Health & Sport Sciences

Dr Antequera’s main interests are minimally invasive and endoscopic surgery. He is a leading expert in laparoscopic and endoscopic treatment of obesity. He offers alternative weight loss solutions such as, gastric balloons, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric band/lap-band, bariatric surgery and gastric band adjustments. His other areas of expertise are upper gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary malignancies and soft tissue sarcomas. He has strong interest in Humanitarian Surgery as a founder of Enganchados project and member of the board the of ‘El Compromiso Foundation’ to try to bring surgical care to the poorest countries in Africa.

Nick’s research interests lie in antimicrobial stewardship, rapid infection diagnostics & application of genomics to infection prevention & control.

Prof Karstadt holds adjunct professor positions at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales and the School of Health at Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory, Australia. Prof Karstadt research interests range from children’s healthcare to the practice of learning and knowledge acquisition. Her trajectory started as lecturer in 1993 at the University of Hertfordshire (UK) and progressed through Headships of Schools and Departments (Hertfordshire and University of Southern Queensland, Australia), culminating in a vice-Chancellorship at the Fiji National University in 2022. She has held influential positions in the Executive Committee of the UK Council of Deans of Health.

A highly experienced paediatric, neonatal, and adult registered nurse clinician, Dr Louise Lawson brings over 35 years of expertise in both nursing practice and higher education. Louise’s doctoral research explored the concept of mentorship in the context of nursing, thus highlighting the importance of active learning, belongingness and professional identity in nursing practice. Passionate about advancing higher education in healthcare, Louise is dedicated to bridging the theory-practice gap in nursing and empowering nurses to enhance their careers with confidence, expertise and competence.

Dr Leanse’s research interests stem from his goal to lessen the negative impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on public health. Leon is concerned with developing non-traditional antimicrobial approaches that effectively treat infectious diseases, without the threat of resistance development. He utilises biophotonics approaches (i.e., light applied to biological systems) for the treatment of antibiotic resistant (or ‘superbug’) infections. His interests also involve developing novel optical waveguides (e.g., light emitting microneedles that can deliver light interstitially) to treat more complicated infections.

Dr Malcolm MacLean is an experienced academic researcher with engagements across a range of social science and humanities disciplines. His work focuses on historical and contemporary patterns and discourses of power that define sport, play and leisure, locating sport in a wider network of cultural meaning and cultural industries, with an emphasis on colonial relationships. Dr MacLean has a particular expertise in research design, application and impact, and in research ethics and integrity. Alongside this he remains actively involved in community activities on workers’ rights in the fashion and textile industries.

Professor Derek Santos is a Senior Lecturer in the Dietetics, Nutrition & Biological Sciences, Physiotherapy, Podiatry & Radiography Division at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. He is also an Associate member of the Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research. Derek is the research lead for Podiatry and his research interests include musculoskeletal conditions, diabetes, ethics, gait analysis, and blood flow in the lower limb. He is an external reviewer for various medical journals and for research grant applications for the NHS National Institute of Health Research Evaluation, Trials and Studies. More recently Derek has been collaborating with industry.

Kathylene Siska was the Director of the School of Social Work at both the University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri, and St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, during which time she was a tenured professor. Professor Siska has extensive experience in social work and senior management positions in higher education. Her research interests focus on intellectual disabilities, social work practice and child development, focusing on primary care frameworks and the role of education in the provision of social services. Her academic roles have included counselling, clinical supervision and developing and teaching on degree courses in both the USA and the UK.

James is the Head of School of Health Sciences at the University, and he is responsible for overseeing the delivery and quality assurances of all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes pertaining to the school. A highly experienced paediatric and adult registered nurse, Dr James Viñales brings over 25 years of expertise in both nursing practice and higher education. James’ main research interest lies in student support, mentorship, preceptorship and collegiality within education and healthcare settings.

Angelo is currently investigating how child protection professionals are challenged by the complex nature of managing professional relationships with clients while residing in the small and densely populated community of Gibraltar.

Jamesina’s research focuses on critically exploring the practice of palliative care in Gibraltar and identifying the factors that facilitate care provided by family caregivers at home. The study follows participatory action research (PAR) principles and is situated within a critical theory framework. PAR is a research method that aims to inquire with communities rather than on them and is closely linked to social change and collaborative action. The research process is strongly influenced by the compassionate communities movement and asset-based community development principles, seeking to enhance the understanding and effectiveness of palliative care within the local context.

Sonal’s research addressed the growing challenge of dementia, a neurodegenerative condition that impairs cognitive and functional abilities, and explored how its impact unfolds over time. As the first study of its kind in Gibraltar, it followed 30 individuals with dementia over a 12-month period to assess changes in cognition, function, and quality of life. The research aimed to enhance understanding of holistic, therapeutic interventions within a local context, offering insights into how non-pharmacological approaches can support wellbeing in dementia care and respond to the broader implications of ageing populations.