The Physiotherapy Research Society is organised by a small committee - usually up to 12 people and made up of anyone with an interest in physiotherapy research. The names of the current committee are listed below. Our work is guided by a Constitution that has been reviewed under guidance from the CSP.
You do not have to be a physiotherapist to join the committee, which is currently made up of people who work within physiotherapy teaching and within research posts. People from any background are welcomed - clinical, research or teaching. One of our main aims to to support and encourage novice researchers - so the committee are a mix of both very experienced and relatively new researchers.
The PRS Executive Committee
Dr. Alison Aries (Chair)
Dr. Aries has extensive experience working as a physiotherapist within the NHS and has developed specialised neurological skills, as well as leadership abilities.
Caroline Coulthard (Vice Chair and Publicity Officer)
Ms Coulthard is an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner at Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust. Her primary clinical interests are Upper Limb disorders, Rheumatology, Widespread Pain conditions and biopsychosocial management.
Jayanti Rai (Executive Officer)
Ms Rai is a Chartered Physiotherapist working as an Advance Physiotherapy Practitioner in Kent who specialises in musculoskeletal disorders management. Her special interest includes shoulder and elbow disorders management, orthopaedics and fracture rehabilitation, research and innovation.
Dr. Caroline Belchamber (Membership Secretary)
Dr. Belchamber qualified as a physiotherapist in 1993 and gained experience in a variety of settings including NHS, private, voluntary, and higher education sectors. She specialised initially in respiratory and then in palliative, supportive and end of life care.
Dr. Sam Stuart (Treasurer)
Dr. Stuart is the Director of the Physiotherapy Innovation Laboratory, and an Honorary Clinical Physiotherapist at Northumbria Healthcare NHS foundation trust and a Vice Chancellors Senior Research Fellow at Northumbria University.
Dr. Lianne Wood (Minutes Secretary)
Dr. Wood is a Spinal APP Team Lead at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2004 and completed her Masters in Orthopaedic Manipulative Physiotherapy at Stellenbosch University, South Africa in 2012. Lianne moved to the UK and began working as an Advanced Practitioner in MSK interface services and spinal secondary care services in 2013. She currently works as a clinical academic and has completed her PhD under Professor Nadine Foster and Dr Annette Bishop in 2020. Her research is focused on exploring the treatment targets and understanding the mechanisms underpinning exercise for low back pain.
Dr. Nathan Hutting (Abstract Secretary)
Dr Hutting is an associate professor at the HAN University of Applied Sciences, research group Occupation & Health in the Netherlands as well as a physiotherapist and manual therapist in a private practice and is a board member of the Dutch Association for Manual Therapy and is the Member Organisation delegate of the Netherlands in the International Federation of Orthopaedic Manipulative Physical Therapists.
Dr. Wajida Noor (Abstract Secretary Support)
Dr. Noor is a Physical Therapist from Pakistan with diverse experiences as an academician, clinician and a researcher who has served in Public and Private sectors Academic Institutions and Private Healthcare providers.
Dr. Alex Benham (Executive Officer)
Dr. Benham is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at the University of Huddersfield. His PhD was in pain management, and this was followed by post-doctoral positions working on trials into mirror therapy and into physical activity in different service user groups, particularly stroke and frailty.
PRS Committee Support Team
Gemma Kelly
Gemma is a physiotherapy researcher and clinician working with children with acquired brain injuries/neurodisability at The Children's Trust in Surrey.
Dr. Jenni Naisby
Dr Jenni Naisby is a physiotherapist and Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, with an interest in pain management. Her interest was developed through working clinically and completing a PhD in this area. Jenni has experience of working as a physiotherapist in outpatient musculoskeletal settings within the NHS and private practice. Jenni teaches on the BSc (Hons) and MSc Pre Registration Physiotherapy programmes at Northumbria University and supervises MSc, Professional Doctorate and PhD projects.