Meet the Study Team
Core Research Team
Meet the Study Team
Kate Sykes
Hello, my name is Kate. I am a Principal Investigator for this research study, sharing this role with Jill. I have an interest in research that focuses on helping people, who may face barriers, access healthcare services. From this interest, I want to see healthcare services and systems be person centred. This means that the services can change and adapt based on the persons needs and preferences. My PhD research explored the attitudes, perspectives and experiences of women with learning disabilities deciding to attend, and then accessing cervical and breast cancer screening.
Lecturer in Public Health, BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Health Psychology and Clinical Skills, PhD Public Health (women with a learning disability accessing cervical and breast cancer screening). Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University.
Jill Barker
Hello, my name is Jill. I am a Principal Investigator for this research study, sharing this role with Kate. Kate and I worked together to develop this research study and have pulled together a wide range of people with shared interest in improving healthcare services to ensure that healthcare is accessible and person-centred for all. I am a mental health practitioner and academic, as well as being a Mum and Grandma so have both personal and professional motivations for working to improve healthcare. I am thrilled to be working on such a valuable project and hope you will be interested to support us.
Principal Lecturer, Enterprise and business engagement. RMN, MBA, FHEA. School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University.
Emma Tuschick
Hello, I’m Emma and I am the projects research associate. I have studied Psychology for several years and gained my master’s degree last year in Forensic Psychology. I am dedicated to, and passionate about the field of mental health and I am delighted to be a part of this project and wonderful, experienced team. I am very excited to explore this research area to make healthcare services more person centred and to help those who may be facing barriers. My future plans are to gain a PhD and continue my work within mental health and cancer screening research.
Research Associate, SHLS Allied Health Professions. BSc (Hons) Forensic Psychology, MSc Forensic Psychology. School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University.
Kehinde Kanmodi
Hi, I’m Kehinde and I am currently a Master of Public Health student at Teesside University, and a research assistant on this project. I have prior qualifications in dentistry, education, management, and peace studies and conflict resolution. I am very passionate about reducing the existing inequality gaps in cancer screening and care, with a particular focus on vulnerable population groups. Immediately after completing my master's degree, I aim to commence a fully funded PhD programme at Teesside University, to continue working on cancer screening research projects.
Research Assistant. BDS, MPH(C), DFM, PGDE, PGDPSCR, PGDPM, ACIPM, CPMP, AISQEM, Cert (Mgt). School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University.
Chinedu Igwilo
Hiya! I’m Chinedu. I’m a final year Master of Public Health (Applied) student at Teesside University, and I’m so excited to be part of the project as an intern. With over 5 years experience as a biomedical scientist in cancer diagnosis, I’m enthusiastic about understanding the public health aspect of what I’ve been doing in the lab especially as it relates to discovering ways to tackling persistent health inequalities in cancer screening services as it seems like we aren’t receiving ALL the samples in the lab especially from the underrepresented population. So why is this happening? How can we help?
Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences. LIBMS, RSci. Master of Public Health (Applied) student. School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University
Emma L Giles
Hello, my name is Emma. I am a Co-Applicant for this research study, helping to oversee the methodologies and acting as a mentor for the research leads. I am a public health academic, with particular interests in the intersection between mental and physical health, as well as interest in weight management, lifestyle behaviours, and service design. I am honoured to be working on this project and to help support the team.
Associate Professor Public Health Behaviour Change. School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University.
Sue Jones
I am Sue. I have worked in public health research for several years. I am a nurse and an academic. I have cared for many patients undergoing surgery or treatment for cancer. So I am keen to take part in this project about people who may be less likely to be attend a cancer screening appointment. The aim of our research is to make screening appointments as accessible to these groups as it is to any other group. Then they too can receive the benefits of early identification of disease. I bring some expertise on a theory that looks at how to bring service improvements into routine care successfully.
Research Fellow. School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University.
Jula Sill
Hello, my name is Jula. I am a Senior Lecturer in Nursing and a Registered Adult Nurse. My clinical background is in General Practice Nursing working in primary care, an area I continue to work in. Within this area I am involved in cancer screening including cervical cytology as well as health promotion such as breast cancer. I have an interest in public health and I am passionate about improving services and care for all patients.
Senior Lecturer in adult nursing. General Practice Nurse. RN, BSc Hons Primary Care (General Practice Nursing), PgCert HE, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University.
Iain Marley
Principal Investigator from NHS North of England Commissioning Support.
Experts by Lived Experience
Meet our Experts by Lived Experience
Karen Manton
My name is Karen Manton. I have been a Mental Health Advocate for several years following the publication of my book: Searching for Brighter Days; Learning to Manage My Bipolar Brain (available on Amazon).
I began sharing my lived experience with the students at Teesside University almost three years ago as I am passionate about helping others. I wanted to be part of this study as I feel it is so important that service users like myself, who suffer from a mental illness do not go unnoticed.
Sarah Robson
Hi, I'm Sarah, and I am one of the individuals that form the experts by experience group on this research project.
Having my own personal experience of mental health and cancer screening along with working in this field from a professional viewpoint, I can empathise and understand both sides of the illness.
I am motivated to continue to help with research to make access to cancer screenings more accessible for those with mental health illnesses, hook at how the NHS and other organizations can be more person centered allowing individuals to comfortably attend these screenings.
Steve O'Driscoll
My name is Steve O'Driscoll and I have worked in mental health for the last 10 years supporting people who self-harm and delivering training for Recoco (Recovery College in Newcastle). I also work on the Social Work Programme at Northumbria University and the Clinical Psychology Programme at Newcastle University. I am also a survivor of cancer, and I am passionate about making the Cancer Pathway easier for people in the future.