Chris Nester

Biography

Professor Chris Nester is a Podiatrist by first degree and joined Keele School of Allied Health Professions in 2022.

Chris has published over 140 journals papers, secured more than £10 million in research funds and had 23 PhD students complete their studies with him. Chris was the first Podiatrist to be appointed to the UK Government “Research Excellence Framework” exercise (REF), which reviews research excellence across all UK Universities.

Chris has secured research funds from the EU, industry, NHS, charities, the National Institute for Health Research, and INNOVATE UK, with 6 “Knowledge Transfer Partnerships” thus far. Chris has been working with CAHPR and HEE on research strategy and led a James Lind Alliance “Priority Setting Partnership” to identify the top 10 foot health research priorities in the UK. He was previously Academic Director of the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) “Centre for Doctoral Training in Prosthetics and Orthotics” at the University of Salford.

His research uses quantitative and qualitative approaches to understand foot and lower limb biomechanics, footwear and orthotic design, and behavioural factors impacting on health, including the adoption of evidence into clinical practice. Current projects include the use of wearable sensors to understand prevention of ulceration in feet affected by diabetes, development of health behaviour approaches to help people self manage their foot pressure and risk of foot ulceration, and supporting a wide ranging “Amputation Reduction Strategy” programme that spans public health, community and acute care settings, involving multiple NHS Trusts and third sector organisations.

Collaborations and grants awards

• NIHR i4i - LOad Monitoring and Intervention System (LOMIS) to prevent diabetic foot ulceration
• Diabetes UK – Real-Protection - Preventing diabetic foot ulcers using real-time foot pressure monitoring and alert technologies
• Manchester Amputation Reduction Strategy