Professor Andrea Nelson, BSc(Hons), PhD RGN, Dean of School

Andrea is an Adult Nurse with a PhD in Bioengineering, and a lifelong interest in wounds. She has worked in clinical, research and academic positions in London; Falkirk, Glasgow, Edinburgh (the M8 years), Liverpool, York, and Leeds (the M62 years) before joining the University as Dean of Health and Life Sciences in October 2018.

Andrea has a programme of research in the prevention and management of chronic wounds, especially leg and foot ulcers. In collaboration with colleagues in practice she conducts research in the assessment of risk, prevention, diagnosis, management, and experience of chronic wounds and their complications.  Her research has been used to develop National clinical practice guidelines and Clinical Evidence summaries so that care providers and commissioners are able to make clinical and purchasing decisions based on reliable evidence. 

Andrea is keen to supervise PhD students with an interest in pressure ulceration, leg ulceration and diabetic foot ulceration, especially in areas where the question extends beyond 'the experience of a chronic wound'. She enjoys teaching all aspects of evidence-based practice and critical appraisal, particularly supporting clinicians to make evaluations of diagnosis, prevention, treatment choices and prognosis. 

She has been a member of the NIHR HTA Commissioning Board, a Trustee of the Tissue Viability Society, and is proud to be is a Cochrane Editor and Author. Other notable contributions include a stint as Chair of the RCN Research Society Scientific Committee, Deputy Chair of the HTA External Devices and Physical Therapies Panel, and Associate editor of Evidence Based Nursing. 

Andrea gave up running after completing the Loch Ness marathon (only 2 hours slower than the winner), and now sings and sails (not simultaneously) in her spare time.