Dr Becky Thomas

Research Highlights

1. Leveridge, M., Stewart, R., Bowker, R., Edwards, D., Alabraba, V., Barnard, S., Beba, H., Brake, J., Cox, A., Epps, A., Flecthcer-Salt, T., Holmes, P., Kar, P., Kausar, N., Kelly, B., Newland-Jones, P., Ng, S., Puttanna, A., & Thomas, B. (2022). Diabetes 101: A novel method for engaging families with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Diabetes Care for Children and Young People, 11(2), 94-101.

   SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60528

   https://diabetesonthenet.com/diabetes-care-children-young-people/diabetes-101-a-novel-method-for-engaging-families-with-diabetes-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
2. Qu, Y., Lee, J., Zhuo, Y., Liu, S., Thomas, B., Owens, D., & Zee, B. (2022). Risk Assessment of CHD Using Retinal Images with Machine Learning Approaches for People with Cardiometabolic Disorders. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(10), 2687

   https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11102687, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60527
3. Thomas, B., Alabraba, V., Barnard, S., Beba, H., Brake, J., Cox, A., Bowker, R., Edwards, D., Epps, A., Fletcher-Salt, T., Holmes, P., Kar, P., Kausar, N., Kelly, B., Leveridge, M., Newland-Jones, P., Ng, S., Puttana, A., & Stewart, R. (2021). Use of Social Media as a Platform for Education and Support for People With Diabetes During a Global Pandemic. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 0, 193229682110548

   https://doi.org/10.1177/19322968211054862, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58174
4. Chowdhury, S., Thomas, B., Dunseath, G., Luzio, S., Wong, F., & Owens, D. (2021). Incidence of diabetic retinopathy in newly diagnosed subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus over 5 years: Contribution of Β-cell function. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 36(1), 108028

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2021.108028, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57917
5. Thomas, B., Stewart, R., Kelly, B., Epps, A., & Kar, P. (2021). How does a pandemic change the conversation in the diabetes social media community?. Diabetes and Primary Care, 23(X)

   SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57519

   https://diabetesonthenet.com/diabetes-primary-care/pandemic-diabetes-social-media/
6. Thomas, B., Cheung, I., Rafferty, J., Luzio, S., Akbari, A., & Owens, D. (2021). Characteristics of repeat non‐attenders at Diabetes Eye Screening Wales, a national community‐based diabetes‐related retinopathy screening service, during 2003‐2018. Diabetic Medicine, 38(9)

   https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.14536, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56211
7. Rafferty, J., Stephens, J., Atkinson, M., Luzio, S., Akbari, A., Gregory, J., Bain, S., Owens, D., & Thomas, B. (2021). A retrospective epidemiological study of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Wales, UK between 2008 and 2018. International Journal of Population Data Science, 6(1)

   https://doi.org/10.23889/ijpds.v6i1.1387, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56716
8. Rafferty, J., Owens, D., Luzio, S., Watts, P., Akbari, A., & Thomas, B. (2020). Risk factors for having diabetic retinopathy at first screening in persons with type 1 diabetes diagnosed under 18 years of age. Eye, 35

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-020-01326-8, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55801
9. Thomas, B. (2020). Risks and Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in Children and Young People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Journal of Diabetes and Clinical Research, 2(3), 68-74.

   https://doi.org/10.33696/diabetes.1.021, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55284

   http://dx.doi.org/10.33696/diabetes.1.021
10. Thomas, R., Prior, S., Barry, J., Luzio, S., Eyre, N., Caplin, S., Stephens, J., Owens, D., & Thomas, B. (2014). Does bariatric surgery adversely impact on diabetic retinopathy in persons with morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes? A pilot study. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 28(2), 191-195.

