![Bethany Keenan](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3878?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
Dr Bethany Keenan is a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). She works with clinical and industry collaborators, and researchers from other Schools around the University (Biosciences, Computer Science, Medicine, Mathematics, Pharmacy, Psychology and Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre) to gain experience in multi-disciplinary fields.
Bethany's research interests focus on medical imaging and soft tissue mechanics. Her current work aims to better understand the biomechanical behaviour of soft tissues in order to improve pressure ulcer treatment and prevention. She has developed novel MRI techniques to clearly identify the anatomical geometry of the face, brain, pelvis, lower leg and foot. These MRI scans are then used to create 3D subject-specific finite element (FE) models which can be used to investigate the internal strains in the tissues in an unloaded and deformed state. This research is part of an ongoing project that will lead to guidelines and/or a test method that can determine which products are effective in preventing presure ulcers. This will potentially aid clinicians and carers to ensure that patients receive the best possible care.
Dr Keenan is also an MR Operator at CUBRIC, a STEM Ambassador, and a Dignity and Wellbeing Contact at Cardiff University.
Publication
2024
- Fougeron, N., Trebbi, A., Keenan, B., Payan, Y. and Chagnon, G. 2024. Current poisson's ratio values of finite element models are too low to consider soft tissues nearly-incompressible: illustration on the human heel region. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering 27(14), pp. 1999-2008. (10.1080/10255842.2023.2269286)
- Cornillon, C., Rohan, P., Vergari, C. and Keenan, B. E. 2024. Investigating the impact of material properties on the simulated response of heel soft tissue in the context of pressure ulcers. Presented at: The 26th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention, MICCAI 2023, Vancouver, Canada, 8-12 October 2023 Presented at Wittek, A. et al. eds.Computational Biomechanics for Medicine. Lecture Notes in Bioengineering Springer, Cham pp. 61-74., (10.1007/978-3-031-64632-4_6)
- Zappalá, S., Keenan, B. E., Marshall, D., Wu, J., Evans, S. L. and Al-Dirini, R. M. 2024. In vivo strain measurements in the human buttock during sitting using MR-based digital volume correlation. Journal of Biomechanics 163, article number: 111913. (10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111913)
2023
- Evans, S. L., Keenan, B. E., Hill, J., Zappala, S., Bennion, N. and Avril, S. 2023. Rapid, non-invasive, in vivo measurement of tissue mechanical properties using gravitational loading and a nonlinear virtual fields method. Journal of the Royal Society. Interface 20(207), article number: 20230384. (10.1098/rsif.2023.0384)
- Cornillon, C., Keenan, B., Vergari, C. and Rohan, P. 2023. Impact of material properties in the simulated tissue response in heel pressure ulcer prevention: A preliminary study. Journal of Wound Care 32(9) (10.12968/jowc.2023.32.9.558a)
- Rohan, P., Fougeron, N., Keenan, B., Pillet, H., Laporte, S., Osipov, N. and Ryckelynck, D. 2023. Real-time numerical prediction of strain localization using dictionary-based ROM-nets for sitting-acquired deep tissue injury prevention. In: Chinesta, F. et al. eds. Reduced Order Models for the Biomechanics of Living Organs. Elsevier, pp. 385-402., (10.1016/B978-0-32-389967-3.00027-5)
- Evans, L. M., Sözümert, E., Keenan, B. E., Wood, C. E. and du Plessis, A. 2023. A review of image-based simulation applications in high-value manufacturing. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering 30, pp. 1495-1552. (10.1007/s11831-022-09836-2)
2022
- Abdullah, J. Y. et al. 2022. A combined imaging, deformation and registration methodology for predicting respirator fitting. PLoS ONE 17(11), article number: e0277570. (10.1371/journal.pone.0277570)
- Keenan, B. E., Lacan, F., Cooper, A., Evans, S. L. and Evans, J. 2022. MRI safety, imaging artefacts, and grid distortion evaluated for FFP3 respiratory masks worn throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical Radiology 77(8), pp. e660-e666. (10.1016/j.crad.2022.05.001)
- Keenan, B. E., Evans, S. L. and Oomens, C. 2022. A review of foot finite element modelling for pressure ulcer prevention in bedrest: current perspectives and future recommendations. Journal of Tissue Viability 31(1), pp. 73-83. (10.1016/j.jtv.2021.06.004)
