Dr Anastasia Topalidou
Anastasia specialises in the fields of clinical biomechanics, musculoskeletal biomechanics and clinical measurements, with extensive experience in non-invasive techniques, thermal imaging applications and sensors for use in medicine and clinical research. She has participated in several inter- and trans-disciplinary projects combining biomedical engineering, health sciences, midwifery, psychology and other disciplines. Anastasia is research active within the Research in Childbirth and Health (ReaCH) Unit.
Anastasia collaborates on a range of inter- and trans-disciplinary projects at a national and international level, exploring the biomechanics of pregnancy and childbirth, the maternal, foetal and neonatal wellbeing and the potentials of thermal imaging application in a range of contexts. She is involved in research projects that promote the engagement between academia and industry and has close collaborations with NHS Trusts, business partners and other institutions. Anastasia is the Lead of Equality for the School.
Anastasia has been working at the University of Central 成人视频 since 2016. She led the Working Group 2 (WG2: Biomechanics & Bioengineering) of the EU COST Action-IS1405 “Building Intrapartum Research Through Health (BIRTH): An interdisciplinary whole鈥恠ystem approach to understanding and contextualising physiological labour and birth” (2014-2018), which explored the mechanics and bioengineering of pregnancy and labour, including the identification and/or development of non-invasive, dynamic, real time methods for assessing mechanical and bio-engineering parameters in vivo for pregnant and labouring women and their foetus. Currently she is a member of the EU COST Action CA18211 “Perinatal Mental Health and Birth-Related Trauma: Maximising best practice and optimal outcomes”. Apart from her research activities, she has extensive experience in project management, strategic planning and policymaking. She has published over 25 peer reviewed research articles and 2 book chapters. She has also written an article published on The Conversation “Could AI take control of human birth?”, that attracted the attention and was reproduced by other media.
- PhD Spine Biomechanics and Rehabilitation, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece 2015
- MSc (distinction) Health and Human Performance (Biomechanics), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 2010
- BSc (1st, Hons) Adapted Physical Education 鈥 Therapeutic Exercise, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 2006
- BSc (1st, Hons) Strength, Conditioning and Nutrition, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 2006
- Level 1 Thermographer, Infrared Training Centre, 2018
- Biomechanics of Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Musculoskeletal Biomechanics
- Thermal Imaging
- Medical applications of infrared thermography
- Development of new assessment tools
- Project Management
- European Society of Biomechanics
- Member of the Quality Maternal & Newborn Care Research Alliance
- Hellenic (Greek) Society of Biomechanics
- Onassis Foundation, Scholars鈥 Association
- Northern Greece Physical Education Teachers Association
Use the links below to view their profiles:
- Research in Childbirth and Health (Reach) Unit
- Transdisciplinary Health Research for Thriving in the Early Years (THRIVE) Research Centre
- UCLan Research Institute for Global Health and Wellbeing
- (2021) 鈥淚mmersive Training Education Resources鈥. Funder: NHSEi. (Role: Advisory Group Member)
- (2020-2021) 鈥淚maging and Innovative Technologies for Pregnancy and Childbirth鈥. Knowledge Exchange 鈥 Higher Education Innovation Fund. (Role: Researcher)
- (2020-2021) 鈥淢otherhood during COVID-19鈥. University of Liverpool and UCLan. (Role: Researcher)
- (2019-2020) 鈥淪ervice evaluation of a continuity of carer model in Coventry and Warwickshire鈥. Funder: South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust. (Role: Researcher)
- (2019 鈥 present) Substitute Management Committee Member of the EU COST Action CA18211 鈥淧erinatal Mental Health and Birth-Related Trauma: Maximising best practice and optimal outcomes鈥
- (2015-2018) Management Committee Member and Core Group Member of the EU COST Action IS1405 鈥淏uilding Intrapartum Research Through Health - an interdisciplinary whole system approach to understanding and contextualising physiological labour and birth (BIRTH)鈥. Chair of Working Group 2: Biomechanics and Bioengineering
- (2013-2014) Active member of Working Group 5.1 of the EU COST Action IS0907 鈥淐hildbirth Cultures, Concerns, and Consequences: Creating a dynamic EU framework for optimal maternity care, in communities of Practice and Health鈥
- 2020-2021: Co-I 鈥淎SPIRE: Achieving Safe and Personalised maternity care In Response to Epidemics鈥. UKRI 鈥 ESRC Open call for research and innovation ideas to address COVID-19 (拢494,910)
- (2020): PI 鈥淚nvestigation of breast-feeding Mother-Infant dyad Lactation process using Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (MILC-DITI). THRIVE Centre 鈥 Equipment bid (拢2,942.40)
- 2019-2020: Co-I 鈥(Ti-Neo): Development of a novel Thermal Imaging monitoring system for NEOnatal care鈥 成人视频 Research Institute For Global Health and Wellbeing (拢15,596.00).
- 2018-2019: Co-I 鈥(WE-PPLuS): WEarable technologies for Positive Pregnancy LifestyleS鈥 QR Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) (QR) 2018-2021 (拢12,690.00)
- 2017-2018: Co-I 鈥淔easibility of Smart Thermal Analysis Resource (STAR) in Maternity Services (MAT)鈥 Innovate UK (Health and Life Sciences) (拢72,707.00)
- 2017-2018: Co-I 鈥淭hermal imaging application in pregnancy-proof of concept鈥 UCLan Idea Investment Voucher (拢20,000.00)
- 2017-2018: PI 鈥淔easibility study of thermal imaging methodology use for complex data management and data analysis in interdisciplinary contexts of health鈥 Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Swiss Fellowship-Strategic Fund for International Research (17,000.00 CHF) (Fellowship)
- 2016-2017: Co-I 鈥淭hermal imaging methodology use for complex data management and data analysis in interdisciplinary contexts of health鈥 Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts IDS TI-Health (35,000.00 CHF)
- 2016: Co-I 鈥淪alutogenic practice in maternity care鈥 Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts SBFI=Mitteln (10,000.00 CHF)
- 2016: PI: Methods of physiological measurement and comparative description of women鈥檚 wellbeing in different settings of maternity care鈥 EU COST (European Cooperation in Sciences and Technologies) funded Short Scientific Mission (STSM) by COST Action IS1405 IS1405. (1,631.00 鈧) (Personal Grant)
- 2014: PI: 鈥淧ilot study to inform a programme of work on the use of thermography in maternity care research鈥 EU COST (European Cooperation in Sciences and Technologies funded Short Scientific Mission (STSM) by COST Action IS1405 IS0907. (1,300.00 鈧) (Personal Grant)
- 2010-2015: PI: Fellowship for PhD studies by the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. (21,600.00 鈧) (Fellowship)
- 2007-2010: PI: Fellowship for MSc studies on Health and Exercise by the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation. (7,200.00 鈧) (Fellowship)
- Keynote speaker / invited speaker in 6 conferences/workshops. Over 40 presentations in national and international conferences.
- Selected presentations:
- 鈥淭he mechanics and bioengineering of pregnancy and labour, through an interactive model of knowledge-based approach and innovation鈥, From Birth to Health: Towards Sustainable Childbirth 2018, Lisbon, Portugal.
- 鈥淚nfrared thermal imaging in maternity care鈥, 鈥, From Birth to Health: Towards Sustainable Childbirth 2018, Lisbon, Portugal.
- 鈥淪alutogenic midwifery practice in terms of thermal imaging鈥. 2017, 12th International Normal Labour and Birth Research Conference, Grange-Over Sands, UK.
- 鈥淐atalysing multidisciplinary research, practice, and activism around physiological labour and birth: Lessons from two EU COST Action network programme鈥, 31st ICM Triennial Congress, 2017, Toronto, Canada.
Telephone:+44 (0) 1772 895199
Email: Email:Dr Anastasia Topalidou
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