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2013.10.006, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa26728
11. Noyel, G., Thomas, B., Iles, S., Bhakta, G., Crowder, A., Owens, D., & Boyle, P. (2019). Registration Of Retinal Images From Public Health By Minimising An Error Between Vessels Using An Affine Model With Radial Distortions. In 2019 IEEE 16th International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI 2019) (pp. 561-564). IEEE.

    https://doi.org/10.1109/isbi.2019.8759415, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52801
12. Thomas, B., Winfield, T., Prettyjohns, M., Dunstan, F., Cheung, I., Anderson, P., Peter, R., Luzio, S., Owens, D., & Peter, R. (2020). Cost-effectiveness of biennial screening for diabetes related retinopathy in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes compared to annual screening. The European Journal of Health Economics

    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-020-01191-y, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54012
13. Lewis, J., Morris, K., Powell, T., Thomas, B., & Owens, D. (2020). Combining diabetic foot and retinopathy screening: A step in the right direction? – a feasibility study. SAGE Open Medicine, 8, 205031212094624

    https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312120946244, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54636
14. Nanayakkara, N., Curtis, A., Heritier, S., Gadowski, A., Pavkov, M., Kenealy, T., Owens, D., Thomas, B., Song, S., Wong, J., Chan, J., Luk, A., Penno, G., Ji, L., Mohan, V., Amutha, A., Romero-Aroca, P., Gasevic, D., Magliano, D...., & Zoungas, S. (2021). Impact of age at type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis on mortality and vascular complications: systematic review and meta-analyses. Diabetologia, 64(2), 275-287.

    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-020-05319-w, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55063
15. Thomas, R., Luzio, S., North, R., Banerjee, S., Zekite, A., Bunce, C., Owens, D., & Thomas, B. (2017). Retrospective analysis of newly recorded certifications of visual impairment due to diabetic retinopathy in Wales during 2007–2015. BMJ Open, 7(7), e015024

    https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015024, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34690
16. Chowdhury, S., Dunseath, G., Peter, R., Rees, D., North, R., Luzio, S., Owens, D., & Thomas, B. (2016). Diabetic Retinopathy in Newly Diagnosed Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Contribution of β-Cell Function. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 101(2), 572-580.

    https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2015-2203, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa25955
17. Thomas, R., Dunstan, F., Luzio, S., Chowdhury, S., North, R., Hale, S., Gibbins, R., Owens, D., Luzio, S., Owens, D., & Thomas, B. (2015). Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy within a national diabetic retinopathy screening service. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 99(1), 64-68.

    https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-304017, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa18187

    http://bjo.bmj.com/content/99/1/64.abstract
18. Noyel, G., Thomas, R., Bhakta, G., Crowder, A., Owens, D., Boyle, P., & Thomas, B. (2017). Superimposition of eye fundus images for longitudinal analysis from large public health databases. Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express, 3(4), 045015

    https://doi.org/10.1088/2057-1976/aa7d16, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa34692
19. Harvey, J., Owens, D., & Thomas, B. (2016). When should screening for diabetic retinopathy begin for children with type 1 diabetes?. Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism, 11(2), 97-102.

    https://doi.org/10.1586/17446651.2016.1145542, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa25942

All Research

• PMDM01 Diabetes Basics

  This module aims to introduce the basics of diabetes, a condition where there are an estimated 4.5 million people living with the disease in the UK alone, and a further 1.1 million that are undiagnosed. It will detail prevalence and pathophysiology, nutrition and self-care, and a basic understanding of associated complications. It aims to develop the students¿ knowledge of the many key factors that contribute to this enormous healthcare issue. The module will be delivered online via distance learning, with online assessments.

• PMDM02 Diabetes Management I

  This module is delivered primarily as a 5-day residential that aims to develop the students¿ knowledge of the available pharmaceutical treatments for diabetes. It will explore all aspects of current pharmaceutical regimes from oral medications through injectables to basic pump technologies. This will enable the students to not only have the opportunity to see and handle these pharmaceuticals, but also appreciate the wider context of medication planning and progression of the disease. The module will be delivered primarily on campus (5-day residential) with extra online content, and both in situ and online assessments.

