About us
Research team
- Dr Steph Scott
- Dr Michelle Addison
- Kat Jackson
- Prof Stephen J Macdonald
- Professor Amy O’Donnell
- Sheena E Ramsay
- Dr Joanne McGrath
- Luke Munford
- Naomi Griffin
- Dr Lisa Crowe
- Lisa Moseley
Dr Steph Scott
Senior Lecturer in Public HealthSteph is a social scientist who leads a flourishing programme of research focusing on the impact of justice-involvement on health and care inequalities. She has secured research income with a total value of over £7.1 million (£2.3 million as PI) and has published over 70 academic articles (Google Scholar H-index: 14). She leads an ESRC-funded research consortium focusing on integrated health and justice systems as well as a number of projects focusing on the impact that adult imprisonment has upon children and families, and the impact of ‘insecurity’ (food, childcare and housing) on vulnerable populations. Methodologically, Steph is a highly experienced qualitative researcher with particular expertise in advanced qualitative skills such as longitudinal methods; co-created and equitable data collection and analysis; and visual or creative methodologies such as diary elicitation, sketch/performative art and poetry. Finally, she is a trustee for NE Youth as well as a member of the Children of Prisoners Europe (COPE) network (and chair of their gender working group).
Outputs:
Adley M, O’Donnell A and Scott S (2025) How LGBTQ+ adults’ experiences of multiple disadvantage impact upon their health and social care service pathways in the UK & Ireland: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res 25, 244 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12232-8
Griffin N, Loucks N, Minson S, Shildrick T, Young T, Crowe L and Scott S (2025) Divided Households: Supporting children and young people with a family member in prison. Newcastle University: Newcastle, UK: bit.ly/40nKS3w
Addison M, Scott S, Bambra C and Lhussier M. (2025). Stigma and the Inverse Care Law: Experiences of ‘Care’ for People Living in Marginalised Conditions. Sociology of Health and Illness, 47: e70000. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.70000
Lochhead L, Addison M, Cavener J, Scott S, McGovern W. Exploring the Impact of Stigma on Health and Wellbeing: Insights from Mothers with Lived Experience Accessing Recovery Services. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2024; 21(9):1189. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091189
Bell Z, Nguyen G, Andreae G, Scott S, Sermin-Reed L, Lake A, Heslehurst N. (2024) Associations between food insecurity in high-income countries and pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Medicine 21(9): e1004450; https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004450
Projects:
CREATE: Co-creating safe spaces and belonging with marginalised communities in contact with support services using an intersectional lens (co-lead, funded by NIHR SPHR, £187,194.62)
Disentangling involvement in and the impact of integrated health and criminal justice systems: A North of England Research Consortia (project lead, funded by ESRC Large Grants Call, £1,640,997)
Improving mental health outcomes for disadvantaged young men: the role and efficacy of VCSE services in Northern England (co-lead, funded by NIHR SPHR, £ 170,564.50)
Exploring food insecurity in pregnancy in the UK to inform future Public Health intervention needs. (co-investigator, funded by NIHR SPHR, £206,043)
‘Divided Households’ – Exploring emotional wellbeing, health and health inequalities in children and young people with an incarcerated family member: developing a child-centred, rights-based framework for prison social visits (project lead, ESRC New Investigator funding stream, £299,739)
Dr Michelle Addison
Associate Professor in CriminologyMichelle is an experienced qualitative researcher concerned with the criminalisation of poverty and the role power, stigma, and social harm play in generating social and health inequalities in society. Her research focuses on tackling social and health disadvantages for those with experience of the criminal justice system. She is part of Health Equity North and a Fellow of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing. Michelle’s publications are international and inter-disciplinary in scope, and she sits on the editorial board for the flagship journal The British Journal of Criminology.
Outputs:
Addison, M. Scott, S., Bambra, C., Lhussier, M. (2025) ‘Stigma and the Inverse Care Law: Experiences of ‘care’ for people living in marginalised conditions’ Sociology of Health and Illness, 47(1) e70000
Addison, M. and Lhussier, M. (2025) ‘If I wasn’t on drugs or I didn’t take anything, I wouldn’t be here’: Mental health ‘problems’ as an unfolding dimension of social harm generated by stigma’ in Weston, S. and Trebilcock, J. (eds.) Mental Health, Crime and Justice, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-3-031-83392-2 pp. 285-312
Stockdale, K. and Addison, M. (eds.) (2024) Marginalised Voices in Criminology, London: Routledge
Addison, M. (2023) ‘Framing Stigma as an Avoidable Social Harm that Widens Inequality’ in The Sociological Review; 71(2), pp. 296-314
Addison, M. Lhussier, M and Bambra, C. (2023) ‘Stigma Relations as a Social Determinant of Health: “I’m not what you f**king see me as”, Social Science and Medicine – Qualitative Research in Health, 2023, 100295, ISSN 2667-3215
Projects:
Sumnall, H. (PI); Hope, V. Harris, M. Morris, J. Addison, M. McGovern, W. Carlisle, V. (Jan 2025 – 2026) National Stigma Indicators and Reduction Evaluation, Funder: Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, £225, 164
Mead, R. Scott, S. Addison, M. Cooper, C. (Nov 2024-2026) CREATE: ‘Co-creating safe spaces and belonging with marginalised communities in contact with support services using an intersectional lens’ (Co-I, 2.5%, 2 years, SPHR); Total Cost: £187,194.62
Scott, S. (PI Newcastle), Addison, M (dep-PI Durham)., Bambra, C., Ramsey, S., O’Donnell, A., MacDonald, S., King, H., Jobe, A., Stockdale, K., Munford, L., Jackson, K. (2024 – 2028), Disentangling involvement in and the impact of integrated health and criminal justice systems: A North of England Research Consortia, ESRC £1,640,997; Grant number – ES/Y002458/1
Rees, G.; McKinnon, I.; Finch, T.; Addison, M.; Bell, M. (2021-25) What is ‘Equivalence’ in Police Custody Healthcare?, ESRC Open Call, £569,494.93
Kat Jackson
Senior Research AssociatePopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University
My research is concerned with developing meaningful approaches to supporting marginalised populations and reducing health inequalities, particularly people struggling with alcohol use, other drug use and mental ill health. I’m especially interested in how sociological and feminist theories of care can inform public health approaches to reducing alcohol use and other mental ill health. I engage closely with policy and practice partners and most of my research uses qualitative methods, sometimes as part of mixed-methods studies. Another strand of my work focuses on relational research ethics and, how to engage the most marginalised people in research in appropriate ways, through co-design and participatory methods.
Outputs:
Salonen, D.; O’Donnell, A.; Jackson, K.; Hulse, S.; Crosbie, J.; Swiers, R.; Tasker, F.; Muldowney, G.; Pickford, A.; Christie-de Jong, F. Holland EJ. (2025) Building Connections and Striving to Build Better Futures: A Qualitative Interview Study of Alcohol Recovery Navigators’ Practice in the North East of England, UK. International Journal of. Environmental Research and Public Health 2025, 22, 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010111
Jackson K, Holland EJ, Titchener, E and O’Donnell, A. (2025) ‘’Tinkering with care’ in public involvement and community engagement with people with experience of problematic alcohol and / or drug use.’ in McGovern, W., Bareham, B., Alderson, H. and Lhussier, M. (eds.) Public Involvement and Community Engagement in Applied Health and Social Care Research: Critical Perspectives and Innovative Practice. Emerald Publishing Group (in press)
Jackson K, Baker R, O’Donnell A, Loughran I, Hartrey W, Hulse S. (2024) Understanding the challenges of identifying, supporting, and signposting patients with alcohol use disorder in secondary care hospitals, post COVID-19: a qualitative analysis from the North East and North Cumbria, England. BMC Health Services Research https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11232-4
Jackson K, Kaner E, Yardley L, Gilvarry E, Hanratty B and O’Donnell A (2023) Understanding people’s experiences of the formal health and social care system for co-occurring heavy alcohol use and depression through the lens of relational autonomy: a qualitative study. Addiction. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16350
Adley M, Alderson H, Jackson K, McGovern R, Spencer L, Addison M and O’Donnell A (2023) Ethical and practical considerations for including marginalised groups in quantitative survey research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2023.2228600
Projects:
Trebacz, A (PI), Christie-de Jong, F, Jackson K, O’Donnell A (2024 -2025) Evaluation of a Fibroscan Pathway in County Durham. North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care system.
Scott S (PI) Addison M, Jackson K, O’Donnell A, Ramsay S, Stockdale K, Munford L, Bambra C, King H, Jobe A, Munford L, McDonald S (2023 – 2027) Disentangling involvement in and the impact of integrated health and criminal justice systems: A North of England Research Consortia.
Jackson K (PI), O’Donnell, A, Christie-de Jong F, Adams, E, Hosseinijebeli S, Vale, L (2023 – 2026) Co-design and Mixed-methods evaluation of interventions to meet the unmet health needs of people struggling with alcohol and other drug use in Sunderland. Sunderland City Council.
Prof Stephen J Macdonald
Professor of Criminology and Disability Studies, Durham UniversityStephen’s research crosses disciplinary boundaries and applies theoretical perspectives that emerge from Disability Studies to that of Criminology and Adult Services. His recent research explores encounters of day-to-day violence experienced by disabled populations. He has researched and published in the areas of ‘disability hate crime’, ‘disability mate crime’, ‘county lines and cuckooing’, and ‘hate relationships’. Alongside Stephen’s research in the field of victimisation, he conducts research in the fields of disability, criminality, and desistance. Stephen primarily explores the intersections between disability, marginalisation, and social deprivation.
Outputs:
Macdonald, S. J. & Peacock, D. (2025) Routledge Handbook of Disability, Crime, and Justice. London: Routledge
Macdonald, S.J., Donovan, C. Clayton, J. (2025) Dis/ableist Criminology and Domestic Colonisation: conceptualising disabled people’s experience of hate and home-based violence. Disability and Society. DOI: 10.1080/09687599.2025.2478053
Macdonald, S.J., Donovan, C., & Clayton, J. (2025) ‘He Made Us a Bit Suicidal to be Honest’: Disability Studies, Hate and Victimisation., in S. Weston, and J. Trebilcock., (Eds) Mental Health, Crime and Justice: An Edited Collection. London: Springer Nature.
Macdonald, S.J., Clayton, J., & Donovan, C. (2025) Disability, Mate Crime, and Cuckooing (Home Takeovers)., In L. Burch, & D. Wilkin., (Eds) Disability Hate Crime: Known Harms and Future Directions. Springer Nature.
Macdonald, S. J. and Peacock, D. (2024) Dis/ableist Criminology: applying disability theory within a criminological context in K. J. Stockdale & M. Addison (eds). Marginalised Voices in Criminology. London: Routledge.
Macdonald, S. J., Donovan, C., Clayton, J., & Husband, M. (2022). Becoming cuckooed: conceptualising the relationship between disability, home takeovers and criminal exploitation. Disability & Society, 39(2), 485–505.
Macdonald, S. J., Donovan, C., & Clayton, J. (2021). ‘I may be left with no choice but to end my torment’: disability and intersectionalities of hate crime. Disability & Society, 38(1), 127–147.
Macdonald, S.J. (2021), “Therapeutic institutions of violence: conceptualising the biographical narratives of mental health service users/survivors accessing long term “treatment” in England”, Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, Vol. 7 No. 2, pp. 179-194.
Macdonald, S. J., Peacock, D., Cosgrove, F., & Podd, W. (2020). ‘The silence’: examining the missing voices of disabled people in police custody. Disability & Society, 36(1), 19–37.
Macdonald, S. J., & Cosgrove, F. (2019). Removing disabling barriers in policing: Dyslexia and literacy difficulties in the police service. The Police Journal, 93(4), 332-352.
Professor Amy O’Donnell
Co-InvestigatorPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University
Amy leads an expanding research programme at Newcastle University focussed on improving health and social care systems so they can better support people with co-occurring problematic substance use, mental and physical health conditions. A mixed-methods researcher, with an interest in implementation science and complex systems approaches, Amy has been awarded >£20.6m in grant income and published >90 peer reviewed papers. Having recently completed a National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Advanced Fellowship, Amy is Deputy Prevention Lead for the North East NIHR Applied Research Collaboration and Co-Investigator on the NIHR Policy Research Unit for Behavioural and Social Sciences.
Outputs:
Adley M, O’Donnell A, Scott S (2025) How LGBTQ+ adults’ experiences of multiple disadvantage impact upon their health and social care service pathways in the UK & Ireland: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res
Scoles LH, Mylonas N, Priyam A, Blood S, O’Donnell A, Drummond C, Lovell K, Kaar SJ (2025) A qualitative exploration of the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the alcohol assertive outreach model. Alcohol and Alcoholism.
Salonen D, O’Donnell A, Jackson K, Hulse S, Crosbie J, Swiers R, Tasker F, Muldowney G, Pickford A, Christie-de Jong F, et al. Building Connections and Striving to Build Better Futures: A Qualitative Interview Study of Alcohol Recovery Navigators’ Practice in the North East of England, UK. (2025) International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Adams E, Hunter D, Kennedy J, Jablonski T, Parker J, Tasker F, Widnall E, O’Donnell A, Kaner E, Ramsay S. (2024), “Exploring perspectives on living through the COVID-19 pandemic for people experiencing homelessness and dealing with mental ill-health and/or substance use: qualitative study”. Advances in Dual Diagnosis
Adams E, Yang J, O’Donnell A, Minot S, Osborn D, Kirkbride J (2024) Investigating social deprivation and comorbid mental health diagnosis as predictors of treatment access among patients with an opioid use disorder using substance use services: A prospective cohort study. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy.
Jackson K, Kaner E, Hanratty B, Gilvarry E, Yardley L, O’Donnell A. (2023) Understanding people’s experiences of the formal health and social care system for co- occurring heavy alcohol use and depression through the lens of relational autonomy: A qualitative study. Addiction.
Kilian C, Rehm J, Allebeck P, Braddick F, Gual A, Barták M, Bloomfield K, Gil A, Neufeld M, O’Donnell A, Petruželka B, Rogalewicz V, Schulte B, Manthey J & European Study Group on Alcohol Use and COVID-19 (2021) Alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: a large-scale cross-sectional study in 21 countries. Addiction
Perry, R., Adams, E.A., Harland, J., Broadbridge, A., Giles, E. L., McGeechan, G. J., O’Donnell, A &Ramsay, S. E. (2021) Exploring high mortality rates among people with multiple and complex needs: a qualitative study using peer research methods BMJ Open
Projects:
Wilberforce M, Weatherly H, Gridley K, Graham K, Webber M, Whitehead P, Birks Y, Rand S, Rogers M, Hamblin K, Hughes N, Devi R, Bennett M, McGovern R, O’Donnell A, Abbott D, Cameron A, Macdonald G, Hewitt C, Mcdaid C, Case W, Lambat A, Mallick M. NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) Specialist Centre for Social Care (SCSC) 2025-2028. NIHR £4,929,800
Trebacz A, Christie- de Jong F, Jackson K, O’Donnell A. Development and implementation of an evidence-based pathway in the North East and North Cumbria for the early identification of liver disease using Fibroscan®: A qualitative evaluation. North East and North Cumbria Alcohol Programme (Durham County Council) 2024-2025 £49,992
Ramsay S, Adams E, Adamson A, O’Donnell A, Kaner E, Sinclair D. Reducing inequalities related to substance use and mental health. Public Health Policy Research Unit 2024-26, NIHR206127. £379,071
Kaner E, McGovern R, O’Donnell A, Whitehead P, Hackett S, McGee O. NIHR Applied Research Collaborations Social Care Capacity Building NIHR200173-SC, 2023-25. £259,819