- Drahota, A. et al. 2022. Shock-absorbing flooring for fall-related injury prevention in older adults and staff in hospitals and care homes: the SAFEST systematic review. Health Technology Assessment 25(5) (10.3310/ZOWL2323)
- Drahota, A. et al. 2022. The SAFEST review: a mixed methods systematic review of shock-absorbing flooring for fall-related injury prevention. BMC Geriatrics 22, article number: 32. (10.1186/s12877-021-02670-4)
2021
- Kelly, E. S. et al. 2021. Predicting forefoot-orthosis interactions in rheumatoid arthritis using computational modelling. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 9, article number: 803725. (10.3389/fbioe.2021.803725)
2020
- Keenan, B. E., Hallas, K., Drahota, A. K. and Evans, S. L. 2020. A comparison of floor surfaces for injury prevention in care settings: impact forces and horizontal pulling force required to move wheeled equipment. Osteoporosis International 31, pp. 2383-2394. (10.1007/s00198-020-05520-y)
- Drahota, A., Felix, L. M., Keenan, B. E., Lachance, C. C., Laing, A., Mackey, D. C. and Raftery, J. 2020. Protocol for the SAFEST review: the Shock-Absorbing Flooring Effectiveness SysTematic review including older adults and staff in hospitals and care homes. BMJ Open 10(2), article number: e032315. (10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032315)
2019
- Braxton, T. M. et al. 2019. Thermoneutrality improves skeletal impairment in adult Prader-Willi syndrome mice. Journal of Endocrinology 243(3), pp. 175-186. (10.1530/JOE-19-0279)
- Keenan, B. E. and Evans, S. 2019. Biomechanical testing of hip protectors following the Canadian Standards Association express document. Osteoporosis International (10.1007/s00198-019-04914-x)
2018
- Drahota, A., Bell, M., Keenan, B., Lachance, C., Okunribido, O. and Raftery, J. 2018. The SAFEST Review: The Shock-Absorbing Flooring Effectiveness SysTematic Review including older adults and staff in care settings. Study Protocol.. National Institute for Health Research. Available at: https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/17/148/11
2017
- Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D., Bennett, D. D., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2017. Sequential magnetic resonance imaging reveals individual level deformities of vertebrae and discs in the growing scoliotic spine. Spine Deformity 5(3), pp. 197-207. (10.1016/j.jspd.2016.10.002)
- Newell, N., Grant, C. A., Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2017. A comparison of four techniques to measure anterior and posterior vertebral body heights and sagittal plane wedge angles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing 55(4), pp. 561-572. (10.1007/s11517-016-1520-y)
- Grant, C. A., Newell, N., Izatt, M. T., Keenan, B., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D. and Pearcy, M. J. 2017. A comparison of vertebral venous networks in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients and healthy controls. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy 39(3), pp. 281-291. (10.1007/s00276-016-1709-7)
2016
- Newell, N., Grant, C. A., Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2016. Quantifying progressive anterior overgrowth in the thoracic vertebrae of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients a sequential magnetic resonance imaging study. Spine 41(7), pp. E382-E387. (10.1097/BRS.0000000000001265)
2015
- Keenan, B., Pettet, G. J., Izatt, M. T., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. 2015. Gravity-induced coronal plane joint moments in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Scoliosis 10, article number: 35. (10.1186/s13013-015-0060-9)
2014
- Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2014. Supine to standing Cobb angle change in idiopathic scoliosis: the effect of endplate pre-selection. Scoliosis 9 (10.1186/1748-7161-9-16)
- Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D., Pettet, G. J., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2014. Segmental torso masses in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Clinical Biomechanics 29(7), pp. 773-779. (10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2014.06.002)
Articles
- Fougeron, N., Trebbi, A., Keenan, B., Payan, Y. and Chagnon, G. 2024. Current poisson's ratio values of finite element models are too low to consider soft tissues nearly-incompressible: illustration on the human heel region. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering 27(14), pp. 1999-2008. (10.1080/10255842.2023.2269286)
