Dr Phoebe Cox PhD, AFHEA

• PhD in Exercise Immunology, University of Birmingham, 2026
• BSc in Sport and Exercise Science, University of Bath, 2022
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2025

Phoebe became a Postdoctoral Researcher in the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham in 2025, working on the STEM-Ex clinical trial, which evaluates whether cycling during stem cell donations ('intra-apheresis cycling') improves stem cell collection efficiency and transplant outcomes in people with myeloma.

Phoebe completed her PhD at the University of Birmingham in 2026. Her doctoral research examined how acute exercise impacts the mobilisation of immune cells, particularly stem cells and effector lymphocytes. She also investigated how a person's demographics, physical activity, and fitness influence peripheral blood immune cell profiles at rest and in response to exercise. Prior to her PhD, she completed her undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Bath, where she also undertook a placement year at the University of Birmingham.

Dr Cox teaches on the Clinical Exercise Biochemistry module.

Current Research

Examining the clinical effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of intra-apheresis cycling for peripheral blood stem cell donations.

Investigating whether neuroprosthetics, which deliver a targeted electrical stimulus to the spinal cord, can be used to modulate and improve the immune response to exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Previous Research

Examining the effect of acute exercise on peripheral blood concentrations of haemopoietic stem and progenitor cells and cytolytic natural killer cells

Identifying whether modifiable donor characteristics, such as physical activity, fitness, and body composition, impact immune cell concentration and function at rest and in response to acute exercise

Research Group

Exercise, Immunology and Health.