About Dr Ben Hanson
Dr Ben Hanson is a Senior Lecturer and the Departmental Tutor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University College London, where he researches biomedical applications of engineering, system-modelling and analysis. He has Affiliate status in UCL’s Division of Medicine and he works with Cardiologists at St Thomas’ Hospital and St Bart’s as an Honorary Research Associate. He works in operating theatres and clinical labs using computers to analyse electrical signals from patients’ hearts, and studies the effect of breathing, stress and emotion on their hearts.
Dr Hanson researches biomechanics involved in eating & drinking, particularly where people have difficulties managing regular foods and drinks: “dysphagia” . He is a director of an international not-for-profit organisation IDDSI.org which has designed classifications and mechanical tests to standardise consistency of medical food & drinks.