Staff

Dr Catherine Hankey, Senior Lecturer in Human Nutrition
My expertise on clinical and public health aspects of obesity and weight management has contributed to a body of work to scope the weight management needs of adults with intellectual disabilities. We are now piloting weight management interventions specific to supporting adults with intellectual disabilities and obesity to lose weight. 

Professor Andrew Jahoda, Professor in Learning Disabilities
There is considerable overlap between ideas that stem from behaviour change research and social psychology theories. My research focuses on bringing together these different areas. This can inform the development and evaluation of complex interventions that have ecological validity to the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

Ms Nathalie Jones, Research Dietician
I am interested in researching dietary and lifestyle interventions to promote weight loss and healthy lifestyles in adults with intellectual disabilities. Recent work has involved exploring motivations for weight loss and working with the WELLDO research group 

Dr Arlene McGarty, Research Assistant
My research interests relate to physical activity in children with intellectual disabilities.  I am particularly interested in physical activity measurement and understanding parental and environmental factors that affect the participation of children with intellectual disabilities in physical activity. 

Dr Craig Melville, Senior Lecturer in Learning Disabilities Psychiatry
I believe that lifestyle behaviour research can help reduce the inequities in health experienced by disabled people. Our findings suggest that multilevel socio-ecological models are key to supporting community participation and health improvement. 

Dr Fiona Mitchell, Research Associate                                             
I completed my PhD in Exercise Psychology at the University of Edinburgh in 2012. Coming to Glasgow to work on the Walk Well study brought home the importance of physical activity in the lives of people with disabilities. Since then I have been exploring the relevance of self-determination theory to understanding the health and wellbeing of young people with intellectual disabilities. 

Mrs Victoria Penpraze, University Teacher in Exercise and Sports Science
My main research interest is in the measurement of physical activity in children, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities. Our work has mainly used accelerometers and involved laboratory and field-based studies.