MB ChB MRCP(UK)
Honorary Chair
- About
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- Email Address
- r.l.soiza@abdn.ac.uk
- Office Address
c/o Ageing Clinical & Experimental Research, University of Aberdeen, Room 1:128, Polwarth Building, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD United Kingdom
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
I graduated from Edinburgh University in 2000 and became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians in 2003. Later that year, I joined the North of Scotland training programme as a Specialist Registrar in Geriatric Medicine and General Internal Medicine. In 2006, I joined the University of Aberdeen as Clinical Lecturer in Elderly Medicine.
I was a Consultant Geriatrician with NHS Grampian from 2008 to 2018, before joining the General Medicine Department at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, returning to Geriatric Medicine in 2023. I have held numerous roles in postgraduate medical training, including Training Programme Director for Core Medical Training and Geriatric Medicine and serving as Associate Postgraduate Dean from 2015-2017.
I was awarded an NRS Career Researcher Fellowship in 2012. Having previous held roles of Honorary Senior Lecturer and Honorary Reader, I was awarded an Honorary Chair in February 2024. I am the Editor-in-Chief of Age & Ageing.
External Memberships
- Consultant Physician, NHS Grampian
- Editor in Chief, Age & Ageing 2024- (previously Senior Editor 2022-4, Associate Editor 2020-2)
- Associate Editor, Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety 2010-, Geriatric Pharmacology 2023-, SAGE Open Medicine 2012-,
- Editorial Board Member, American Journal of Cardiovascular Disease 2011-, BMC Health Services Research 2014-
- Growing Older in Scotland Report, Reference Group Member
- Reviewer, for numerous international medical journals and grant-awarding bodies including MRC, CSO, NIHR, Research Council of Norway, South African Medical Research Council and Italian Ministry of Education, Universities & Research
Other Recent Roles
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Associate Postgraduate Dean (Medicine), NES, 1st Feb 2015 – 31st Aug 2017
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NRS Career Research Fellow 2012-5
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Treasurer, Scottish Society of Physicians, 2014-8
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Executive Committee Member, Scottish Society of Physicians, 2012-8
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Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN), Delirium Guideline Development Group Member 2016-9, Dementia Guideline Group Member 2020-
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Chair, Organising Committee, RCPE Geriatric Medicine Symposium 2019
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Faculty Member, Faculty Development Alliance (formerly SCOTS Supervisor Training Courses), 2010-7
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Electives Adviser, University of Aberdeen Medical School, 2010-8
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Training Programme Director, North of Scotland Deanery
Core Medical Training 2010-3
Geriatric Medicine 2011-5
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Educational Supervisor, Foundation Programme, GP and Specialty Registrars, 2008-
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Chair, Medical Specialties Training Committee, North of Scotland Deanery 2013-2015
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Member, RCP/BGS Geriatric Medicine Specialty Certificate Exam (SCE) Question Writing Group, 2009-14
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Advisory Board Member, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (UK), 2010-12
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External Examiner, MSc (Hons) research theses, Dundee University and Flinders University 2012-6
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Clinical Supervisor, Physician Associate course, University of Aberdeen 2013-5
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‘Hospital to Home’ National Project Advisory Group Member, Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services (IRISS), 2013-6
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Expert panellist, for a number of Delphi expert panels, e.g. for the FORTA, OPERAM and PERFECTED clinical trials
- Research
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Research Overview
I am interested in all aspects of health and disease in old age. My chief interests are hyponatraemia in older people and clinical pharmacology in old age. More recently, I have been working on COVID-19 therapy trials, and leading on vaccine trials. I have also researched polypharmacy, whole body vibration exercise, vascular ageing and cognitive ageing. I run clinical trials in older people but have wide experience in epidemiological and mechanistic studies, as well as systematic reviews.
Current Research
I am the Aberdeen Principal Investigator for the NOVAVAX, MODERNA P-305 (omicron), Medicago, BiCARB, K-SWAY, LACE, RAINDROP and SENATOR randomised controlled trials.
I have an ongoing interest in hyponatraemia, most recently investigating the causes of hyponatraemia after head injury.
