Dr Liang Liu

Dr. Liu collaborates closely with clinicians, academic partners, and patient groups, and has completed a wide range of clinical and health-related research projects. Her expertise includes conducting observational studies such as cohort studies, case-control studies, and survey research using Delphi methodology, mixed-methods research, and experimental studies including randomized clinical trials. She also has considerable experience in conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Her current research interests focus on primary and secondary research in pressure ulcer management  and education, wound care and evidence-based nursing practice. She leads a number of externally funded research projects in collaboration with internal and external colleagues, NHS Trusts, and patient group charities as a Principal Investigator. Her research has received recognition and support from prestigious institutions such as the British Skin Foundation, Burdett Nursing Trust, Rosetree Trust, Hospital Saturday Foundation, UKRI via MDVSN Plus (Medical Device and Vulnerable Skin Network Plus, EPSRC-NIHR partnership), Society of Tissue Viability (SoTV), and university RKE incentive research funding. Her research projects funded by Rosetrees Trust and the British Skin Foundation are NIHR portfolio studies on spinal cord injury, conducted in collaboration with the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, with Middlesex University as the lead sponsor. Her extensive network of research collaborations encompasses renowned institutions including the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Royal College of Nursing, Queen Mary University of London, University of Bath and Southampton, and Imperial College London. Her research has also been well received and supported by the Spinal Injury Association (SIA) and the Association for Spinal Injury Research Rehabilitation and Reintegration (ASPIRE). She has published over 60 peer-reviewed journal papers, supplements, and book chapters.

She was selected for REF 2014 and REF 2021 submissions and submitted the maximum number of five highly rated outputs as a first author alongside her external research funding for REF 2021. She is  a panel member of the REF2029 People, Culture, and Environment pilot exercise.

Successful  external grant award:

- £39,766 (Grant holder) funded by British Skin Foundation Research Award as a Principal Investigator in collaboration with London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust. Co-investigators are: Dr Sarah Knight, Professor Helen Allan, Ms. Jacinta Kelly. The project is entitled as’ Managing the Risk of Pressure Ulcers in people with Spinal Cord Injury.’ The grant was awarded in April 2023.  

- NIHR ARC Predoctoral Support Fund as an academic supervisor and mentor. The proposalis entitled as ‘ A mixed methods evaluation of practices for the earlyDetection and preventIon of preSsure ulCERs in non-white skin toNes (DISCERN)study. March 2025.

- .£6,540 (Grant holder) funded by Burdett Trust for Nursing grant as a Principal Investigator in collaboration with Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University.  Co-investigators are Ms Jacinta Kelly, Dr Mariachiara Di Cesare, Professor Helen Allan, Professor Michael Traynor. The project is entitled as 'Healthcare assistants’ knowledge, attitudes and experiences of preventing pressure ulcers: a mixed method study'. March 2020

£48k  (Grant holder) funded from UKRI via MDVSN (Medical Device and Vulnerable Skin Network plus, EPSRC-NIHR partnership) as a Principal investigator,  in collaborating with Queen Mary University London.  The project is entitled ‘Early Detection of Pressure Injury Using Novel Wireless Epidermal Textile Sensors in Wheelchair users Living with Spinal Cord Injury’. December 2018 - December 2019

£18,491 (Grant holder) As a Principal investigator in collaboration with London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust. Co-investigators are Dr Angela Gall, Ms Rachel Deegan, Dr Sarah Knight, Professor Michael Traynor and Professor Helen Allan. The project is entitled ‘A pilot study to evaluate early interventions for pressure ulcer prevention in people living with spinal cord injury. May 2017.

£2,000 (Grant holder) funded by Hospital Saturday Funds Charity in February 2015. As a principal investigator in collaboration with Spinal Cord Injury Unit with to carry out the study using motion sensors to monitor pressure relief activities during sitting in people, living with spinal cord injury.

£500 (Grant holder) I was awarded for a prize from INSPIRE foundation as a Principal Investigator for a grant application on early pressure ulcer prevention using electrical stimulation in Spinal Cord Injury in February 2019.

£1,000  (Grant holder) was awarded for a sponsored travel grant by Tissue viability Society  in March 2018 to present a research paper entitled as ‘Concordance to ‘pressure relief’ for pressure injury prevention in people with spinal cord injury- mixed method' at EWMA conference May 2018.

£600 (Grant holder) was awarded for an educational grant from Tissue viability Society in December 2018.  To present a research paper entitled as ‘Early education using text messaging for pressure ulcer prevention in newly discharged spinal cord injury people'.

