MacBean
experienced paediatric respiratory and critical care physiotherapist; research interests in respiratory physiology and interdisciplinary research novel physiological techniques for assessment of respiratory function, particularly in paediatric and critical care settings respiratory muscle function respiratory complications of neuromuscular disease critical care rehabilitation respiratory load perception respiratory muscle training interdisciplinary research, including the arts in healthcare respiratory and critical care medicine; physiology; paediatrics module lead for critical care modules - bsc (hons) & msc (pre-registration) physiotherapy courses msc advanced clinical practice/advanced professional practice: module lead for ph5611 the dissertation project supervision for bsc, msc pre-registration and msc advanced clinical practice/advanced professional practice dissertations teaching contributions to advanced clinical practice/advanced professional practice critical care specialist pathway modules
![Dr Vicky MacBean]()
Dr Vicky MacBean
Experienced paediatric respiratory and critical care physiotherapist; research interests in respiratory physiology and interdisciplinary research Novel physiological techniques for assessment of respiratory function, particularly in paediatric and critical care settings Respiratory muscle function Respiratory complications of neuromuscular disease Critical care rehabilitation Respiratory load perception Respiratory muscle training Interdisciplinary research, including the arts in healthcare Respiratory and critical care medicine; physiology; paediatrics Module lead for Critical care modules - BSc (Hons) & MSc (pre-registration) Physiotherapy courses MSc Advanced Clinical Practice/Advanced Professional Practice: Module lead for PH5611 The Dissertation Project supervision for BSc, MSc pre-registration and MSc Advanced Clinical Practice/Advanced Professional Practice dissertations Teaching contributions to Advanced Clinical Practice/Advanced Professional Practice Critical Care specialist pathway modules
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 Elmar Kal]()
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)
Romer
dr romer is a reader in human and applied physiology. following undergraduate and postgraduate studies at brunel, he spent several years at the british olympic medical centre, where he was responsible for the design, management and delivery of physiological support services to olympic governing bodies. he completed his phd at the university of birmingham and undertook post-doctoral training at the john rankin laboratory of pulmonary medicine, university of wisconsin-madison, usa. he returned to brunel in 2004 and served as head of department (formerly division) from 2014 to 2018. dr romer’s research centres on the cardiorespiratory responses, integrative interactions and physiological constraints that determine exercise performance. his work has demonstrated that the respiratory muscles are susceptible to fatigue and that targeted respiratory muscle training can enhance performance across a range of settings. more recent investigations have extended these findings by identifying cardiovascular consequences of respiratory muscle work, respiratory muscle fatigue and arterial hypoxaemia, with downstream effects on locomotor muscle function and overall exercise tolerance. collectively, these studies in healthy individuals have important translational relevance for clinical and applied contexts in which respiratory muscle function is compromised or ventilatory loads are elevated, including cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular disease. he has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles in these areas, including several invited scholarly reviews. in addition, he has contributed invited chapters to leading international textbooks commissioned by organisations such as the american college of sports medicine (acsm), american physiological society (aps), british association of sport and exercise sciences (bases) and the international olympic committee (ioc). he has delivered multiple invited presentations at international conferences, including keynote lectures at major scientific meetings his research programme has been supported by external funding bodies, including the canadian lung association, uk sport, british paralympic association, integrated spinal rehabilitation foundation, the royal society, the physiological society and the nuffield foundation. he has been awarded fellowships by acsm, bases and the physiological society in recognition of sustained scholarly contribution and service to these organisations and their disciplines. he has served multiple terms as associate editor and held editorial board appointments for leading journals in the field and is currently senior editor for experimental physiology - a flagship journal of the physiological society. he maintains a network of national and international collaborators, with ongoing projects spanning the uk, eu, usa and canada. dr romer has been a fellow of the higher education academy since 2006 and contributes extensively to teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate provision, delivering modules at all levels of the programme. he has supervised research assistants and fellows as well as a substantial number of doctoral candidates. many of these researchers have received prestigious awards and progressed to senior academic positions or influential roles in other sectors. he has also held external academic leadership roles, including serving as an external advisor for programme validations (notably at qatar foundation) and as an external examiner for taught programmes at leading institutions in exercise science and medicine, including the university of birmingham, imperial college london, king's college london and loughborough university. in addition, he has examined a significant number of doctoral theses at home and abroad, reflecting sustained engagement in postgraduate assessment and quality assurance across the sector.
