Kyle Pattinson

Principal Investigator for Breathe Oxford, Consultant Anaesthetist and Associate Professor, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences

I graduated with a medical degree from the University of Southampton, and then trained as an anaesthetist, before completing my DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford. My work has led me to research a range of medical areas from subarachnoid haemorrhage to breathlessness.

My interest in breathlessness stems from my love of climbing, where I would often experience breathlessness as a result of physical exertion and high altitude. Our research now focuses on investigating the mechanisms of respiratory control, and the mechanisms underlying our perception of breathlessness, particularly focusing on the influence of past experiences, expectations and emotions. To do this we use non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.

The Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition is an exciting opportunity for us to share some of our understanding of how the brain works and how it interacts with the body to give us the perception of breathlessness. I look forward to hearing everyone’s opinions and ideas about breathlessness and the brain.