Dr Rebekah Lucas PhD

Dr Rebekah Lucas

School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
SES/SEHS Programme Lead
Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 8748
Email
r.a.i.lucas@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Rebekah Lucas is an integrative physiologist who is interested in how exercise and environmental medicine translates to clinical medicine and public health. Her research examines human tolerance and adaptation to physical and environmental stressors, with a particular focus on thermal vascular physiology.

Qualifications

BPhEd(Hons), PhD

Biography

Dr R Lucas undertook her undergraduate and postgraduate work at Otago University New Zealand completing a PhD in Integrative Physiology. She then attained a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Institute of Exercise and Environmental Medicine in a joint appointment with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr R Lucas subsequently worked at Umea University Sweden in the department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine before taking up a lectureship in Physical Activity and Health at Birmingham.

Research

Research interest: Exercise and environmental physiology

The focus of Rebekah Lucas’ research is to examine the limits of human functional capacity in climatic extremes. She is an integrative physiologist who is dedicated to working towards translating exercise and environmental physiology to clinical medicine and public health spheres.

Her research aims are to:

  • Explore human tolerance, adaptation and limits to physical and environmental stress.
  • Investigate populations and occupational settings vulnerable to climatic extremes as well as ways to mitigate adverse effects.
  • Explore the therapeutic potential of exercise and environmental stress.

The ultimate goal of Dr Lucas’ research is to use exercise and environmental physiology to improve general health and well-being in our local and global community.

Orcid- id: orcid.org/0000-0002-6644-3838

Research gate -  id: Rebekah Lucas url: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rebekah_Lucas

Other activities

Member of The UK Physiological Society and the Consortium of the Epidemic of

Nephropathy in Central America and Mexico (CENCAM)

2012-present Member of the organising committee for International Research Workshop on Mesoamerican Nephropathy

2012-2014 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship/Research EngineerDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University Sweden

2010-2012 Postdoctoral Research FellowshipTexas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas with a Joint Appointment at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Publications

Original research papers

  1. Lucas, R.A.I., Pearson, J., Schlader, Z. J., & Crandall, C. G. Cardiopulmonary and arterial baroreceptor unloading during passive hyperthermia does not contribute to hyperthermic-induced hyperventilation. Experimental Physiology. In Press.
  2. Lucas, R.A.I., Sarma, S., Schlader, Z. J., Pearson, J., & Crandall, C. G. (2015). Age‐related changes to cardiac systolic and diastolic function during whole‐body passive hyperthermia. Experimental Physiology. 100(4), 422-434.
  3. Lucas, R.A.I., Epstein, Y., & Kjellstrom, T. (2014). Excessive occupational heat exposure: a significant ergonomic challenge and health risk for current and future workers. Extreme physiology & medicine, 3(1), 14.
  4. Lucas, R.A.I., Pearson, J., Ganio, M.S., Schlader, Z.J., Crandall CG. Hypercapnia does not improve hyperthermic simulated hemorrhagic tolerance. (2013) Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol,In press, Editors Pick.
  5. Lucas, R.A.I., Ganio, M.S., James PearsonJ., CrandallC.G., Sweat loss during heat stress contributes to subsequent reductions in lower-body negative pressure tolerance. (2013). Experimental Physiology, 98 (2), 473-80.
  6. Lucas, R.A.I., Ganio, M.S., James PearsonJ., CrandallC.G., (2013). Brain blood flow and cardiovascular responses to hot flashes in symptomatic postmenopausal women, Menopause, 20 (3), 299-304.
  7. Lucas, R.A.I., Cotter, J.D., Morrison, S., Ainslie, P.N. (2011). Compression garments modestly affect cardiovascular but not cerebrovascular responses to heat and orthostatic stress in young and older adults, AGE, 34 (2), 439-449.
  8. Lucas, R.A.I., Ainslie, P.N., Fan, J.L.,Wilson, L.C., Thomas, K.N., Cotter, J.D. (2010). Skin cooling aids cardiovascular and cerebrovascular function under severe but not moderate heat stress, independent of hydration state, European journal of Applied Physiology, 109 (1), 101-8.
  9. Lucas, R.A.I., Cotter, J.D., Morrison, S., Ainslie, P.N. (2008). The effects of aging and passive heating on cardiorespiratory and cerebrovascular responses to orthostatic stress in humans, Exp Physiol, 93 (10), 1104-1117.
  10. Pearson, J., Ganio, M.S., Schlader, Z.J., Lucas, R.A.I., Gagnon,D., Rivas, E., Kowalske, K.J., Crandall C.G. Post-junctional sudomotor and cutaneous vascular responses in non-injured skin following heat acclimation in burn survivors, Journal of Burn Care and Research, Accepted.
  11. Schlader, Z.J., Ganio, M.S., Pearson, J., Lucas, R.A.I., Gagnon,D., Rivas, E., Kowalske, K.J., Crandall C.G. (2015). Heat acclimation improves heat exercise tolerance and heat dissipation in individuals with extensive skin grafts, Journal of Applied Physiology, In press.
  12. Ganio, M.S., Schlader, Z.J., Pearson, J., Lucas, R.A.I., Gagnon,D., Rivas, E., Kowalske, K.J., Crandall C.G. (2015). Factors affecting core temperature in well-healed skin graft individuals exercising in the heat. Medicine & Science in Sports Exercise, In press.
  13. Schlader, Z. J., Gagnon, D., Lucas, R. A.I., Pearson, J., & Crandall, C. G. (2014). Baroreceptor unloading does not limit forearm sweat rate during severe passive heat stress. Journal of Applied Physiology, In press.
  14. Pearson, J., Lucas, R.A.I., Schlader, Z.J., Zhao, J., Gagnon, D., Crandall, C.D. (2014) Active and passive heat stress similarly compromise tolerance to a simulated hemorrhagic challenge, Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol,307(7), R822-R827.
  15. Venugopal, V., Chinnadurai, J., Kjellstrom, T., Lucas, R.A.I. (2014) The Social implications of Occupational Heat Stress on Migrant workers engaged in public construction – A case study from Southern India. International journal of the Constructed Environment, 5. In press.
  16. Brothers, R.M., Lucas, R.A.I., Armstrong, K.,Crandall, C.G., Zhang, R. (2014)Cerebral Vasomotor Reactivity: Steady-State vs. Transient Changes in Carbon Dioxide Tension, Experimental Physiology, 99(11), 1499-1510.
  17. Schlader, Z. J., Lucas, R. A., Pearson, J., & Crandall, C. G. (2013). Hyperthermia does not alter the increase in cerebral perfusion during cognitive activation. Experimental physiology, 98(11), 1597-1607.
  18. Ganio MS, Pearson J, Schlader ZJ, Brothers RM, Lucas RAI, Rivas E, Kowalske KJ, Crandall CG. (2013). Aerobic fitness is disproportionately low in adult burn survivors years after injury.  Journal of Burn Care and Research, In Press.
  19. Pearson J., Ganio M.S., Lucas R.A.I., Babb T.G., Crandall C.G. (2013) Heat stress does not augment ventilatory responses to pre-syncopal limited lower-body negative pressure, Exp Physiol, 98 (7): 1156-1163.
  20. Pearson, J., Lucas, R.A.I.,  Crandall C.G. Elevated local skin temperature impairs cutaneous vasoconstrictor responses to a simulated hemorrhagic challenge while heat stressed. (2013). Experimental Physiology, 98 (2), 444-50.
  21. Burgess, K.R., Lucas, S.J., Shepherd, K.L., Dawson, A., Swart, M., Thomas, K.N., Lucas, R.A., Donnelly, J., Peebles, K.C., Basnyat, R., Ainslie, P.N. (2013) Worsening of central sleep apnea at high altitude - a role for cerebrovascular function. J Appl Physiol, 114 (8), 1021-8.
  22. Gagnon, D., Ganio, M.S., Lucas, R.A.I., Pearson, J. Crandall, C.G., Kenny G.P. (2012). The modified iodine-paper technique for the standard determination of sweat gland activation.  Journal of Applied Physiology, 112 (8), 1419-1425.
  23. Morrison, S.A., Ainslie, P.N., Lucas, R.A.I., Cheung S.S., Cotter J.D.(2014).Compression garments do not alter cerebrovascular responses to orthostatic stress after mild passive heating Scand J Med Sci Sports. 24 (2), 291-300.
  24. Ganio, M.S., Brothers, R.M., Lucas, R.A.I., Hastings, J.L., Crandall, C.G. (2011). Validity of Auscultatory and Penaz Blood Pressure Measurements during Heat Stress Alone and with an Orthostatic Challenge, Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 301 (5), R1510-6.
  25. Lucas, S.J.E., Burgess, K.R., Thomas, K.N., Donnelly, J., Peebles, K.C., Lucas, R.A.I., Fan, J., Cotter, J.D., Basnyat, R., & Ainslie, P.N. (2011). Alterations in cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular reactivity during 14 days at 5050m. Journal of Physiology, 589(3): 741-753.
  26. Fan, J.L., Burgess, K.R., Basnyat, R., Thomas, K.N., Peebles, K., Lucas, S.J.E., Lucas, R.A.I., Donnelly, J., Cotter, J.D., & Ainslie, P.N. (2011). Influence of indomethacin ingestion on ventilatory and cerebrovascular responsiveness to hypoxia. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 111(4): 601-10.
  27. Thomas, K.N., Burgess, K.R., Basnyat, R., Lucas, S.J.E., Cotter, J.D., Fan, J.L., Peebles, K.C., Lucas, R.A.I., Ainslie, P.N. (2010). Initial Orthostatic Hypotension at High Altitude, High Altitude Medicine & Biology, 11, 163-167.
  28. Fan, J.L., Burgess, K.R., Thomas, K.N., Peebles, K., Lucas, S.J.E., Lucas, R.A.I., Cotter, J.D., & Ainslie, P.N. (2010). Influence of indomethacin on ventilatory and cerebrovascular responsiveness to CO2 and breathing stability: the influence of PCO2 gradients. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 298(6): R1648-58.
  29. Fan, J.L., Burgess, K.R., Basnyat, R., Thomas, K.N., Peebles, K., Lucas, S.J.E., Lucas, R.A.I., Donnelly, J., Cotter, J.D., & Ainslie, P.N. (2010) Influence of high altitude on cerebrovascular responsiveness to CO2. Journal of Physiology, 588 (3) 539-549.
  30. Wilson, L.C., Cotter, J.D., Fan, J.L., Lucas, R.A.I., Thomas, K.N., Ainslie P.N. (2010). Cerebrovascular reactvity and dynamic autoregulation in tetraplegia,Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol, 298, R1035-1042.
  31. Burgess, K.R., Fan, J.L., Peebles, K., Thomas, K.N., Lucas, S.J.E., Lucas, R.A.I., Dawson, A., Swart, M., Shepherd, K., & Ainslie, P.N. (2010). Exacerbation of obstructive sleep apnoea by oral Indomethacin.Chest, 137(3) 707-710.
  32. Fan JL, Cotter JD, Lucas RA, Thomas K, Wilson L, Ainslie PN. (2008). Human cardiorespiratory and cerebrovascular function during severe passive hyperthermia: effects of mild hypohydration. J Appl Physiol, 105 (2), 433-45.

