Meet the team

Dr Rhiannon Phillips, (PI) Cardiff Metropolitan University

Dr Phillips is the principal investigator for this study. She is a health psychologist with extensive experience in mixed-methods and infections research.

Dr Emma Thomas-Jones (co-PI), Cardiff University

Dr Thomas-Jones is the co-principal investigator for this study. She is a Senior Research Fellow and study lead for Trials in the Infection, Inflammation & Immunity Research Theme at the Centre for Trials Research in Cardiff University .

Dr Britt Hallinberg (quantitative lead), Cardiff Metropolitan University

Dr Hallingberg is leading the quantitative (survey) work package for this study. She is an interdisciplinary researcher with experience in applying psychological theory to public health and  has expertise in research methods for intervention development and evaluation.

Dr Denitza Williams (qualitative lead), Cardiff Metropolitan University & Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University 

Dr Williams is leading the qualitative work package (interviews) for this study and is a Research Fellow in Health Psychology. Dr Williams has expertise in participatory qualitative methods and conducting sensitive in-depth interviews.

Dr Kathy Hughes, Cardiff University

Dr Hughes specialises in the diagnosis and management of common problems seen in UK General Practice, particularly infections. She is a G.P. and a Senior Clinical Research Fellow in PRIME Centre Wales and the Division of Population Medicine. She is co-lead of the Infections theme in PRIME.

Dr Rebecca Cannings-John, Cardiff University

Dr Cannings-John is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Trials Research in Cardiff University. Her background is in Medical Statistics. She has extensive expertise in the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of randomised trials and other well-designed studies. 

Mr Ashley Akbari, Swansea University 

Mr Akbari will be supporting us with planning for data linkage (subject to funding).

Dr James Blaxland, Cardiff Metropolitan University 

Dr Blaxland is a lecturer and specialises in microbiology. He has worked on a number of projects with DSTL (The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, UK) identifying novel decontamination strategies for spores of Bacillus anthracis the causative agent of anthrax.

Professor Diane Crone, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Professor Crone specialised in Exercise and Health at the Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences. Her expertise lies in the area of the design, delivery and evaluation of health promoting interventions in primary and secondary health care, and in the community.

Dr David Gillespie, Cardiff University

Dr Gillespie is a senior research fellow at the Centre of Trials Research, Cardiff University. Dr Gillespie has a background in medical statistics and his research interests focus on prudent medication use in the field of infectious diseases.

Professor Delyth H James (Illness behaviour), Cardiff Metropolitan University

Professor James research interests lie in the psychology of patient and practitioner behaviours underpinning medicines use and consultation skills. She is particularly interested in understanding the patient’s beliefs about medicines and how these can be addressed during the consultation.

Dr Natalie Joseph-Williams, Cardiff University

Dr Joseph-Williams is a Lecturer and co-lead of the Patient Centred and Prudent Healthcare work package for the Wales Centre for Primary and Emergency Care Research (PRIME Centre Wales). Her research interests include implementation of patient-centred healthcare in routine clinical settings, shared decision making, and patient empowerment.

Dr Nicholas Perham, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Dr Perham is a senior lecturer and specialises in cognitive psychology. He will be advising us on the cognitive processes involved in risk perception.

Professor Wouter Poortinga, Cardiff University

Prof Poortinga is a professor of environmental psychology. His research interests are in a wide variety of topics regarding human-environment interactions, including (1) environmental risk perception, (2) sustainable behaviours and lifestyles, and (3) housing, neighbourhoods and health.

Dr Heidi Seage, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Dr Seage is a senior lecturer, and her research interests are around the psychology of overeating. The main focus of her research has been to understand cognitive mechanisms that contribute to the development of obesity.

Professor Karin Wahl-Jorgensen, Cardiff University

Prof Wahl-Jorgensen’s research focuses on the relationship between citizenship, media and emotion - and how it is affected by rapid technological change and innovation. She has also recently written on the role of fear in media coverage of the coronavirus.

Dr Fiona Wood (Medical sociologist), Cardiff University

Dr Wood is a medical sociologist with a particular interest in beliefs and behaviours in relation to common infections, patient centred care and health care communication. She holds a broad portfolio of expertise in qualitative research methods.

Ms Bethan Pell, Cardiff University

Ms Pell is a research associate across the Centre for Trials Research and School of Social Sciences Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Intervention for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer). She will be conducting some of the qualitative interviews.

Dr Anna Torrens-Burton, Cardiff University

Dr Torrens-Burton is a Research Associate in the PRIME Centre Wales. She will be conducting some of the qualitative interviews. She has experience in recruiting participants into studies, both younger and older adults.

Mr Paul Sellars, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Mr Sellars is a Research Officer whose research focuses on mental health and well-being within different environments. Mr Sellars will be conducting some of the qualitative interviews.