Professor Chris Nugent at work

Dr Chris Nugent has been appointed Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ulster. 

An engineer with a key role in developing Ulster research expertise in improving quality of life for elderly and disabled people through the innovative use of technology,  Chris joined Ulster's staff in 2000, having previously studied there at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Professor Nugent, who is from Ballyclare, Co Antrim and who was educated in Ballyclare High School now leads a team of researchers in the School of Computing and Mathematics.

His research interests focus on the design,  development  and evaluation of technological solutions that provide older people and individuals with disabilities with the means to maintain as much independence as possible.

Professor Nugent received a BEng at Ulster in Electronic Systems, and was later awarded a doctorate in Biomedical Engineering.

With the global elderly population set to grow from 600 million to some two billion by 2050, he is one of the University’s key researchers addressing how some of the challenges and problems of ageing can be tackled.

He said: “The world population of elderly people is expected to grow rapidly over the next half century. Technology is one of the ways that some of the challenges associated with this anticipated population growth can be addressed.”

Professor Nugent specialises in research and development that focuses on improving the quality of people’s lives along with being able to maintain their independence in their own home environment.  

At present he is involved in research which spans from behavioural analysis within smart environments and assistive technologies for persons with dementia to the embedding of vital sign technology into smart clothing and the analysis of cardiac information. 

His recent work within the Computer Science Research Institute (CSRI) has seen collaborations with other departments within the University,  most notably NIBEC.  Collaborations between NIBEC and the CSRI have recently led to securing funding to establish the cross-border Centre for Intelligent Point of Care Sensors with future collaborations between the groups aiming to move towards the establishment of a Connected Health forum.

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young