Personal Statement
My research interests lie in information retrieval for systematic reviews and methodological advances to incorporate considerations of health inequalities in evidence synthesis. I have over 16 years experience of teaching systematic review methodologies in higher education and supervising Master's students undertaking systematic reviews for their dissertations. I am a qualified information specialist and have over 20 years experience in leading information retrieval elements to inform different types of evidence synthesis (e.g. systematic reviews, realist reviews, reviews of complex interventions, critical interpretive synthesis). I have published systematic reviews and systematic review methodological papers. I also have a keen interest in teaching and learning pedagogy and e-learning.

My thesis explored how we can help systematic reviewers, particularly those unfamiliar with health inequalities, to consider health inequalities in evidence synthesis. I have developed a novel approach using two theoretical perspectives (complex interventions and health inequalities) to inform a theory-led meta-framework to help inform considerations of if, and how, socioeconomic status (SES) may moderate intervention effectiveness. Four key domains (intervention design, implementation, context, participant response) and factors associated with differential effects across SES populations were identified. SES theories also identify mechanisms associated with the four key domains.

I specialise in teaching evidence synthesis methodologies related to information retrieval and quality assessment and advise on evidence synthesis grant applications.

Collaborations: LRiG | NIHR ARC North West Coast

Interested in supervising PhD students with an interest in advancing evidence synthesis methodologies or those looking to include a systematic review or other type of evidence synthesis as part of their wider PhD.

Research Overview
As part of the Evidence Synthesis at LRiG I have been involved in supporting different types of evidence synthesis including:

NIHR
* Safe and effective gradual reduction (tapering) of opioids in people with chronic non-cancer pain: systematic review of effects, barriers and facilitators and inequalities to inform service design in the NHS
* Optimising a whole-person-centred approach to stopping medicines in older people with multimorbidity and polypharmacy: The Tailor Medication Synthesis. (Scoping Review)
* A mapping review and realist synthesis investigating the service models and systems for co-existing mental health and substance use conditions.
* Respite care and short breaks for young adults with life-limiting/complex health and/or complex physical disability needs (LLDNs) conditions: mixed-method systematic review and conceptual framework development.

WHO
* A systematic review of the effect of policies to restrict the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children.
* A systematic review of the impact of marketing for foods and non-alcoholic beverages on children’s eating behaviours, body weight and health: a review of recent evidence.
* Health Effects of Liquid and Gaseous Fuel Use for Household Cooking, Heating, and Lighting Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Public Health England
* Marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages - current UK trends, impact on eating behaviours and body weight and its role in health inequalities: a systematic review of recent evidence.

Other
* A systematic review and Activation Likelihood Estimation (ALE) meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing exposure in children and adults.
* A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of game-based or influencer food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing on children and adolescents: exploring hierarchy of effects outcomes.
* A systematic review of the use of the contact heat evoked potential system (CHEPS) in magnetoencephalography (MEG) pain studies.
* Minimal intervention dentistry for managing carious lesions in primary teeth: an umbrella review.
* Spinal cord stimulation for painful diabetic neuropathy: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.
* Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Machine Learning Algorithms for Classifying Pain Intensity, Phenotype or Treatment Outcomes Using Electroencephalogram Data. ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=172091)
* The effectiveness of music therapy interventions for people with eating disorders.
* A systematic review of child and young person, parent and researcher experiences of ophthalmic research.
* Examination of equity in the delivery of personalised health and care.
* Systematic review of the use of smartphone and tablet devices to support cognition by community-dwelling older people with and without cognitive impairment. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=176865 (Systematic review of the use of smartphone and tablet devices to support cognition by community-dwelling older people with and without cognitive impairment. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=176865)
* Umbrella review of strategies to improve uptake of screening programmes.