- Zappalá, S., Keenan, B. E., Marshall, D., Wu, J., Evans, S. L. and Al-Dirini, R. M. 2024. In vivo strain measurements in the human buttock during sitting using MR-based digital volume correlation. Journal of Biomechanics 163, article number: 111913. (10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111913)
- Evans, S. L., Keenan, B. E., Hill, J., Zappala, S., Bennion, N. and Avril, S. 2023. Rapid, non-invasive, in vivo measurement of tissue mechanical properties using gravitational loading and a nonlinear virtual fields method. Journal of the Royal Society. Interface 20(207), article number: 20230384. (10.1098/rsif.2023.0384)
- Cornillon, C., Keenan, B., Vergari, C. and Rohan, P. 2023. Impact of material properties in the simulated tissue response in heel pressure ulcer prevention: A preliminary study. Journal of Wound Care 32(9) (10.12968/jowc.2023.32.9.558a)
- Evans, L. M., Sözümert, E., Keenan, B. E., Wood, C. E. and du Plessis, A. 2023. A review of image-based simulation applications in high-value manufacturing. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering 30, pp. 1495-1552. (10.1007/s11831-022-09836-2)
- Abdullah, J. Y. et al. 2022. A combined imaging, deformation and registration methodology for predicting respirator fitting. PLoS ONE 17(11), article number: e0277570. (10.1371/journal.pone.0277570)
- Keenan, B. E., Lacan, F., Cooper, A., Evans, S. L. and Evans, J. 2022. MRI safety, imaging artefacts, and grid distortion evaluated for FFP3 respiratory masks worn throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical Radiology 77(8), pp. e660-e666. (10.1016/j.crad.2022.05.001)
- Keenan, B. E., Evans, S. L. and Oomens, C. 2022. A review of foot finite element modelling for pressure ulcer prevention in bedrest: current perspectives and future recommendations. Journal of Tissue Viability 31(1), pp. 73-83. (10.1016/j.jtv.2021.06.004)
- Drahota, A. et al. 2022. Shock-absorbing flooring for fall-related injury prevention in older adults and staff in hospitals and care homes: the SAFEST systematic review. Health Technology Assessment 25(5) (10.3310/ZOWL2323)
- Drahota, A. et al. 2022. The SAFEST review: a mixed methods systematic review of shock-absorbing flooring for fall-related injury prevention. BMC Geriatrics 22, article number: 32. (10.1186/s12877-021-02670-4)
- Kelly, E. S. et al. 2021. Predicting forefoot-orthosis interactions in rheumatoid arthritis using computational modelling. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 9, article number: 803725. (10.3389/fbioe.2021.803725)
- Keenan, B. E., Hallas, K., Drahota, A. K. and Evans, S. L. 2020. A comparison of floor surfaces for injury prevention in care settings: impact forces and horizontal pulling force required to move wheeled equipment. Osteoporosis International 31, pp. 2383-2394. (10.1007/s00198-020-05520-y)
- Drahota, A., Felix, L. M., Keenan, B. E., Lachance, C. C., Laing, A., Mackey, D. C. and Raftery, J. 2020. Protocol for the SAFEST review: the Shock-Absorbing Flooring Effectiveness SysTematic review including older adults and staff in hospitals and care homes. BMJ Open 10(2), article number: e032315. (10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032315)
- Braxton, T. M. et al. 2019. Thermoneutrality improves skeletal impairment in adult Prader-Willi syndrome mice. Journal of Endocrinology 243(3), pp. 175-186. (10.1530/JOE-19-0279)
- Keenan, B. E. and Evans, S. 2019. Biomechanical testing of hip protectors following the Canadian Standards Association express document. Osteoporosis International (10.1007/s00198-019-04914-x)
- Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D., Bennett, D. D., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2017. Sequential magnetic resonance imaging reveals individual level deformities of vertebrae and discs in the growing scoliotic spine. Spine Deformity 5(3), pp. 197-207. (10.1016/j.jspd.2016.10.002)
- Newell, N., Grant, C. A., Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2017. A comparison of four techniques to measure anterior and posterior vertebral body heights and sagittal plane wedge angles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing 55(4), pp. 561-572. (10.1007/s11517-016-1520-y)
- Grant, C. A., Newell, N., Izatt, M. T., Keenan, B., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D. and Pearcy, M. J. 2017. A comparison of vertebral venous networks in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients and healthy controls. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy 39(3), pp. 281-291. (10.1007/s00276-016-1709-7)
