Focus Areas

Research Themes

Extended Reality (XR) in Healthcare

Application, evaluation, and ethical deployment of immersive technologies including VR, AR, and mixed reality in clinical and educational settings. Focus on accessibility, adoption frameworks, and sustainable implementation strategies.

Empathy & Compassion in Clinical Education

Using experiential and perspective-based learning to develop humanistic skills in healthcare professionals. Research into patient perspective experiences and their impact on clinical behaviour and communication.

Minimal Viable Simulation (MVS)

Prioritising learning objectives and human experience over technological sophistication. Developing sustainable, resource-appropriate approaches to simulation-based education that maximise pedagogical impact.

Digital Health Literacy & Workforce Development

Building digital competence across healthcare workforces. Development of training programmes, deep dive sessions, and co-design methodologies for technology adoption in resource-constrained environments.

Doctoral Research

PhD Thesis (2024)

Technological Mediation and the Development of Humanistic Skills in Medical Simulation

Completed at Transtechnology Research, Plymouth University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Michael Punt.

Virtual Reality Compassion Medical Simulation Human Factors

This research chronicles the integration of innovation and technology in medical simulation and training within an NHS organisation from 2014 to 2023. It challenges the current trend towards high-fidelity simulations driven by technology-centric marketing strategies and explores the potential of immersive media to enhance empathy and compassion in healthcare education.

The study developed two innovative outputs:

  • PatientVR — An immersive patient perspective experience that became nationally recognised
  • Minimal Viable Simulation (MVS) — A sustainable and humanistic approach to simulation-based education
Publications

Selected Works

Book Chapter

Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) Solutions for COVID-19: Use Cases from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Innovation: Shaping Future Models of Delivery

Halkes, M., Peres, N., Ghetnekar, P. • World Scientific Publishing, 2023

NHS Framework

VR360 Creation Toolkit: How to Develop a Virtual Reality (VR) 360-degree Video

NHS England Technology Enhanced Learning

Peres, N. • NHS Learning Hub, 2023

Research Paper

A Co-Design Solution to Digital Literacy in Health Provision

Transtechnology Research Open Access Papers

Bellali, J., Haines, A., Knight, J., Peres, N., Punt, M. • 2022

Conference Paper

Remote 360 Virtual Simulation — Can You 'Do Sim' Completely Online?

Archives of Disease in Childhood

Mason, T., Peres, N. • 2021

NHS Guidance

Definitions of Simulation and Immersive Technologies

NHS England Technology Enhanced Learning

Ford, C., Peres, N., et al. • NHS National Learning Hub, 2024

Research Paper

TAaCT: Technology, Affect and Clinical Training

Transtechnology Research Open Access Papers

Knight, J., Peres, N. • 2018

View All Publications