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Current research projects

Studying our Master of Research (MRes) Science and Health allows you to focus your research interests on one or two areas of science and work towards translating your learning into research related outputs – such as a submission for a peer-reviewed publication; a peer reviewed research/knowledge transfer grant application, or a presentation.

MRes Science can be studied either full time (1-year) or part time (2-years). You will develop a wide variety of skills, experience and competence on this course, and the MRes will provide a thorough grounding for students moving towards Doctoral (PhD) studies, or pursuing research related activities as a career.

Please note this list of projects is not exhaustive and you'll need to meet and discuss the project you're interested in with a member of research staff before you apply.

What are the experiences of individuals with dementia in managing their own care alongside their multiple long-term conditions?

Supervisor: Dr Nuno Tavares

Many individuals with dementia often live with multiple long-term conditions. They face significant challenges in maintaining both their mental and physical health while coping with the diagnosis of a serious illness. In addition to this, they must manage other long-term health issues, which include taking multiple medications, actively monitoring their health, recognizing and responding to symptoms, and engaging with healthcare professionals when necessary. Unfortunately, these self-management tasks can become overwhelming for those experiencing cognitive impairments due to dementia. As a result, they may encounter poorer
health outcomes and a reduced quality of life compared to individuals managing other long-term conditions.

This project aims to explore the experiences of people living with dementia as they navigate the complexities of managing multiple long-term health issues. Utilising qualitative research methods, such as interviews, this project is part of a broader program focused on improving the standards of care for individuals with long-term conditions in the community. In addition to the topic, I will consider other MRes applications interested in research on multiple long-term conditions, self-management and/or dementia.

Pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programmes for people living with dementia

Supervisor: Dr Nuno Tavares

This master’s project explores the suitability of pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs for individuals with dementia. The project involves carrying out a comprehensive literature review to identify current practices and gaps in rehabilitation frameworks, focusing on the specific challenges faced by dementia patients. In addition to the literature review, the project will incorporate a qualitative research (or mixed methods) component, gathering insights from healthcare providers delivering these programs in the community. The project seeks to identify barriers to participation and best practices by conducting semi-structured interviews, ultimately enriching the understanding of the intersection between physical rehabilitation and cognitive impairment.

In addition to the topic, I will consider other MRes applications interested in researching other areas within dementia, COPD and pulmonary rehabilitation programmes.

Physical exercise interventions for people with dementia living in the community

Supervisor: Dr Nuno Tavares

Dementia is an increasing global concern, emphasizing the need for effective interventions to improve cognitive function and the quality of life for individuals living in the community. This masters project aims to evaluate the impact of structured physical exercise interventions on cognitive health and well-being. The literature suggests that exercise can slow cognitive decline, enhance physical health, and improve emotional well-being. However, many individuals face barriers such as cognitive impairments and environmental challenges.

This masters project involves conducting a comprehensive literature review to explore current physical exercise interventions and assess their effectiveness and impact on the lives, health, and well-being of people living with dementia. In the second part of the project, qualitative interviews will be conducted to understand what makes physical exercise and activities meaningful and engaging for individuals with dementia. The research aims to provide insights into the role of physical activity in supporting cognitive health and to inform future interventions for those living with dementia.

In addition to the topic, I will consider other MRes applications interested in researching other areas within physical exercise for people living with dementia.

Reporting bias – can we trust medical science?

Supervisor: Dr Simon Kolstoe

Reporting bias occurs when the decision of how to publish a study is influenced by the direction of its results. It is a well-recognized issue that is extremely topical as incomplete or misleading reports of trials and experiments have the potential to undermine evidence based medicine. Although the problem is becoming better known, it is still not clear what the solution might be. This is mainly because previous work has shown how difficult it is to even know that some trials have occurred let alone getting access to the original protocols to determine if the trials have been communicated accurately. This project will continue work looking at clinical projects submitted to an ethics committee and determining whether the researchers publish the results, and if so if they publish the originally specified outcomes. The project will suit students with a science or clinical background who are seeking to move into journalism, medical writing, science communication and/or regulatory and government bodies.

Published work from previous MRes student:

  • Begum R. and Kolstoe S.E. (2015) Can UK NHS research ethics committees effectively monitor publication and outcome reporting bias? BMC Medical Ethics 16:51. DOI: 10.1186/s12910-015-0042-8

Consistency in research ethics review

Supervisor: Dr Simon Kolstoe

Consistency is taken to mean that, for any specific application, Research Ethics Committees (RECs) give the same decision for at least roughly the same reason. RECs have occasionally been criticised for exhibiting an unjustifiable level of variation or inconsistency in their decisions. This is supported by academic papers that discuss variation in decision-making by RECs as well as evidence provided by the National Research Ethics Service’s Shared Ethical Debate exercises (ShED).

Recent ShED reports have shown that presenting RECs with the same application results in a range of opinions being given - both in terms of opinion type (such as provisional, unfavourable and favourable (+/- additional conditions) among others) and in the reasons cited for their opinion. This project will use the method of thematic analysis to analyse data from ShED’s in order to determine key themes that lead to REC inconsistencies. The project will suit students with a science or clinical background who are interested in learning about qualitative research and perhaps with an interest in science policy.

Published work from previous MRes student:

  • Trace, S. and Kolstoe S.E. (2017) Measuring Inconsistency in Research Ethics Committee Review. BMC Medical Ethics 18:65. DOI: 10.1186/s12910-017-0224-7

Other Research Projects

Find out more about current research projects in science and health:

Please note, this list is not exhaustive and you'll need to meet and discuss the project you're interested in with a member of research staff before you apply.