Principal research interests include using theory and evidence from psychological science to develop and evaluate complex interventions to improve health and reduce health inequalities. My research involves diverse populations including: children & families; people involved in criminal behaviours; marginalised communities. It reaches accross the public health and social care sectors and topics have included: obesity prevention; oral health; health services research and more recently, health and housing; violence reduction; digital health.
Reducing inequalities in health for children and families
Housing as a complex intervention to improve health for children and families
Reducing inequalities in Oral Health
I am a chartered psychologist and research fellow with the Equitable Placed Based Health & Care Theme for the ARC Northwest coast. I also work one day a week as an NIHR Research Design Service (RDS) advisor based at the Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, University of Manchester. I have worked in the area of social and health services research since 2003, having held previous roles at Birkbeck College, University of London and the Centre for Public Health Research at the University of Chester. I gained my PhD in Dental and Commmunity Public Health in 2012. In 2018 I secured funding from NIHR for The Polar Bear Study, a collborative project between MCHP and the Dental Health Unit which started early January 2020. I am co-PI and research lead for the evaluation of the Lancashire Violence Prevention Network, a collaboration led by Lancashire Constabulary and lead a number of research projects that focus on reducing health inequalities. Topics include Housing and Health, Social Prescribing and Digital Health.
NIHR RFPB ;The Polar Bear Study