Biography
I am a consultant sports and exercise medicine physician and clinical academic with dual clinical and academic appointments. I work on a 0.2FTE contract for TCD, in the department of physiology as an assistant professor. I am a Fellow of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, RCSI and on IMC Higher Specialist Register in Sports and Exercise Medicine. Clinically, I work for Voluntary Health Ireland (Vhi) where I am in a senior leadership position as the healthcare strategy lead, leading population health modelling and working with a senior leadership team planning future healthcare approaches to support 1.2 million people living in Ireland. I also work directly in clinical practice in integrated care supporting the management of chronic disease.
Prior to working for Vhi I worked for the HSE supporting the COVID response and I dropped to 0.2 FTE contract with TCD and have continued on that since 2020. During covid I worked clinically in Beaumont Hospital. In the first waves of COVID I worked as a consultant in the Emergency department and then I moved to managing a 24 bed rehabilitation ward.
My research and clinical practice spans population health to personalised precision medicine delivering in area of primary and secondary disease prevention and rehabilitation. Common threads to my research include developing and testing risk stratification tools which expand on ideal cardiovascular health scores and adopt applied physiological metrics including physical function and exercise measures (exercise testing, orthostatic challenge, physical testing, walking speed, grip strength). I use risk stratification tools in combination with heart health and brain health metrics which include imaging and self-reported measures to understand phenotypes at risk of early ageing and physiological decline. I also plan, implement and evaluate interventions to support early intervention. Intervention work includes health promotion, lifestyle medicine and physical activity interventions.
I developed my experience in population health and health promotion working for the MRC Obesity and Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge. During this time I secured my first Wellcome fellowship to deliver a national health and science communication program. I then moved to the University of Oxford to work for the British Heart Foundation, Health promotion research group where I developed my expertise in systemic review and evidence assimilation and lead regional falls prevention programs. I secured a clinical academic training fellowship with the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) to complete this work. I then moved to work in preventive cardiology and applied physiology with the Radcliffe Department of Medicine and Cardiovascular Clinical Research Facility. I secured further Wellcome Trust funding with competitive award of a Clinical Research Training Fellowship to understand young adult cardiovascular risk phenotypes and response to exercise. I developed expertise in cardiac and brain MRI analysis completing graduate training at FMRIB and the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging. I was awarded a DPhil in Cardiovascular Medicine from University of Oxford focusing on health brain health in young adults. I continue my research in heart-brain health working with Professor Kenny and the research team from the TILDA study.
Working as the healthcare strategy lead in VHI I have a unique opportunity in the Irish ecosystem to improve implementation and evaluation of preventive programs. Success to date includes planning and launch of 4 clinical services in the Vhi carrickmines 360 centre: health coaching, women"s health, successful ageing and applied physiology. The objective now is to create collaborative partnerships to establish centres of excellence in the coming years to support continued healthcare innovation, translation of evidences base practice and drive value based care.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Burchert, Holger and Lapidaire, Winok and Williamson, Wilby and McCourt, Annabelle and Dockerill, Cameron and Woodward, William and Tan, Cheryl M. J. and Bertagnolli, Mariane and Mohamed, Afifah and Alsharqi, Maryam and Hanssen, Henner and Huckstep, Odaro J. and Leeson, Paul and Lewandowski, Adam J., Aerobic Exercise Training Response in Preterm-Born Young Adults with Elevated Blood Pressure and Stage 1 Hypertension: A Randomized Clinical Trial, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 207, (9), 2023, p1227-1236
Lapidaire Wino, Forkert Nils D, Williamson Wilb, Huckstep Odar, Tan Cheryl M, Alsharqi Marya, Mohamed Afifa, Kitt Jami, Burchert Holge, Mouches Paulin, Dawes Hele, Foster Charli, Okell Thomas W, Lewandowski Adam J, Leeson Pau, Aerobic exercise increases brain vessel lumen size and blood flow in young adults with elevated blood pressure. Secondary analysis of the TEPHRA randomized clinical trial, NeuroImage: Clinical, 37, 2023, p103337-
Reid Hamis, Smith Ralp, Williamson Wilb, Baldock Jame, Caterson Jessic, Kluzek Stefa, Jones Natash, Copeland Rober, Use of the behaviour change wheel to improve everyday person-centred conversations on physical activity across healthcare, BMC Public Health, 22, (1), 2022, p1784-
Céline De Looze, PhD, Wilby Williamson, PhD, Naiara Demnitz, PhD, Deirdre O'Connor, MPH, Belinda Hernández, PhD, Rose Anne Kenny, MD, Physical Function, An Adjunct to Brain Health Score for Phenotyping Cognitive Function Trajectories in Older Age: Findings From The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), The Journals of Gerontology: Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2022
Williamson W, Lewandowski AJ, Huckstep OJ, Lapidaire W, Ooms A, Tan C, Mohamed A, Alsharqi M, Bertagnolli M, Woodward W, Dockerill C, McCourt A, Kenworthy Y, Burchert H, Doherty A, Newton J, Hanssen H, Cruickshank JK, McManus R, Holmes J, Ji C, Love S, Frangou E, Everett C, Hillsdon M, Dawes H, Foster C, Leeson P., Effect of moderate to high intensity aerobic exercise on blood pressure in young adults: The TEPHRA open, two-arm, parallel superiority randomized clinical trial., EClinicalMedicine, 48, 2022, p101445
Cheryl MJ Tan, Adam J Lewandowski, Wilby Williamson, Odaro J Huckstep, Grace Z Yu, Roman Fischer, Jillian N Simon, Maryam Alsharqi, Afifah Mohamed, Paul Leeson, Mariane Bertagnolli, Proteomic Signature of Dysfunctional Circulating Endothelial Colony‐Forming Cells of Young Adults, Journal of the American Heart Association, 2021
Caoilfhionn Ní Leidhin, Jason McMorrow, DanielCarey, LouiseNewman, Wilby Williamson, Andrew J.Fagan, Michael A.Chappell, Rose Anne Kenny, James F. Meaney, Silvin P. Knight, Age-related normative changes in cerebral perfusion: data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), NeuroImage, 229, (117741), 2021
Maryam Alsharqi, Odaro J Huckstep, Winok Lapidaire, Wilby Williamson, Afifah Mohamed, Cheryl MJ Tan, Jamie Kitt, Holger Burchert, Fernando Telles, Helen Dawes, Charlie Foster, Adam J Lewandowski, Paul Leeson, Left atrial strain predicts cardiovascular response to exercise in young adults with suboptimal blood pressure, Echocardiography, 2021
Hirst, R.J. and Whelan, R. and Boyle, R. and Setti, A. and Knight, S. and O'Connor, J. and Williamson, W. and McMorrow, J. and Fagan, A.J. and Meaney, J.F. and Kenny, R.A. and De Looze, C. and Newell, F.N., Gray matter volume in the right angular gyrus is associated with differential patterns of multisensory integration with aging, Neurobiology of Aging, 100, 2021, p83-90
Silvin P Knight, Eamon Laird, Wilby Williamson, John O'Connor, Louise Newman, Daniel Carey, Celine De Looze, Andrew J Fagan, Michael A Chappell, James F Meaney, Rose Anne Kenny, Obesity is associated with reduced cerebral blood flow-modified by physical activity, Neurobiology of Aging, 105, 2021, p35-47
Afifah Mohamed, Maciej Marciniak, Wilby Williamson, Odaro J Huckstep, Winok Lapidaire, Angus McCance, Stefan Neubauer, Paul Leeson, Adam J Lewandowski, Association of Systolic Blood Pressure Elevation With Disproportionate Left Ventricular Remodeling in Very Preterm-Born Young Adults: The Preterm Heart and Elevated Blood Pressure, JAMA cardiology, 2021, pdoi:10.1001/jamacardio.2021.09
Adam J Lewandowski, Betty Raman, Mariane Bertagnolli, Afifah Mohamed, Wilby Williamson, Joana Leal Pelado, Angus McCance, Winok Lapidaire, Stefan Neubauer, Paul Leeson, Association of preterm birth with myocardial fibrosis and diastolic dysfunction in young adulthood, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2021, 683-692
Afifah Mohamed, Maciej Marciniak, Wilby Williamson, Odaro J Huckstep, Winok Lapidaire, Angus McCance, Stefan Neubauer, Paul Leeson, Adam J Lewandowski, Association of Systolic Blood Pressure Elevation With Disproportionate Left Ventricular Remodeling in Very Preterm-Born Young Adults: The Preterm Heart and Elevated Blood Pressure, JAMA cardiology, 2021, pdoi:10.1001/jamacardio.2021.09