• PMDM03 Diabetes Events

  This module will aim to explore and give a basic underpinning knowledge of events that can result from or affect diabetes care. This will include hypo- and hyperglycemia, illness and pregnancy, demonstrating causes of disruption and the courses of action required to ensure continuous diabetes management throughout. The module will be delivered online via distance learning, with online assessments.

• PMDM04 Diabetes Complications

  This module will detail and further enhance the students¿ knowledge of the micro- and macrovascular complications that can arise as a result of diabetes, including retinopathy, kidney damage, cardiovascular disease and stroke. It will highlight the associated risk, symptoms, progression and possible treatments with regard to these conditions. The module will be delivered online via distance learning, with online assessments.

• PMDM05 Diabetes Management II

  This module is delivered primarily as a 5-day residential that aims to enhance the students¿ knowledge of the advanced treatments for diabetes. It will explore continuous/flash glucose monitoring and all aspects of pump technologies and pregnancy usage. This will enable the students to see and handle these new technologies that are not necessarily common place in clinics, and appreciate the concept of treatment planning and progression using these devices. The module will be delivered primarily on campus (5-day residential) with extra online content, and both in situ and online assessments.

• PMDM06 Diabetes Situations

  This module will investigate the situations in which there are a need for specialised diabetes planning, treatment and care. It will highlight the areas of care that require specific and considered practice such as inpatient care, elderly/infirm patients and care in the community. The module will be delivered online via distance learning, with online assessments.

• PMDM07 Dissertation (Research/Audit)

  This module will comprise of a written dissertation of either a research project or audit. The piece will need to demonstrate independent learning and critical thinking to explore and add to the evidence base for a topic of relevance to their area of interest within the field of diabetes.

• PMDM08 Work Based Portfolio

  This module will allow students to review, appraise and evaluate the application of the knowledge gained throughout the programme within their own professional work environment by providing a portfolio of evidence that is supported by a reflective commentary.

• ISDR External validation 2020 - 2020

  Collaboration with Liverpool University NIHR grant

• Non-interventional study on the effectiveness and safety of SGLT-2 inhibitors compared with DPP-4 inhibitors in adults with type 2 diabetes in the United Kingdom Boehringer Grant ID# 1245.195 EU PAS register number: EUPAS27606. 2019 - 2020

  Boehringer Ingelheim

• Evaluation of fibric acid derivative dosing on key human retinal cell types and the implications this may have in diabetic retinopathy. 2018 - 2019

  St David’s Medical Foundation

• Development of a novel 3D retinal model 2017 - 2018

  St David’s Medical Foundation

• Early detection of dementia in subjects with type 2 diabetes based on white matter hyperintensities estimated by automatic retinal image analysis (ARIA) method; 2018 - 2021

  Government of Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Fund

• Retinal risk factors for stroke and coronary heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes - Are they different? 2017 - 2019

  Research Grants Council General Research Fund Hong Kong

• Optimum screening intervals for people with diabetes and non-sight threatening diabetic retinopathy – a pilot study. 2016 - 2016

  Wellcome Trust ISSF populations pilot award

• Co-programme Director, MSc Diabetes Practice , Swansea University Medical School

  2017 - Present

• Research Officer, Swansea University Medical School

  2012 - 2017

• Research Fellow , Cardiff University School of Medicine

  2011 - 2012

• Research Assistant , Cardiff University School of Medicine

  2007 - 2011

• Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy

  2020

  TREND UK Birmingham and London

• Big Data and Diabetic Retinopathy

  2020

  Diabetes UK Glasgow

• Delaying and Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy in primary care

  2019

  Diabetes Professional Care Conference London

• Delaying and Preventing Diabetic Retinopathy in primary care

  2018

  Diabetes Professional Care Conference London

• Does Diabetic Eye Screening Work?

  2018

  Royal Society of Medicine London

• Early Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy in Wales

  2017

  Peruvian Diabetes Congress

• Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy

  2017

  Peruvian Diabetes Congress

• Should retinal screening begin at 12 years of age?

  2017

  Diabetes UK Conference