I also led Wave 4 of the Aberdeen 1936 Birth Cohort (ABC36) Study, a longitudinal cohort study of cognitive ageing.
Supervision
I have supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students from medical elective students to PhD candidates.
Funding and Grants
Current Grants
- 'Widening Access to Trials in Care Homes (WATCH)' RL Soiza, Vaccine Innovation Fund 24/005, £299,792
- ‘An evidence synthesis suite to inform a a future randomised trial of reducing anticholinergic related harm in older adults’, PK Myint, RL Soiza et al (6 co-investigators), Dunhill Medical Trust Ref No RPGF180666, £99,165
- ‘Oral iron, intravenous iron or discontinuation of therapy for older adults with treatment unresponsive iron deficiency anaemia- a pilot randomised controlled trial’, PK Myint, RL Soiza et al (7 co-investigators), CSO Grant Ref No HIPS/17/15, £283,555
- ‘Development and clinical trials of a new Software ENgine for the Assessment & optimization of drug and non-drug Therapy in Older persons (SENATOR)’, EU FP7 Project Grant, D O’Mahony, RL Soiza et al (12 co-investigators), €5,938,947
- ‘Does oral sodium bicarbonate therapy improve function and quality of life in older patients with chronic kidney disease and low-grade acidosis? A multicentre randomized placebo controlled trial’ NIHR HTA Grant 10/71, MD Witham, RL Soiza et al (10 co-investigators), £1,471,735
- ‘Vitamin K supplementation to reduce falls in older people – a multicentre trial’ CSO Grant CZH/4/1100, MD Witham, M McMurdo, P Donnan, P Mc Namee, RL Soiza, V Cvoro, £213,493
- ‘Assessment of association between slow muscle fibres of calf and postural integrity between elderly fallers and non fallers using MRI techniques – a proof of concept study’ NHS Grampian Endowment Fund Research Grant 14/19, PK Myint, SR Gray, J He, RL Soiza,£11,936
- Vascular ageing and hyponatraemia, NRS Career Researcher Fellowship, £123,010
- ‘Association of White Matter Lesions with Endothelial Dysfunction and Postural Blood Pressure Instability (ENDOW Study)’ NHS Grampian Endowment Fund Research Grant, £16,000, GE Hoyle, RL Soiza, DJP Williams, DG Seymour, AD Murray
- ‘Aberdeen 1936 Birth Cohort Study: Wave 4’ Development Trust Alzheimer’s Research Fund, £41,382, AD Murray, RL Soiza, LJ Whalley
- 'Association of Postural Blood Pressure Instability with Arterial Stiffness and Endothelial Dysfunction' NHSG Endowments No. 08/26 £8,667, RL Soiza, S Saha, GE Hoyle, DJP Williams
- ‘The role of serum urate in cognitive decline’ Tenovus Scotland Project Grant G09/20 £9,456, RL Soiza, AD Murray, L Phillips, RT Staff
- ‘The association between plasma nitrite levels and degree of endothelial function measured by pulse wave analysis’ 50% NHSG Endowments No. 09/19 & 50% British Geriatrics Society SpR Start-up Grant - £13,704, RL Soiza, S Saha, DJP Williams, IJ Megson
- ‘Arginine Methylation: the missing link between vascular risk and Alzheimer’s disease severity’. NHS Grampian Endowments Research Grant 11/08, £9,084 AA Mangoni, RL Soiza, D Mowat
- ‘Can asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) predict cognitive decline?’ NHS Grampian Endowments Research Grant No 11/07, £11,789, AA Mangoni, F Thies, RL Soiza, RT Staff
- Publications
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Page 1 of 4 Results 1 to 50 of 163
Why the UK is vaccinating its older adult population against RSV: what geriatricians should know
Age and Ageing, vol. 53, no. 9, afae202Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEditor's View: Ageing in place
Age and AgeingContributions to Journals: EditorialsThe association of dementia with incident adverse drug reactions in hospitalized older adults
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, vol. 25, no. 9, 105151Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEditor’s View – Updated guidance on managing dementia
Age and AgeingContributions to Journals: EditorialsA descriptive analysis of drug-drug interactions and corresponding adverse drug reactions in multimorbid older inpatients: findings from the SENATOR trial
European Geriatric MedicineContributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-024-01025-7
Association of bradykinin receptor 2 (BDKRB2) variants with physical performance and muscle mass: findings from the LACE sarcopenia trial
PloS ONE, vol. 19, no. 8, e0307268Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAnticholinergic burden and health-related quality of life among adult patients in a resource-limited setting: a cross-sectional study
International Journal of Clinical PharmacyContributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-024-01769-z
Enhancing medication management of older adults in Qatar: healthcare professionals’ perspectives on challenges, barriers, and Enabling solutions
Therapeutic Advances in Drug SafetyContributions to Journals: ArticlesSex differences in patterns of potentially inappropriate prescribing and adverse drug reactions in hospitalized older people: findings from the SENATOR trial
Journal of the American Geriatrics SocietyContributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.19071
A world-wide study on delirium assessments and presence of protocols
