RESEARCH

Our research examines how people, data and scientific innovation interact in health and healthcare.

We bring together psychology, behavioural science and data science; qualitative and quantitative methods; and involvement and engagement with patients, the public, communities and people with relevant lived experience.

Our work focuses particularly on genomics, mental health and human experience, with an overarching interest in how scientific and technological advances can be translated responsibly into meaningful benefit for people.

GENOMICS, BEHAVIOUR & PRECISION HEALTHCARE

For 25 years, Saskia Sanderson’s research has examined the psychological and behavioural dimensions of genetics and genomics.

We study how people understand, interpret and respond to genomic information, including genetic risk information, polygenic scores and pharmacogenomics.

We are particularly interested in how genomic advances can be implemented in healthcare in ways that are understandable, useful, equitable, maximise benefits and minimise potential harms.

Our work includes research with patients, members of the public and healthcare professionals, using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.

MENTAL HEALTH, DATA & HEALTHCARE

We investigate how data, behavioural science and human experience can contribute to better mental health via research, prevention, treatment and care.

This includes work across national data infrastructure and research partnerships, as well as research examining how new approaches to personalised and precision mental healthcare can be translated into practice.

We are particularly interested in equity, implementation, meaningful involvement and engagement, and understanding the intended and unintended consequences of innovation.

HUMAN EXPERIENCE, PATIENT NARRATIVES & RESPONSIBLE AI

We are exploring how patient narratives, qualitative data and other forms of human-experience evidence can contribute more systematically to health research and decision-making.

A particular area of interest is how qualitative research methods can be combined responsibly with AI and data-science approaches to generate rigorous insights from large volumes of free-text and narrative data.

Our research examines both the opportunities and the methodological, ethical and practical challenges involved — including interpretative fidelity, transparency and responsible use of sensitive health data.

ACROSS OUR RESEARCH

Across these areas, we use qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods, alongside co-design and involvement and engagement with patients, the public, communities and people with relevant lived experience.

We collaborate across disciplinary, organisational and geographical boundaries and are interested in research that connects discovery with implementation and real-world impact.