£400 (Grant holder) an educational grant was awarded from Tissue viability Society in May 2018.  To present a study at TVS annual conference April 2018. 'To develop and test reliability, and validity of a questionnaire to evaluate concordance to ‘pressure relief’ for pressure injury prevention in people with spinal cord injury'

£2,060 (Grant holder) Department of Adult, Child and Midwifery R&D funding as a principal Investigator. Co-investigators are Ms Jacinta Kelly, Professor Helen Allan, Dr Mariachiara Di Cesare and Mrs Rachel Deegan. The aim of project is to explore Healthcare Assistants’ knowledge, attitudes and experiences of preventing pressure ulcers.  December 2019 -July 2020

£5,951 (Grant holder)Department of Adult, Child and Midwifery R&D funding as a Principal Investigator. Sacral nerve root stimulation implant versus conventional surface FES for Pressure ulcer prevention in spinal cord injury, December 2013- August 2014

£11,005 (Grant holder)1-year grant funded by Department of Adult, Child and Midwifery R&D funding as a Principal Investigator.   An exploration of the extent and role of adherence to 'pressure relief' regimen for pressure ulcer prevention in people living with spinal cord injury. November 2014 -July 2015

£5,700. As a co-Investigator  (PI-Professor Sue Dyson), £2000 incentive funding was awarded by Department of Adult, Child and Midwifery R&D funding the project was entitled as ‘Building social capital through volunteerism: an exploration of the extent and role of student volunteering in the undergraduate student population: a comparative study’ November 2017-August 2018

£6,625 as a co-Investigator (PI-Professor Sue Dyson) £6,625 was awarded by Department of Adult, Child and Midwifery R&D funding as a co-Investigator.  The project was entitled as ‘Building social capital through volunteerism: an exploration of the extent and role of student volunteering in the undergraduate student population: a pilot project’. October 2013- August 2014

£330k funded by Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs) as a co-investigator with Professors Sue Dyson and Michael Traynor. (The project covered 4 parts, Middlesex University secured one of them ‘Sage and Thyme’ part). The project was entitled as ‘Evaluation of the implementation of the SAGE & THYME foundation level communication skills model’. October 2013-October 2014.

£25,000 1-year grant funded by BUPA to conduct a multi-national Developmental Dysplasia Hip as a Co-Investigator (DDH) survey. February 2010- January 2011

Awards winning

An educational grant worth £600 was awarded by Society of Tissue Viability for presenting the research project on pressure ulcer prevention among healthcare support workers at SoTV conference 2023. (April 2023)

£500 prize awarded by INSPIRE for a grantapplication using electrical stimulation for pressure ulcer prevention inSpinal Cord Injury. (January 2019)

£600 prize warded by TVS for presenting  a research paper (May 2019)

Awarded for an Educational grant by Tissue Viability Society (March 2018)

£400 prize for the best abstract by British Transplantation Society (Jan 2012)Awarded for best clinical paper prize at 29th Annual EPOS Meeting, Zagreb (Croatia) (April 2010)

Awarded for a PhD research fellowship at Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (May 2003)

Awarded for the best research posters prize in cardiovascular research symposium (March 2002)

Current Teaching and Postgraduate Supervision

Dr. Liu has taught a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules since joining Middlesex University in 2013. She teaches on the 'Research Methods' modules (WBL 3730 and WBL 4630) and is an academic supervisor for students enrolled in the MA/MSc Health and Social Care programmes. She supervises MPhil/PhD, Master/Doctorate of Professional Practice (MProf/DProf), and Master by Research students as a Director of Study (DoS).  

At the undergraduate level, Dr. Liu has taught:

- NIP3330 Dissertation and NIP3331 Extended Essay modules for final-year pre-registration Nursing (Adult and Mental Health) students.

- MMY2203 Research Methods for second-year Midwifery students.

- BMS3686 Principles of Rehabilitation Engineering for third-year Biomedical Engineering students.

Leadership Roles and Contribution to Research Training

Since January 2021, Dr. Liu has taken on  Research Degree Coordinator (RDC) role (now named as PGR Lead) for the Department of Nursing and Midwifery within the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, following two years as Deputy RDC. In this role, she works closely with PGR supervisors and the university’s research degree administration team, supporting students from initial application through to final completion.

She frequently chairs panels and acts as an independent reviewer for key postgraduate milestones, including PhD/ DProf registration (Review Stage 1),  transfer panels (Review Stage 2), and vivas across faculties.

Dr. Liu has initiated and delivered nursing and midwifery discipline-specific training September 2022 in line with University's new postgraduate research development initiatives. She leads or co-hosts the following research training sessions:

- Research Methodology and Ethics Application within NHS

- Kickstart Research Training Series: Research and Research Integrity

- Research Questions and Refining Your Topic

- Research Enhancement Series: Preparing for your Transfer/Viva Panels

Professional Activities and External Contributions

Dr. Liu served as a full Trustee of the Society of Tissue Viability (SoTV) from May 2019 to September 2022 and continues as a Trustee Associate. As a Trustee, she played a key role in organising the society's annual conference programmes and reviewing education grant applications to support healthcare professionals attending major conferences such as EPUAP and EWMA.

She has actively promoted wound management education for nursing students and healthcare support workers, leading and chairing specialist sessions for students at TVS/EWMA 2020 and SoTV 2022 conferences.

Additionally, Dr. Liu has been a member of the organising committee for the Research Student Summer Conference (RSSC) at Middlesex University in 2019, 2021, 2022, and the Postgraduate Research Student Conference (PRSC) 2023.

She is also a core team member for the Doctorate in Professional Practice (DProf) programme via the Specialist Validated Pathway (SVP) within the Health discipline and has contributed to planning DProf modules and application assessments since January 2021.