George Balanos

Accepting PhD Students

PhD projects

George Balanos’ main research interests include the regulation of blood flow in humans, both during exercise and in disease, and the regulation of breathing. To study these areas, Dr Balanos has established sophisticated ultrasound imaging techniques and to invoke perturbations in respiratory function he is using a system that can accurately mimic conditions such as high altitude or disease states. Recently, his group has published evidence for the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in the regulation of pulmonary blood flow during exercise. This has led to a focus on studying the importance of the contribution of the central nervous system and the pulmonary circulation in breathlessness in patients with chronic heart failure. His group also studies laboratory models of intermittent hypoxia (depletion of oxygen) in order to gain a better understanding between sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease. Dr Balanos's group is involved in research that aims to describe the links between disruption of sleep patterns (caused by disease or behaviour) and physiological function. He welcomes applications from prospective doctoral researchers in his areas of interest.