Whitehead O, Haining S, O’Donnell A, Hanratty B. (2023-2025) SHARP- Spiritual Health Assessment and Referral in Primary Care. John Templeton Foundation. £288,477
Scott S, Addison M, Jackson K, Munford L, King H, Macdonald S, Jobe A, O’Donnell A, Stockdale K, Ramsey S Bambra C. (2023-2027) Disentangling involvement in and the impact of integrated health and criminal justice systems: A North of England Research Consortium. ESRC £1,640,997
Sniehotta F, Oliver E, Chater A, Craig D, Vale L, O’Donnell A, Bonnell C, Osborn D, Lorencatto F, Bambra C, Michie S, Kelly M, Vlaev I, Lecouturier J, Green D (2024-2028) NIHR Policy Research Unit (PRU-02-04) Behavioural and Social Sciences. NIHR. £5,499,989
O’Donnell A, Jackson K, Vale L, Adams E, Hosseinijebeli S (2023-25) Co-design and evaluation of the Plus Programme for alcohol and substance using populations. Sunderland City Council. £147,548
Sinclair J, Phillips T, Coulton S, Cohen J, Canvin K, Angus C, Kaner E, O’Donnell A, Drummond C, Kalk N, Kefford P (2022-2025) Programme of Research for Alcohol Care Teams: Impact, Value and Effectiveness. NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme (ProACTIVE -2) £1,727,079
Graham F, Kaner E, Coates J, Edwards S, Heslop-Marshall K, McGee O, O’Donnell A, Riding H, Sturrock A, Yee Tang M, Vale L, Wildman J. (2022-2025) Shared medical appointments (SMA) in primary care for improving self-management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease amongst underserved groups: feasibility randomised control trial in North East and North Cumbria. NIHR Research for Patient Benefit £247,394
Sheena E Ramsay
Professor of Public Health & Epidemiology & Hon Consultant in Public HealthSheena Ramsay is a Public Health Clinical Academic, leading research to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. She strive towards this goal working through partnerships with health, social care, local authorities, policy makers, and voluntary sector. Sheena has obtained >£29.9 million in research funding. Sheena applies a range of research methodologies (quantitative, qualitative, evidence synthesis, participatory methods). Central to her research is engaging with the public, particularly with marginalised under-represented populations (for example, deprived populations, older adults, homeless, substance users). Sheena is Director of Fuse, Centre for Translational Public Health Research in North East England, and is investigator on the NIHR School for Public Health Research, NIHR Gateshead Health Determinants Research Collaboration, and NIHR Policy Research Unit in Public Health.
Outputs:
1. Wearn A, Brennan‐Tovey K, Adams EA, Alderson H, Baariu J, Cheetham M, Bartle V, Palfreyman L, Rook V, Shenton F. Evaluating Process and Outcomes of Public Involvement in Applied Health and Social Care Research: A Rapid Systematic Review. Health Expectations 2025;28:e70160.
2. Thompson CL, Brennan-Tovey K, Robinson C, McIlvenna R, Kaner EF, Ramsay SE, Aquino MRJ. The Acceptability of a Tobacco Dependency Treatment for NHS Staff in the North East of England: A Mixed-Methods Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2025;22:352.
3. Thirkle SA, Adams EA, Harland J, Robertshaw L, Kaner E, Ramsay SE. Health and care needs of people experiencing homelessness attending emergency care services in rural and coastal North East England: a quantitative study using hospital data. Journal of Social Distress and Homelessness 2025:1-8.
4. Thirkle SA, Adams EA, Harland J, John DA, Kaner E, Ramsay SE. ‘The lights are on, and the doors are always open’: a qualitative study to understand challenges underlying the need for emergency care in people experiencing homelessness in rural and coastal North East England. BMJ Public Health 2025;3.
5. Ramsay SE, Cai Z, Sinclair DR, Prina M, Osborn DP, Adamson AJ, Kaner E, Adams EA. Inequalities at Age of Diagnosis of Severe Mental Illness in England. JAMA Network Open 2025;8:e2457371-e2457371.
6. Jain N, Adams EA, Haddow K, Brown J, Bleksley D, Morrison S, Kesten J, Howells K, Sanders C, Adamson AJ. Learnings from providing integrated health, housing and wider care for people rough sleeping during the COVID-19 pandemic: a national qualitative study of the ‘Everyone In’policy initiative. BMC Health Services Research 2025;25:549.
7. Ganbavale SG, Cai Z, Mathers JC, Papacosta O, Lennon L, Whincup PH, Weyant R, Wannamethee SG, Ramsay SE. Association between poor oral health and deterioration of appetite in older age: results from longitudinal analyses of two prospective cohorts from the UK and USA. BMJ open 2025;15:e083973.
8. Cai Z, Papacosta AO, Lennon LT, Whincup PH, Wannamethee SG, Simonsick EM, Mathers JC, Ramsay SE. Associations of social engagement and loneliness with the progression and reversal of frailty: longitudinal investigations of 2 prospective cohorts from the UK and the USA. American Journal of Epidemiology 2025;194:984-993.
9. Thirkle SA, Adams EA, John DA, Harland J, Kaner E, Ramsay SE. Mapping the organisational network of support for people experiencing homelessness in rural coastal areas of North East England: Results from a mixed-methods multi-sector social network analysis. PLOS Mental Health 2024;1:e0000207.
10. Plackett R, Hulin J, Mukuria C, Clowes M, Ramsay SE, Spencer L, Adams EA, Dykxhoorn J, Walters K, Osborn DP. Measures of social connectedness in adult populations: a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2024;24:1-13.
11. Mills S, Kaner EF, Ramsay SE, McKinnon I. What are the key influences and challenges around weight management faced by patients in UK adult secure mental health settings? A focused ethnographic approach. BMJ open 2024;14:e079406.
12. McGowan LJ, John DA, Kenny RP, Joyes EC, Adams EA, Shabaninejad H, Richmond C, Beyer FR, Landes D, Watt RG. Improving oral health and related health behaviours (substance use, smoking, diet) in people with severe and multiple disadvantage: A systematic review of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions. Plos one 2024;19:e0298885.
13. Jain N, Adams EA, Joyes EC, McLellan G, Burrows M, Paisi M, McGowan LJ, Iafrate L, Landes D, Watt RG. Factors affecting implementation of interventions for oral health, substance use, smoking and diet for people with severe and multiple disadvantage: a community-based qualitative study in England. BMJ Public Health 2024;2.
14. Jain N, Adams EA, Joyes EC, McLellan G, Burrows M, Paisi M, McGowan LJ, Iafrate L, Landes D, Watt R. Engagement and access to support for oral health, substance use, smoking and diet by people with severe and multiple disadvantage: A qualitative study. PloS one 2024;19:e0315254.
15. Aquino MRJ, Brennan-Tovey K, Fong M, Wearn A, Bigirumurame T, Robinson T, Trevor M, Feeney J, Rutter A, Sharrock R. Implementation and impact of NHS-funded tobacco dependence services in England: a mixed-method evaluation protocol. BMJ open 2024;14:e089630.
16. Adams EA, Ramsay SE. Exploring what works well and less well in a community-based drop-in hub providing health and wellbeing services for people experiencing homelessness: a participatory action evaluation of service coordination. BMC Health Services Research 2024;24:1423.
17. Adams EA, Hunter D, Kennedy J, Jablonski T, Parker J, Tasker F, Widnall E, O’Donnell AJ, Kaner E, Ramsay SE. Exploring perspectives on living through the COVID-19 pandemic for people experiencing homelessness and dealing with mental ill-health and/or substance use: qualitative study. Advances in Dual Diagnosis 2024;17:1-13.
Projects:
Understanding the Missing Links: Integrated Health and Social Care for People Experiencing Homelessness; NIHR Policy Research Programme; Sanders C, Ramsay SE Joint Principal Investigators (PIs); Story A, Clarkson P, Mercer S, Adams E, Kaner E; £799,198
Reducing health Inequalities in disadvantaged populations experiencing co-occurring Substance use and mental health problems by identifying drivers and solutions to improve access to care; NIHR Policy Research Unit in Public Health; Ramsay SE, Adams E (Joint PIs); Kaner E, Adamson A, O’Donnell A, Prina M, Osborn D; £379091
NIHR Policy Research Unit in Public Health; Petticrew M; Adamson A, Ramsay SE; White M, Adams J, Sowden A, Taylor-Robinson D, Graham H, Ford A; £5,374,018
Exploring what works well and less well in a community-based drop-in delivery model providing health and wellbeing services for people experiencing homelessness; Adams E, Ramsay SE; £3225
Family centred approaches for promoting oral health and associated health
behaviours in North East England; NIHR School for Public Health Research; Jain N; Adams E; Ramsay SE, Mullaney O, Johansen M, Kaner E, Brennan L, Parnham J, McGovern R; £25380
Reducing the population burden from severe mental illness and related inequalities in England: a population-based cohort study to identify opportunities for early identification and prevention; NIHR Policy Research Unit in Public Health; Ramsay SE, Cai Z, Osborn D, Kaner E, Adams E, Prina M, Adamson A; £133621
Health Determinants Research Collaboration Gateshead Council: Tackling Health Inequalities and Enabling People to Thrive; NIHR; Wiseman A, Caffrey L, Kaner E, Ramsay SE; £4,981,590
NIHR School of Public Health Research at Fuse: Centre for Translational Public Health Research in North East England; Adamson A; Bambra C, Summerbell C, Kaner E, Ramsay SE
Identifying multi-agency, trauma-informed and integrated solutions for unmet need of individuals experiencing homelessness in Northumberland and North Tyneside; NIHR Research for Social Care; Ramsay SE (PI); Harland J, Coyte A, Conway A, Kaner E; £309663
Dr Joanne McGrath
Post Doctoral Research Associate, Dept of Sociology, Durham UniversityJoanne is a qualitative researcher with a social justice focus. Drawing on over a decade as a practitioner in homelessness practice and criminal justice settings, Joanne’s research focuses on health inequalities and the experiences of marginalised, hidden or socially excluded groups. Joanne’s PhD, co-funded by the NIHR SPHR and the NIHR NENC ARC undertook research with women with experience of multiple exclusion homelessness. She is currently the PORSCH (Prisoner and Offender Research in Social Care and Health) network coordinator. As a Churchill Fellow, Joanne’s international research in criminal justice and homeless systems in resettlement had national impact.
Outputs:
McGrath, J & Lhussier, M. (2025). “”If you don’t say it, it doesn’t exist”: using timelines to uncover women’s invisible and complex narratives of multiple exclusion” International Journal of Qualitative Methods (under review).
