About Christopher Cox
I am a HCPC registered Clinical Scientist specialising in Cardiac Science with a history working across all specialisms of cardiac science including invasive cardiology, cardiac rhythm management and cardiac imaging. I currently hold British Society of Echocardiography accreditation in adult echocardiography.
Transitioning into education in 2015 I was the programme leader for the Cardiac Physiology provision here at the University of Sunderland for 10 years. As a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, I continually worked to develop these courses promoting a positive student experience and ensure optimal graduate outcomes. In 2025 I was successful in being appointed to the post of Associate Head of School for Biosciences and now have a role leading Biomedical and Healthcare Science courses here at the University.
Beyond the university I have ongoing roles as both a Council Member and Chair of Education for the Society for Cardiac Science and Technology (SCST). I have also worked with organisations like the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS) and Academy of Healthcare Science (AHCS) to support curriculum redesign and the scientist equivalence process.
Teaching and supervision
I teach across a broad range of health related courses designed to create graduates that can effectively work within healthcare. I have experience teaching broader topics including professional practice, clinical leadership and healthcare ethics and law, however my more specific focus is teaching pathophysiology of cardiorespiratory disease and diagnostic testing.
Interests
I have a particular interest in the links between cardiac disease and exercise, particularly in relation to sudden cardiac death amongst athletes and how 12 lead ECG and echocardiography can play a role in the detection, prevention and management of these conditions.
I am also interested in the effects of unusual situations on cardiac physiology and have previously investigated and written about situations such as the impact of natural/man-made disasters on the risk of ventricular arrhythmias amongst ICD patients and the risk of stress cardiomyopathies associated with prolonged space flight.