public health interventions. Amrit is an Associate Editor in Frontiers in Public Health (Health Economics) and has reviewed several international peer-reviewed journals, including The Lancet Global Health, the BMJ, European Journal of Public Health, BMC Health Services Research, Systematic Reviews, and SAGE Open among others. Amrit is a member of the International Health Economics Association (iHEA) and the UK Health Economists' Study Group (HESG). Amrit is also a Global Burden of Disease Health Financing Collaborator, contributing to the longstanding and evolving health financing research at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).​ Health Economics Economic Evaluations Evidence Synthesis Global Health Multiple Long-Term Conditions (Multimorbidity) Injury Prevention

Dr Jungmin Jang Dr. Jungmin Jang is currently a Senior Lecturer of Marketing at Brunel Business School and a member of the Marketing and Corporate Brand Management Research Group (MCBM). Prior to joining Brunel, Dr. Jang worked as an Assistant Professor in Marketing at KIMEP University, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Consumer Behaviour, Advertising and Decision Making: (1) Layout effect in marketing communication (proximity, colour, and order of information) (2) Consumer information processing, and perceived fit (3) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability Cross-Cultural Research and Global Marketing: (1)The influence of different cultural characteristics depending on the culture or country (2) Contrasting responses from different cultures to marketing stimuli Dr. Jang’s primary research interests are congruency effects and cultural differences in marketing communication contexts. Other research interests include the influences of variety seeking and context effect in behavioural decision making in the advertising and retail setting, and their impact on consumers. Teaching Schedule: In 2025/26 Academic Year: MG1605: Principles and Practices of Marketing (Module Leader, Level 4) MG5561: International Marketing (Level 7) Completed in Previous Academic Years: MG1062: Principles and Practices of Marketing (Module Leader, Level 4) MG3123: Issues and Controversies in Marketing (Final Year Project, Level 6) MG2048B: Marketing Communications (Module Leader, Pathway Colleage Students) MG5620: Contemporary Brand Management (Level 7) Office Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Consultation Hours for MG1605: Tuesdays 11:00 - 11:30 AM and 12:30 - 13:00 PM Additional times available by appointment (Please Booking your time in advance)

Dr Matloob Khushi Dr Matloob Khushi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science, with over 25 years of combined academic and industry experience. His research excellence has been recognised globally, placing him in the Stanford/Elsevier list of the world’s top 2% of AI scientists. He earned his PhD in AI and Data Science from the University of Sydney, where he developed novel algorithms to analyse large-scale genomic datasets. During his postdoctoral research at the Children’s Medical Research Institute (2014–2017), he pioneered AI-based diagnostic tools to accelerate the detection of medical conditions. More recently, under a UKRI NEC grant, he has developed bioinformatics tools for assessing environmental and aquatic bio-sensitivity. Dr Khushi has supervised six PhD candidates to completion and over 100 postgraduate dissertations across diverse domains of AI, data science, and computational finance. He continues to welcome exceptional PhD candidates, particularly those eager to push the boundaries of AI innovation. Dr Khushi’s research portfolio spans FinTech AI, bioinformatics, and machine learning for complex data environments. His work bridges theory and application, attracting collaborations from international banks, healthcare institutions, and technology start-ups. He has published over 85 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals and conferences, earning thousands of citations and prestigious best paper awards from outlets such as IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems and PeerJ. Recent Publications of Interest Leveraging BiLSTM-GAT for Enhanced Stock Market Prediction: A Dual-Graph Approach to Portfolio Optimization X. Lu, J. Poon, M. Khushi, Applied Intelligence, 2025 — Introduces a hybrid BiLSTM and Graph Attention Network model to improve portfolio returns through advanced temporal and relational learning. Bridging the Gap Between Machine and Human in Stock Prediction: Addressing Heterogeneity in Stock Market X. Lu, J. Poon, M. Khushi, IEEE Access, 2025 — Proposes models that align AI market predictions with human decision-making behaviour, increasing explainability and trust in trading systems. Examples of some of his significant FinTech work are as follows: He has implemented innovative financial models to improve decision-making. One such example is his work with an international bank where Dr. Khushi developed a cutting-edge portfolio management model using reinforcement learning that optimizes cumulative returns and the Sharpe Ratio [1]. This model has been instrumental in refining the bank's investment strategies and risk management practices, leading to significantly more informed and profitable decisions. Dr. Khushi's research for a major international bank addressed its need for robust risk assessment tools. He created sophisticated models that simulate realistic financial scenarios, including market crashes, empowering fund managers with deeper insights into risk dynamics. This allows them to make more resilient investment decisions during turbulent market periods [2]. Dr. Khushi's impact transcends specific projects. He has made significant strides in developing algorithms for modelling non-stationary time-series data. This work has not only advanced academic understanding but also provided practical tools for financial analysts and economists to better predict and respond to market changes [3, 4]. Dr. Khushi's impact on quantitative finance extends beyond existing metrics. He identified limitations in popular risk-adjusted return measures like the Sharpe Ratio (sensitive to high volatility) and Sterling Ratio (punishes large drawdowns). To address these shortcomings, he invented the SS Ratio, incorporating both volatility and drawdown sensitivities. His research demonstrates that investment strategies optimized using the SS Ratio outperform those based on traditional metrics, showcasing its potential for superior returns [5]. He has also made significant contributions in applying AI to stock selection for financial institutions. He has developed various models leveraging diverse approaches, including: Text-mining sentiment analysis: This model analyzes textual data to identify stocks with promising sentiment, aiding investment decisions [6]. Graph Laplacian-Based Multi-task Learning: This model exploits the interconnectedness of various stocks to recommend promising investment targets [7]. Predictor and historical probability-based performance: This model utilizes fundamental and technical indicators along with historical trends to identify potentially lucrative stocks [8]. Dr. Khushi's innovation extends beyond investment selection. developed proprietary algorithms for generating synthetic data [9], a valuable tool for various applications: Fraud detection: Identifying fraudulent activities within financial systems. Credit default prediction: Anticipating potential loan defaults for improved risk management [10]. Corporate bankruptcy: Predicting corporate bankruptcy before it occurs, mitigating financial risks [11]. His expertise expands even further to derivative markets. He has developed models for complex financial instruments like CFDs, Options and Futures, facilitating informed trading decisions in these markets [5, 12-14]. Cited Publications: Kim, T.W. and M. Khushi. Portfolio Optimization with 2D Relative-Attentional Gated Transformer. in 2020 IEEE Asia-Pacific Conference on Computer Science and Data Engineering (CSDE), Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 16–18 December 2020. 2020. Huang, A., M. Khushi, and B. Suleiman, Regime-Specific Quant Generative Adversarial Network: A Conditional Generative Adversarial Network for Regime-Specific Deepfakes of Financial Time Series. Applied Sciences, 2023. 13(19): p. 10639. Wang, X., et al., Learning Non-Stationary Time-Series with Dynamic Pattern Extractions. IEEE Transactions on Artificial Intelligence, 2021. He, J., et al. Robust Dual Recurrent Neural Networks for Financial Time Series Prediction. in Proceedings of the 2021 SIAM International Conference on Data Mining (SDM). 2021. SIAM. Zhang, Z. and M. Khushi. GA-MSSR: Genetic Algorithm Maximizing Sharpe and Sterling Ratio Method for RoboTrading. in 2020 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN). 2020. Jaggi, M., et al., Text Mining of Stocktwits Data for Predicting Stock Prices. Applied System Innovation, 2021. 4(1): p. 13. He, J., N.H. Tran, and M. Khushi. Stock Predictor with Graph Laplacian-Based Multi-task Learning. in International Conference on Computational Science. 2022. Springer International Publishing Cham. Singh, J. and M. Khushi, Feature Learning for Stock Price Prediction Shows a Significant Role of Analyst Rating. Applied System Innovation, 2021. 4(1). Mukherjee, M. and M. Khushi, SMOTE-ENC: A Novel SMOTE-Based Method to Generate Synthetic Data for Nominal and Continuous Features. Applied System Innovation, 2021. 4(1): p. 18. Alam, T.M., et al., An Investigation of Credit Card Default Prediction in the Imbalanced Datasets. IEEE Access, 2020. 8: p. 201173-201198. Alam, T.M., et al., Corporate bankruptcy prediction: An approach towards better corporate world. The Computer Journal, 2021. 64(11): p. 1731-1746. Zhao, Y. and M. Khushi. Wavelet Denoised-ResNet CNN and LightGBM Method to Predict Forex Rate of Change. in 2020 IEEE International Conference on Data Mining Workshops (ICDMW), Sorrento, Italy, 11–17 November 2020. 2020. Zeng, Z. and M. Khushi. Wavelet Denoising and Attention-based RNN- ARIMA Model to Predict Forex Price. in 2020 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN). 2020. Qi, L., M. Khushi, and J. Poon. Event-Driven LSTM For Forex Price Prediction. in 2020 IEEE Asia-Pacific Conference on Computer Science and Data Engineering (CSDE), Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 16–18 December 2020. 2020. Dr. Khushi researches in AI applications in natural language processing, bioinformatics and FinTech. Dr. Khushi has been involved in teaching the following modules CS3002 Artificial Intelligence Final Year Project supervision CS2001 Level-2 Projects

Dr Adam Bruton Adam Bruton joined Brunel University of London in October 2022. Adam completed a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science at Swansea University in 2010, before being awarded his PhD in Sport Science at Swansea University in 2015. His PhD research explored the utility of video-based interventions to improve confidence and performance in groups. After completing his PhD, Adam worked as a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Psychology of Human Performance at the University of Roehampton from 2015-2022. During this time, Adam continued to research the use of movement simulation strategies such as imagery and observation in the contexts of sport and rehabilitation. Simulating actions through action observation and/or motor imagery to: Enhance learning of new motor skills / sequences Improve performance under pressure Increase task- and situation-specific confidence Develop mental representations of action in the long-term memory Understand joint actions and interactions across multiple persons Understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning action simulation: Using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess corticospinal responses to action simulation Using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to probe the roles of different brain areas during action simulation Testing immersive reality technologies as alternative forms of perceptual-cognitive, and/or action training: Investigating the efficacy of virtual- or augmented-reality for perceptual-cognitive, and/or action training Utilizing virtual- or augmented-reality to test possible transfer of perceptual, cognitive or movement outcomes after action simulation training Exploring the validity and reliability of immersive technologies as a training tool in high performance contexts My research interests span the fields of sport psychology, experimental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and movement science. I adopt a multidisciplinary approach to understand interactions between neural, cognitive, psychological and behavioural factors associated with the following topics: Simulating actions via motor imagery and/or action observation. Movement control and (re)learning in individuals with movement difficulties. Implementation of immersive technology to facilitate perceptual-cognitive and motor development.

Dr Liana Nagy I joined the London School of Occupational Therapy team at Brunel in August 2023 on a teaching and research contract after teaching for six years at Oxford Brookes University. My clinical background includes paediatric occupational therapy in a variety of settings, such as children's centres, hospital wards, mainstream and special needs schools, as well as work with adults with head injury and spinal injury. My most recent clinical practice was as Specialist OT for patients with a rare neurological condition (NMOSD) at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford (2025). My PhD (2019) completed under the supervision of Prof Maria Horne, Prof Mohammed A Mohammed and Dr Sally Barber, focused on ethnic differences in sedentary behaviour and physical activity among White British and South Asian children within the Born in Bradford study. Physical activity Lifestyle interventions Behaviour change Child health and wellbeing Reduction of disability stigma and discrimnation in LMICs Circularity I am leading modules MSc modules and I am a year lead of MSc year 1.

Dr Samantha Chye I am a postdoctoral research fellow on the Waterloo Foundation-funded project 'Virtually fall free: Delivering virtual reality-based action simulation training to improve balance and reduce fall risk in children with developmental coordination disorder'. My prior research explored the effectiveness of combined action observation and motor imagery as a training intervention, as well as specifically as a motor learning intervention for novices learning complex sport-based movements. My research focuses on advancing motor learning and skill acquisition through the combined use of action observation and motor imagery (AOMI) as an intervention. My work explores how psychologically-informed interventions like AOMI can enhance behavioral, psychological, and cognitive factors related to movement in sports, exercise, and rehabilitation.

Dr Alyson Warland

Dr Panagiota Smyrni Teaching Responsibilities: Knowledge and skills (BSc OT) Research methods (BSc OT) Research proposal (BSc OT) Professional Practice (BSc OT) Children, young people and families (MSc OT) Functional assessment of challenging behaviours across the lifespan (MSc OT) Research supervisor for the BSc OT, MSc OT post-registration programmes PhD supervisor (College of Health and Life Sciences; College of Business, Arts and Social Science) 2 Completed Phd studies (2nd supervisor): o Quaid Rafa: Patients' and Nurses' Perspectives on Patients' Experience for Coronary Care Unit Stressors Using Mixed Method Approach (2012). o Al-Qurashi Heba: The Impact of performance measurements on quality improvements in healthcare (June 2013 – 2nd Supervisor in collaboration with 1st Supervisor Dr Abraham Althonayan – Brunel Business School). Current PhD study (1st supervisor in collaboration with Prof Costas Karageorghis - Sport,Health ＆ Excercise Sciences - 2nd supervisor) o Lais Vidotto: Dusfunctional breathing: A diagnostic tool

