Welcome to the

Digital Health Innovation in Ageing and Neurodegeneration

DIAN Research Group

at Newcastle University

Formerly the Brain and Movement (BAM) Research Group

Logo for Brain and Movement with a brain illustration and interconnected nodes

About our name change

From BAM to DIAN

The Brain and Movement Research Group (BAM) was founded in 2008 by Professor Lynn Rochester to establish a programme of gait and mobility related research that would deliver benefits in the understanding, treatment and measurement of mobility in neurodegenerative conditions and ageing.

Much has changed in the group since its inception!  While the vision and broad aims of the group remain similar – the breadth of work and expanding leadership team have changed significantly to reflect new challenges and broader translational opportunities.

The time is right, therefore, to reflect this exciting new landscape and set us up for the next ten years - with the aim of enhancing visibility and impact of the diverse portfolio of work undertaken by the leadership team.

We are therefore marking this change with a new name and website – please link to us and follow us as we begin this next chapter.

And so, please welcome the Digital Health Innovation in Ageing and Neurodegeneration (DIAN) Research Group.

Our Vision

Our vision is to create a translational ecosystem that advances the discovery, development and implementation of digital health biomarkers across functional domains such as mobility, sleep, fatigue and sedentary behaviour. We bring together multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholders to accelerate therapeutic innovation, inform high-quality clinical trials, and shape the future of clinical decision-making. Anchored in patient voice, we champion digital health modalities that deliver meaningful impact across ageing, neurodegeneration and long-term conditions.

Research Group Leads

  • Professor Lynn Rochester. DIAN Lead. A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a green scarf and lipstick, smiling indoors with a blurred background.

    Prof Lynn Rochester

    Lynn leads the DIAN (Digital Health Innovation in Ageing and Neurodegeneration) Group

    DIAN Group
  • A woman with short brown hair smiling in a well-lit indoor setting, wearing a light-colored, textured sweater with sequins, and standing near a wooden railing.

    Prof Alison Yarnall

    Alison leads the Mobility and Ageing: Outcomes, Trials, InnoVation in Parkinson’s Disease & Dementia (MOTIV-PD) Team

    MOTIV-PD Team
  • Close-up of a woman with red hair in a ponytail, smiling in an indoor setting with blurred windows and background.

    Prof Camille Carroll

    Camille leads the Innovation for iMprovement in PArkinson's Care and Trials (IMPACT) Team

    IMPACT Team
  • A woman with curly blonde hair, wearing a floral dress, standing outdoors in front of colorful bushes.

    Dr Silvia Del Din

    Silvia leads the Digital Healthcare Applications for Translational Advancement (DATA) Team

    DATA Team
  • A woman with curly brown hair, wearing glasses and a floral shirt, smiling against a yellow textured background.

    Dr Rachael Lawson

    Rachael leads the Delirium and Translational Research in Neurodegeneration (DELTA) Team

    DELTA Team
  • A young woman with blonde wavy hair smiling, wearing a red shirt with floral embroidery against a white textured wall.

    Dr Ríona Mc Ardle

    Ríona leads the Optimising Research for Inclusion and Equity in Later Life Mobility (​ORIEL) Team

    ORIEL Team
  • A woman with curly red hair smiling in front of a plain white wall.

    Dr Lizeth Sloot

    Lizeth leads leads the Foot and Balance (FAB) Team

    FAB Team
  • A woman with light brown hair tied back, wearing a white collared shirt with a patterned inner lining, silver chain necklace, and small earrings, standing against a wooden wall.

    Dr Lisa Alcock

    Lisa leads the Mobility Observation, Translation and Innovation in Neurodegeneration (MOTION) Team

    MOTION Team

Infrastructure

A black and white photograph of a building with glass walls featuring a staircase inside

We deliver clinical and translational research supported by key infrastructure, including the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre and our bespoke Gait Lab at the Clinical Ageing Research Unit (CARU).

Click on the button below to find out more:

Infrastructure

Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)

Photograph of a drawing of lightbulb with the word research in the middle. Outside the lightbulb are pens and the words planning, target, vision, strategy and analysis linked to the lightbulb.

The overarching aim of our research is to support the wellbeing and function of patients, carers and the public through novel insights into the mechanisms, measurement and interventions used to support mobility. We are passionate about integrating the voice of people affected by chronic health conditions into the design, implementation and dissemination of our research.

We link to many PPIE and research interest groups including the Parkinson’s North East and Cumbria Research Interest Group (NEC-RIG) led by Dr Rachael Lawson.

Inclusivity in research

Photograph of smiling older people with diverse ethnicity with hands linking in the middle of a circle.

In our research we support inclusion, involvement and participation of patients, carers and the public to reduce barriers that prevent the most underserved groups from taking part in research. We aim to accomplish this by following the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) INCLUDE guidelines, led by Professor Lynn Rochester, on improving inclusion of under-served groups in clinical research.

Find out more about Digitial Inclusion and ways to get involved

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Image of paint splash image made into a rainbow

The BAM Research Group is committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). We strive to create an environment that provides the freedom for all colleagues to achieve their full potential, regardless of rank, socioeconomic background, age, disability, sex, religion, belief, race, ethnicity, culture and sexual orientation.

Find out more EDI at Newcastle University by clicking the button below:

Learn more