Postgraduate researchers

Supporting parents with multiple and complex needs in order to prevent care proceedings

Vanessa’s PhD by Published Work focusses on the provision of services to support parents with multiple and complex needs in order to prevent their children being taken into care via care proceedings. This involves a critical review of the research she has undertaken and published in peer-reviewed journals, including analysis of the impact and effectiveness of specialist recurrent care and edge of care services that support these parents.

Frailty in severe mental illness: Conceptualisation and assessment of frailty in working age adults with severe mental illness

Susie's PhD explores how the multidimensional nature of frailty in people with severe mental illness can be better understood and identified through the development of an evidence-based assessment tool. My research focuses on improving the identification of frailty to support more targeted and personalised care.

Trauma informed frameworks for increasing health and social care research uptake in underserved African communities in Northeast Lincolnshire: A participatory action study

My research addresses the intersection of structural inequality, trauma, and health research participation for Black African communities in the UK, with Northeast Lincolnshire as the focal community context for the participatory phase. The central proposition is that systemic adversity, cultural trauma, and entrenched mistrust of healthcare institutions have produced measurable disparities across cancer, mental health, maternal health, and chronic disease, and that trauma-informed, community co-designed frameworks could offer a pathway to rebuilding trust and improving meaningful research engagement.

Informal carer experiences in context of dementia: A mixed methods examination of future thinking, mental health and the journey to becoming an expert in care

My PhD explores the experiences and perspectives of informal carers of people living with dementia in relation to specialist dementia services. It aims to understand how services can better support carers and work with them as knowledgeable and confident care partners, including how support could be improved in the future.

Can physical activity intervention reduce cholesterol in familial hypercholesterolaemia?

Adults with inherited conditions may have specific attitudes toward physical activity. To inform intervention, a survey has been developed to assess the physical activity patterns, preferences, barriers, and motivations of adults with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia.  Wider beliefs, attitudes and habits surrounding physical activity will also be examined in this group. I have been a Specialist Nurse for Familial Hypercholesterolaemia since April 2017 at York Teaching Hospitals and am currently undertaking a part-time research PhD in conjunction with St. John’s University. This research focuses upon whether physical activity intervention can reduce cholesterol in familial hypercholesterolaemia.

Supporting Adolescent Footballers' Mental Health and Wellbeing During Transitions to Senior Environments

Burnout in social workers within a local NHS trust

Advanced Practitioners in Emergency Departments: An Exploration of Professional Identity and Sustainability

Delaying and reversing frailty in rural communities

Ruth works in primary care as an occupational therapist and has specific interest in supporting older adults in rural communities to age well in place. Her research is seeking to understand how people engage in physical activity and the factors that enable or hinder participation. This will inform the co-development of an intervention strategy that supports resilience and the delay and reversal of frailty within this population.

Development and Validation of Prognostic Molecular Biomarkers in the Peri-Tumoural Tissue of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

My PhD project investigates prognostic biomarkers in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, focusing on the expression patterns and biological behaviour of the p53 family proteins (p53, p63 and p73) within tumour and peritumoural tissue. Using immunohistochemistry and digital pathology, the project aims to develop a reproducible automated scoring method capable of quantifying biomarker expression and supporting future molecular risk‑stratification in cSCC.

Understanding the place of inhaled therapy in optimising outcomes for people with cystic fibrosis in the post-modulator era

The A words: Exploring how Aphantasia and Alexithymia explain heterogeneity in the experiences of Autistic adults

Following from extensive clinical experience as a Speech and Language Therapist, this project explores autistic people’s experiences of aphantasia and alexithymia.

Sensory processing differences and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD): exploring the theoretical assumptions and implications with Experts by Experience

The psycho-physical presentation of people with Parkinson's disease

The development of an evidence based therapy intervention for the management of iliotibial band syndrome in runners

I am an MSK Advanced Practice Physiotherapist at York Teaching Hospital and a PhD researcher at York St John University, supervised by Dr John Thompson and Dr Alastair Jordan. My research explores the variables associated with iliotibial band syndrome in recreational runners, the most common cause of pain on the outside of the knee in runners, with a focus on identifying potentially modifiable ones and developing practical, evidence-based approaches to conservative management. My research is driven by an interest in translating research into clinical practice and improving the management of musculoskeletal conditions.

A longitudinal study of the microbial quality of a hospital water distribution system