
Dr Alison Kirk
Reader
Physical Activity and Health
Back to staff profile
Area of Expertise
Has expertise in:
- Physical activity and sedentary behaviour and behaviour change with particular focus on diabetes
- Development of interventions to support active lifestyles
- Integration of digital technology to support behaviour change
Back to staff profile
Publications
- Digital physical activity and sedentary behavior interventions for community-living adults : umbrella review
- Russell Eilidh, Kirk Alison, Dunlop Mark D, Hodgson William, Patience Mhairi, Egan Kieren
- Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol 27 (2025)
- https://doi.org/10.2196/66294
- Exploring the use of activity trackers to support physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes : a qualitative interview study using the RE-AIM Framework
- Hodgson William, Kirk Alison, Lennon Marilyn, Janssen Xanne
- Journal of Medical Internet Research Vol 9 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.2196/60066
- Exploring the use of activity trackers to support physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in adults diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes : qualitative interview study using the RE-AIM Framework
- Hodgson William, Kirk Alison, Lennon Marilyn, Janssen Xanne
- JMIR Diabetes Vol 9 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.2196/60066
- Physical activity mobile app (CareFit) for informal carers of people with dementia : protocol for a feasibility and adaptation study
- Egan Kieren, Macdonald Bradley, Hodgson William, Kirk Alison, Fawcett Barbara, Dunlop Mark D, Maguire Roma, Flynn Greg, Scott Joshua, Windle Gill
- JMIR Research Protocols Vol 13 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.2196/53727
- "I've got no PPE to protect my mind" : understanding the needs and experiences of first responders exposed to trauma in the workplace
- Cogan Nicola, Craig Ashleigh, Milligan Lucy, McCluskey Robyn, Burns Tara, Ptak Wiktoria, Kirk Alison, Graf Christoph, Goodman Jolie, De Kock Johnnes
- European Journal of Psychotraumatology Vol 15 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2024.2395113
- Revolutionizing care : unleashing the potential of Digital Health Technology in physiotherapy management for people with cystic fibrosis
- Morrison Lisa, Saynor Zoe Louise, Kirk Alison, McCann Lisa
- JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Vol 11 (2024)
- https://doi.org/10.2196/55718
Back to staff profile
Teaching
- Established 20 year track record of designing, organising and delivering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate classes including the development and validation of several new classes and overall review of degree programmes. Strong focus towards research integrated teaching and utilisation of innovative methods of teaching. Focus also towards developing transferable skills to improve employability of students during and after their undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
- Evidence of leading teaching programmes through current role as Course Leader for the MRes in Physical Activity for Health and past roles as Course Leader for the BSc Sport and Physical Activity degree and co-ordinator for two BA programmes (Sport and Psychology and Sport and Education).
- Past and current leadership roles as examination officer, disability co-ordinator, year group co-ordinator.
- Four years experience as Postgraduate Deputy Director including promoting applications for PG research, supporting students and organisation and chair of Viva examinations.
- Previous invited external examiner for BSc Sport, Physical activity and Health degree programme at the University of Leeds Metropolitan (2012-2016) and MSc Clinical Exercise Science at Edinburgh Napier University (2016-2021).
- Invited examiner for 12 PhD thesis (11 external) including: University of Leicester (2023), University of Edinburgh (2023), University of Loughborough (2020), Australian Catholic University (2020), Glasgow University (July 2019), Deakin University, Australia (June 2017), Strathclyde University (September 2016), Stirling University (June 2014), Newcastle University (March 2014), Ulster University (November 2011), Victoria University, Australia (June 2011), Bristol University (March 2009), Birmingham University (July 2007).
- Successful postgraduate research supervision with 11 completed and 5 ongoing PhDs.
Back to staff profile
Research Interests
- 24 year programme of translational research exploring methods of supporting active lifestyles for diabetes prevention and management which has led to UK and International impact on health care policy and practice.
- In total 86 refereed publications since 2003. 4006 citations from publications. Current H Index of 33.
- Awarded over £3,000,000 in grant funding for research since award of PhD in 2003, including a number as PI, several multicentre trials and collaborative PhD studentships.
Professional Activities
- Step cadence and sedentary behaviour – developing the links to physical function and glucose control
- Examiner
- 2023
- Understanding the role of breaks from sitting on musculoskeletal symptoms in desk-based workers
- Examiner
- 2023
- Sedentary behaviour and cardiometabolic health: epidemiological, experimental and behavioural investigations in a population at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Examiner
- 2020
- Investigating the effects of sitting on glucose metabolism Implications for the management and prevention of type 2 diabetes
- Examiner
- 2020
- Web based physiotherapy for people with chronic health conditions: South Asians with Type 2 diabetes
- Examiner
- 2019
- Integration of technology to support active lifestyles within Type 2 diabetes care
- Speaker
- 2019
Projects
- Sentinel Trauma Mobile App
- Kirk, Alison (Principal Investigator)
- New budget, new PI (following 221084)
- 01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2025
- Digital health interventions in the workplace: co-created with stakeholder engagement
- Cogan, Nicola (Principal Investigator) Kirk, Alison (Principal Investigator) Graf, Christoph (Principal Investigator)
- The primary objective is to introduce new innovative digital health technologies which have been co-created with key stakeholders to improve employees physical and mental wellbeing in the workplace. Over the past five years a team of academics at Strathclyde University have been working with the Welbot company to develop cross platform applications to improve employee wellbeing. The aim of this event is to engage with large enterprises and public sector agencies to host a seminar which focuses on promoting positive health in the workplace and to showcase Welbot’s innovative applications and how they can be used across a wide range of workplaces
- 09-Jan-2023 - 09-Jan-2023
- £62,000K - Stage-gate funds for Industry Engagement & Commercialisation support (stage 2)
- Cogan, Nicola (Principal Investigator) Kirk, Alison (Principal Investigator) Rasmussen, Susan (Principal Investigator)
- Awarded stage gate 1, 2 & 3 industry engagement and commercialisation for development of Sentinel and translation to Arabic. 42K from stage funding and 20K from company
- 01-Jan-2022 - 22-Jan-2025
- £5000K - Community driven co-creation of multimedia content to embed in the CareFit app, an app to support physical activity in informal carers
- Kirk, Alison (Principal Investigator) Dunlop, Mark (Co-investigator) Egan, Kieren (Co-investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 28-Jan-2023
- Assessing the value of digital health technology and personalised care in adults with cystic fibrosis during the era of CFTR modulators. Health and Care Futures Strathclyde Doctoral Research Centre in Multidisciplinary Exploration of Health Oriented Data & Digital Health
- Kirk, Alison (Co-investigator) McCann, Lisa (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2028
- Early-stage maintenance of physical activity in caregivers at home using digital devices and/or motion sensors. Stretch Alumni PhD funding.
- Kirk, Alison (Co-investigator) Dunlop, Mark (Co-investigator) Egan, Kieren (Principal Investigator)
- 01-Jan-2022 - 30-Jan-2025
Back to staff profile
Contact
Dr
Alison
Kirk
Reader
Physical Activity and Health
Email: alison.kirk@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 4153