David Green

The evolutionary success of Homo sapiens is in large part to its adaptability and ingenuity. 

My research group’s work utilises the physiology of change to acquire fundamental mechanistic understanding (supported by modelling) and to devise/evaluate technologies that may predict an individuals’ response to such change or even to mitigate it. 

We take an integrative multi-systems and multi-disciplinary approach to adaptation to change elicited by extreme environments (in addition to its models and analogues), athletic pursuit, ageing and pathophysiology.

Our work is greatly facilitated by collaborations across the globe within academia, commerce, the military and Space Agencies.

At present key projects include:

1. Evaluation of the Gravity Loading Countermeasures Skin suit (GLCS) for use in space flight (in 2015), to ameliorate terrestrial unloading/immobilisation and as a model of static 1Gz loading on Earth
2. Inter-relationship between muscle cross sectional area, force production in weight- and non-weight-bearing muscles and balance in health and in response to (local and whole body) atrophy
3. Efficacy of repetitive venous occlusion in uni-lateral limb suspension as a model of disuse/gravity unloading
4. Use of open-chained manifold modelling of centre of mass (COM) derived from stand up and walk tests as a novel methodology to assess neurological gait rehabilitation
5. Determination of the mechanisms underlying force production adaptation to cold and whether decrements contribute to falls-risk in the elderly
6. The role of adaptive or maladaptive sensory re-weighting to sensory decrements in the generation of spatial disorientation and imbalance
7. Novel non-invasive monitoring and prediction of microgravity and terrestrially induced elevation of intra-occular and intra-cranial pressure and their effects on task performance
8. Does spatial specific cognitive reserve exist, and if so is it a determinant of disorientation/imbalance in ‘at risk’ individuals such as neurological patients, the elderly, pilots and astronauts
9. Prediction of task and/or spatial orientation error during multi-tasking via application of multi-stream performance algorithms
10. Role of vestibular and neck afferents in the generation of the acute cardiorespiratory responses to movement and/or re-orientation
11. Prediction of motion (and simulator) sickness susceptibility via respiratory-related modification of autonomic regulation
12. Within-a-breath modulation of breathing as a model of chronic pain-induced hyperventilation
13. Role of High Frequency Airway Occlusion (HFAO) was a means of attenuating dyspnoea and increasing sputum expectorate    
14. Neurological mechanisms, and functionality of photic sneezing

He is a Senior Lecturer of Human & Aerospace Physiology and acts as the coordinator of the Aerospace & Extreme Environment Adaptation Group within the Centre of Human and Aerospace Physiological Sciences (CHAPS). His research groups’ focus is multi-disciplinary across a range of human physiological systems with a particular interest in responses and adaptation in times of change including exposure to extreme/hostile environments, ageing, development/maturation, athletic pursuit and pathology. However all work is conducted with an eye upon mechanistic elucidation, technological intervention development and application beyond the experimental environment.

These interests, his research-led teaching and advocacy of UK engagement in Manned Space Flight including co-chairmanship of the UK Space Biomedicine Association, extensive schools (Mission Discovery), public (Mission  X) and media activities (including a number of TV appearances) reflect his diverse scientific experiences which have also facilitated involvement in space medicine, ethical and Biology A level development committees. 

Having obtained a PhD from the Centre for Exercise Neuroscience (within London South Bank University) he undertook post-doctoral work with Profs Adolfo Bronstein and Michael Gresty at Imperial College London (Dept. Clinical Neuroscience) where fundamental clinical and aerospace science co-existed. He then worked in South India for a year chiefly with the Family Planning Association India – Madurai, and Peoples Watch Tamil Nadu investigating medico-legal Human rights issues surrounding HIV care and torture.

After briefly returning to Imperial College London in 2007 he took up his current appointment at King’s, initially as a Cardiorespiratory physiologist, although his interests in Aerospace (Aviation), and then Space Physiology were facilitated and indulged at a time when the UK was not involved in Human Space Flight. In 2009, he was a visiting scientist within the Crew Medical Support Office at the European Astronaut Centre (Cologne; Germany) building a relationship that lead to the creation of the unique Space Physiology & Health MSc, in addition to a number of Space-related projects and broader international collaboration that fertilize and strengthen both Space and terrestrially focused work.