Boardman H, Lamata P, Lazdam M, et al., Variations in Cardiovascular Structure, Function, and Geometry in Midlife Associated With a History of Hypertensive Pregnancy., Hypertension., 2020, pdoi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.11
Mohamed Afifah, Lamata Pablo, Williamson Wilby, Alsharqi Maryam, Tan Cheryl M.J., Burchert Holger, Huckstep Odaro J., Suriano Katie, Francis Jane M., Pelado Joana Leal, Monteiro Cristiana, Neubauer Stefan, Levy Philip T., Leeson Paul, Lewandowski Adam J., Multimodality Imaging Demonstrates Reduced Right-Ventricular Function Independent of Pulmonary Physiology in Moderately Preterm-Born Adults , 2020, p3403 -
Huckstep OJ, Burchert H, Williamson W, et al., Impaired myocardial reserve underlies reduced exercise capacity and heart rate recovery in preterm-born young adults , Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging, 2020
Céline De Looze, Wilby Williamson, Rebecca Hirst, John O'Connor, Silvin Knight, Cathal McCrory, Daniel Carey, Rose‐Anne Kenny, Impaired orthostatic heart rate recovery is associated with smaller thalamic volume: Results from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Aging (TILDA), Human Brain Mapping, 2020
Wassenaar TM, Williamson W, Johansen-Berg H, et al. , A Critical Evaluation of Systematic Reviews Assessing the Effect of Chronic Physical Activity on Academic Achievement, Cognition and the Brain in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review, Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. , 2020
Wassenaar TM, Williamson W, Johansen-Berg H, Dawes H, Roberts N, Foster C, Sexton CE., A critical evaluation of systematic reviews assessing the effect of chronic physical activity on academic achievement, cognition and the brain in children and adolescents: a systematic review., The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 17, (1), 2020, p79
Williamson W, Leroi I., Thinking about dementia: is childhood too early?, International psychogeriatrics, 31, (12), 2019, p1689-1690
Frailty in older persons in, editor(s)O'Hanlon S, Smith M , A Comprehensive Guide to Rehabilitation of the Older Patient 4e, Elsevier, 2019, [Roe L, Williamson W, Romero-Ortuno R]
Huckstep OJ, Williamson W, Telles F, Burchert H, Bertagnolli M, Herdman C, Arnold L, Smillie R, Mohamed A, Boardman H, McCormick K, Neubauer S, Leeson P, Lewandowski AJ., Physiological Stress Elicits Impaired Left Ventricular Function in Preterm-Born Adults., Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 71, (12), 2018, p1347-1356
Williamson W, Huckstep OJ, Frangou E, Mohamed A, Tan C, Alsharqi M, Bertagnolli M, Lapidaire W, Newton J, Hanssen H, McManus R, Dawes H, Foster C, Lewandowski AJ, Leeson P., Trial of exercise to prevent HypeRtension in young adults (TEPHRA) a randomized controlled trial: study protocol., BMC cardiovascular disorders, 18, (1), 2018, p208
Williamson W, Lewandowski AJ, Forkert ND, Griffanti L, Okell TW, Betts J, Boardman H, Siepmann T, McKean D, Huckstep O, Francis JM, Neubauer S, Phellan R, Jenkinson M, Doherty A, Dawes H, Frangou E, Malamateniou C, Foster C, Leeson P., Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors With MRI Indices of Cerebrovascular Structure and Function and White Matter Hyperintensities in Young Adults., JAMA, 320, (7), 2018, p665-673
Boardman H, Lewandowski AJ, Lazdam M, Kenworthy Y, Whitworth P, Zwager CL, Francis JM, Aye CY, Williamson W, Neubauer S, Leeson P., Aortic stiffness and blood pressure variability in young people: a multimodality investigation of central and peripheral vasculature., Journal of hypertension, 35, (3), 2017, p513-522
Williamson W, Foster C, Reid H, Kelly P, Lewandowski AJ, Boardman H, Roberts N, McCartney D, Huckstep O, Newton J, Dawes H, Gerry S, Leeson P., Will Exercise Advice Be Sufficient for Treatment of Young Adults With Prehypertension and Hypertension? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis., Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979), 68, (1), 2016, p78-87
Williamson W, Boardman H, Lewandowski AJ, Leeson P., Time to rethink physical activity advice and blood pressure: A role for occupation-based interventions?, European journal of preventive cardiology, 23, (10), 2016, p1051-1053
Davis EF, Lewandowski AJ, Aye C, Williamson W, Boardman H, Huang RC, Mori TA, Newnham J, Beilin LJ, Leeson P., Clinical cardiovascular risk during young adulthood in offspring of hypertensive pregnancies: insights from a 20-year prospective follow-up birth cohort., BMJ Open, 5, (6), 2015, pe008136
