Professor Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu

Qualifications:

MBChB; MSc, PhD, PGCertHE, FHEA

Position:

Professor of Physical Activity, Ageing and Community Health

Department:

HAS - Allied Health Professions

Telephone:

+441179656261

Email:

Faatihah.Niyi-Odumosu@uwe.ac.uk

Social media:

About me

I am a medical doctor and a Professor of Physical Activity, Ageing and Community Health. I founded and lead Ageing Lifestyle in Blacks and Asians (ALIBSA), a global knowledge exchange and community engagement programme with 300+ community members in the UK and internationally. ALIBSA advances health equity by providing culturally tailored health literacy, thereby improving health access. Its cornerstone is to improve community engagement and participation in health and ageing research, which aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan.

My work has gained international recognition for its excellence in knowledge exchange, community-based participatory research, and cross-sector partnerships that encompass academia, the built environment, health and social care, health technology, and sports industries.

As an innovative leader in healthy ageing research as well as knowledge exchange in the UK, Africa, and the Middle East, I adopt multidisciplinary approaches to co-developing interventions aimed at addressing complex global health issues, working with varied communities.

I specialise in preventive medicine, focusing on the intersection of physical activity, exercise physiology, and health outcomes in community and clinical settings. My research emphasises the creation of evidence-based lifestyle interventions, particularly for older adults, global majority (Blacks and Asians), and people with chronic lifestyle conditions such as type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Through collaborative approaches that integrate community engagement and rehabilitation research, I have consistently delivered sustainable and culturally tailored physical activity routines and programmes for people, patients, and workforce including renal MDT and health care workers, to enable reablement for service users in care homes and dormiciliary care.

Externally Funded Projects:

My portfolio includes over £2.7 million in external funding for innovative projects, including:

- The Fitbees Project (2021-23): Expanding digital fitness engagement among underrepresented groups. Funded by Innovate UK, Healthy Ageing Challenge.

- SAW-Health (2023-25): Developing socially assistive walkers for older adults. Funded by the Medical Research Council, Ageing Research Development Award.

- C2REST Project (2024-27): Investigating climate change impacts on respiratory health in Nigeria. Funded by the Medical Research Foundation, Climate Change Impact.

- ALIBSA (2025-26): Ageing Lifestyle in Blacks and Asians. Funded by the Medical Research Council, Community Group Fund.

Current Leadership Roles in UWE:

Co-lead, Black Professoriate Group

Co-coordinator, Africa Staff Network

External Roles:

Distinguished Professor of Public Health, MIVA Open University, Nigeria

Executive Council Member and Secretary, Low Middle Income Research Council, International Society of Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH).

Research/Project Supervision

I have successfully supervised doctoral and master's projects in Physical Activity, Ageing, Climate and Health, and Global Health research.

I have limited capacity to supervise PhD project(s) as a Director of Studies until April, 2027. 

Area of expertise

Publications

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