Dr Deane originally qualified as a biological and chemical scientist (Physiology major) in University College Cork, Ireland, where her work in organ and cellular research inspired her interest in translational medicine and human performance. In 2001, she graduated as a Physiotherapist from King’s College London, working as a senior musculoskeletal specialist fulfilling roles in the NHS (Guy’s and St. Thomas’ hospital), charitable organisations (British Association of Performing Arts Medicine) and the private sector where she applied an evidence-based approach to patient management and gained a unique insight into arthritis and chronic spinal pain, which have become key research interests.
Dr Deane subsequently qualified with a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from King’s College London and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), undertaking Musculoskeletal Lectureship roles in both BSc and MSc Physiotherapy programmes at University College Limerick, Ireland and King’s College London. Dr Deane is an experienced supervisor and has supported BSc, MSc and doctoral student research at the University of Manchester and Leeds, King’s College London, University College London, Imperial College, the University of Limerick and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
A prestigious Clinical Doctoral Fellowship award from Versus Arthritis enabled Dr Deane to undertake a PhD in Clinical Biomechanics at Imperial College London. The aim of this study was to understand the impact of Lumbar Disc Degeneration and chronic low back pain by evaluating biomedical sub-classifiers for this condition using MRI, kinematic and EMG analysis methods.
In 2020, Dr Deane became the first Physiotherapist to be appointed as an NIHR Clinical lecturer (IAT) by the University of Manchester, whilst playing leading roles in the development of the Manchester Clinical Academic Centre, to build NHS AHP research capacity and capability, and in the delivery of the National Allied Health Professional research strategy.
Dr Deane has been privileged to present and publish her research nationally and internationally, winning several research awards including, the ‘New Investigator Award’ and ‘Secretary’s Award’ from the Society of Back Pain Research UK, the European Society of Biomechanics Student Awardand more recently, the ‘Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health Research Development Award’ from the University of Manchester.
Following her appointment as Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham in 2022, Dr Deane continues to maintain strong research links in an honorary capacity with the University of Manchester and Imperial College London and well as national and international collaborators. Through executive membership of grant committees (NIHR Health Technology Assessment) and societies (the Society for Back Pain Research U.K.), Dr Deane is committed to support innovative research for patient benefit.