- Newell, N., Grant, C. A., Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2016. Quantifying progressive anterior overgrowth in the thoracic vertebrae of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients a sequential magnetic resonance imaging study. Spine 41(7), pp. E382-E387. (10.1097/BRS.0000000000001265)
- Keenan, B., Pettet, G. J., Izatt, M. T., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. 2015. Gravity-induced coronal plane joint moments in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Scoliosis 10, article number: 35. (10.1186/s13013-015-0060-9)
- Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2014. Supine to standing Cobb angle change in idiopathic scoliosis: the effect of endplate pre-selection. Scoliosis 9 (10.1186/1748-7161-9-16)
- Keenan, B., Izatt, M. T., Askin, G. N., Labrom, R. D., Pettet, G. J., Pearcy, M. J. and Adam, C. J. 2014. Segmental torso masses in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Clinical Biomechanics 29(7), pp. 773-779. (10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2014.06.002)
Book sections
- Rohan, P., Fougeron, N., Keenan, B., Pillet, H., Laporte, S., Osipov, N. and Ryckelynck, D. 2023. Real-time numerical prediction of strain localization using dictionary-based ROM-nets for sitting-acquired deep tissue injury prevention. In: Chinesta, F. et al. eds. Reduced Order Models for the Biomechanics of Living Organs. Elsevier, pp. 385-402., (10.1016/B978-0-32-389967-3.00027-5)
Conferences
- Cornillon, C., Rohan, P., Vergari, C. and Keenan, B. E. 2024. Investigating the impact of material properties on the simulated response of heel soft tissue in the context of pressure ulcers. Presented at: The 26th International Conference on Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention, MICCAI 2023, Vancouver, Canada, 8-12 October 2023 Presented at Wittek, A. et al. eds.Computational Biomechanics for Medicine. Lecture Notes in Bioengineering Springer, Cham pp. 61-74., (10.1007/978-3-031-64632-4_6)
Monographs
- Drahota, A., Bell, M., Keenan, B., Lachance, C., Okunribido, O. and Raftery, J. 2018. The SAFEST Review: The Shock-Absorbing Flooring Effectiveness SysTematic Review including older adults and staff in care settings. Study Protocol.. National Institute for Health Research. Available at: https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/17/148/11
Research
Current collaborative projects include:
- Investigating brain injury in sporting and collision environments using MRI (CUBRIC, Football Association of Wales / FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence)
- Development of a novel synthetic device used in soft tissue reconstruction (Lockdown Medical Ltd)
- MRI-based 3D computational modelling of different face shapes to improve fit testing of respiratory masks (University of Southampton, NHS England, NPoCC and Hybrisan)
- Identification of damage criteria in pressure ulcers using the virtual fields method (Mines Saint-Étienne, France)
- Exploring the use of MRI to visualise the longitudinal impact of dynamic variants on a medical implant or health product (Loughborough University, Cardiff Met / PDR Surgical and Prosthetic Design team)
Teaching
2021 - Present
Guest lecturer - MSc in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair
2020
Engineering Analysis - Maths tutorial lecturer for 1st Year students.
2018 - Present
Principal Supervisor for 3rd Year Erasmus students, Institut supérieur d'ingénieurs de Franche-Comté (ISIF), Besancon, France.
2017 - Present
Co-supervisor for 4th Year MEng students (Ergonomics) and MSc Orthopaedic engineering projects, Cardiff University.
2017 - Present
Co-supervisor for 3rd Year Undergraduate engineering projects.
2016 - Present
Guest lecturer in Biomechanics for 2nd and 3rd Year Medical Engineering students.
Biography
Dr Keenan completed an undergraduate degree in Medical Engineering at Cardiff University in 2011. She then moved to Brisbane, Australia to read a PhD in Medical Imaging and Biomechanical Analysis of Scoliosis Progression in the Growing Adolescent Spine at Queensland University of Technology in May 2015. Her research project involved a ten month internship at Laboratoire de Biomécanique, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, France and entailed investigating the mechanics of the progressive scoliotic spine during the adolescent growth phase.