Williamson W, Fuld J, Westgate K, Sylvester K, Ekelund U, Brage S., Validity of reporting oxygen uptake efficiency slope from submaximal exercise using respiratory exchange ratio as secondary criterion., Pulmonary medicine, 2012, 2012, p874020
Down J, Williamson W., Early vs late tracheostomy in critical care., British journal of hospital medicine (London, England : 2005), 70, (9), 2009, p510-513
Lane TR, Williamson WJ, Brostoff JM., Carbon monoxide poisoning in a patient with carbon dioxide retention: a therapeutic challenge., Cases journal, 1, (1), 2008, p102
Research Expertise
Description
I work across the spectrum of population health to personalised medicine with focus on physical activity, ideal cardiovascular health, heart health and brain health. At population level I apply risk stratification tools to understand health trajectory and support population needs assessments, risk assessment and audience segmentation. At the individual level I use the same metrics to understanding physiological phenotypes and heart-brain remodelling in response to optimal and sub-optimal ideal cardiovascular health parameters. I then plan, implement and evaluate interventions looking at process efficiency, efficacy and effectiveness.Projects
- Title
- Trial of Exercise to Prevent Hypertension in young Adults (TEPHRA
- Summary
- Background Hypertension prevalence in young adults has increased and is associated with increased incidence of cerebrovascular events in middle age. However, there is significant debate regards how to effectively manage young adult hypertension with recommendation to target lifestyle intervention. Surprisingly, no trials have investigated whether lifestyle advice developed for blood pressure control in older adults is effective in these younger populations. Methods/Design TEPHRA is an open label, parallel arm, randomised control trial in young adults with high normal and elevated blood pressure. The study will compare a supervised physical activity intervention consisting of 16 weeks structured exercise, physical activity self-monitoring and motivational coaching with a control group receiving usual care/minimal intervention. 200 young adults aged 18-35 years, including a subgroup of preterm born participants will be recruited through open recruitment and direct invitation. Participants will be randomised in a ratio of 1:1 to either the exercise intervention group or control group. Primary outcome will be ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at 16 weeks with measure of sustained effect at 12 months. Study measures include multimodal cardiovascular assessments; peripheral vascular measures, blood sampling, microvascular assessment, echocardiography, objective physical activity monitoring and a subgroup will complete multi-organ magnetic resonance imaging. Discussion The results of this trial will deliver a novel, randomised control trial that reports the effect of physical activity intervention on blood pressure integrated with detailed cardiovascular phenotyping in young adults. The results will support the development of future research and expand the evidence-based for management of blood pressure in young adult populations. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov registration number NCT02723552, registered on 30 March, 2016. Keywords: Young Adult, Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Prehypertension, Preterm Birth, Randomised Trial, Exercise, Cardiac Imaging, Cardiac Remodelling, Cerebrovascular Health
- Funding Agency
- Wellcome Trust and British Heart Foundation
- Date From
- 2016
- Date To
- 2020
Recognition
Representations
I sit on the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine - Education and Exercise Medicine Committees I support the evolution of FSEM contribution in the area of Physical Activity and Exercise Medicine at a national professional level
Council Member Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine
I am the national lead for exercise medicine on the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine, sitting on the national council and educational committee.
Awards and Honours
Senior Fellow Global Brain Health Institute
Atlantic Fellow Global Brain Health Institute
Memberships
FELLOW FACULTY OF SPORTS AND EXERCISE MEDICINE
REGISTERED IRISH MEDICAL COUNCIL - CONSULTANT SPORTS AND EXERCISE MEDICINE