I am social and behavioural epidemiologist with key research interests in socio-economic inequalities in health behaviours, and food policy. With formal training in medicine, epidemiology and health psychology, I bring a wide range of perspectives to my research and collaborate with colleagues across a variety of disciplines. My most significant work to date includes an evaluation of national restrictions on food advertising to children; the description of Intervention Generated Inequalities; explorations of the role of time perspective in socio-economic inequalities in health behaviours; and work describing the role of biological ageing in socio-economic inequalities in health. To date, I have published 42 research papers in peer reviewed journals (37 as first author); and have been awarded £2,150,566 in research funding as principal applicant, co-applicant or as personal funding (with a further £1,932,894 currently pending).
2011-14 Outreach programmes for health improvement of traveller communities: a pluralistic synthesis of evidence. NIHR Public Health Research Programme. £329,179. Co-applicant, with S Carr, A Bancroft, L Geddes, M Lhussier, S Michie & M Pennington.
2010-13 Evaluation of the ‘Change4Life’ convenience store programme to promote sales and consumption of fruit and vegetables. NIHR Public Health Research Programme. £1,407,206. Co-applicant, with M White, AJ Adamson, G Cairns, S Cummins, C Donaldson, A Findlay, A Lake, S Macintyre, M Petticrew, V Ryan, L Sparks & M Stead. N.B. This grant was withdrawn after award due to changes in circumstances making the project unfeasible (final value awarded: £79,380).
2010-12 Evaluation of the School Sport Partnership Dance Mat Scheme in Redcar & Cleveland and Middlesbrough: The "IDEAS" study (Impact of Dance Exercise Activity in Schools) North Tees Primary Care Trust. £91,312. Co-applicant with A Batterham, L Azevedo, C Lock, and D Burges Watson.
2009 The new TV diet – evaluating the effect of the UK 2007 OfCom restrictions on television food advertising to children. National Prevention Research Initiative. £92,198. Principle investigator with M White and AJ Adamson.
2005-09 MRC Special Training Fellowship in Health Services and Health of the Public Research. £157,565. Personal award.
2001-04 Faculty of Public Health Medicine and BUPA Joint Research Fellowship. £42,500. Personal award.