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Rachel Hale  PhD (Nottingham), MSc, PGCE (PCET), BA (Hons), AFHEA

Dr Rachel Hale

(she/her)

PhD (Nottingham), MSc, PGCE (PCET), BA (Hons), AFHEA

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Rachel Hale

  • Research Associate

    Decipher

Overview

Mixed-methods applied health sciences researcher and social scientist with over 16 years’ experience delivering interdisciplinary research within primary care, community, and NHS settings. Experienced in clinical trials environments, including collaboration to integrate qualitative research into trial design and delivery. Proven success in grant writing, research capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and developing research-active clinicians and PPI members. Strong track record in securing funding and delivering policy-relevant research, including work cited in World Health Organization guidance.

I am a Research Associate working in DECIPHer on the process evaluation of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing (VPAG) Investment Programme.

I am also a Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol (Medical School), conducting qualitative research as part of a feasibility trial OPTimising IMmunosuppression for older Adult kidney transpLant recipients (OPTIMAL).

 

 

 

Publication

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2013

2012

Articles

Book sections

Conferences

Monographs

Thesis

Websites

Research

Leadership Roles

  • UKERC Whole Systems Networking Fund (£73,790) – Co-PI
  • Cardiff University/HEFCW Strategic Insight Programme (SIP) (£2,500) - PI
  • Learned Society of Wales Workshop Grant (£1,000) – PI

Co-Investigator Roles

  • GW4 Building Communities Programme (£20,000) 
  • GW4 AMR Alliance (£7,500)
  • GW4 Development Award (£4,995) 
  • GW4 Crucible Seed Funding (£3,855)

Studentship

    • ESRC/MRC Doctoral Studentship (PhD)

As Research Associate/Fellow

Current:

  • Process evaluation of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing (VPAG) Investment Programme
  • OPTIMAL is a feasibility trial 'OPTimising IMmunosuppression for older Adult kidney transpLant recipients' 

Previous:

  • IUD-fit is using mixed methods to understand experiences of intra-uterine device (IUD) fitting to co-produce effective decision support tools about pain relief
  • The ALCHIMIA project explored the insertion of a particular Artificial Intelligence technology incorporating ‘federated learning’ within the European steel industry for the more efficient operation of Electric Arc Furnace steel production
  • 'Living Well in Low Carbon Homes' (part of the Active Building Centre project) looked at resident and housing professionals' experiences of Active (low carbon) Homes
  • 'Inside the Black Box- An Ethnographic Examination of Nurses' Professional Judgement in Nursing Staffing Systems in England and Wales' 
  •  'Developing and Testing Participant Information Leaflets (PILs) that Inform and do not Cause Harm (PrinciPILs)' (Medical Research Council 
  • ‘Professional decision making in next generation clinical genetics’
  • ‘Pre-conception genetic screening for autosomal recessive conditions of uncertain or highly variable prognosis: social and ethical implications’ 
  • ‘Social, economic and ethical issues around cultured red blood cells, stem cells and immortalised cell lines’ 
  • 'The Cancer Survivor Voice: messages for education and practice, an evaluated co-production for Wales'  
  • 'Reasons for crown placement and replacement in primary dental care in Wales'

 

Teaching

  • My teaching and supervision activities focus on developing research skills and supporting capacity building within health and social sciences
  • Through these roles, I support the development of clinical academic skills and contribute to building a research-active workforce within healthcare settings
  • My teaching approach emphasises the application of research methods within real-world healthcare settings to support the translation of research into practice
  • I have delivered teaching in qualitative and mixed-methods research, sociology, and public health, contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including BSc Medicine and MSc Social Science Research Methods
  • I have supervised and co-supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research projects, including within the School of Medicine

Biography

EDUCATION

  • PhD Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham
  • AFHEA, Cardiff University
  • PGCE (PCET)
  • MSc Social Science Research
  • BA (Hons) Humanities (Sociology)

Honours and awards

EXPERT ADVISORY ROLES

  • Independent Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) member for the World Health Organization Influenza Implementation Research Focal Point (Initiative for Vaccine Research), 2018-2019
  • External Consultant for Tailoring Influenza Immunization Programmes (TIP FLU) for the World Health Organization (WHO), 2014-2016
  • External Consultant for Public Health Wales healthcare worker measles immunisation research study, 2013
  • External Consultant for Public Health Wales cervical screening uptake amongst hard-to-reach groups research study, 2010

Academic positions

  • 01/2025-present: Senior Research Associate, University of Bristol
  • 02/2019-present: Research Associate, Cardiff University
  • 02/2017-01/2019: Research Fellow, University of Warwick
  • 10/2015-03/2017: Research Associate, University of the West of England
  • 05/2013-02/2017: Research Associate, Cardiff University
  • 09/2008-09/2010: Sociology Lecturer, University of Glamorgan