Editorials

  1. Schlader Z.J., Lucas R.A.I., Pearson J., Crandall C.G. (2013). One of these things is not like the other: the heterogeneity of the cerebral circulation, J Physiol, 15 591(Pt 2), 395-7.
  2. Wesseling C., Crowe J., Hogstedt C., Jakobsson K., Lucas R.A.I., Wegman, D.H. (2014). Resolving the enigma of the Mesoamerican Nephropathy - MeN - A research workshop summary, AJKD, 63(3), 396-404.
  3. Wesseling C., Crowe J., Hogstedt C., Jakobsson K., Lucas R.A.I., Wegman, D.H. (2013). The epidemic of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology in Mesomerica - MeN - a call for interdisciplinary research and action, American Journal of Public Health, 103(11), 1927-1930.

Reports

  1. Wesseling C., Crowe J., Hogstedt C., Jakobsson K., Lucas R.A.I., Wegman, D.H. (2013). Mesoamerican Nephropathy – Report from the First International Research Workshop on Men. San Jose: IRET & SALTRA

Book chapters

  1. Kjellstrom, T., Lucas, R.A.I., Lemke, B., & S., Subhashis. (2014). Occupational heat effects: a global health and economic threat due to climate change. In C. D. Butler (Ed.), Climate Change and Global Health (Vol. 1, pp. 38-43). Boston, MA, USA: CABI.
  2. Kjellström, T., Lucas, R. A. I., Lemke, B., Otto, M., & Venugopal, V. (2014). Measuring and Estimating Occupational Heat Exposure and Effects in Relation to Climate Change: ‘Hothaps’ Tools for Impact Assessments and Prevention Approaches. In C. B. Butler (Ed.), Climate Change and Global Health (Vol. 1, pp. 45-53). Boston, MA, USA: CABI.

View all publications in research portal