About

I am a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology in the School of Sport and Exercise Science. I am member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science and The Physiological Society.

My experience and research activities are in the area of clinical exercise physiology. My current projects focus on understanding the lived experience of Long COVID, and informing and developing bespoke patient-centred pathways to restore the functional status and quality of life. I am an active member of the Nature Health Inclusive award winning Long COVID research team at the University and I am on the Scientific and Clinical advisory board for the Long COVID Toolkit.

Teaching responsibilities

I currently contribute to teaching in the areas of exercise physiology and physical activity and health, from Level 3 through to Level 7.

I am module lead for:

• Level 3 Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise Science
• Level 4 Principles of Sport and Exercise Physiology
• Level 4 Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health

I also contribute to a variety of modules across the Sport and Exercise Science discipline, including:

• Level 4 Academic and Applied Research Skills.
• Level 4 Introduction to Coaching Science
• Level 6 Biomedical Implications of Exercise, Activity and Health
• Level 7 Advanced Clinical Exercise Physiology

Research interests

My research interests are in the area of clinical exercise physiology, and understanding symptomology and recovery trajectory of people with Long COVID. I am currently involved in several international projects aiming to increase understanding and awareness of Long COVID, where I work closely with patient groups. My research activities also see me serve as part of the clinical board for the Long COVID Toolkit.

Our COVID-19 work is supporting an increase in the understanding of COVID-19 symptomology and the lived experience of Long COVID, considering the impact of the condition on quality of life and functional status. Our research has involved profiling the determinants of recovery to inform the development of COVID-specific support pathways to increase patient outcomes and functional status.

Membership of professional bodies

• British Association of Sport and Exercise Science
• The Physiological Society

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science - University of Derby
• MSc Applied Sport and Exercise Science (Physiology) - University of Derby
• PhD - 'Understanding Long COVID, the impact upon quality of life and functional status and the need to develop bespoke interventions to improve recovery' - University of Derby

Recent conferences

I have attended and presented at several international and national conferences, including:

• The American Physiological Society Summit in Long Beach, California (2024)
  • Time to re-define ‘normal’ for Post-Acute COVID-19 biomarkers in the assessment of patient outcomes?'. 
• American College of Sports Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts (2024)
  • A rapid fire presentation on understanding the episodic nature of symptom profiles and functional status in individuals with Long COVID.

Other conference proceedings include The British Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society (Barcelona), The Inaugural Clinical Exercise Physiology Conference, and The Physiological Society.

Recent publications

For a full list of publications, please see the links below:

• Research Gate
• ‪Google Scholar‬

Most Recent Publications:

1. Owen, R. et al. (2025) ‘Profiling the persistent and episodic nature of long covid symptoms and the impact on quality of life and functional status: A cohort observation study’, Journal of Global Health, 15. doi:10.7189/jogh.15.04006.

2. Owen, R., Ashton, REM., Ferraro, F., Skipper, L., Bewick, T., Leighton, P., Phillips., R., Faghy, M. A. (2023). Forming a Consensus Opinion on Long COVID Support Mechanisms and interventions Using a Modified Delphi Approach. The Lancel, eClinicalMedicine. IF:  17.033 https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4420775
3. Owen R, Ashton RE, Skipper L, Phillips BE, Yates J, Thomas C, et al. (2023). Long COVID quality of life and healthcare experiences in the UK: a mixed method online survey. Quality of Life Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-023-03513-y
4. Owen R, Ashton RE, Ferraro FV, Phillips BE, Skipper L, Faghy MA. (2023). Acute COVID-19, the Lived Experience, and Lessons to Learn for Future Pandemics. Disaster Medicine Public Health Preparedness;17:e534. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2023.197
5. Owen, R., Faghy, M, A., Ashton, REM., Ferraro. FV., (2022). Pre-COVID-19 physical activity status does not protect against reductions in post-covid-19 symptoms: a correlation relativistic analysis during the lockdown., European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science., DOI: 46827/ejpe.v9i6.4767
6. Thomas, C., Owen, R., Yates, J., Ferraro, F, Bewick, T., Haggan, K., Faghy, MA., Ashton, REM., (2023)., Long COVID, the lived experience from a cohort observation in the United Kingdom through hand-written diaries. British Medical Journal Open. IF: 007, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068481
7. Faghy, M, A., Owen, R., Thomas, C., Yates, J., Ferraro, FV., Skipper, L., Barley McMullen, Brown, D., Arena, R., Ashton, REM., (2022), Is Long COVID the next global health crisis? Journal of Global Health. IF: 7.664. DOI: 7189/jogh.12.03067
8. Alghamdi, F., Owen, R., Ashton, REM., Obotiba, A, D., Meertens, RM., Hyde, E., Faghy, M, A., Rogers, P., Knapp, K., Strain, D., (2022), Post-Acute COVID syndrome (Long COVID): What should Radiographers know and the potential impact imaging services. Radiography IF: 1.98, DOI: 1016/j.radi.2022.08.009
9. Faghy, M, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T, M., Arena, R., Copeland, R, J., Owen, R. Hodgkins, H, M, J., Willmott, A, G, B., (2022)., COVID-19 patients require multi-disciplinary rehabilitation approaches to address persisting symptom profiles and restore pre-COVID quality of life. Expert Reviews in Respiratory Medicine, IF: 2.432 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17476348.2022.2063843