Dr Robert Arthur Lloyd | UNSW Research

Keywords

image analysis

biomechanics

magnetic resonance imaging

syringomyelia

sleep apnoea

Fields of Research (FoR)

Biomedical fluid mechanics, Biomechanics, Biomedical imaging, Modelling and simulation

Biography

Rob Lloyd is a biomechanical engineer whose research focuses on using medical imaging and computational modelling to understand human physiology and pathophysiology. He was awarded his PhD from UNSW in 2019 and received the Dean's Award for Outstanding Theses. Prior to this, he graduated from the University of Surrey in 2015 with a Master's in Medical Engineering, receiving the IMechE Frederick Barnes Waldron Prize for best overall...view more

He joined the Bilston group at NeuRA as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 2020 and is now a Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at UNSW. His research aims to improve the understanding of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, muscle function and upper airway mechanics in sleep apnoea.

My Grants

ARC Discovery Project 2025 (DP250100715): $1,263,789 AUD, Pharyngeal function in breathing and swallowing. CIs: Bilston L., Burke P., Dempsey B. PIs: Butler J., Lloyd R.

UNSW Collaborative research Funding 2024: $77,867 AUD, Prediction of Early CSVD Neuropathology in Patients with OSA. CIs: Jugé L., Bilston L., Cistulli P., Rae C., Butlin M. AIs: Brown L., Lloyd R., Burke P., Schregel K.

NHMRC Ideas Grant 2021 (APP2011940): $729,270 AUD, Chiari Malformation: Defining Pathophysiology and Treatment Goals. CIs: Stoodely M., Hemley S., Lloyd R., Rogers J. AI: Bilston L.

My Qualifications

MEng in Medical Engineering 1^st(Hons), University of Surrey, UK, 2015

Phd in Medicine, University of New South Wales, Australia, 2019

My Awards

The Twyman Orthopaedic Practice Prize	2012
The IMechE Frederick Barnes Waldron Prize	2015
The Dean’s Award for Outstanding PhD Theses	2019
ABC12 Young Investigator Award	2021
ABC13 Young Investigator Award	2022
Paxinos Prize	2022

My Research Activities

Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Disorders
Investigating the mechanisms underlying Chiari malformation and syringomyelia using subject-specific computational models and real-time phase contrast MRI. His work has challenged prevailing theories about CSF obstruction during coughing and developed statistical shape models of the posterior cranial fossa to improve clinical diagnosis.

Upper Airway Mechanics and Sleep Apnoea
Developing computational tongue models and anatomical atlases to understand how mandibular and hyoid morphology influence tongue muscle architecture. This work aims to improve understanding and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea.