Healthy Later Living Network
The Healthy Later Living Network at the University of Bath brings together experts from a broad range of disciplines to tackle complex challenges of ageing.
We are a multi-disciplinary network which brings academics together from across the university to collaborate on research into the global challenge of an ageing society. The Network collaborates with industry, the NHS, health and social care providers, charities and local communities to address the challenges of positive ageing and translate our research into policy and practice.
Network leadership
- Professor Julie Barnett- Academic Lead
- Professor Fiona Gillison - Academic lead
- Emily Richards - Business Engagement Manager
- Emma Watson - HLL Network Project Manager (contact for general enquiries)
Academic members
- Professor Julie Barnett, Department of Psychology: Social and health psychologist with research expertise and experience around the role of social connection in addressing loneliness and social isolation, when and how technology can enhance social connections, and in social prescribing.
- Dr Leda Blackwood, Department of Psychology: Processes through which societal institutions and practices contribute to (or undermine) social cohesion and community well-being.
- Dr Sam Carr, Department of Education: Exploring emotional loneliness and (dis) connection and understanding people's lived experiences of retirement communities..
- Dr David Ellis, School of Management: Using data to reduce health inequalities and support behaviour change interventions and the impact new technology has on people and society.
- Dr Gail Forey, Department of Education: Written, spoken and digital workplace communication, language education and the role of language in digital global workplace communication.
- Professor Fiona Gillison, Department for Health: Applying psychological theories to help people to change their health behaviours to promote health and wellbeing in later life.
- Dr Jo Cranwell, Department for Health: Healthy ageing, particularly in women.
- Professor Dylan Thompson, Department for Health: Biology of ageing, including how we can use physical activity and diet to improve health outcomes in older people.
- Dr Max Western, Department for Health: Improving quality of life for older people, digital technologies and their role in contributing to healthy lifestyles, exercise and health communication.
- Professor James Bilzon, Department for Health: Exercise and rehabilitation science, the role of exercise in the prevention of chronic conditions, assistive healthcare technologies, human and applied physiology; Co-Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research and Applications (CAMERA).
- Dr Sabina Gheduzzi, Department for Mechanical Engineering: Biomechanics and biomaterials with focus on orthopaedic problems such as joint replacements and implants.
- Professor Richie Gill, Department of Mechanical Engineering: Healthcare and orthopaedic engineering, modelling of biological systems alongside hip and knee joint function.
- Dr Polly McGuigan, Department for Health: Changes to the muscle architecture, mechanics and recruitment with age and injury; Enhancing neuromuscular system performance with training and technology.
- Dr Ben Ainsworth, Department of Psychology: Non-pharma logical treatments such as mindfulness to support people with chronic conditions and the use of digital technology to help people with respiratory diseases.
- Dr Pedro Estrela, Department of Electronic and Electrical Enginnering: Development of low-cost easy-to-use companion diagnostic devices that can be deployed in a variety of clinical, community and home settings; Director of the Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics and Biodevices (C3Bio).
- Dr Ben Metcalfe, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering: The possibilities for use of AI in healthcare and biologically inspired autonomous systems.
- Professor Eamon O’Neil, Department of Computer Sicence: Technological, cognitive and social challenges and opportunities of interactive systems; Virtual reality.
- Professor Peter Wilson, Department of Electronic and Electrical Enginnering: Behavioural modelling and simulation, autonomous systems, robotics and intelligent systems; Director of the Centre for Autonomous Robotics.
- Dr Ricardo Codinhoto, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering: Supporting the design practice for health and wellbeing.
- Dr Simon Hayhoe, Department of Education: Disability arts, cultural heritage and the inclusion of people with disabilities; Visual impairment and accessible and inclusive technology.
- Dr Dan Maskell, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering: Innovative renewable construction materials to improve occupant health and wellbeing in indoor environments.
- Professor Louise Brown, Department of Social and Policy Science: Evaluating innovative interventions that cut across health and social care, the transfer and scaling up of interventions as they move between countries.
- Dr Jeremy Dixon, Department of Social and Policy Sciences: Mental healthcare from the patient and carer perspective, law and policy intervention from professional perspectives and the role of care homes in dementia and palliative care.
- Dr Paula Smith, Department of Psychology: Remote consultations in hospital care, palliative and end of life care; Improving life for older people with chronic pain; Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy.
- Professor Christos Vasilakis, School of Management: Mathematical modelling and computer simulation to evaluate the likely impact of healthcare interventions and improvement in the planning and delivery of care services; Director of the Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Improvement.
- Dr Nikki Coghill, Department of Health: Evidence based practice in public health and primary care; Wellbeing, maintenance of health and inequalities in health and care.
- Dr Eleonora Fichera, Department of Economics: Social determinants of health, particularly in the management of long-term conditions for older people, the relation between physical and mental health, the effect of housing on physical and mental health and the effect of early life shocks on later life health.
- Dr Jess Francombe Webb, Department for Health: Health inequalities across the lifespan, the operation of social power impacting engagement with a variety of health practices.
- Dr George Stothart, Department of Psychology: Development of new EEG technique for assessing cognitive deficits in dementia, ageing and neurological disorders.
- Dr Rob Williams, Department of Biology and Biochemistry: Development of dietary factors capable of slowing the onset of dementia and promoting healthy cognitive ageing.
- Dr Kate Woodthorpe, Department of Social and Policy Sciences: Grief and bereavement studies, families and familial obligation and policy responses to death; Co-Director of the Centre for Death and Society.
- Dr Ricky Kanabar, Department of Social and Policy Sciences: Income and poverty dynamics among older people, state pensions and work decisions.
- Dr Andrew Weyman, Department of Psychology: Extending working life.