Events 2025

Virtual Reality for the Diagnosis of Motor Disorders
Dr Gavin Buckingham

Immersive virtual reality (VR) refers to situations where individuals interact with computer-generated environments. To facilitate this interaction, the position of a VR headset and hand-held controllers are tracked with high spatial and temporal precision. This high-quality tracking may offer scientists and clinicians the opportunity to quantitatively evaluate aspects motor control outside of a laboratory setting in a dynamic, adaptable, and engaging environment. Here, we present data showing the feasibility of a VR circle tracing task directed at quantifying the movements of the upper limbs, which was co-developed with stroke survivors. This task is not only able to distinguish between the dominant and non-dominant hands of uninjured participants, but is feasible for use in typically-developing children, children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and adult stroke survivors.

A successful failure – Flipping marvellous!
Professor Gary Abel, Health and Community Sciences  

After a decade and a half of studying the near-earth space environment Gary retrained as a medical statistician vowing to leave academia behind and look for work in the private sector. After 14 years in academic primary care he has well and truly failed in that mission. Having worked on patient experience, cancer diagnosis, digital primary care, multi-morbidity, cardiovascular disease, workforce, prescribing, and teenage pregnancies his work as a statistician has certainly been varied. What has tied much of this work together is the use of routine data, from electronic health records, national registries, and routine surveys, to investigate variation. Variation between patient groups, variation in outcomes, and variations between organisations. In his lecture he will pick out some highlight studies, along with some wise words that colleagues have shared over the years. He will also demonstrate what tossing a coin can tell us about measuring quality.

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Professor Angus Jones, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

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Decolonising Research in Medicine, Health & Life Sciences  

Please save the date for this HLS Faculty event. More details will follow. If you have any ideas about speakers, or would like to contribute in any way in organising this conference, please contact the relevant organisers below.

Join us for a full-day conference dedicated to exploring how we can decolonise research across medicine, health, and life sciences. This event will bring together staff and students for an engaging programme of activities aimed at fostering critical discussions and promoting equitable and inclusive research practices. 

Programme Highlights:
•    Keynote Presentations
•    Thematic Talks
•    Interactive Workshops
•    Panel Discussions
•    Poster presentations

This conference is open to all staff and students within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

Organising committee: 
•    Biosciences- Orly Razgour & Yusra Siddiqui
•    CBS – Shalinee Dhayal, Federico Palmisani and Maisha Reza
•    HCS/HCP – Kristin Liabo, Amad Al-Azzawi and Susannah Tooze
•    Psychology – Ioanna Kapantai & Morgana Lizzio-Wilson

Professor Antonieta Medina-Lara, Public Health and Sport Sciences

Title and synopsis to be shared nearer the date

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Professor Phil Evans, Health and Community Sciences

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Professor Kate Ellacott, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

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Professor Sam Vine, Public Health and Sport Sciences

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Professor Sarah Richardson, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

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Professor Rachel Freathy, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

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Professor Richard Oram, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences

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