Adams, E. A., Brennan-Tovey, K., McGrath, J., Thirkle, S., Jain, N., Aquino, M. R. J., … & Ramsay, S. E. (2024). A Co-produced International Qualitative Systematic Review on Lived Experiences of Trauma During Homelessness in Adulthood and Impacts on Mental Health. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 15248380241286839.
McGrath, J, Lhussier, M, Crossley, SJ, Forster, N, 2023. “They Tarred me with the Same Brush”: Stigma and child removal. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20(12), 6162
McGrath, J., Crossley, S., Lhussier, M., & Forster, N. (2023). Social capital and women’s narratives of homelessness and multiple exclusion in northern England. International Journal for Equity in Health, 22(1), 1-12.
McKeown, A, Kennedy, PJ, McGrath, J. 2022. Female Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence in Wiley Handbook of What Works with Women and Girls. Wiley, London.
Luke Munford
School of Health Sciences, University of ManchesterLuke is a health economist who uses data and statistical methods to analyse the causes and consequences of health inequalities. In particular, he has a longstanding interest in place-based and regional inequalities within the UK, especially the ‘north-south’ divide where people living in the North often have worse health outcomes than those living in the South. Luke has published a number of reports and academic papers demonstrating the interconnectedness of health inequalities and wider social and economic inequalities. Luke is an academic co-director of Health Equity North, a theme co-lead in the University of Manchester’s Health Inequalities platform and the deputy theme lead for Economic Sustainability in the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration in Greater Manchester (ARC-GM).
Outputs:
Papers
Atkins, R., Santos, R., Panagioti, M., Kontopantelis, E., Evans, J., Grigoroglou, C., Sutton, M. and Munford, L., 2025. Understanding the relationship between health and place: a systematic review of methods to disaggregate data to small areas. Social Science & Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117752
Bambra, C., McNamara, C., Munford, L. and Wickham, S., 2025. To get Britain working we need to get Britain healthy. BMJ, 388. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.r76
Camacho, C., Webb, R.T., Bower, P. and Munford, L., 2024. Risk factors for deaths of despair in England: An ecological study of local authority mortality data. Social Science & Medicine https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116560
Watkinson, R.E., Linfield, A., Tielemans, J., Francetic, I. and Munford, L.A, 2024. Gender-related self-reported mental health inequalities in primary care in England: Cross-sectional analysis using the GP Patient Survey. The Lancet Public Health https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00301-8
Munford, L.A., Khavandi, S. and Bambra, C., (2022). COVID-19 and deprivation amplification: An ecological study of geographical inequalities in mortality in England. Health & Place, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102933
Reports
Bond, C., Munford, L., Birks, D., Shobande, O., Denny, S., Hatton-Corcoran, S., Qualter, P. and Wood, M., 2024. A country that works for all children and young people: An evidence-based plan for improving school attendance.
Bambra, C., Davies, H., Munford, L., Taylor-Robinson, D., Pickett, K. et al., 2024. Woman of the North: Inequality, Health and Work.
Scott, S., Salvatelli, R., Davies, H., Lloyd, S., Munford, L., Shutt, L. and Bambra, C., 2024. Navigating the Long Haul: Understanding Long Covid in Northern England.
Munford, L.A., Mott, L., Davies, H. McGowan, V., Bambra, C. (2022) Overcoming health inequalities in ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods, Northern Health Science Alliance and the APPG for ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods.
Picket, K., Taylor-Robinson, D., et al. (2021) Child of the North: Building a fairer future after COVID-19, Northern Health Science Alliance, Newcastle, UK
Books and book chapters
Bambra, C., Munford, L.A, Bennett, N. and Khavandi, S., (2023, forthcoming). Northern Exposure: COVID-19 and Regional Inequalities in Health and Wealth. Bristol University Press. Bristol, UK
Munford, L. A. and Gray, D., 2023. 12. Community and civic participation effects on health and well-being. In: Handbook on the Political Economy of Health Systems: 0, p.177.
Projects:
NIHR Public Health Research – September 2024 – August 2027
Orienting Policy Towards Inequality Minimising Actions (OPTIMA): A systems science approach to 20-minute neighbourhood policy and evaluation
Stoke, J,…Munford, L.A. (co-I) et al. NIHR160301
Total value of award: £1,319,797.51.
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) – November 2022 – July 2023
Organisations of Hope: Building a Creative Consortium for Health Equity in Greater Manchester
Parry, S., Forbes, C, Munford, L.A. (Co-I), et al AH/X006174/1
Total value of award: £185,427.92
The Productivity Institute – September 2022 to August 2024
The effect of health on economic productivity at small-area level in England
Munford, L.A., Sutton, M., Cullum, N.
Total value of award: £348,667
NIHR ARC Cross-cutting National Consortium on Health Inequalities – September 2021 to December 2023
How can the NHS maximise its role as an anchor institution to boost local economies and reduce socioeconomic and health inequalities?
Munford, L.A. (PI), Sutton, M., Wilson, P., et al., including colleagues from universities throughout the UK
Total value of award: £286,911
NIHR HS&DR – March 2022 to February 2025
Multi-regional evaluation of the roll out of social prescribing link workers in primary care
Wilson, P. (PI), Munford, L.A. (co-I), Sanders, C., Sutton, M., et al.
