Professor Lisa Roberts

Lisa Roberts PhD MMACP PFHEA FCSP

Clinical Professor of Musculoskeletal Health & Consultant Physiotherapist

As a clinical academic, alongside her work in the School of Health Sciences, Lisa works clinically as a consultant physiotherapist in musculoskeletal health, in the outpatient service at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.  Nationally, she works to champion a strong relationship between the NHS and academia and support aspiring clinical academics to develop their career.

Lisa is a former President of the Society of Back Pain Research in the UK, and currently has three roles within Eurospine: Chair of the Membership Committee, member of the Executive Committee, and a member of the Eurospine Diploma in Interprofessional Spine Care (EDISC) Task Force.  In 2021, she was a member of the World Health Organization Peer Review Group for Musculoskeletal Conditions.

Lisa’s research interests include: improving communication in clinical consultations; shared decision-making; and promoting independence using technology for people with back pain. She has published over 70 academic papers, book chapters and reports, gained over £7million in research funding, and in 2017 won the first NIHR/Health Education England 'Research Champion' award.

As a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Lisa is passionate about education and has supervised 32 masters’ and doctoral students, taught internationally across four continents, and is an NIHR mentor.

Lisa has delivered outreach activities, promoting science, healthcare and disability awareness, in addition to 21 television appearances, 22 radio interviews, 3 events in the House of Lords and 1 in the House of Commons, raising awareness about back pain and its impact on individuals and society.

In 2013, Lisa was awarded a Fellowship from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy for her work as a leader, clinician, researcher and educator.