Age and Ageing, vol. 53, no. 7, afae129Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afae129
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/23856/1/Nydahl_etal_AA_A_World_Wide_AAM.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
The COVID-19 Vaccine Gamble – by luck they worked in the oldest, frailest people
Revista Española de Geriatría y Gerontología, vol. 59, no. 4, 101427Contributions to Journals: Editorials- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regg.2023.101427
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/24328/1/Soiza_etal_REGG_The_COvid_19_AAM.pdf
- [ONLINE] https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-revista-espanola-geriatria-gerontologia-124-articulo-the-covid-19-vaccine-gambleby-luck-S0211139X23001488?esCovid=Dr56DrLjUdaMjzAgze452SzSInMN&rfr=truhgiz&y=kEzTXsahn8atJufRpNPuIGh67s1
Guideline Summary: Assessment, diagnosis, care, and support for people with dementia and their carers [Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network SIGN Guideline 168]
Age and AgeingContributions to Journals: ArticlesEnhancing Medication Safety through implementing the Qatar Tool for Reducing Inappropriate Medication (QTRIM) in Ambulatory Older Adults
Healthcare, vol. 12, no. 12, 1186Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEditor’s View – Older people’s goals of care and person-centredness
Age and Ageing, vol. 53, no. 6, afae124Contributions to Journals: EditorialsA combined approach maximises vaccination rates in older people – health education, centralised reminders and onsite vaccination
Age and Ageing, vol. 53, no. 4, afae060Contributions to Journals: ArticlesShould Kuwait Join Global Epidemiological Research for Older People?
Kuwait Medical Journal, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 50-53Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDiabetes mellitus increases risk of adverse drug reactions and death in hospitalised older people: the SENATOR trial
European Geriatric Medicine, vol. 15, pp. 189-199Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-023-00903-w
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/22656/1/Soiza_etal_EGM_Diabetes_Mellitus_Increase_AAM.pdf
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/22656/2/Chinmayee_etal_EGM_Diabetes_Mellitus_Increases_VoR.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial
Nature Communications, vol. 15, 924Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAnticholinergic burden among in-patients: a cross-sectional study on prevalence, determinants, and impact on mortality in Ethiopia
Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, vol. 15, pp. 1-12Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe predictive role of symptoms in COVID-19 diagnostic models: A longitudinal insight
Epidemiology and Infection, vol. 152, e37Contributions to Journals: ArticlesActivin type I receptor polymorphisms and body composition in older individuals with sarcopenia – analyses from the LACE randomised controlled trial
PloS ONE, vol. 18, no. 11 November, e0294330Contributions to Journals: ArticlesACE I/D genotype associates with strength in sarcopenic men but not with response to ACE inhibitor therapy in older adults with sarcopenia: Results from the LACE trial
PloS ONE, vol. 18, no. 10, e0292402Contributions to Journals: ArticlesClassifying the non-metabolic demands of different physical activity types: The Physical Activity Demand (PAD) typology
PloS ONE, vol. 18, no. 10, e0291782Contributions to Journals: ArticlesPoor outcomes in patients with sepsis undergoing emergency laparotomy and laparoscopy are attenuated by faster time to care measures
Colorectal Disease, vol. 25, no. 9, pp. 1888-1895Contributions to Journals: ArticlesA systematic review of clinical practice guidelines on the use of deep brain stimulation for the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder
International Congress of Royal College of Psychiatrist, pp. S60-S61Contributions to Journals: AbstractsSCoOP Acute Hospitals Outcomes Reports: An overview of outcomes of acute geriatric medicine services in Scotland before, during and after the covid lockdown
Commissioned by British Geriatrics Society. University of Aberdeen. 48 pagesBooks and Reports: Commissioned ReportsVirus Infections in Older People
Biochemistry and Cell Biology of Ageing: Part IV, Clinical Science. Harris, R. (ed.). 1 edition. Springer Nature, pp. 149–183, 35 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26576-1_8
Editor’s view: Cardiovascular health and frailty
Age and Ageing, vol. 52, no. 2, afad029Contributions to Journals: EditorialsSafety and Efficacy of the NVX-CoV2373 Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine at Completion of the Placebo-Controlled Phase of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Clinical Infectious Diseases, vol. 76, no. 3, pp. 398-407Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe Relationship Between Nutritional Status at the Time of Stroke on Adverse Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies
Nutrition Reviews, vol. 80, no. 12, pp. 2275-2287Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDoes estimated glomerular filtration rate predict in-hospital mortality in acutely unwell hospitalized oldest old?
