Health Sciences
Meet the team
Dr Suman Prinjha, Associate Professor, York Trials Unit
Dr Suman Prinjha leads the Centre for Health Research Inclusion. She is a social scientist whose research over the last 25 years has focused on health inequalities, ethnic minority health experiences, and using patients’ illness narratives to improve care and services. She advises on Research Inclusion in the NIHR Research Support Service delivered by University of York and partners; and is department lead for Research Impact and Knowledge Exchange. Suman is also a registered and practising member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Professor Catriona McDaid, Professor of Applied Health Research, York Trials Unit
Professor Catriona McDaid is Co-Director of the NIHR Research Support Service delivered by University of York and partners, which supports researchers to design inclusive research. She has extensive experience in leading systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials, feasibility studies and mixed methods studies. She has a longstanding interest in the evaluation of complex interventions, most recently evaluation of surgical interventions.
Professor Catherine Hewitt, Director York Trials Unit, Deputy Head of Dept (Research)
Professor Catherine Hewitt is a Professor of Trials and Statistics, Director of York Trials Unit, and Deputy Head of Department for Research with the Department of Health Sciences. She is also Co-director of the NIHR Research Support Service delivered by University of York and partners. Within the trials unit Catherine has responsibility for the quantitative portfolio and manages the team of statisticians, health economists, data managers, software developers and research group administrators.
Internal Steering Group
The Internal Steering Group, made up of staff from across the University of York, includes:
Dr Adwoa Parker
Dr Adwoa Parker is an NIHR Advanced Fellow and Associate Professor at the University of York. She is a trialist and trial methodologist, and leads the Trial Forge Studies Within A Trial (SWATs) Centre at York. Adwoa’s Advanced Fellowship, ‘IMPLEMENT SWATs’, funded for 10 years, aims to use implementation science and SWATs to improve evidence-informed participant recruitment and retention in trials. Adwoa’s research interests also include mental health trials, Patient and Public Involvement, and advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion within clinical research. She serves as the Fellowship Lead for the NIHR Research Support Service delivered by the University of York and partners.
Helen Bradley
Helen Bradley is the Corporate and Foundation Philanthropy Manager for the Faculty of Social Sciences. Based in the Office of Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni (OPPA), her role focuses on fundraising for research, scholarships, and other projects across the Social Sciences. Prior to this, Helen led the Business Development function for the trading subsidiary of a charity dedicated to supporting families on low income, raising disabled and seriously ill children.
Dr Jo Welsman
Dr Jo Welsman is the Patient and Public Involvement Strategic Lead for the NIHR Research Support Service delivered by York and Partners. Jo's work focuses on working closely with public and community partners to co-produce resources to support researchers towards accessible and inclusive public involvement.
Professor Kiran Trehan
Professor Kiran Trehan is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement, University of York. She provides leadership and strategic direction in developing effective collaborations with key institutional partners. She also harnesses York
research and teaching to open up economic opportunity and expand opportunities to widen access to the University. She is a key contributor to debates on leadership, enterprise development, and diversity in small firms and business. Kiran is Director of the Centre for Women’s Enterprise, Leadership, Economy and Diversity, and was elected to the Fellowship of the Academy in 2025.
Dr Linda Ko Ferrigno
Dr Linda Ko Ferrigno has worked in a number of roles across the research ecosystem in both the US and the UK. She did a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Northwestern University and a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University in Cancer
Biology. She then worked as a Senior Editor at Cell and Molecular Cell prior to moving to the UK in 2001. In Cambridge (UK) Linda served as the Information and Communication Specialist at the MRC Cancer Cell Unit and later as the Research Funding Manager at Yorkshire Cancer Research. Her experience in a knowledge transfer role at the University of Leeds then led her to her current position as the University Impact Manager at York where she oversaw the institution’s impact submission to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
Sam Gardner
Sam Gardner is Director of Enterprise Works, the University of York’s business hub. Enterprise Works helps businesses to grow and drives social change by encouraging and supporting entrepreneurial activity. The hub brings together regional businesses,
entrepreneurs, students and researchers to nurture enterprising talent and help small businesses to grow. It offers business facilities and expertise to support existing and future entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and communities. The hub’s work is underpinned by the University’s established research expertise and existing business support services.
Dr Sarah Blower
Dr Sarah Blower is an Associate Professor at the University of York where she leads the Family Wellbeing Team and a programme of funded research developing and evaluating interventions to reduce health inequalities for children and families. Sarah’s work has a strong focus on co-production with parents and caregivers from marginalised communities, ensuring evidence-based interventions are equitable and centred on the lived experiences of diverse families.
Partners
Office of Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni (OPPA)
The Office of Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni (OPPA) works with University of York alumni and its global community of volunteers and donors, including individual philanthropists, family trusts, foundations and corporations. OPPA collaborates with supporters from across the world to join the University of York in finding new ways to tackle inequalities, support society-changing research, and help every student succeed.
GenerationResearch
GenerationResearch provides paid studentships in technical and research projects, widening access to STEM careers. It funds paid placements across disciplines, Masters by Research programmes, and PhD studies. GenerationResearch is supported entirely by philanthropic donations from individuals, trusts and foundations, corporate partners, and research bodies, who share its mission to provide equitable experiences in STEM.
Afro-Caribbean Commercial Science Network (ACCSN)
ACCSN was formed to support the development of aspiring and current professionals in Commercial Science and make the commercial route more attractive for Black and ethnic minority scientists, ultimately increasing representation whilst providing a space through which they can thrive together. By strengthening representation in these roles, ACCSN also contributes to a more inclusive scientific ecosystem that is better equipped to respond to the needs of diverse populations. At ACCSN Commercial Science is described as the point at which science meets the customer. Commercial Science allows professionals to contribute to science from another angle, helping to shape how scientific innovation is translated and applied in real-world contexts.
