Professor Helen Roberts BSc, MB ChB, FRCP (UK), PhD
Professor of Medicine for Older People and Honorary Consultant in Geriatric Medicine, National lead for NIHR CRN Ageing Speciality Group,Lead for Ageing and Dementia Theme, NIHR CLAHRC: Wessex,Co-lead for ageing research, NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre
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Professor Helen Roberts is Professor of Medicine for Older People at the University of Southampton.
I trained in medicine at the University of Birmingham. I have a clinical practice as a Consultant in Geriatric Medicine at University Hospital Southampton and specialise in the management of Parkinson’s disease. I lead the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Ageing Specialty Group which represents all NHS regions, promotes research into ageing and aims to ensure that older people have the opportunity to take part in research studies.
My own research focus is on nutrition, physical activity, frailty, sarcopenia and dementia in older people and those with Parkinson’s. I am co-lead for ageing research within the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre and principal investigator on studies of nutrition and sarcopenia in older people, collaborating with researchers at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit and the University of Reading. I lead the Ageing and Dementia theme of the NIHR CLAHRC: Wessex which enables the translation of research findings into clinical practice to be evaluated. Projects include the implementation of grip strength measurement into routine practice and the impact of trained volunteers on mealtime care and physical activity of older people in hospital.
I have long standing collaborations with researchers in the Faculty of Health Sciences, the University of Newcastle and KU Leuven Belgium, conducting research into Parkinson’s. My current research interests include the evaluation of physical activity such as dancing, and personalised exercise in Parkinson’s, and development of self-management tools for people with Parkinson’s who fall.
Qualifications
BSc, Physiology, University of Birmingham 1981
MB ChB, Medicine, University of Birmingham 1984
Fellow Royal College of Physicians of London 1999
PhD, University of Southampton 2012
Appointments held
2015 – present:National Lead for NIHR CRN Ageing Speciality Group
2009 – 2014: Director of NIHR CRN South Coast DeNDRoN Research Network
2010 – 2014: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Comprehensive Research Network (CRN) board member
2010 – 2012: Chair British Geriatrics Society Movement Disorders Section (Vice chair & treasurer 2008-10; secretary 2006-8)
2008 – present: Faculty member UK Parkinson’s Academy
1994 – 2002 Consultant in Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital Southampton