Our research staff
Discover more about the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport staff members and their research.
![Prof Vicky Tolfrey](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/vicky-tolfrey.jpg)
Prof Tolfrey is a sport scientist whose research focuses on the ergonomics of wheeled mobility (physical activity to high performance sport), with expertise in Para sport physiology.
![Dr Christof Leicht](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Christof-Leicht-160.jpg)
Dr Leicht's research focuses on tailoring exercise prescription to populations with disability, and investigating alternatives to exercise (e.g., heat, limb occlusion) to benefit their health.
![Dr Jamie Barker research has a focus on Para-Football, working with WADA around Clean Sport in CP football, and with The Football Association in relation to para-footballers stress experiences.](/media/media/research/phc/teammembers/jamie-barker-headshot.gif)
Dr Barker’s research has a focus on Para-Football, working with WADA around Clean Sport in CP football, and with The Football Association in relation to para-footballers stress experiences.
![Ollie Clemo](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Ollie-Clemo.jpg)
Ollie’s placement involves providing physiology support to British Triathlon’s Paralympic Pathway, as well as PHC to understand match demands in wheelchair basketball, tennis and rugby.
![Dr Janine Coates](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/janine-coates-phc.jpg)
Janine’s research focuses on the experiences of young people with disabilities and their experiences of physical education, sport and recreation.
![Anna is currently leading a UK Sport-funded project, monitoring and evaluating a new Para athlete development programme.](/media/media/research/phc/teammembers/resized-anna-fitzpatrick-card.jpg)
Anna is currently leading a UK Sport-funded project, monitoring and evaluating a new Para athlete development programme.
![Dr Robin Jackson](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Robin-Jackson-phc.jpg)
Robin’s current research focuses on return-of-serve in wheelchair tennis, and an evaluation of classification in goalball.
![Dr Lewis James](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Lewis-James-160.jpg)
Dr James' research focuses on nutritional requirements to optimise athlete performance and recovery, with a particular focus on water/hydration and exercise in the heat.
![Dr James King](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/james-king-160.jpg)
Dr King's works on collaborative projects and funding applications surrounding spinal cord injury, appetite regulation, weight management and cardiometabolic health.
![Tash Kirk](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Tash-Kirk-PHC.jpg)
Tash researches wearable devices for wheelchair users looking into wheelchair mobility and physical activity monitoring. Tash also supports dissemination and translational activities.
![Vladyslava Kravchenko](/media/media/research/phc/teammembers/resized-vladyslava-kravchenko-card.jpg)
Vladyslava is currently supporting a UK Sport funded project on the development of a Paralympic Performance Basics Framework
![Dr David Maidment](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/david-maidment.jpg)
Dr Maidment's explores digital behaviour change interventions to improve physical activity and reduce chronic (noncommunicable) disease risk in adults with disabilities (sensory/physical).
![Dr Stuart Mcerlain-Naylor](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/stuart-mcerlain-naylor.jpg)
Dr McErlain-Naylor is co-supervising biomechanics and wearable technology aspects of projects, including in wheelchair racing.
![Thomas Miller Peter Harrison Centre](/media/media/research/phc/teammembers/tom-miller-resized.jpg)
Thomas works as a qualitative researcher and research assistant with experiences in wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and para sport development.
![Tom is Exploring performance enhancement strategies in wheelchair sports using a holistic, inter-disciplinary approach.](/media/media/research/phc/teammembers/resized-tom-obrien-card.jpg)
Exploring performance enhancement strategies in wheelchair sports using a holistic, inter-disciplinary approach.
![Dr Nicola Paine](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/nicola-paine-160.jpg)
Dr Paine investigates the interactions between the psychobiological mechanisms of stress, physical activity, exercise and sitting time as risk factors for developing heart disease.
![Dr Anthony Papathomas](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/anthony-papathomas-160.jpg)
Dr Papathomas uses interpretive qualitative methods to understand people’s mental illness experiences across sport and exercise contexts.
![Dr Carolyn Plateau](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Carolyn-Plateau-160.jpg)
Dr Plateau is interested in mental health among para-athletes. She is currently collaborating with the EIS, WADA and the FA to explore nuances around mental health in this population.
![Dr Emma Pullen](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Emma-Pullen-160.jpg)
Social inclusion and diversity in sport with a focus on Paralympic sport media (broadcast, digital media, representation), disability, gender equities and feminist research.
![Dr Daniel Rhind](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Daniel-Rhind.jpg)
Dr Rhind's research focuses on the protection and promotion of human rights in sport, including projects on safeguarding children and adults as well as promoting integrity in para sport.
![Dr Thomas Rietveld](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Thomas-Rietveld.jpg)
Contributing to the knowledge base in the field of wheelchair sports via the development and translation of sensor technology and wheelchair ergometry, using an open science approach.
![Ellie-May Storr](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Ellie-May-Storr-2.jpg)
Ellie-May works on a WADA/IFCPF funded project into Clean Sport in Cerebral Palsy Football. She is also our centre’s information officer, supporting social media and translational activities.
![Dr Keith Tolfrey](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/keith-tolfrey-160.jpg)
Supporting staff and collaborators with research design, quantitative statistical analyses, and interpretation, describing and presenting results and editing/writing research papers/outputs.
![Dr Viola Altmann](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Viola-Altmann.jpg)
Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Rehabilitation Sciences (Para Sports Classification) – World Wheelchair Rugby and Medical Doctor in Holland.
![Prof Maureen MacDonald](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Maureen-MacDonald.jpg)
Visiting Professor (Exercise Physiology) - Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Canada. Director of the Vascular Dynamics Laboratory.
![Rienk van der Slikke](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/rienk-van-der-slikke.jpg)
Rienk currently collaborates with PHC on research projects focusing on improving the classification system within wheelchair sports, as well as direct support to athletes and coaches.
![Dr Riemer Vegter](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/Riemer-Vegter.jpg)
Visiting Fellow (Rehabilitation Sciences) - Assistant Professor Human Movement Sciences, University Groningen.
![Nick Webborn](/media/media/research/phc/images/profiles/nick-webborn2.jpg)
Honorary Clinical Professor (Para Sport, Health and Wellbeing to Performance) – Chairperson of British Paralympic Association and Medical Doctor.
![Dr Sven Hoekstra](/media/media/research/phc/teammembers/sven-card-resized.jpg)
Visiting Fellow and Postdoctoral Fellow in Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Centre at San Antonio.