![Dr Lee Romer]()
Dr Lee Romer
Dr Romer is a Reader in Human and Applied Physiology. Following undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Brunel, he spent several years at the British Olympic Medical Centre, where he was responsible for the design, management and delivery of physiological support services to Olympic Governing Bodies. He completed his PhD at the University of Birmingham and undertook post-doctoral training at the John Rankin Laboratory of Pulmonary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. He returned to Brunel in 2004 and served as Head of Department (formerly Division) from 2014 to 2018. Dr Romer’s research centres on the cardiorespiratory responses, integrative interactions and physiological constraints that determine exercise performance. His work has demonstrated that the respiratory muscles are susceptible to fatigue and that targeted respiratory muscle training can enhance performance across a range of settings. More recent investigations have extended these findings by identifying cardiovascular consequences of respiratory muscle work, respiratory muscle fatigue and arterial hypoxaemia, with downstream effects on locomotor muscle function and overall exercise tolerance. Collectively, these studies in healthy individuals have important translational relevance for clinical and applied contexts in which respiratory muscle function is compromised or ventilatory loads are elevated, including cardiorespiratory and neuromuscular disease. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles in these areas, including several invited scholarly reviews. In addition, he has contributed invited chapters to leading international textbooks commissioned by organisations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Physiological Society (APS), British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He has delivered multiple invited presentations at international conferences, including keynote lectures at major scientific meetings His research programme has been supported by external funding bodies, including the Canadian Lung Association, UK Sport, British Paralympic Association, Integrated Spinal Rehabilitation Foundation, The Royal Society, The Physiological Society and the Nuffield Foundation. He has been awarded fellowships by ACSM, BASES and The Physiological Society in recognition of sustained scholarly contribution and service to these organisations and their disciplines. He has served multiple terms as Associate Editor and held editorial board appointments for leading journals in the field and is currently Senior Editor for Experimental Physiology - a flagship journal of The Physiological Society. He maintains a network of national and international collaborators, with ongoing projects spanning the UK, EU, USA and Canada. Dr Romer has been a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2006 and contributes extensively to teaching across undergraduate and postgraduate provision, delivering modules at all levels of the programme. He has supervised research assistants and fellows as well as a substantial number of doctoral candidates. Many of these researchers have received prestigious awards and progressed to senior academic positions or influential roles in other sectors. He has also held external academic leadership roles, including serving as an External Advisor for programme validations (notably at Qatar Foundation) and as an External Examiner for taught programmes at leading institutions in exercise science and medicine, including the University of Birmingham, Imperial College London, King's College London and Loughborough University. In addition, he has examined a significant number of doctoral theses at home and abroad, reflecting sustained engagement in postgraduate assessment and quality assurance across the sector.
Nolan
dr claire nolan is a senior lecturer in physiotherapy in the department of health sciences and an nihr advanced fellow with clinical expertise in pulmonary rehabilitation. dr nolan completed her phd in imperial college london in 2018 on gait speed and prognosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. dr nolan’s research interests include strategies to increase engagement in and alternative models of rehabilitation programmes for people living with chronic lung conditions and multiple long-term conditions. she has expertise in intervention co-design, mixed-methodologies, as well as feasibility and randomised controlled trials. dr nolan is chair elect of the american thoracic society pulmonary rehabilitation assembly programme committee, a committee member of the nhse national respiratory programme and the british thoracic society quality standards for pulmonary rehabilitation committee, and impact champion for the department of health sciences, brunel university. dr nolan's research interests include strategies to increase engagement in and alternative models of rehabilitation programmes for people living with chronic lung conditions and multiple long-term conditions. she has expertise in intervention co-design, mixed-methodologies, as well as feasibility and randomised controlled trials. dr nolan's current areas of research include: - co-design and testing of very brief advice for pulmonary rehabilitation - co-design of a financial incentive intervention to increase engagement with pulmonary rehabilitation - non-inferiority randomised controlled trial comparing pulmonary rehabiltiation delivered using minimal versus specialist equipment in people with chronic respiratory disease - randomised controlled trial comparing space for copd to usual care following pulmonary rehabilitation
![Dr Claire Nolan]()
Dr Claire Nolan
Dr Claire Nolan is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy in the Department of Health Sciences and an NIHR Advanced Fellow with clinical expertise in pulmonary rehabilitation. Dr Nolan completed her PhD in Imperial College London in 2018 on gait speed and prognosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Dr Nolan’s research interests include strategies to increase engagement in and alternative models of rehabilitation programmes for people living with chronic lung conditions and multiple long-term conditions. She has expertise in intervention co-design, mixed-methodologies, as well as feasibility and randomised controlled trials. Dr Nolan is Chair Elect of the American Thoracic Society Pulmonary Rehabilitation Assembly Programme Committee, a committee member of the NHSE National Respiratory Programme and the British Thoracic Society Quality Standards for Pulmonary Rehabilitation committee, and Impact Champion for the Department of Health Sciences, Brunel University. Dr Nolan's research interests include strategies to increase engagement in and alternative models of rehabilitation programmes for people living with chronic lung conditions and multiple long-term conditions. She has expertise in intervention co-design, mixed-methodologies, as well as feasibility and randomised controlled trials. Dr Nolan's current areas of research include: - Co-design and testing of Very Brief Advice for pulmonary rehabilitation - Co-design of a financial incentive intervention to increase engagement with pulmonary rehabilitation - Non-inferiority randomised controlled trial comparing pulmonary rehabiltiation delivered using minimal versus specialist equipment in people with chronic respiratory disease - Randomised controlled trial comparing SPACE for COPD to usual care following pulmonary rehabilitation