Geriatrics, vol. 7, no. 6, 135Contributions to Journals: ArticlesBaricitinib in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial and updated meta-analysis
The Lancet, vol. 400, no. 10349, pp. 359-368Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEfficacy and Safety of a Recombinant Plant-Based Adjuvanted Covid-19 Vaccine
The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 386, pp. 2084-2096Contributions to Journals: ArticlesComparison of the Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) to the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) Risk Calculator in all patients undergoing emergency laparotomy.
Colorectal Disease, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 782-789Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEditor’s view
Age and Ageing, vol. 51, no. 5, afac122Contributions to Journals: Editorials- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac122
Body Mass Index and Mortality, Recurrence and Readmission after Myocardial Infarction: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 11, no. 9, 2581Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEffect of perindopril or leucine on physical performance in older people with sarcopenia: the LACE randomized controlled trial
Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 858-871Contributions to Journals: ArticlesCasirivimab and imdevimab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial
The Lancet, vol. 399, no. 10325, pp. 665-676Contributions to Journals: ArticlesFrailty is associated with increased waiting time for relevant process of care measures; findings from the Emergency Laparoscopic & Laparotomy Scottish Audit (ELLSA)
British Journal of Surgery, vol. 109, no. 2, pp. 172–175Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSafety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine (NVX-CoV2373) co-administered with seasonal influenza vaccines: an exploratory substudy of a randomised, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial
The Lancet. Respiratory medicine, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 167-179Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAspirin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial
The Lancet, vol. 399, no. 10320, pp. 143-151Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEditorial: Deprescribing and Minimizing Use of Anticholinergic Medications
Frontiers in Pharmacology, vol. 12, 820051Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAn international consensus list of potentially clinically significant drug-drug interactions in older people
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, vol. 22, no. 10, pp. 2121-2133.e24Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAssociations between Frailty, Physical Performance, and Renal Biomarkers in Older People with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease
European Geriatric Medicine, vol. 12, pp. 943–952Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSafety and Efficacy of the NVX-CoV2373 Covid-19 Vaccine
The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 385, no. 13, pp. 1172-1183Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2107659
Hyponatraemia in older people is usually multifactorial and commonly iatrogenic
Age and Ageing, vol. 50, no. 4, pp. 1071-1072Contributions to Journals: EditorialsConvalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial
The Lancet, vol. 397, no. 10289, pp. 2049-2059Contributions to Journals: ArticlesTocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial
The Lancet, vol. 397, no. 10285, pp. 1637-1645Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAnticholinergic burden (prognostic factor) for prediction of dementia or cognitive decline in older adults with no known cognitive syndrome (Review)
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, vol. 5, no. 4, CD013540Contributions to Journals: Articles503 Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) Vs Antibiotics, Time to Surgery and Time to Computerised Tomography (CT) Scan in An Emergency Surgical Population
British Journal of Surgery, vol. 108, no. Supplement_2, znab134.193Contributions to Journals: Abstracts- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znab134.193