Dr Dimitra Blana

Biography

I am an engineer and data scientist, in the process of transitioning from academic research to using my skills to take action against the climate crisis. 

In the last few years, I was the Deputy Director, and in 2024, the Interim Director of the Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science. Between 2020 and 2024 I was the lead for the MSc Health Data Science. For the academic year 2024-25, I will continue to contribute to the MSc programme, specifically on the Health Informatics course.

My background is in biomedical and computer engineering. I received my B.S. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. I went on to earn my M.Sc. and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

My research focus was dynamic modelling of complex health systems. I initially worked on biomechanical models of the human arm, to help design prosthetic hands, and assistive technologies for people with paralysis. Since joining the Aberdeen Centre for Health Data Science, I started applying my modelling methods to other healthcare problems. For example, I built an epidemiological model to help NHS Grampian with their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I now aim to use my modelling and data science skills, as well as my experience in community organising, to help the prevention and adaptation efforts on the climate emergency.

If you are also worried about the climate crisis, please feel free to reach out to me. As Bill McKibben says, "the most important thing an individual can do is not be such an individual. Join together with others to make change!"

Research Overview

My focus is dynamic modelling of complex systems. I am a member of a multidisciplinary group that includes health researchers, engineers, computer scientists, and clinicians. 

Here is a list of our human movement related projects, and our COVID-19 modelling work.

Knowledge Exchange

• Women in Data Science Ambassador
• Founder of the Aberdeen branch of One HealthTech
• 2019 Soapbox Science Stoke-on-Trent organiser
• 2017 Soapbox Science participant (Leeds Arts & Science event)
• 2017 demonstrator at the Cheltenham Science Festival
• 2017 & 2018 Judge for the Association of British Science Writers Awards
• Editor of ScienceSeeker, 2016-2017
• STEM Ambassador

Funding and Grants

• University of Aberdeen Funding to Pump-Prime Research and Research Networks: A creative engagement approach to improve the impact of healthcare modelling, 2024
• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative “Essential Open Source Software for Science”: OpenSim Creator: Empowering Biomedical Research with Biomechanical Models, 2022-2025
• Carnegie Trust For The Universities Of Scotland PhD studentship: Wearable sensors for clinical movement analysis of the upper limb: enhancing accuracy and improving access, 2022-2025
• NHS Grampian Endowment: Investigating socioeconomic disparities as a cause and consequence of deteriorating kidney health among people admitted to hospital with an acute illness, 2021-2022
• NHS Grampian Endowment: Using wearable technology to optimise timing of concomitant metformin and exercise prescription, 2021-2022
• SFC Upskilling Fund to develop two Master’s level Health Data Science courses, 2021
• NHS Grampian Endowment grant: Integrating real time surveillance and dynamic modelling of COVID-19 in Grampian to inform an adaptive healthcare response, 2020-2021
• Clinical movement analysis society (CMAS) small grant: A free online platform for sharing movement analysis code and resources, 2019
• EPSRC Healthcare Technologies grant: Personalised approach to restoration of arm function in people with high-level tetraplegia, 2018-2021 
• Innovation Fund from the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine: Intelligent FES for restoring arm movement in people with tetraplegia, 2018
• RCUK Public Engagement with Research Catalysts: Co-Production and Creativity: ethos, typologies and innovation in public engagement practice, 2017 - 2018
• Keele Innovation Fund: Using digitally enhanced creative methods to engage the community with biomedical engineering research, 2017
• Orthopaedic Institute / Keele ACORN PhD studentship: Biomechanical modelling of toe walking gait to inform the prescription of ankle foot orthoses in children with cerebral palsy, 2016 - 2019
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH): Intracortical control of FES-restored arm and hand function in people with spinal cord injury, subcontract with Case Western Reserve University, 2015 - 2017
• National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIH): Prosthesis Control by Forward Dynamic Simulation of the Intact Biomedical System, subcontract with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, 2013 - 2015