Professor Liba Sheeran

Professor Sheeran’s teaching is closely aligned with her research in precision rehabilitation, musculoskeletal health and digital innovation. She integrates AI, biomechanics, pain science and digital health technologies into physiotherapy and allied health education, preparing students for evidence-based, technology-enabled clinical practice. Her teaching spans undergraduate to doctoral levels, with particular expertise in musculoskeletal pain, sports and exercise physiotherapy, personalised rehabilitation and digital self-management. Internationally, she contributes as a Visiting Teaching Fellow at the University of Salzburg and SUPSI in Switzerland and delivers specialist education through professional organisations, including the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACPSEM) and the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Occupational Health and Ergonomics (ACPOHE).

Professor Liba Sheeran is Professor of Precision Rehabilitation at the University of Southampton. She is an internationally recognised researcher, educator and clinical academic with over 20 years of experience in musculoskeletal (MSK) health, specialising in digital and AI-enabled precision rehabilitation, persistent spinal pain and personalised approaches to rehabilitation.

Her work bridges clinical practice, data science, healthcare innovation and industry, with a focus on developing and evaluating technologies that improve rehabilitation outcomes, support self-management and address health inequalities. Her clinical experience includes senior physiotherapy roles with Welsh and British Athletics and British Orienteering, and supporting sports teams at major international sporting events including numerous Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Research and innovation

Professor Sheeran has secured over £8.8 million in competitive research funding as Principal or Co-Investigator and authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. Her research combines clinical phenotyping, movement analysis, artificial intelligence and digital health technologies to advance personalised rehabilitation for people with MSK conditions.

She has led the development of several AI-enabled assessment and rehabilitation innovations, including BACK-on-LINE™, BACK-to-MOVE, SpineSighter and BackTracker. Her work has informed digital health approaches in NHS and occupational health settings and attracted collaborations with industry and healthcare partners, including getUBetter, IBM and the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB).

She leads and contributes to national and international interdisciplinary research collaborations, including ELEVATE-LBP, a multi-institutional consortium advancing evidence-based, personalised approaches to low back pain prevention and rehabilitation. Her research has informed national policy and clinical practice and has achieved international academic and practical impact.

Education and international engagement

Professor Sheeran has extensive experience in undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral education, including curriculum development and integrating digital health and AI into physiotherapy and allied health education. She supervises doctoral and postgraduate researchers and contributes to the development of the next generation of clinical academics and interdisciplinary researchers.

Internationally, she is a Visiting Teaching Fellow at the University of Salzburg and SUPSI in Switzerland, participated in Pain-Ed educational programmes, and is an invited speaker and educator at international scientific and clinical conferences.

At the University of Southampton, she is a Director of Internationalisation contributing to strategic initiatives spanning international partnerships, postgraduate education and global academic reputation.

Academic leadership and professional recognition

Professor Sheeran holds national and international research leadership and scientific advisory roles, including serving as President-Elect of the Society for Back Pain Research and as a member of the European Spine Society's Scientific Advisory Board. She also contributes to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy's digital strategy and engages with international professional networks.

Her academic leadership encompasses research strategy, interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation, international engagement and research translation. Through these activities, she contributes to shaping research priorities, funding decisions and the development of evidence-based, technology-enabled rehabilitation.