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Katherine Brain

Professor Katherine Brain

(she/her)

Teams and roles for Katherine Brain

Overview

I hold a Personal Chair in Health Psychology and lead a programme of cancer early detection behavioural research within the Division of Population Medicine. My research interests revolve around understanding the influences on cancer symptom help-seeking behaviour and screening participation, developing and testing behavioural interventions to address these influences, with a particular focus on reducing inequalities in cancer outcomes.

Since 2015, I have led the strategic direction of cancer behavioural science research in Wales, with infrastructure funding spanning the Wales Cancer Research Centre and Primary and Emergency Care Research Centre, funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales. My research portfolio includes international studies of cancer awareness, understanding and addressing socioeconomic disparities in cancer help-seeking, lung cancer screening and smoking cessation among high-risk populations, and the impact of the pandemic on cancer attitudes and behaviours. 

 

My research, teaching and leadership responsibilities are underpinned by my core values of inclusivity, integrity and collaboration.

Publication

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Articles

Book sections

Conferences

Research

Current research projects and collaborations:

PRIME Centre Wales. This is a cross-Wales research infrastructure collaboration focusing on primary and emergency care, funded by Health and Care Research Wales . 

Wales Cancer Research Centre. Funded by Health and Care Research Wales, we work with cancer patients and other partners to develop and deliver research excellence across Wales.

Supporting smokers attending for lung cancer screening in YORkshire to QUIT (YORQUIT). This is a cross-institution trial funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and led by Nottingham University to test alternative ways of supporting smoking cessation among people taking part in lung cancer screening. Cardiff’s role in YORQUIT is to lead an embedded qualitative process evaluation study.

ThinkCancer! This is a cluster randomised controlled trial of a primary care intervention to support timely cancer diagnosis, led by the University of Bangor and funded by Cancer Research Wales.

PREPARE study. This is a CRUK-funded collaboration between researchers at Cardiff University, Queen Mary University of London, University of Southern Denmark and lay representatives exploring the communication and information needs of the public, patients, healthcare providers and policy makers regarding multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood tests.

Teaching

I am responsible for delivering undergraduate medical education including MBBCh Case Based Learning, Personal Tutoring, Evidence Based Medicine tutorials, intercalated and Student Selected Component project supervision and assessment. I also deliver Masters in Public Health supervision and assessment.

 

Biography

I am experienced in leading and managing research teams, including behavioural research spanning the Wales Cancer Research Centre and Primary and Emergency Care Research Centre for Wales. Current senior roles include joint leadership for the Cardiff University and Public Health Wales Strategic Partnership Behavioural Science theme and Ymchwil SGRINIO collaboration, and Cancer Research Strategy for Wales thematic leadership for prevention and early detection research.

External committee work includes:
·         NHS England Lung Screening Programme Expert Advisory Group
·         French National Cancer Institute Scientific Committee  
·         Yorkshire Cancer Research Sheffield Pioneers Scientific Committee
·         UK Chair of the US/UK Multi-Cancer Early Detection Consortium Health Equity workgroup (2022-2025)
·         Cancer Research UK Early Detection and Diagnosis Research Committee (2020-2025)
·         European Code Against Cancer expert working group on Communication and Health Literacy, IARC/WHO (2023-2024)

Professional memberships

  • Full member of the British Psychological Society
  • Chartered Health Psychologist and registered practitioner
  • Qualification in Health Psychology (QHP) Stage II registered supervisor

News articles

Cardiff University-led campaign will feature trained ‘cancer champions’

New campaign highlights need to seek help for ‘vague but concerning’ cancer symptoms

22 July 2021

Cardiff University-led campaign will feature trained ‘cancer champions’

Cardiff University-led survey looked in detail at impact of COVID-19 on attitudes to screening

More than one in five people ‘less likely to attend cancer screening post-pandemic’

16 July 2021

Cardiff University-led survey looked in detail at impact of COVID-19 on attitudes to screening

New research highlights impact of COVID-19 pandemic on UK public attitudes to cancer

Nearly half of people with potential cancer symptoms in first wave of pandemic did not contact GP, study finds

25 February 2021

New research highlights impact of COVID-19 pandemic on UK public attitudes to cancer

Cardiff University and Cancer Research UK study hopes to target ‘cancer can wait’ attitude

UK-wide research to look at impact of COVID-19 on early cancer diagnosis

03 July 2020

Cardiff University and Cancer Research UK study hopes to target ‘cancer can wait’ attitude

Warning of impact of Covid-19 pandemic on cancer diagnosis issued in leading medical journal

Don’t ignore vague symptoms of cancer during pandemic, urge researchers

30 April 2020

Warning of impact of Covid-19 pandemic on cancer diagnosis issued in leading medical journal

Womenspire showcases accomplishments of women in Wales

Inspirational women shortlisted for awards

05 June 2018

Womenspire showcases accomplishments of women in Wales

Smokers who receive CT lung screening are more likely to quit

Positive effect of CT screening on smokers

25 July 2017

Smokers who receive CT lung screening are more likely to quit

Introduction of screening could significantly reduce lung cancer deaths

Lung cancer screening trial

29 July 2016

Introduction of screening could significantly reduce lung cancer deaths

Contact Details

Research themes

Specialisms

  • Health psychology
  • Behavioural science
  • Cancer screening, prevention and early diagnosis
  • Population health