Professor Subhash Pokhrel Generating evidence that helps governments invest better in public health Subhash Pokhrel is a Professor of Public Health Economics and Lead of the Health Economics Research Group (HERG) at Brunel University London. His research helps governments and health systems make evidence-informed investment decisions in public health - from tobacco control and breastfeeding promotion to physical activity and multimorbidity. With over 4,000 citations and experience across four continents, his work bridges rigorous economic analysis with real-world policy impact. Subhash's career spans more than two decades of research at the intersection of health economics, evidence synthesis, and public health policy - with work informing decisions at local, national, and international levels. His research is organised around two complementary themes: supporting health systems to deliver efficient, equitable healthcare, and strengthening health research systems to ensure research feeds into policymaking where it matters most. A key focus of his work has been the economic case for public health investment. He led the development of the NICE Public Health Return on Investment (ROI) Tools - practical, customisable models used by local authorities across England to justify investment in tobacco control. Building on this, he coordinated EQUIPT, a €2 million European Commission-funded, 11-country study that extended the ROI approach to tobacco control decisions across Europe. His contributions to public health policy are recognised in two REF2021 impact case studies: one on supporting tobacco control decision-making, and another on informing policies around breastfeeding promotion. He is the lead author of ROI in Public Health Policy: Supporting Decision Making (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017). Subhash has also contributed significantly to global health research. He has worked in multiple low- and middle-income countries - including Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Brazil, and Indonesia - and collaborated with the World Health Organisation to strengthen National Health Research Systems. He co-produced a WHO review of evidence on policies and tools for strengthening national health research systems. As a member of external committees including NICE Technology Appraisal, NIHR PGfAHR, and SPI-B (the Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours during COVID-19), he has contributed to decisions on medical technology funding, applied health research, and pandemic behavioural policy. Subhash has trained and supervised numerous doctoral researchers investigating topics from integrated care in the UK and obesity in West Africa to long-COVID in Ghana and the economics of physical activity in LMICs. Subhash would like to hear from you if you are interested in exploring: (a) what strengthens health systems to improve population health; or (b) how health research systems can be designed to generate and apply evidence more effectively. Find Subhash on: 🎓 Google Scholar 🔬 ORCID 🔗 ResearchGate 📚 BURA (Brunel Repository) 💼 LinkedIn Research Overview Subhash's research sits at the intersection of health economics, evidence synthesis, and public health policy. It is organised around two core themes: making the economic case for investments in population health, and ensuring that health research itself is effectively integrated into policymaking. Across both themes, his work combines methodological rigour with practical, policy-relevant application. Research Theme 1: Health Systems & Public Health Investment Economic arguments are essential for making the business case for public health. Subhash has developed tools, methods, and evidence to help decision-makers at local, national, and international levels allocate resources more effectively. Key contributions include: Development of the NICE Public Health ROI Tools - interactive, customisable models used by local authorities in England for investment decisions in tobacco control, physical activity, alcohol, and other public health areas. Leadership of EQUIPT (2013–16), a €2 million, 11-country European Commission study extending the ROI approach to tobacco control policy across Europe; and leadership of several other funded research on the economics of smoking cessation and tobacco control post-EQUIPT Quantification of the economic burden of not breastfeeding in the UK, estimating substantial NHS savings from higher breastfeeding rates. Research on smokeless tobacco (ASTRAMOD), estimating the lifetime health and economic burden of smokeless tobacco use in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. A systematic review on the commuter cycling and what works to promote physical activity globally. Research Theme 2: Health Research Systems Alongside his work on health systems, Subhash investigates how research - particularly economic evaluation - feeds into policymaking. Key contributions include: An investigation of the integration of economic evaluations into policymaking in Spain, with implications for global health research systems. Collaboration with WHO Europe to review evidence on policies and tools for establishing and strengthening National Health Research Systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Development of a conceptual approach to research impact, examining how researchers can most effectively engage governments and stakeholders to translate evidence into public health investment. Research Keywords / Areas: Health Economics and Econometrics Economic Evaluation / Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Return on Investment (ROI) in Public Health Tobacco Control Breastfeeding Promotion Multimorbidity Physical Activity Economics Health Research Systems Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) Evidence Synthesis Randomised control trials (RCTs) Find Subhash on: 🎓 Google Scholar 🔬 ORCID 🔗 ResearchGate 📚 BURA (Brunel Repository) 💼 LinkedIn Subhash has taught health economics and economic evaluation to MSc Public Health and Health Promotion students at Brunel University London, with a founding contribution to the MSc Genomic Medicine programme at Imperial College London (ex-module lead for Economic Evaluation in Human Genomics). His teaching is practice-oriented, drawing directly on his own research and policy experience to give students practical tools for health economic analysis. PhD Supervision Subhash has successfully supervised multiple doctoral researchers to completion. Recent and current PhD topics include: Economics of multiple / long term conditions - cost-effectiveness of strategies to prevent and manage chronic illnesses and multi-morbidity Integrated care models in England - evaluating effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of integrated care in a local health economy Obesity determinants in West Africa - role of physical activity and dietary habits among adults in Ghana COVID-19 and long-COVID in Ghana - correlates of hospitalisation and long-COVID Economics of physical activity in LMICs - econometric and cost-effectiveness analysis Healthcare placement in rural and urban Ghana - effectiveness of workforce access and equity If you are interested in PhD supervision in health economics, economic evaluation, public health in LMICs, or related areas, please contact Subhash directly. Supervision in: PhD in health economics PhD in public health and health promotion Find Subhash on: 🎓 Google Scholar 🔬 ORCID 🔗 ResearchGate 📚 BURA (Brunel Repository) 💼 LinkedIn

