Aaron Murray
Assistant Professor - Anatomy/Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences
Contact
Biography
I lead anatomy teaching for the Graduate-Entry Medicine (GEM) and BSc Medical Physiology and Therapeutics (MPT) programmes based at the Royal Derby Hospital site. I started in this role in January 2020 and since then I have led an extensive redesign of the anatomy curriculum for both the GEM and MPT courses. This work has included creating brand new worksheets for all of our practical anatomy workshops, with a greater emphasis on clinical anatomy, clinical imaging and hands-on learning using cadaveric prosections, osteology and teaching models. I have also led on the integration of advanced 3D digital anatomy software into our practical workshops.
Expertise Summary
I have experience in assessing autonomic nervous system activity in humans using a wide range of non-invasive techniques and also percutaneous techniques such as microneurography. As part of my PhD research I investigated the autonomic effects in humans of several non-invasive neurostimulation techniques such as trigeminal nerve stimulation and transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation.
More recently my research has focused on medical education and the use of technology-enhanced learning in anatomy education. I have experience of techniques such as photogrammetry and 3D scanning to create 3D digital models for use in teaching anatomy.
Research Summary
My current research relates to the use and evaluation of innovative digital technologies in anatomy education.
Recent Publications
BLACK, S., BRETHERTON, B., BARANIDHARAN, G., MURRAY, A., CROWTHER, T., DEUCHARS, S. and DEUCHARS, J., 2022. A Feasibility Study Exploring Measures of Autonomic Function in Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Undergoing Spinal Cord Stimulation: Neuromodulation Neuromodulation. BRETHERTON, B., ATKINSON, L., MURRAY, A., CLANCY, J., DEUCHARS, S. and DEUCHARS, J., 2019. Effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in individuals aged 55 years or above: potential benefits of daily stimulation: Aging (Albany NY) Aging (Albany NY). 11(14), 4836-4857 DEUCHARS, S. A., LALL, V. K., CLANCY, J., MAHADI, M., MURRAY, A., PEERS, L. and DEUCHARS, J., 2018. Mechanisms underpinning sympathetic nervous activity and its modulation using transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation: Exp Physiol Exp Physiol. 103(3), 326-331 ANTONINO, D., TEIXEIRA, A. L., MAIA-LOPES, P. M., SOUZA, M. C., SABINO-CARVALHO, J. L., MURRAY, A. R., DEUCHARS, J. and VIANNA, L. C., 2017. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation acutely improves spontaneous cardiac baroreflex sensitivity in healthy young men: A randomized placebo-controlled trial: Brain Stimul Brain Stimul. 10(5), 875-881
Past Research
For my PhD I investigated the effects of several different methods of non-invasive electrical nerve stimulation on the autonomic nervous system in humans. In particular I focused on assessing the autonomic effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) in healthy volunteers, using TENS machines and custom electrodes to stimulate the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in the ear. This project also involved a pilot study to test the effects of tVNS on a group of patients with heart failure. In addition, I acquired expertise in measuring autonomic nervous system activity non-invasively (heart rate variability, baroreceptor reflex sensitivity) as well as through direct recordings of sympathetic nerve activity (microneurography).
BLACK, S., BRETHERTON, B., BARANIDHARAN, G., MURRAY, A., CROWTHER, T., DEUCHARS, S. and DEUCHARS, J., 2022. A Feasibility Study Exploring Measures of Autonomic Function in Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Undergoing Spinal Cord Stimulation: Neuromodulation Neuromodulation. BRETHERTON, B., ATKINSON, L., MURRAY, A., CLANCY, J., DEUCHARS, S. and DEUCHARS, J., 2019. Effects of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation in individuals aged 55 years or above: potential benefits of daily stimulation: Aging (Albany NY) Aging (Albany NY). 11(14), 4836-4857 DEUCHARS, S. A., LALL, V. K., CLANCY, J., MAHADI, M., MURRAY, A., PEERS, L. and DEUCHARS, J., 2018. Mechanisms underpinning sympathetic nervous activity and its modulation using transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation: Exp Physiol Exp Physiol. 103(3), 326-331 ANTONINO, D., TEIXEIRA, A. L., MAIA-LOPES, P. M., SOUZA, M. C., SABINO-CARVALHO, J. L., MURRAY, A. R., DEUCHARS, J. and VIANNA, L. C., 2017. Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation acutely improves spontaneous cardiac baroreflex sensitivity in healthy young men: A randomized placebo-controlled trial: Brain Stimul Brain Stimul. 10(5), 875-881 MURRAY, A. R., ATKINSON, L., MAHADI, M. K., DEUCHARS, S. A. and DEUCHARS, J., 2016. The strange case of the ear and the heart: The auricular vagus nerve and its influence on cardiac control: Auton Neurosci Auton Neurosci. 199, 48-53