Total value of the award: £2,033,834.66
NIHR Public Health Research – May 2021 to December 2025
Evaluation of the health impacts of Universal Credit: a mixed methods study
Craig, P. (co-PI), Bambra, (co-PI), Taylor-Robinson, D., Katikireddi, S., Brown, H., Barr, B., Wickham, S., Moffatt, S., Cheetham, M., Sutton, M., Munford, L.A. (Co-I), Richiardi, M.
Total value of award: £1,574,835.68.
Health Foundation Social and Economic Value of Health – May 2020 to April 2022
The health of places and the health and outcomes of individuals in those places [FR-00002346]
Munford, L.A. (PI), Kontopantelis, E., Grigoroglou, C., Sutton, M., Chandola, T., Santos, R., Evans, J., Panagioti, M.
Total value of award: £501,744
Naomi Griffin
Research Associate, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle UniversityWorking as part of the Population Health Sciences Institute under the Health Inequalities team, my research focuses primarily on health inequalities in relation to children and young people and the criminal justice system. I joined Newcastle University in 2022 as the researcher for the ‘Divided Households’ research project, lead by Dr Steph Scott, which looked at the impact of having a family member in prison on children and young peoples’ health and wellbeing. I also currently works on a project exploring how health and justice systems work together in the resettlement process for people returning to their community after a custodial sentence and what the challenges and gaps in support are for this vulnerable population at a particularly vulnerable time (lead by Dr Steph Scott, Newcastle University and Dr Michelle Addison, Durham University).
Outputs:
Griffin N, Loucks N, Minson S, Shildrick T, Young T, Crowe L and Scott S (2025). ‘Divided Households’: Supporting children and young people with a family member in prison. Newcastle University: Newcastle, UK (Report)
Dodd-Reynolds, C., Hall, S., Crowder, M., Goodyear, V., Griffin, N., Fairbrother, H., Pope, S., & Scott, S. (2024). 204 Physical activity insecurity in children and young people at risk of marginalisation: navigating an equitable and safe research experience using co-production principles. European Journal of Public Health, 34(Supplement_2), ckae114.097. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckae114.097
Fairbrother, H., Woodrow, N., Holding, E., Crowder, M., Griffin, N., Er, V., Dodd-Reynolds, C., Egan, M., Scott, S., Summerbell, C., Rigby, E., Kyle, P., Knights, N., Quirk, H., & Goyder, E. (2024). ‘It depends on where you were born…here in the North East, there’s not really many job opportunities compared to in the South’: young people’s perspectives on a North-South health divide and its drivers in England, UK. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 2018. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19537-z
Dodd-Reynolds, C., Griffin, N., Kyle, P., Scott, S., Fairbrother, H., Holding, E., Crowder, M., Woodrow, N., & Summerbell, C. (2024). Young people’s experiences of physical activity insecurity: a qualitative study highlighting intersectional disadvantage in the UK. BMC Public Health, 24(1), Article 813. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18078-9
Griffin, N., Crowder, M., Kyle, P., Holding, E., Woodrow, N., Fairbrother, H., Dodd-Reynolds, C., Summerbell, C., & Scott, S. (2023). ‘Bigotry is all around us, and we have to deal with that’: Exploring LGBTQ+ young people’s experiences and understandings of health inequalities in North East England. SSM – Qualitative Research in Health, 3, Article 100263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2023.100263
Projects:
‘Divided Households’ – Exploring emotional wellbeing, health and health inequalities in children and young people with an incarcerated family member: developing a child-centred, rights-based framework for prison social visits. £299,739, Funder: ESRC New Investigator funding stream (June 2022-May 2024). PI Steph Scott.
Disentangling involvement in and the impact of integrated health and criminal justice systems: A North of England Research Consortia (2023-2027, ESRC Large Grants Call, £1,998,754). PI Steph Scott and Michelle Addison.
Enabling children and young people’s involvement in whole system action to reduce inequalities in the social determinants of health. Funder: NIHR: SPHR (September 2020 – March 2022). PI Caroline Dodds-Reynolds and Hannah Fairbrother.
Research Associate, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University.
Lisa is a social scientist, with a wealth of experience in researching topics of a highly sensitive and distressing nature, within health and healthcare. Lisa is particularly interested in areas of health and healthcare that are sudden, unexpected and traumatic. Lisa has mainly used qualitative methods, but has experience with more mixed method designs, including the development of Patient Reported Outcome Measures.
Outputs:
Crowe L, Brown MC, Lecouturier J, Greystoke A, Nuryunarish, D. Bojke A, Bojke R, Richardson J, Wells M, Ezeala E, Carter L, Sharp L, Todd A. (2025) Development of the SCNS-TARGET: a new instrument to assess unmet needs in cancer patients utilising immuno-, biological or precision therapies Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
Crowe L, Brown MC, Lecouturier J, Greystoke A, Bojke A, Bojke R, Richardson J, Wells M, Ezeala E, Carter L, Sharp L, Todd A. (2024) ‘“Oh when’s your treatment ending? Never!” The unmet needs of cancer patients treated with immuno-, biological and precision therapies: a qualitative interview study’, Forthcoming at European Journal of Oncology Nursing.
Crowe, L. Brown, MC. Bojke, A. Bojke, R. Greystoke, A. Lecouturier, J. Richardson, J. Wells, M. Todd, A. Sharp.L, (2023) Assessing unmet needs of advanced cancer patients treated by biological and precision therapies: protocol for the TARGET study. BMJ Open, 13(5): e066229.