Speaking engagements

Selected speaking engagements:

  • Hale, R. and Garret, J. [Invited oral presentation] EXPO-ENGAGE - Facilitating participation in air quality citizen science, Environment Platform Wales (EPW) Insights Wales / Cipolwg Cymru, Weekly webinar, discussion & research showcase, Wales (Online), April 2025.
  • Hale, R. [Oral presentation] Co-creating research with user communities and interdisciplinary colleagues, Researcher Community Showcase, Cardiff University, Wales, October 2024.
  • Hale, R., Stroud, D., Weinel, M., and Di Iorio, V. [Oral presentation] Connecting Wales to Europe through the ALCHIMIA Horizon Europe project, Learned Society of Wales ECR Colloquium 2024: A Connected Wales, Bangor University, Wales, June 2024.
  • Hale, R., Stroud, D., Weinel, M., and Di Iorio, V. [Oral presentation] The role of social scientists in developing an artificial intelligence platform for steelmaking work, Artificial Intelligence and Transformations of Work conference, Grenoble, November 2023.
  • Hale, R. [Invited online oral presentation] Extending the gift relationship?: Donor, patient, stakeholder, and publics' views on culturing red blood cells, Donation Research Network Symposium Series 2022 - Ethics and Donation, University of Queensland, Brisbane, July 2022.
  • Hale, R. and Boardman, F. [Oral presentation and poster] Social and Ethical Implications of Fragile X Screening: The Families’ Views, Fragile X Syndrome Research Workshop 2018, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, May 2018.
  • Hale, R. and Kent, J. [Oral presentation] Extending the gift? Donor perspectives on laboratory grown red blood cells, Deconstructing Donation Symposium, Lancaster University, June 2016, and Red Cell Special Interest Group Scientific Meeting, BBTS conference, Harrogate, September 2016.
  • Hale, R. [Invited oral presentation] An actor-network analysis of the healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme, HProImmnune Info day, Athens, July 2014.
  • Hale, R. [Invited oral presentation] An actor-network analysis of the healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme, Wales Immunisation Conference, Wrexham, May 2014.
  • Hale, R. [Oral presentation] Actor-network theory, sociology and bioethics in the UK healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme, Working together? STS, collaboration and (multi)disciplinarity conference, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, December 2013.
  • Hale, R. Dingwall R and Nguyen-Van-Tam J.S.  [Oral presentation] The bioethics of healthcare worker influenza immunisation, BSA Medical Sociology Conference, University of York, September 2013
  • Hale, R. Dingwall R and Nguyen-Van-Tam J.S. [Full conference paper and roundtable discussion] Linking micro and macro in the UK National Health Service healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme, American Sociological Association, New York, August 2013.  

Stakeholder Presentations:

  • Hale, R.  & Kent, J. [Invited presentation] An Investigation of What Diverse Patient, Donor and Public Groups Think About The Use of Innovative Blood Cell Therapies: A Small Scale Qualitative Study for the Bristol Blood & Transplant Research Unit. Presentation to Bristol Blood & Transplant Research Unit, NHSBT, Bristol, January 2017.
  • Hale, R.  & Kent, J. [Invited presentation] Donor, Patient and Public Perspectives on Laboratory Grown, Red Blood Cells, Presentation to NHSBT Public Advisory Group, Bristol, December 2016.
  • Hale, R. (2013) An actor-network analysis of the healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme in Wales.  Presentation to representatives from the Welsh Assembly Government, Public Health Wales and Local Health Boards, Cardiff, June 2013.

Creative research output involvement:

  • GW4 AMR Alliance funded research, ‘Engaging the public with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) using blended arts and science events’, October 2021 - February 2022
  • Touring immersive art installation and soundscape about genetic screening, University of Warwick, 2019
  • Ethnodrama video about cancer survivorship, Cardiff University, 2016

Committees and reviewing

  • Peer reviewer for major journals
  • Deputy Academic Editor, Cogent Social Sciences

Supervisions

I am interested in supervising postgraduate students in the areas of:

  • Health Services Research
  • Public Health
  • Sociology of Heatlh and Illness
  • Ethical, Legal and Societal Implications (ELSI) Research

 

Past projects

  • Masters in Public Health (MPH) dissertation 'Health, Fitness and Social Media Influencers: A focus group study exploring the impact of Instagram on the health behaviours of young women'.

News articles

Cardiff University researchers lead on European Union funded ALCHIMIA project.

School of Social Sciences research team part of meeting international net zero emissions target

29 April 2024

Cardiff University researchers lead on European Union funded ALCHIMIA project.

Contact Details

Specialisms

  • Sociology of health and illness
  • health service delivery
  • Health services and systems
  • Qualitative Research
  • Mixed methods