Honours and awards
2019 - Cardiff University Future Innovation Leader Award
2019 - The Worshipful Livery Company of Wales (WLCoW) Travel Award
2018 - European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel & 3M Pressure Ulcer and IAD Innovation Award
2015 - Scoliosis and Spinal Disorders ‘Most Influential Articles of 2015’ for the paper entitled ‘Gravity-Induced Coronal Plane Joint Moments in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis’
Grants and Scholarships
2022 - Research and Innovation Services Network Builder Fund (Cardiff Met / PDR Surgical and Prosthetic Design Team)
2022 - British Council Seedcorn Funding - Awarded 1st prize to develop Sustainable Healthcare Platform (Keele University and Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)
2022 - Research Infrastructure Funding (RIF) of £140k for MR Elastography system (Co-Investigator).
2022 - Innovation for All grant (i-bodi, Crawley Creatures).
2021 - Visiting Professorship, École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers, France.
2021 - 2022 - UK Research and Innovation Council / Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UKRI / EPSRC) grant for ''A BioEngineering approach for the SAFE design and fitting of Respiratory Protective Equipment (BE-SAFE RPE)''
2020 - 2022 - European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Research Project Collaboration Funding (École nationale supérieure d'arts et métiers, France and Université Grenoble Alpes).
2020 - 2021 - Cardiff Institute for Tissue Engineering and Repair Research Travel Bursary (École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers, France).
2019 - 2020 - European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel Exchange Scholarship (Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands).
2019 - 2020 - National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Technology Grant for ''The SAFEST Review: The Shock-Absorbing Flooring Effectiveness SysTematic Review including older adults and staff in care settings'' (Co-Investigator, Reviewer and Advisory Board member).
2019 - EPSRC and CCPi Tomographic Imaging Attendee Grant for 'Image-Based Finite Element Method for Industry (IBFEM-4i)', Zienkiewicz Centre for Computational Engineering, Wales, UK.
2018 - Newton Fund and Researcher Links 'Embracing new design technologies: enabling equitable access to health', Central University of Technology, South Africa.
2017 - Image-Based Biomedical Modelling Fellowship, University of Utah, USA.
2017 - Attendee Grant for 'Material Parameter Identification and Inverse Problems in Soft Tissue Biomechanics', International Centre for Mechanical Sciences, Italy.
2011 - Queensland University of Technology Supervisor Scholarship - a 3 year PhD project at QUT as part of the Florence Wilson Bequest, Brisbane.
Professional memberships
- Chartered Engineer (Engineering Council UK)
- Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
- Member of the European Mechanics Society (EUROMECH)
- Member of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP)
- Member of The International Skin Tear Advisory Panel (ISTAP)
- Member of the International Society for Respiratory Protection (ISRP)
- Member of Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER)
- Member of the Association of Biomedical Engineers, Medical Engineers and Bioengineers (BioMedEng)
Academic positions
2019 - Present: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Cardiff University
2016 - 2019: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Cardiff University
February - September 2015: Clinical Research Associate with the Biomechanics and Spine Research Group, QUT and Queensland Children's Hospital, Australia
Committees and reviewing
- External Examiner (Research Degrees) at Queensland University of Technology, Australia
- External Reviewer (PhD) on Comité de suivi individuel de thèse at the Université Grenoble Alpes, France
- Reviewer for Journal of Clinical Medicine (JCM)
- Reviewer for Journal of Tissue Viability (JTV)
- Reviewer for Journal of Biomechanics (J. Biomech)
- Reviewer for Nature Scientific Reports (Sci. Rep)
- Reviewer for Journal of Applied Sciences (Appl. Sci)
- Reviewer for Journal of Sport and Health Science (JSHS)
- Reviewer for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Healthcare Epidemiology (ASHE)
Committees
- Image-Based Simulation for Industry (IBSim-4i) Scientific Committee
- University of Portsmouth Ageing Network
- School of Engineering Athena Swan Network
Medical imaging and clinical training
- MR Operator
- CPR / AED and MR Safety
- DXA Operator
- IR(ME)R Theory
- TRiM Practitioner
- Mental Health First Aid
- I-Act
Supervisions
Dr Keenan's research focuses on areas including:
- Medical imaging
- Biomechanics
- Injury prevention
- FE modelling
- Soft tissue mechanics
- Fall prevention in the elderly
- Pressure ulcer formation and prevention
Please contact her using the above details should your interests lie within these areas.
Contact Details
+44 29206 87650
Queen's Buildings - South Building, Room Room S4.03, 5 The Parade, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 3AA
Research themes
Specialisms
- Biomedical imaging
- Biomedical engineering
- Biomechanics
