Current Research

Some of the current international projects in the IOELC include:-

• ATOME: Access of Opioid Medication in Europe funded by EC FP7 2009-2014, a major programme of research and development in 12 resource poor countries in central and eastern Europe, in collaboration with Professor Lukas Radbruch, University of Bonn and WHO
• EURO IMPACT: Marie Curie mobility and training initiative funded by EC FP7 2010-2014, which has training 12 PhD students and 4 post-doctoral researchers in palliative care, in collaboration with Professor Luc Deliens, VBU, Brussels and other consortium members
• InSuP-C: Patient-centred palliative care pathways in advanced cancer and chronic disease funded by EC FP7 2012-2016, in collaboration with Professor Jeroen Hasselaar, University of Nijmegen and WHO
• ACTION: Cluster randomised control trial of advance care planning intervention in lung and colo-rectal cancer patients funded by EC FP7 2013-2017, in collaboration with Professor Agnes van der Heide, Erasmus University Rotterdam and others.
• PACE: Improving palliative care to older people living in nursing homes using action research funded by EC FP7 2014-2018, in collaboration with Professor Lieve van der Block, VUB, Brussels and others

Research Interests

My specific research interests focus on the role and experiences of family carers in supporting patients approaching the end of life. For example, I have led a led a Marie Curie Cancer Care funded project called ‘Unpacking the Home’ which has investigated the retrospect accounts of 59 bereaved family members who have facilitated the death of an older person at home. I am frequently invited to collaborate with others, for example: cross faculty ESRC research grant 2012 with Linguistics & Computing, cross universities RfPB grant 2012 (Universities of Manchester, Liverpool & York), international EU FP7 grant 2012 (Universities of Nijmegen, Bonn, Navarra & WHO). I have been successful in capacity building my research team to secure new grant income (eg Dr Mary Turner, awarded Marie Curie Cancer Care (MCCC) funding for improving palliative care in prisons in 2013). Much of my work involves developing research capacity and encouraging the professional development of the next generation of researchers in palliative care (eg Dr Chris Burton (Bangor) awarded MCCC funding for palliative care in stroke in 2013). Therefore, I often act as a senior colleague (mentor) for grant applications and in the preparation of research publications.

I had a National research leadership role as Directorship of the Cancer Experiences Collaborative (CECo) during which I successfully led a collaborative consortium (2006-2012) obtaining prestigious National Institute for Cancer Research (NCRI) funding of £1.9 million. The Cancer Experiences Collaborative aimed to improve the quality and quantity of research in supportive and palliative care in the UK. I provided leadership and strategic direction for colleagues in palliative care at five universities (Manchester, Nottingham, Lancaster, Liverpool & Southampton) to deliver on three major new programmes of research: non-pharmacological management of complex symptoms, end of life care for older people, and methodological innovations. CECo generated substantial new grant income of £18,762,705 and published 547 clinical and academic papers. Professor Mike Richard, Cancer Director for the Department of Health, rated our achievements as outstanding at the Final Review meeting in December 2010. An impact report to be published by NCRI in late 2013, highlights the considerable achievements of CECo which has attracted international attention as a model for research collaboration and capacity building. For example, CECo was used as a model for the establishment of similar research collaboratives: in Victoria, Australia, and in the new All-Ireland Institute for Hospice and Palliative Care (funding Euros 8 million, 2011-2015) where I have been appointed as an external expert advisor and member of the Research Steering Board.

International research leadership

I am on the senior management teams of the five current EU FP7 projects listed above and led Work Packages in each of these projects. I hold visiting chairs at Monash University, Melbourne and Trinity College, Dublin.

Our research has been supported by funds from: European Commission, ESRC, Marie Curie Cancer Care, NIHR Research for Patient Benefit, Age UK, Help the Hospices, Macmillan Cancer Support, Dimbleby Cancer Care, Open Society Foundation (USA), Marruza Foundation (Italy).

Current Teaching

Currently I teach on the Doctorate in Palliative Care (DHR) and the MA in Hospice Leadership (LUMS).

Additional Information

I am widely recognised throughout the world as an influential leader in promoting multidisciplinary work in palliative care. Following a four year period (2007-2011) as Vice President of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), I was elected as President (2011-2015) (the first non-medically qualified person to hold this position). The EAPC is a Non-governmental organisation (NGO) recognised by the Council of Europe which represents 55 national palliative care associations from 32 countries in Europe and 47 countries worldwide (with a membership of over 80,000 professionals). I manage a secretariat based in Milan, Italy, and chair an international elected Board. The EAPC undertakes a range of strategic, policy, advocacy, and scientific work (eg publishing clinical guidelines) which are generally regarded as world leading. In 2012, I was influential in launching and editing social media for the EAPC (blogs see www.eapcnet.wordpress.com, Facebook, Twitter). Within the DHR, I have been Deputy Head of Division since 2010 and have serviced on the DHR Executive Committee. At FHM level, I am a member of the Education and Human Resources Committees, and at university level, I have serviced on the Promotions Committee. Since October 2012, I have been Associate Director of the NIHR North West, Lancashire and Cumbria Research Design Service providing support to NHS staff and other people seeking to make applications to NIHR funded and other research competitions, and chairing RDS meetings of frontline and senior advisors across the three universities (UCLAN, Cumbria and Lancaster) in this region.

PhD Supervision Interests

PhD projects concerned with: palliative care and end of life care, bereavement and loss, family carers, older people, organisational development and evaluation