Helen Douglas

Helen is a PhD research student at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.  She graduated from the University of Southampton in 2003 with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy and then completed an MSc in Paediatrics and Child Health Studies from Cardiff University in 2012.

Helen’s clinical background is in paediatric respiratory physiotherapy.  She developed the Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Physiotherapy Service at Oxford University Hospital NHS Trust and remained working with children and young people with cystic fibrosis ever since, later working at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH).  During this time Helen helped to progress the collaborations between GOSH and Nuffield Health and Active Luton exercise facility providers.

Helen also worked on the INSPIRE-CF trial at GOSH, studying the effects of a weekly supervised exercise intervention on a group of children and young people with cystic fibrosis.

Helen’s doctoral research focus is on the psychosocial barriers to physical activity and exercise for children and young people with cystic fibrosis, monitoring activity in this population, and studying the effects of directly supervised exercise, including when the supervision element ends.