As part of Black History Month 2022, we are spotlighting individuals working around the following themes:
- Skills
- Innovation
- Research
- Business
In this spotlight, we focus on Dr Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu and her innovative research around physical activity and health promotion in chronic kidney disease. Faatihah’s past work looked at investigating the impact of physical activity and exercise trials on kidney function, markers of chronic inflammation, physical function, and health-related quality of life of adults with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease.
She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Applied Human Physiology at UWE Bristol but has previously worked across the UK and internationally in various roles and has over 10 years of teaching experience. She was a physician and a lecturer in Physiology at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria where she co-founded the Exercise and Sports Science Research Group, a University Teacher at Loughborough University, and a lecturer in Biomedical science at De Montfort University, UK.
She gained her PhD in Clinical Exercise Physiology from Loughborough University. Faatihah is a fellow of the higher education academy (FHEA) with a postgraduate certificate of teaching in higher education (PGCTHE).
Recently Faatihah has been involved in cross-disciplinary research on lifestyle medicine: physical activity and health promotion in varied lifestyle diseases and interdisciplinary approaches to developing effective and sustainable physical activity across under-represented groups (Elderly (Healthy ageing), Black, Asian, and other ethnic minorities; and Women) addressing barriers and limitations to regular physical activity.
In addition to this, Faatihah is involved in ongoing collaborative health-related projects across social and rehabilitation robotics including digital health interventions and an AI (and mixed reality) feasibility study for pre-op planning and simulation of minimally invasive (keyhole) cardiac valve surgeries.
Faatihah was recently awarded funding as part of the UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellor Challenge Fund for a project to look at the use of AI to interpret video recordings of keyhole cardiac surgeries to appraise surgeons’ performance, optimise surgical tasks, and identify training needs (IVA HEART).
She also won a cross-faculty grant for integrating AI and AR in the pre-operative planning of keyhole cardiac surgery (AI/ARMICVS).
Faatihah is a Co-I on a £1.8M UKRI-funded project (Fitbees) to encourage sustainable physical activity in under-represented groups currently not engaging with the digital fitness market
Faatihah is secretary of the LMIC International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) research council and a Commonwealth scholar.
Going forward Faatihah wants to solve health challenges through innovative research and establish a research theme on “Healthy ageing and lifestyle medicine” including more collaborative projects and successful bids.
“My ultimate research goal is to develop innovative strategies to improve (and sustain) quality of life and healthy ageing with no limit to age, ethnicity, sex, or clinical condition.”