Professor David Gallear I am Professor of Operations Management with the Operations and Information Systems Management (OISM) research group at Brunel Business School, and College Vice Dean Education for Brunel Business School. From 2017 through 2023 I served as Vice Dean (Research) for the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences (CBASS), then briefly (2024-25) as BBS Associate Head. I moved to Brunel in 2006, where I became Reader in Operations Management and Enterprise in 2010 and then Professor of Operations Management in 2015. After serving as Director of Undergraduate Programmes (2006-2010), I was appointed Deputy Head for Teaching, Learning and Accreditation (2010-2015) and combined that role with directorship of the Operations and Supply Chain Systems (OASiS) Research Centre (2013-2015). I served as Associate Head of the Brunel Business School between 2015 and 2017, was appointed College Vice Dean (Research) in July 2017, and College Vice Dean Education in March 2025. Research and knowledge transfer expertise centres around sustainability considerations applied to stakeholder relationships in operations networks and value/supply chains. My work explores the determinants and facilitators of stakeholder partnership. It seeks to understand the mechanisms through which corporate social responsibility and circularity can be embedded and sustained, with a particular focus on inter-organisational knowledge transfer, stakeholder engagement and social capital and social value, and enabling digital technologies and data analytics. Qualifications: PhD Quality Management (Middlesex) PGCHE (Middlesex) - FHEA (equivalent) MEng Manufacturing Systems Engineering with Management (Nottingham) BEng (Hons) Manufacturing Systems Engineering (Nottingham) My research expertise lies in operations, supply chain and quality management, with a particular focus on sustainability issues, relationships, corporate responsibility and knowledge transfer, and my research has been supported through European Commission, ESRC and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants grants. Specific research interests are: Sustainability issues, circularity and corporate responsibility, often in the context of supply chain partnerships Stakeholder partnerships, supply chain purchasing strategy and buyer-supplier relationships Enabling digital technologies and data analytics applications for circularity Knowledge transfer in supply chain relationships and the circular economy The hydrogen economy The link between operations strategy, business strategy and firm performance (with a particular focus on strategic and operational issues in SMEs) Embedding and sustaining Total Quality Management (TQM) / Business Excellence as a management approach PGCHE (FHEA equivalent), 2001 Current:- Operations Management (MBA) Research Methods (MSc) Doctoral Training Programme (Brunel Business School) Finaly Year Project (Level 6) Lectures and Supervision (UG) Postrgraduate Dissertation (MBA and MSc) Supervision Early Career Academic (ECA Staff) Training Programme Previous:- Operations Management (UG) Enquiry Methods (UG) Project Management (UG) Productivity and Quality Management (UG) Quantitative Methods and Research Methodology (UG) Organisational Research and Study Methods (FT and Executive MBA) Operations and Information Management (FT and Executive MBA) Management Research (MA) Research Training and Dissertation (MA / MSc)