International Health Humanities Network Membership

I am a Research Fellow (Qualitative) and Head of Qualitative Research for The Centre for Trials Research, College of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Cardiff University.

I began my research career at the Centre for Language and Communication Research training in interactional sociolinguistics. My doctoral research explored diagnostic uncertainty in genetics and society. Following this I developed international networks with discourse researchers and assisted in the launch of the Annual International Conferences on Communication, Medicine & Ethics and acted as Editorial Associate for the journal Communication & Medicine.

I moved to the South East Wales Trials Unit when it was first established in 2006, now Centre for Trials Research. I initially focused on the use of qualitative methods in infections. I then began to broaden my research portfolio to include the use of qualitative methods with vulnerable population groups, and children/young people and parenting, and using qualitative methods with trials.

I am a co-applicant on studies funded by NIHR (RAPID, SenITA, BATCH), ESRC (DM IN GENETICS), HCRW Research for Patient and Public Benefit (PLACEMENT, TRIDENT), and Charity Action for Children (MIST). I supervise students at Doctoral and Masters level, and am a Fellowship Advisor .

My research interests include:

• Health communication
• Patient voices
• Children, young people and parenting
• Infections
• Using qualitative methods with vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations
• Qualitative methods and trials
• Large-scale, multi-country qualitative research design