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Professor David Stephensen

Professor of Applied Clinical Research & Research Supervisor

School of Allied and Public Health Professions

Professor of Applied Clinical Research in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care at Canterbury Christ Church University.

I am a Professor of Applied Clinical Research in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care at Canterbury Christ Church University and a Physiotherapist with more than 30 years’ experience in Australia and the United Kingdom including 20 years clinical and laboratory research. I am also Deputy Director of Research & Innovation and the Clinical Trials Unit at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust. I am passionate about increasing research capacity of the allied health professions and have supervised over 10 NIHR clinical academic training awards for allied health professionals. I have a strong track record in training researchers and post graduate students and mentoring early career researchers. I have a strong track record of National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and commercial grant funding and am a senior chief investigator and trialist leading a programme of clinical translational research. I have built a comprehensive programme of research spanning clinical practice, rehabilitation and implementation with coproduction of research and evidence-based interventions at the heart of this research. I lead a programme of clinical translational research that focuses on the problems experienced by children and young people with haemophilia. The work has informed local, national and international clinical practice and has been described as ‘world leading’ by the Quality Review Service peer review of UK haemophilia centres as well as receiving national and international awards. I am the Associate Editor of the journal Haemophilia and invited to join the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme (RfPB) Advisory Committee in 2021. 

Research interests & Supervison

Do you want to do a research degree? Are you interested in Medicine, Health and Social Care or related topics? Then I would be pleased to hear from you.

My team have a particular interest in the impact of disease on the biomechanical and neuromuscular aspects of physical performance in children and young people, in particular, the effects of exercise, clinical use of wearable technology, pain rehabilitation, point-of-care ultrasound imaging to detect early joint disease, as well as incorporating functional performance as part of routine monitoring of health. My current research has two main themes: evaluating the benefits of exercise and muscle strengthening programmes; and use of wearable technology to remotely monitor joint health and exercise. This work has been highly recognised with awards at several international conferences. Collectively, my research activities and clinical expertise have enabled me to develop and sustain rigorous scientific standards in research for the Allied Health Professions with an extensive track record in all aspects of clinical research methodology and training including: Systematic reviews and meta-analysis, Feasibility and pilot study design, Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods design, Cohort, case-control and randomised controlled trial, including adaptive clinical trial design and trials of medical devices, UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions, Evaluation of psychometric/ measurement properties or outcome tools, analysis of registry data utilising epidemiological and predictive modelling approaches, evaluation of technology readiness levels (TRL) for understanding the maturity of a technology, ranging from observation of basic principles to proven in the operational environment.

Research Projects

  • Development and feasibility of a swimming programme as a rehabilitation modality for people with chronic low back pain: A mixed methods project.. Researcher(s): Mrs Helen Oakes. Supervisor(s): Dr Marlize DeVivo, Dr Hayley Mills, Professor David Stephensen. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The development of a self-assessment clinical algorithm to enable patients with haemophilia (PWH) to detect and manage acute musculoskeletal bleeding events utilising ultrasound technology. Researcher(s): Mr David Hopper. Supervisor(s): Professor David Stephensen, Professor Kate Springett. [Postgraduate Research Project]

NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme (RfPB) South East & Central Regional Advisory Committee

NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARC) Kent, Surrey, Sussex (KSS) Mentor

Associate Editor, HaemophiliaThe International Prophylaxis Study Group (IPSG) Musculoskeletal Health Expert Working Group

UK Haemophilia Centre Directors Organisation (UKHCDO) Data Management Group and Data Analysis Group

Great Foundations Scientific Committee Member