Lifestyle Intervention

This PhD programme will aim to produce an exercise-based lifestyle intervention, helping people with vascular EDS exercise safely. This can ultimately be adopted by the NHS and healthcare systems around the world.

Exercise is important for health and wellbeing, however, very little is known about the safety of exercise in this patient group. By developing and evaluating an exercise-based lifestyle intervention for vascular EDS patients, the team will be engaging in pioneering research to support this rare disease community. Outcomes from this study have the potential to positively impact patients locally, nationally, and internationally.

This PhD is facilitated by the Lifestyle, Exercise and Nutrition Improvement (LENI) Research Group of the Department of Nursing and Midwifery of Sheffield Hallam University. LENI Research Group is world-acclaimed research group, focusing on the development and implementation of lifestyle interventions, aiming to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases. The programme will be carried out at the Health Research Institute (HRI) of Sheffield Hallam University. The Health Research Institute acts as a nucleus for health and care research across Sheffield Hallam, providing support to research centres, groups, clusters and individuals . 

This PhD programme is funded in collaboration between EDS Support UK and Annabelle's Challenge, which support people with vascular EDS. It is also actively supported by clinicians at the Highly Specialised EDS National Diagnostic Service in Sheffield. There will be opportunities to learn about the impact of vascular EDS from these specialised clinicians and patients.

The programme is planned to start in February 2025.