Welcome to the School of Allied Health Professions' Faculty Research Theme (FReT)
Prevention, performance and rehabilitation
The theme of Prevention, Performance and Rehabilitation addresses key areas of applied clinical research that link to the practice of Allied Health Professions. Dr Sue Hunter, physiotherapist and Reader in the School of Allied Health Professions, is the FReT Lead. Professor John Buckley, Professor of Exercise Rehabilitation, is the Deputy FReT Lead.
This includes: neurological rehabilitation into stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy; lifestyle research and performance, including exercise and physical activity, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation; and imaging and diagnostics involved in prevention and screening. Having excellent links with our local NHS partners, national and international national and international collaborators, and a bespoke Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group, we have a track record of high-quality published research with prestigious funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Stroke Association, as well as funding from local businesses to support early phase research. We currently have 12 doctoral students linked to the FReT through the School, studying projects that fit with the FReT themes.
"My research interests are around a) evaluating complex therapeutic interventions for neurological patients, with a particular emphasis on interventions for the hemiplegic upper limb and its recovery; and b) life after stroke and the psychosocial effects of upper limb dysfunction.I supervise PhD students researching those areas and other areas of applied clinical neurological rehabilitation with other populations including Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis, Trauma / Traumatic Brain Injury."
Read more about FReT Lead, Dr Sue Hunter
Mission
To design, conduct and implement interdisciplinary, collaborative and clinically relevant research, that prevents and limits the development and negative consequences of poor health, maximises physical performance, enhances self-management to improve health and wellbeing, and provides evidence to underpin, inform and optimise clinical assessment, diagnostics and rehabilitation.
Vision (5-year vision)
A vibrant, supportive, inclusive and highly acclaimed research community, comprising academics, clinicians, industry, students, patients and public, which has a clear strategy for prevention, performance, and rehabilitation research for the future; there will be a shared purpose and identity of subgroups built around coherent bodies of research, with national and international reputation for excellence and externally funded world-leading research that has impact, and opportunity for researchers to develop along an accessible and achievable career pathway.
Short and medium term aims
- Increase PGR supervisory capacity in SAHP.
- Develop infrastructure and support for research and scholarship activity in SAHP.
- Increase the number and quality of research outputs (publications, conference presentations).
- Increase the number of external research funding applications and successes.
- Maintain and further develop research collaboration and partnerships with clinicians, industry and other stakeholders.
- Increase external visibility of the theme.