Dr Emma Cockcroft

Emma is a lecturer in Health and Community Sciences at the University of Exeter Medical School. Her research bridges physical activity, applied health research, and meaningful public involvement to address the needs of young people living with long-term health conditions.

After completing her PhD in Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter in 2017, Emma’s work has advanced from understanding the physiological impacts of exercise in youth to developing and evaluating real-world interventions that support physical activity in clinical populations. Through her NIHR School for Primary Care Research Postdoctoral Fellowship, she has led a programme focused on improving the support available for adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes to engage in regular physical activity and improve long-term health and wellbeing.

Emma’s work is also recognised for its methodological innovation in involving patients and the public throughout the research process, ensuring that intervention development and evaluation remain firmly grounded in lived experience.