Researcher profile

Rebecca Nightingale

I am a respiratory physiotherapist and clinical lecturer with experience in TB, post‑TB lung health, and long‑term respiratory recovery. My work spans clinical practice, research, and education, and I am committed to improving the lives of people affected by tuberculosis and chronic lung disease. I have worked across the UK and in global health settings, and I am particularly interested in how rehabilitation, symptom management, and patient‑centred communication shape long‑term outcomes after TB. I am passionate about developing practical, holistic, and accessible approaches to recovery for people living with post‑TB lung disease, including interventions that support physical function, breathlessness, fatigue, and emotional wellbeing. I work closely with multidisciplinary teams and collaborators to understand the lived experience of people recovering from TB and to translate this into better clinical services, educational resources, and research priorities. RESEARCH FOCUS Post‑TB lung disease; respiratory rehabilitation; patient‑centred care; symptom management; mixed‑methods research; global lung health; implementation of supportive care interventions. COLLABORATIONS AND PROJECTS I collaborate on research exploring long‑term symptoms after TB treatment, rehabilitation approaches, and ways to integrate physiotherapy and supportive care into routine TB services. I contribute to projects focused on patient experience, co‑developing resources with people affected by TB, and strengthening recovery pathways. I am particularly interested in understanding how breathlessness, fatigue, mental health, and functional limitations affect quality of life after TB, and how health services can better recognise and address these needs. TEACHING I teach across a range of programmes focusing on respiratory care in low and middle income countries and research methods. I enjoy supporting students and early‑career clinicians to develop confidence in holistic and evidence‑based respiratory care. CLINICAL AND PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS My clinical work includes assessment and management of respiratory symptoms, physiotherapy interventions for people recovering from lung disease, and supporting individuals with long‑term functional limitations after TB. I have clinical and academic interest in large airway collapse. I am committed to integrating rehabilitation and self‑management strategies into TB care pathways to ensure people receive support beyond the end of treatment. ADDITIONAL INTERESTS I contribute to multidisciplinary collaborations on TB, lung health, and patient‑centred recovery. I have a strong interest in co‑production, health communication, and integrating lived experience into research and service improvement. My broader interests include global health education, equitable access to rehabilitation, and improving awareness of post‑TB lung disease among clinicians and policymakers.