Respiratory health experts

Dr Vicky MacBean

Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy

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

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

Reader in Physiotherapy

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 lee romer is a reader in human and applied physiology at brunel university of london. his research investigates how respiratory function, respiratory muscle activity and the mechanical demands of breathing influence exercise tolerance in health and disease. after undergraduate and postgraduate study at brunel, dr romer worked as a physiologist at the british olympic medical centre before undertaking doctoral research at the university of birmingham. he subsequently completed post-doctoral research at the john rankin laboratory of pulmonary medicine at the university of wisconsin–madison, usa, and returned to brunel in 2004. he was appointed reader in 2009 and served as head of department (formerly division) of sport, health and exercise sciences from 2014 to 2018. dr romer has authored more than 100 journal articles, invited reviews and book chapters, including contributions to publications of the american college of sports medicine, the american physiological society, the american thoracic society and the international olympic committee medical commission. he is senior editor of experimental physiology and has held editorial roles with other international journals. he is a fellow of the american college of sports medicine and the physiological society, and an honorary fellow of the chartered association of sport and exercise sciences. his work has received more than 9,000 citations, and his google scholar h-index is 47. dr romer’s research examines the physiological mechanisms through which the respiratory system can constrain exercise tolerance in health and disease. his work integrates respiratory muscle function, ventilatory mechanics and pulmonary gas exchange, linking fundamental physiological mechanisms with their relevance to athletic and clinical populations. his earlier research investigated respiratory muscle fatigue and the physiological mechanisms underpinning the benefits of inspiratory muscle training. the work extended to the cardiovascular consequences of respiratory muscle work and fatigue, including the respiratory metaboreflex and its effects on locomotor-muscle blood flow and fatigue. his has also investigated pulmonary gas exchange, exercise-induced arterial hypoxaemia and the effects of altered oxygen transport on peripheral and central mechanisms of fatigue. related studies have examined exercise responses in athletes with spinal cord injury and during upper-body exercise in able-bodied individuals, including interactions between respiratory and postural demands. more recently, his research has focused on respiratory muscle contractile function, particularly through the development and application of diaphragm ultrasonography and multimodal approaches. this work investigates respiratory muscle contractile properties in relation to respiratory mechanics and neural respiratory drive. related research examines sex- and age-associated differences in respiratory function and exertional dyspnoea. collectively, these studies aim to improve understanding of how respiratory muscle function and respiratory system constraints shape exercise tolerance and the experience of breathlessness across populations and physiological conditions. dr romer has collaborated with investigators and research groups in the uk, canada, usa and europe. his research has received support through competitive grants, fellowships, studentships and collaborative awards from organisations including uk sport, paralympicsgb, canadian lung association, the royal society, the physiological society, nserc canada and mitacs. he has also given invited presentations at international scientific and professional meetings, including keynote lectures and symposium presentations for the european respiratory society, the physiological society and the american college of sports medicine. dr romer has contributed to undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral education at brunel since 2004, teaching across physiology, exercise science and related disciplines. his work includes leading and contributing to programme-level teaching in human exercise physiology. he currently leads the level 6 module physiological limitations to exercise performance and contributes to teaching, assessment and academic development across the curriculum. he is a fellow of the higher education academy, and his teaching has received institutional recognition, including student-led teaching awards at college and university levels. dr romer has supervised and mentored doctoral researchers, research assistants and early-career researchers across several area of physiology. former doctoral researchers have progressed to academic, clinical, research and industry roles, with several receiving international awards, scholarships and fellowships in recognition of their achievements. his doctoral supervision has included students supported by competitive internal and external scholarships. beyond brunel, dr romer has contributed to academic quality assurance and assessment through doctoral examination, external examining of taught programmes and external programme review in the uk and internationally. he has served as an external examiner at king's college london, imperial college london, university of birmingham and loughborough university, covering programmes in exercise science, physiology and medicine. his teaching and applied expertise have also informed work with elite sport, professional organisations and professional education. he has provided physiological consultancy and advice to uk sport, paralympicsgb and the english institute of sport, including contributions to the development of physiological services for gb governing bodies. he has contributed to professional standards in the sport and exercise sector through technical evaluation and occupational-standard development with skillsactive. his professional education activities include invited teaching and specialist courses in respiratory and exercise physiology, including serving on the faculty of the annual cambridge–ucla symposium on clinical exercise testing and interpretation. his advisory work has also involved the european lung foundation and contributions to professional resources addressing physical activity and respiratory disease.

Dr Lee Romer

Reader - Human and Applied Physiology

Dr Lee Romer is a Reader in Human and Applied Physiology at Brunel University of London. His research investigates how respiratory function, respiratory muscle activity and the mechanical demands of breathing influence exercise tolerance in health and disease. After undergraduate and postgraduate study at Brunel, Dr Romer worked as a physiologist at the British Olympic Medical Centre before undertaking doctoral research at the University of Birmingham. He subsequently completed post-doctoral research at the John Rankin Laboratory of Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA, and returned to Brunel in 2004. He was appointed Reader in 2009 and served as Head of Department (formerly Division) of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences from 2014 to 2018. Dr Romer has authored more than 100 journal articles, invited reviews and book chapters, including contributions to publications of the American College of Sports Medicine, the American Physiological Society, the American Thoracic Society and the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission. He is Senior Editor of Experimental Physiology and has held editorial roles with other international journals. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and The Physiological Society, and an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. His work has received more than 9,000 citations, and his Google Scholar h-index is 47. Dr Romer’s research examines the physiological mechanisms through which the respiratory system can constrain exercise tolerance in health and disease. His work integrates respiratory muscle function, ventilatory mechanics and pulmonary gas exchange, linking fundamental physiological mechanisms with their relevance to athletic and clinical populations. His earlier research investigated respiratory muscle fatigue and the physiological mechanisms underpinning the benefits of inspiratory muscle training. The work extended to the cardiovascular consequences of respiratory muscle work and fatigue, including the respiratory metaboreflex and its effects on locomotor-muscle blood flow and fatigue. His has also investigated pulmonary gas exchange, exercise-induced arterial hypoxaemia and the effects of altered oxygen transport on peripheral and central mechanisms of fatigue. Related studies have examined exercise responses in athletes with spinal cord injury and during upper-body exercise in able-bodied individuals, including interactions between respiratory and postural demands. More recently, his research has focused on respiratory muscle contractile function, particularly through the development and application of diaphragm ultrasonography and multimodal approaches. This work investigates respiratory muscle contractile properties in relation to respiratory mechanics and neural respiratory drive. Related research examines sex- and age-associated differences in respiratory function and exertional dyspnoea. Collectively, these studies aim to improve understanding of how respiratory muscle function and respiratory system constraints shape exercise tolerance and the experience of breathlessness across populations and physiological conditions. Dr Romer has collaborated with investigators and research groups in the UK, Canada, USA and Europe. His research has received support through competitive grants, fellowships, studentships and collaborative awards from organisations including UK Sport, ParalympicsGB, Canadian Lung Association, The Royal Society, The Physiological Society, NSERC Canada and Mitacs. He has also given invited presentations at international scientific and professional meetings, including keynote lectures and symposium presentations for the European Respiratory Society, The Physiological Society and the American College of Sports Medicine. Dr Romer has contributed to undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral education at Brunel since 2004, teaching across physiology, exercise science and related disciplines. His work includes leading and contributing to programme-level teaching in human exercise physiology. He currently leads the Level 6 module Physiological Limitations to Exercise Performance and contributes to teaching, assessment and academic development across the curriculum. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and his teaching has received institutional recognition, including student-led teaching awards at College and University levels. Dr Romer has supervised and mentored doctoral researchers, research assistants and early-career researchers across several area of physiology. Former doctoral researchers have progressed to academic, clinical, research and industry roles, with several receiving international awards, scholarships and fellowships in recognition of their achievements. His doctoral supervision has included students supported by competitive internal and external scholarships. Beyond Brunel, Dr Romer has contributed to academic quality assurance and assessment through doctoral examination, external examining of taught programmes and external programme review in the UK and internationally. He has served as an External Examiner at King's College London, Imperial College London, University of Birmingham and Loughborough University, covering programmes in exercise science, physiology and medicine. His teaching and applied expertise have also informed work with elite sport, professional organisations and professional education. He has provided physiological consultancy and advice to UK Sport, ParalympicsGB and the English Institute of Sport, including contributions to the development of physiological services for GB governing bodies. He has contributed to professional standards in the sport and exercise sector through technical evaluation and occupational-standard development with SkillsActive. His professional education activities include invited teaching and specialist courses in respiratory and exercise physiology, including serving on the faculty of the annual Cambridge–UCLA Symposium on Clinical Exercise Testing and Interpretation. His advisory work has also involved the European Lung Foundation and contributions to professional resources addressing physical activity and respiratory disease.

Dr Claire Nolan

Reader in Physiotherapy

Dr Claire Nolan is a Reader in Physiotherapy in the Department of Health Sciences and an NIHR Advanced Fellow with clinical expertise in pulmonary rehabilitation. Dr Nolan completed her PhD at 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 the Impact Champion for the Department of Health Sciences, Brunel University and was a co-author of the British Thoracic Society Clinical Statement on Pulmonary Rehabilitaton and Quality Standards for Pulmonary Rehabilitation. 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 feasibility testing of Very Brief Advice for pulmonary rehabilitation - Co-design of a non-pharmacological intervention to support people living with multiple long-term conditions return to employment - Exploring models of care for people living with multiple long-term conditions