How can cutting-edge augmented reality glasses transform traditional physiotherapy into engaging games for people living with Parkinson’s disease?

In this episode, Lucy and Janine are joined by Chief Investigator Professor Rory O'Connor from the University of Leeds and Barri Morgan Jones from Strolll to explore the RESTART-PD project. This innovative research initiative focuses on an essential clinical and digital health priority: improving movement, balance, and daily function for individuals living with Parkinson's disease.

Listen as we discuss the journey of utilising augmented reality headsets to turn standard, often repetitive rehabilitation exercises into fun, patient-centred games that can be played right at home. We discover the personal inspiration behind the Strolll technology behind this randomised controlled trial, and how remote clinical monitoring through a web portal dashboard can help support rehabilitation and tackle extensive NHS waiting lists.

Find out more about the RESTART-PD Trial: https://www.york.ac.uk/health-sciences/research/trials/ytutrialsandstudies/trials/restartpd/

Find out more about Strolll: https://www.strolll.co/

Music by Matthew Bailey

How can a massive, real-world database tracking nearly 60,000 patients revolutionise our understanding of blood cancer treatment and patient care?

In this episode, Lucy and Janine are joined by Professor Alex Smith and Professor Debra Howell from the University of York’s Epidemiology & Cancer Statistics Group to explore the Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN). This major research initiative focuses on a critical health priority: collecting granular, population-based data to transform the care pathways for those diagnosed with blood cancers.

Listen as we discuss the journey of building a 20-year registry that captures the detailed care pathway for over 100 different subtypes of blood cancer. We discover the powerful methodology behind combining large-scale epidemiology with qualitative patient interviews—revealing how real-world survival rates have doubled for certain conditions, the emotional anxieties of the "watch and wait" approach, and what the future holds for cutting-edge treatments like CAR T-cell therapy. PLUS, we find out what happens when "symbiotic nerds" unite to put the patient's lived experience at the absolute centre of data science!

HMRN website: https://hmrn.org/

HMRN Publications: https://hmrn.org/publications/papers

Music by Matthew Bailey

How can an adapted, chair-based yoga program improve the quality of life for older adults living with multiple long-term health conditions?

In this episode Lucy and guest host Emma are joined by Dr Laura Wiley from the University of York and Dr Lesley Ward from Northumbria University to explore the Gentle Years Yoga project. This major research initiative focused on a critical health priority: improving the quality of life for older adults living with multiple health conditions.

Listen as we discuss the journey of utilising a chair-based yoga programme developed by the British Wheel of Yoga to make the practice accessible outside of typical high-street studios. We discover the methodology behind this randomised controlled trial as well as the qualitative data whic revealed the transformative impact that yoga can have. PLUS we get to hear the results!

Find out more about the Gentle Years Yoga Trial: https://www.york.ac.uk/health-sciences/research/trials/ytutrialsandstudies/archive/gyy-trial/

Results paper 1: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39259017/

Results paper 2: https://openresearch.nihr.ac.uk/articles/3-52/v2

Proces evaluation paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40098115/

Music by Matthew Bailey