Chong, E. Crowe, L. Pandanaboyana, S. Sharp, L. (2022) Systematic Review of Caregiver Burden, Unmet Needs, and Quality of Life among Informal Caregivers of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer, Supportive Care in Cancer, 31(1): 74
Crowe L, Simpson E, Barlow K, Rankin J. (2022) ‘A new normal’? Ventricular Assist Device implantation and subsequent heart transplant in children and adolescents: a Family experience. Social Science and Medicine Qualitative Research in Health 2, 100115.
Rimmer, B. Crowe, L. Todd, A. Sharp, L. (2021) ‘Assessing unmet needs in advanced cancer patients: a systematic review of the development, content, and quality of available instruments’. Journal of Cancer Survivorship
Crowe L, Simpson E, Reinhardt Z, Rankin J. (2020) ‘Parental responsibility for paediatric ventricular assist devices: views of families on the acceptability of hospital discharge’. Pediatric Transplantation, 24(1): e13636
McGovern, R. Crowe, L. Addison, M. Hickman, M Kidger, J. McColl, E. Newbury-Birch, D., Kaner, E. (2020) ‘Containment versus care? A qualitative interview study exploring police custody staff views about delivering brief alcohol Interventions to heavy drinking arrestees’. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy, 27(6): 436-444
Crowe, L. Graham, R. Robson, R. Rankin, J (2018) ‘A survey of UK Health Professional views on acceptable gestational age and termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly’. European Journal of Medical Genetics,61(9): 493-498.
Crowe, L. Graham, R. Robson, R. Rankin, J. (2018) ‘Negotiating acceptable termination of pregnancy for non-lethal fetal anomaly: A qualitative study on professional perspectives’ BMJ Open. 8(3).
Lisa Moseley
Postgraduate Research Student, Population Health Sciences, Newcastle University
Lisa is currently a postgraduate research student and is completing her PhD exploring unmet health and social needs across the life course in the justice-involved population. Lisa is a qualitative researcher who draws on over ten years’ experience working in social care and with justice-involved people. Lisa has also worked as a research assistant at Northumbria University for two years before beginning her PhD in 2024 at Newcastle University.
Outputs
Moseley, L., Laws, A., Allen, M., Ford, G. A., James, M., Mccarthy, S., Mcclelland, G., Park, L. J., Pearn, K., Phillips, D., Price, C., Shaw, L., White, P., Wilson, D., Mcmeekin, P. & Scott, J. 2025a. Usability testing a web application to support evidence-based commissioning decisions for implementing mobile stroke units. npj Digital Medicine, 8, 264, 10.1038/s41746-025-01691-2.
Moseley, L., Mason, C., Ariss, S., Collins, T., Khanom, A., Pilkington, G., Porter, A., Saraiva, S., Watkins, A. & Scott, J. 2025b. Under-Served in Qualitative Health Research: Overcoming Challenges to Recruiting People Who Frequently Use Urgent and Emergency Care Services. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 16094069251383463, 10.1177/16094069251383463.
Moseley, L., Mcmeekin, P., Allen, M., Ford, G. A., James, M., Laws, A., Mccarthy, S., Mcclelland, G., Park, L. J., Pearn, K., Phillips, D., Price, C., Shaw, L., White, P., Wilson, D. & Scott, J. 2025c. Co-design of a Mobile Stroke Unit pathway highlights uncertainties and trade-offs for viable system-wide implementation in the English and Welsh NHS. BMC Emergency Medicine, 25, 97, 10.1186/s12873-025-01243-7.
Moseley, L., Mcmeekin, P., Price, C., Shaw, L., Laws, A., Allen, M., Ford, G. A., James, M., Mccarthy, S., Mcclelland, G., Park, L. J., Pearn, K., Phillips, D., White, P., Wilson, D. & Scott, J. 2025d. Practitioner, patient and public views on the acceptability of mobile stroke units in England and Wales: A mixed methods study. PLoS One, 20, e0310071, 10.1371/journal.pone.0310071.
Moseley, L., Scott, J., Fidler, G., Agarwal, G., Clarke, C., Hammond-Williams, J., Ingram, C., Mcdonnell, A. & Collins, T. 2024. ‘If It Was Easy Somebody Would Have Fixed It’: An Exploration of Loneliness and Social Isolation Amongst People Who Frequently Call Ambulance Services. Health Expectations, 27, e14167, https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.14167.
Johnson, E. A., Stark, G., Moseley, L., Littlefair, D., Atkinson, J., Johnson, M. & Reed, H. 2026. UK resident preferences on tax reform: survey-based evidence suggests support for progressive change in the run up to the 2024 General Election. Journal of Social Policy, 1-21, 10.1017/S0047279425101268.
Mcgrath, J., Crowe, L., Jackson, K., Griffin, N., Baariu, J., Jobe, A., King, H., O’donnell, A., Macdonald, S. J., Moseley, L., Munford, L., Ramsay, S. E., Scott, J., Stockdale, K., Addison, M. & Scott, S. 2026. How does the integration of health and justice systems impact on health and care inequalities in marginalised populations? A mixed methods systematic review. Social Science & Medicine, 400, 119224, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119224.
Key and Core Projects:
ESRC NINE DTP PhD Studentship: How do unmet health and social needs impact individuals prior to, during and after a custodial prison sentence in England?
Collaborators
We collaborate with a range of different organisations across our network. They bring valuable expertise, insights and experience to all our research activities.
