Dr Aranceta-Garza's expertise involves using a specialised tool (high-density surface electromyography, HDsEMG) to understand the mechanisms behind motor control and the neurophysiological involvement during abnormal movements, diseases, or injuries, as well as using specialised tools to assess the effectiveness of different interventions, like rehabilitation or assistive medical devices.

Specific experience and expertise: 

1. Assistive technology design, development, testing and manufacture; and
2. Analysis, and interpretation of electrophysiological signals (more specifically signals from the muscles, HDsEMG) and the development of predictive models for prognosis during abnormal movements, diseases, or failure. 

Capitalising on her unique skillset in HDsEMG my research interests are aligned in two complementary areas:

1. The development of assistive medical devices; conducted in partnership with national and international clinical partners; and
2.  to significantly extend our knowledge of how our body moves using neurorehabilitation during health, disease, and injury.

Worldwide, there are currently limitations in our understanding of the central nervous system’s involvement during abnormal movements and injury. My vision through these two research streams is to fill that gap in understanding, and thus to assist vulnerable patient populations to self-manage their own health.  

Current medical technology development activity has led to the award of patents and ongoing invention disclosures and is currently working with TalarMade, a UK company with a global footprint, to take one of our technologies to market (WristEaze).

Additionally, through other collaborative international research activities, she is currently working towards the development of assistive technologies that will improve the management of diseases such as (but not restricted to) hand, foot, and mouth disease and tetanus, in Vietnam. In this way, she proposes to reduce the healthcare and social burden of disease in these low economic regions.  

To date, Ale has produced 2 patents (1 European and 1 North American); multiple peer-reviewed papers; book chapters; and more.

In May 2020 and in recognition of her achievements (the quality of her research ideas and their impact, her international reach, and her expertise in the field of electromyography), she was one of 5 researchers internationally to be awarded the 2020 Delsys Prize Award by the DeLuca Foundation.

She has been an invited speaker to international gatherings and Universities, such as: Mexican National Royal Conservatoire (from work carried out with Prof Merletti in 2019); Guest Lecture at the Biomedical Engineering Department at the Autonomous Metropolitan University, Mexico (2019); and Biomedical Engineering Seminar Series at the Autonomous University of Southern California, Mexico (2016). Additionally, she has been invited speaker in UK-wide events/organisations and national STEM activities, such as: Institution of Mechanical Engineers (from work carried out in Vietnam, 2019); Ingenious Woman Scotland (2020); panellist representing the University discuss Research Career Development and mental Health (2019); and The Lecture List, Galilean Society (2012).

She is part of the EPSRC Review College Panel and is a Fellow in the HEA. 

Dr Aranceta-Garza is the module lead for:

• Biomedical sensors and measurements
• Design Centre Learning (in collaboration with NeuSoft)
• Rehabilitation Engineering

Additionally, she supports the following modules:

• Research and Development Skills
• BioInstrumentation
• Problem-Solving Industry Led Projects