Sensors for Health Interest Group
Taking a multidisciplinary approach to sensors for health
This group brings together researchers and practitioners from fields such as engineering and sports and exercise science.
We collaborate with local NHS Trusts and are a co-partner in Sensor City. We take a multidisciplinary approach to the development and application of sensors for health.
Research themes
Sensors for movement during activities or sport
- We carry out research with and for a range of different populations from children to elite athletes
- Using sensors in the heels of footwear to measure the force applied during different activities
- Measurement of activity in children with cystic fibrosis or COPD
Sensors for biomarkers
- The development of new diagnostic assays
- Non-invasive in-vivo measurements
- Miniaturised microwave sensors for pathogen detection
- Optical sensing of biomarkers
Environmental pollution
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Impact on those undertaking physical activity
- Children walking to school
- Runners
- Outdoor sports - Sensors and drones
- Respiratory disorders alert
- Individual monitoring of own environment
- Exercise induced asthma – deposition of particles (size) in the lung
Miniaturisation and portability of sensors
- Sensors that can be worn or used by individual patients
- Cost effective sensors
- Phone adaptability
- Machine learning
Who we work with
Alder Hey
- Health and wellbeing of children in and out of hospital
- Markerless capture of hand movements to aid clinical assessment
Aintree Hospital
- Smart games for training hand/finger movements in scleroderma
- Development of “equinometer” to measure ankle movement at home on smartphones
The Movement Centre (Oswestry), Brain and Spinal Injury Centre (Salford), Kids Physio Works (Colchester)
- Active users of smart games (Goblin Post Office FlappyBird-CAREN, Dreamy Steamy)
Royal Liverpool Broadgreen Hospital
- Biomechanics
- Gait analysis in alkaptonuria (rare inherited form of osteoarthritis), aiming to visualise joint loading to reduce pain

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
- Cystic fibrosis patients
- Cardiovascular monitoring
Contact us
If you are interested in working with us on a collaborative project or are interested in MPhil/PhD research opportunities, please get in touch:
Contact group coordinators: Professor Andrew Shaw or Dr Francesca Giuntini.