Emma Louise Gale

My main research interests include sleep, circadian rhythms, obesity, public health, child and adolescent health, puberty, intervention development, co-production methodologies and public engagement

PhD in Adolescent Health (University of St Andrews):

As part of my PhD, I examined the relationship between sleep and obesity in adolescents and the underlying shared determinants, in order to identify targets for health-promoting interventions in adolescents. My doctoral work consisted of mixed-methods, including systematic reviews, seocndary data analysis (quantitative), and a primary data study (quantiative and qualitative). 

MSc Sleep Medicine (University of Oxford): Circadian Therapeutics and Subjective Sleep Quality in Parkinsons Disease

As part of my MSc I completed a systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the efficacy of primary circadian therapies as a treatment for poor sleep quality in Parkinson’s Disease, followed by a research proposal. This project saw me undertake research models such as PRISMA and follow the guidelines in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. My paper search, after eliminations, consisted of seven papers; two melatonin, two caffeine, and three bright light therapy controlled trials (including six randomised). After analysing the results a combined treatment (melatonin and bright light therapy) randomised controlled trial was suggested with full-time scale, budget, and patient recruitment. This experience exposed me to the systematic review and meta-analysis processes and writing, publication preparation, clinical trials, ethics, research proposals, and specific subpopulations.

BSc Human Biology (University of Birmingham): Circadian disruption in neurodegeneration

My dissertation for my BSc in Human Biology looked at circadian rhythm disruption onset in three subsets of neurodegenerative patients;  Dementia (D), Parkinson's Disease (PD), and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Patients were compared to controls. The questionnaires were subjective and (where possible) were completed by the individual as opposed to a caregiver. My primary data consisted of medical histories, diagnostic tests for PD and AD, RBUB circadian phenotyping questionnaires, and sleep disorder questionnaires (Insomnia, Hypersomnia, parasomnia, obstructive sleep apnoea, restless leg syndrome, and nocturia). Results from this research stressed the importance of further research in this subpopulation and the management of circadian rhythms to maintain an increased quality of life. This experience allowed me to develop my clinical trial skills, research proposal and publication writing, ethics, patient contact medicine, specific subpopulations, qualitative and quantitive measures, and objective and subjective measures.

sleep, sleep disorders, circadian rhythms, circadian misalignment, social jetlag, obesity, adolescents, children, teenagers