Associate ProfessorZoe McKeough

BAppSc(Physiotherapy) with distinction PhD

Dr Zoe McKeough is a physiotherapist (BAppSc (Physio) with distinction 1998, PhD 2004) who has been an academic at The University of Sydney (USyd) since 2005. She currently holds the role of Associate Professor for the Discipline of Physiotherapy and senior researcher for the Heart and Lung Physiotherapy Research Team.

A/Prof McKeough is an internationally-recognised researcher in the area of respiratory physiotherapy, particularly in the area of exercise training in people with chronic lung disease. Her research program has focused on the impact of lung diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and dust diseases on exercise performance and the effects of interventions such as pulmonary rehabilitation, to improve exercise capacity and quality of life in people with these conditions. She is particularly world-renowned for the work she has undertaken determining i) optimal modes of exercise training in COPD of which upper limb exercise in COPD has been a specific focus as well as Tai Chi, water-based therapy and maintenace exercise, ii) the impact of exercise training on physical activity and sedentary behaviour outcomes in people with chronic lung disease and iii) effectiveness of digital health (mHealth) interventions in pulmonary rehabilitation. A/Prof McKeough won a REDI Fellowship in 2022 that supported her working with an external industry partner, Perx Health, which has allowed her to develop a scalable mobile health platform for pulmonary rehabilitation.

A/Prof McKeough has published 111 papers in peer-reviewed international respiratory and physiotherapy journals. She has also published 2 book chapters and 158 peer-reviewed abstracts. Her work is regularly cited (total cites as of 10.11.2025 = 4259). A/Prof McKeough has attracted over $5 million in funding over her career.