About the contributor

• Shaheen Hamdy

Shaheen Hamdy

Dr Hamdy qualified in Medicine at the University of Manchester, UK in 1990, and obtained his Ph.D. in 1998. He became an Honorary Consultant Physician in Gastroenterology at Hope Hospital, Salford, Manchester in 2002. In 2000, he was awarded an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellowship, and holds an Honorary Fellow position at the Sobell Department of Human Neurophysiology, Queen Square, London. His studies have focussed on characterisation, modulation and therapeutic application of neuroplasticity within human cerebral cortex in health and after brain injury. He has specific interest in the human brain-gut axis, in particular investigating the central neural control of human swallowing using complementary brain imaging modalities, and exploring its abnormalities after stroke. Over the last 3 years, much of this work has revolved around the design and development of stimulation techniques for the treatment of swallowing recovery after dysphagic stroke. A recent newer development has been the broadening of the human brain-gut studies to investigate the neural control of anal continence, and its abnormalities in idiopathic faecal incontinence. Dr Hamdy's studies have been funded by the MRC (via the clinical training fellowship and clinician scientist award), the Stroke Association, Action Research, and The Health Foundation and culminated in the publication of over 40 peer-reviewed research papers.