PhD Projects in the Centre for Health and Clinical Research (CHCR)
at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, UK
The Centre for Health and Clinical Research (CHCR) at Uwe, Bristol hosts internationally excellent research in the fields of long term conditions, emergency and critical care, children and young people, public health and wellbeing and ethics. We have a range of PhD projects available; see our web pages at:
Our research has helped to improve the quality of healthcare and inform public health policy. Patient and public involvement is central to our research activity, with an established patient involvement theme underpinning the centre work. We also offer unique expertise in the evaluation of service change and improvement.
CHCR has strong links with a range of local, national and international partners supporting collaborative research which addresses real-world issues and priorities. Our research activity provides excellent opportunities for PhD students. Drawing on the UWE Graduate School, we provide an exemplary training, support and learning environment for our doctoral students. Research students receive a comprehensive skills training which includes methodological development, project management, patient and public involvement, research governance, dissemination and the development of wider research impact. A number of our students have been successful in obtaining prestigious awards and secure key posts within universities, health care, private organisations and public health sectors.
Further information about the project areas and supervisors can be accessed through the links below. Please contact the supervisors directly for further information or alternatively the Centre Director, Professor Pam Moule ().
Key Research Proposals
Children and young people
1. Child injury prevention: The potential for health economics to influence action
Associate Professor Julie Mytton
Email:
Staff profile:
Health, ethics and society
2.The Bio politics of transvaginalmeshes Professor Julie Kent
Email:
Staff profile:
Emergency and critical care
3. Developing patient reported outcome measures in patient safetyProfessor Jonathan Benger
Email:
Staff profile:
Long term conditions
4. Supporting people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome to assume an ongoing responsibility for self-management of their condition using digital health.
Professor Candy McCabe, Dr Nicola Walsh and Dr Jenny Lewis
Email:;
Staff profile:
5. Working to understand how people affected by dementia respond to the emotional threat this represents and to develop interventions to improve and enhance their ability to live well with the illness.
Professor Rik Cheston
Email:
Staff profile:
6. Physical activity and rheumatoid arthritis: communicating the benefits to patients
Dr Fiona Cramp
Email:
Staff profile:
7. Joint Hypermobility Syndrome: understanding and meeting the education needs of patients and health professionals
Prof Shea Palmer
Email:
Staff profile:
Further research opportunities
Long term conditions
1. Dementia care: psychological and social experiences of people affected by dementia, including: changes in awareness about their diagnosis; the use of psychotherapy; and understanding dementia as an existential threat
Professor Richard Cheston
Email:
Staff profile:
2. The assessment and management of joint hypermobility syndrome
Professor Shea Palmer
Email:
Staff profile:
3. Mechanisms and management of pain after stroke
Dr Ailie Turton
Email: )
Staff profile:
Dr Mary Cramp
Email:
Staff profile:
Dr Praveen Kumar
Email:
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4. The assessment and management of myofascial pain and/or myofascial trigger points in musculoskeletal dysfunction
Dr Rob Grieve
Email:
Staff profile:
5. The assessment and management of plantar fasciosis
Dr Rob Grieve
Email: )
Staff profile:
6.The use of multimedia motivational strategies to facilitate health behaviour change in osteoarthritis
Dr Nicola Walsh
Email:
Staff profile:
7. Patient/carer experience (of healthcare, disease, service delivery, recovery, rehabilitation) – qualitative methodologies to explore patient experience, embedded qualitative dimensions within clinical trials, or projects using mixed methods
Dr Theresa Mitchell
Email:
Staff profile:
8. Sensori-motor dysfunction and its impact on function in long-term neurological conditions
Dr Mary Cramp
Email:
Staff profile:
Dr Ailie Turton
Email:
Staff profile:
Children and young people
9. Child injury prevention; child health and development (including parenting and its impact)
Associate Professor Toity Deave
Email:
Staff profile:
Children’s health care
10. Symptom management; care of families in the hospital setting; use and management of, and attitudes to, medicines; transition from child to adult services
Professor Margaret Fletcher
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Health ethics and society
11. Socio-ethical issues relating to assistive technologies in care settings
Professor Julie Kent
Email:
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Dr Darian Meacham
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12. Ethics and biomedical technologies
Professor Julie Kent
Email:
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Patient and public involvement
13. Effective use of patient and public voice in shaping health service delivery Opportunity to evaluate how the patient and public voice is used to shape current health service delivery
Professor David Evans
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14. Patient and public involvement in sexual health
Dr Jane Meyrick
Email:
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Evaluation
15. Opportunity to evaluate the commissioning and procurement of health service delivery
Professor Pam Moule
Email:
Staff profile:
16. Family witnessed resuscitation: understanding family perspectives around family witnessed resuscitation; public views and attitudes towards family presence in resuscitation; Exploring the value of simulation in informing attitudes towards Family witnessed resuscitation
Associate Professor John Albarran
Email:
Staff profile: