![Kelly Morgan](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/3193?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Kelly Morgan
- Media commentator
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Kelly Morgan
Senior Research Fellow, DECIPHer
Overview
I am a Senior Research Fellow at the School of Social Sciences within the Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer). I am Director of the School Health Research Network and co-Principal Investigator for Wales for the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.
My research focuses on improving the health and well-being of children and young people, with a particular emphasis on school-based interventions and the evaluation of public health and social policy. I specialise in the development and evaluation of complex interventions designed to increase physical activity, improve dietary behaviours, and support mental health. My work is interdisciplinary, bridging public health, social science, education, and social policy, with international collaborations across Europe and beyond.
Within DECIPHer, I am a Co‑Investigator and co‑lead the Improving Population Health programme of work. I am also a co-investigator on the NIHR funded PHIRST Insight team working with local authorities to co-produce research on the public health impacts of initiatives.
Methodologically, I have extensive experience leading routine data linkage projects and conducting mixed‑methods studies, including feasibility trials. I have co‑led several of DECIPHer’s Methodological Innovation in Public Health Intervention Science courses, delivering a suite of established methodology short courses.
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an Alumni Member of the Health and Care Research Wales Faculty, and I am the recipient of an Emerging Leader Award recognising my contribution to public health research.
Publication
2026
- Morris, N. et al., 2026. Scoping review of public attitudes to government active travel interventions in the UK. BMJ Open 16 (8) e115598. (10.1136/bmjopen-2025-115598)
- Anthony, R. et al. 2026. Mental health and well-being-related social support for care-experienced children and young people: a scoping review of type, source, and quality. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse (10.1177/15248380261437098)
- Pennington, A. et al. 2026. The Equality Health-CVD intervention: protocol for a feasibility study of a home-based multi-component cardiovascular support intervention. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 12 71. (10.1186/s40814-026-01819-5)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2026. Policy on the move: active travel to school among 7–16-year-olds in Wales and its links to school policy and socio-demographic factors. BMC Public Health 26 1298. (10.1186/s12889-026-26995-0)
2025
- de Vocht, F. et al., 2025. Impacts of the Mindset Teams programme on teacher outcomes and pupil educational attainment: secondary data analysis. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness 18 (4), pp.1008-1024. (10.1080/19345747.2024.2403989)
- Liu, S. et al. 2025. Learner health and well-being in Wales: Key findings from the SHRN Student Health and Wellbeing Survey in primary schools 2024. Project Report.The School Health Research Network.
- Donaldson, C. et al. 2025. Associations of perceived school and year group climate with mental health among children aged 7-to-11 years. Child Indicators Research 18 (2), pp.885-904. (10.1007/s12187-024-10213-7)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2025. Findings from a cluster randomised feasibility study of a school-based physical activity role model intervention (CHARMING) for 9–10-year-old girls. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 11 38. (10.1186/s40814-025-01615-7)
2024
- Page, N. et al. 2024. Data Resource Profile: The School Health Research Network (SHRN) Student Health and Well-being (SHW) survey of 11-16-year-olds (2017-2023). International Journal of Epidemiology 53 (6) dyae161. (10.1093/ije/dyae161)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2024. Factors underpinning the adoption of a school-based growth mindset intervention: a qualitative study. Educational Psychology in Practice 40 (4), pp.509-530. (10.1080/02667363.2024.2414455)
- Moore, G. et al. 2024. School and family level socioeconomic status, school connectedness and health and wellbeing among 9-11 year olds: cross sectional analysis of the Student Health and Wellbeing Survey in Wales. Child Indicators Research (10.1007/s12187-024-10179-6)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2024. Perceived impacts of a school-based growth mindset programme ‘Mindset Teams’ in Scotland: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 24 2199. (10.1186/s12889-024-19611-6)
- Donaldson, C. et al. 2024. Mental health, bullying and school connectedness: a comparative analysis of school transition at age 11 from within the Welsh education system. British Educational Research Journal 50 (3), pp.1533-1555. (10.1002/berj.3985)
- Jacobsen, J. S. et al., 2024. An exercise and patient education intervention to reduce pain and physical limitations in adults with acetabular dysplasia: study protocol for a process evaluation integrated within a randomised controlled trial (the MovetheHip trial). Trials 25 411. (10.1186/s13063-024-08262-y)
- Bueno, S. V. et al., 2024. Parous women perform less moderate to vigorous physical activity than their nulliparous peers: a population-based study in Denmark. Public Health 231 , pp.47-54. (10.1016/j.puhe.2024.03.010)
- Lalli, G. et al., 2024. A brief review of Secondary School Food Policy (SSFP) approaches in the UK from 2010 to 2022. Current Nutrition & Food Science 54 (2), pp.433-450. (10.1108/NFS-11-2023-0259)
- Anthony, R. et al. 2024. Mental health and wellbeing related social support for care-experienced children and young people: A Scoping Review protocol of type, source and quality.. [Online].OSF. (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2U7BZ)Available at: https://osf.io/2u7bz/.
2023
- Morgan, K. et al. 2023. A mixed-methods process evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of involving community and peer role models within a physical activity intervention for primary-school-aged girls (the CHARMING study). BMC Public Health 23 (1) 1950. (10.1186/s12889-023-16826-x)
- Steward, I. P. et al., 2023. How to develop young physical activity leaders? A Delphi study. PLoS ONE 18 (9) e0286920. (10.1371/journal.pone.0286920)
- Alhumud, M. , Moore, S. and Morgan, K. 2023. The socio-economic determinants of energy drink consumption and related health outcomes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Global Journal of Health Science 15 (8), pp.8-31. (10.5539/gjhs.v15n8p8)
- John, A. et al., 2023. Self-harm, in-person bullying and cyberbullying in secondary school-aged children: a data linkage study in Wales. Journal of Adolescence 95 (1), pp.97-114. (10.1002/jad.12102)
2022
- Richards, A. B. et al., 2022. WALES 2021 Active Healthy Kids (AHK) report card: the fourth pandemic of childhood inactivity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19 (13) 8138. (10.3390/ijerph19138138)
- Moore, G. et al. 2022. Mental health and life satisfaction among 10–11-year-olds in Wales, before and one year after onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 22 379. (10.1186/s12889-022-12752-6)
- Pell, B. et al. 2022. CHoosing Active Role Models to INspire Girls(CHARMING): protocol for a cluster randomised feasibility trial of a school-based, community linked programme to increase physical activity levels in 9–10-year-old girls. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 8 2. (10.1186/s40814-021-00961-6)
2021
- Morgan, K. et al. 2021. From a research trial to routine practice: stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences of referrals to the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Wales. BMC Health Services Research 21 1232. (10.1186/s12913-021-07266-7)
- Western, M. J. et al., 2021. The effectiveness of digital interventions for increasing physical activity in individuals of low socioeconomic status: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 18 (1) 148. (10.1186/s12966-021-01218-4)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2021. Identifying prenatal and postnatal determinants of infant growth: a structural equation modelling based cohort analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (19) 10265. (10.3390/ijerph181910265)
- Salmon, V. et al., 2021. Moving through motherhood: involving the public in research to inform physical activity promotion throughout pregnancy and beyond. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (9) 4482. (10.3390/ijerph18094482)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2021. Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption from 1998-2017: findings from the health behaviour in school-aged children/school health research network in Wales. PLoS ONE 16 (4) e0248847. (10.1371/journal.pone.0248847)
2020
- Morgan, K. et al. 2020. Sources of potential bias when combining routine data linkage and a national survey of secondary school-aged children: a record linkage study. BMC Medical Research Methodology 20 178. (10.1186/s12874-020-01064-1)
- Morgan, K. , Rahman, M. and Moore, G. 2020. Patterning in patient referral to and uptake of a National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Wales from 2008 to 2017: a data linkage study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 (11) 3942. (10.3390/ijerph17113942)
- Khanom, A. et al., 2020. Parent recommendations to support physical activity for families with young children: Results of interviews in deprived and affluent communities in South Wales (United Kingdom). Health Expectations 23 (2), pp.284-295. (10.1111/hex.13020)
- Alhumud, M. , Moore, S. and Morgan, K. 2020. Energy drink mechanisms of harm in young people and adolescents: a narrative review. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 8 (1), pp.33-38. (10.12691/jfnr-8-1-5)
2019
- Morgan, K. et al. 2019. Use of the school setting during the summer holidays: Mixed-methods evaluation of Food and Fun Clubs in Wales. Journal of School Health 89 (10), pp.829-838. (10.1111/josh.12824)
- Raza, H. et al., 2019. Predictors of objectively measured physical activity in 12-month-old infants: A study of linked birth cohort data with electronic health records. Pediatric Obesity 14 (7) e12512. (10.1111/ijpo.12512)
- Hawkins, J. et al. 2019. Acceptability and feasibility of implementing accelerometry-based activity monitors and a linked web portal in an exercise referral scheme: A mixed-methods feasibility randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research 21 (3) e12374. (10.2196/12374)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2019. Socio-economic inequalities in adolescent summer holiday experiences, and mental wellbeing on return to school: analysis of the School Health Research Network/Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey in Wales. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16 (7) 1107. (10.3390/ijerph16071107)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2019. Formative research to develop a school-based, community-linked physical activity role model programme for girls: CHoosing Active Role Models to INspire Girls (CHARMING). BMC Public Health 19 437. (10.1186/s12889-019-6741-1)
2017
- Hawkins, J. et al. 2017. Protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of the use of Physical ACtivity monitors in an exercise referral setting: the PACERS study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 3 51. (10.1186/s40814-017-0194-z)
- McConnon, L. , Morgan, K. and Fletcher, A. 2017. Food and fun: How one programme is making a difference to children in Wales. [Online].Nesta. Available at: http://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/food-and-fun-how-one-programme-making-difference-children-wales.
- McConnon, L. et al. 2017. Food and Fun School Holiday Enrichment Programme 2016: evaluation report. Project Report.Cardiff: Welsh Local Government Association.
2016
- Morgan, K. et al. 2016. Predictors of physical activity and sedentary behaviours among 11-16 year olds: Multilevel analysis of the 2013 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Wales. BMC Public Health 16 569. (10.1186/s12889-016-3213-8)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2016. Cohort profile: growing up in Wales: the environments for healthy living study. International Journal of Epidemiology 45 (2), pp.364-373. (10.1093/ije/dyv178)
2015
- Morgan, K. 2015. Obesity in pregnancy: infant health service utilisation and costs on the NHS. BMJ Open 5 (11) e008357. (10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008357)
2014
- Morgan, K. et al. 2014. Physical activity and excess weight in pregnancy have independent and unique effects on delivery and perinatal outcomes. Plos One 9 (4) e94532. (10.1371/journal.pone.0094532)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2014. Obesity in pregnancy: a retrospective prevalence-based study on health service utilisation and costs on the NHS. BMJ Open 4 e003983. (10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003983)
2013
Articles
- Morris, N. et al., 2026. Scoping review of public attitudes to government active travel interventions in the UK. BMJ Open 16 (8) e115598. (10.1136/bmjopen-2025-115598)
- Anthony, R. et al. 2026. Mental health and well-being-related social support for care-experienced children and young people: a scoping review of type, source, and quality. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse (10.1177/15248380261437098)
- Pennington, A. et al. 2026. The Equality Health-CVD intervention: protocol for a feasibility study of a home-based multi-component cardiovascular support intervention. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 12 71. (10.1186/s40814-026-01819-5)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2026. Policy on the move: active travel to school among 7–16-year-olds in Wales and its links to school policy and socio-demographic factors. BMC Public Health 26 1298. (10.1186/s12889-026-26995-0)
- de Vocht, F. et al., 2025. Impacts of the Mindset Teams programme on teacher outcomes and pupil educational attainment: secondary data analysis. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness 18 (4), pp.1008-1024. (10.1080/19345747.2024.2403989)
- Donaldson, C. et al. 2025. Associations of perceived school and year group climate with mental health among children aged 7-to-11 years. Child Indicators Research 18 (2), pp.885-904. (10.1007/s12187-024-10213-7)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2025. Findings from a cluster randomised feasibility study of a school-based physical activity role model intervention (CHARMING) for 9–10-year-old girls. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 11 38. (10.1186/s40814-025-01615-7)
- Page, N. et al. 2024. Data Resource Profile: The School Health Research Network (SHRN) Student Health and Well-being (SHW) survey of 11-16-year-olds (2017-2023). International Journal of Epidemiology 53 (6) dyae161. (10.1093/ije/dyae161)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2024. Factors underpinning the adoption of a school-based growth mindset intervention: a qualitative study. Educational Psychology in Practice 40 (4), pp.509-530. (10.1080/02667363.2024.2414455)
- Moore, G. et al. 2024. School and family level socioeconomic status, school connectedness and health and wellbeing among 9-11 year olds: cross sectional analysis of the Student Health and Wellbeing Survey in Wales. Child Indicators Research (10.1007/s12187-024-10179-6)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2024. Perceived impacts of a school-based growth mindset programme ‘Mindset Teams’ in Scotland: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 24 2199. (10.1186/s12889-024-19611-6)
- Donaldson, C. et al. 2024. Mental health, bullying and school connectedness: a comparative analysis of school transition at age 11 from within the Welsh education system. British Educational Research Journal 50 (3), pp.1533-1555. (10.1002/berj.3985)
- Jacobsen, J. S. et al., 2024. An exercise and patient education intervention to reduce pain and physical limitations in adults with acetabular dysplasia: study protocol for a process evaluation integrated within a randomised controlled trial (the MovetheHip trial). Trials 25 411. (10.1186/s13063-024-08262-y)
- Bueno, S. V. et al., 2024. Parous women perform less moderate to vigorous physical activity than their nulliparous peers: a population-based study in Denmark. Public Health 231 , pp.47-54. (10.1016/j.puhe.2024.03.010)
- Lalli, G. et al., 2024. A brief review of Secondary School Food Policy (SSFP) approaches in the UK from 2010 to 2022. Current Nutrition & Food Science 54 (2), pp.433-450. (10.1108/NFS-11-2023-0259)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2023. A mixed-methods process evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of involving community and peer role models within a physical activity intervention for primary-school-aged girls (the CHARMING study). BMC Public Health 23 (1) 1950. (10.1186/s12889-023-16826-x)
- Steward, I. P. et al., 2023. How to develop young physical activity leaders? A Delphi study. PLoS ONE 18 (9) e0286920. (10.1371/journal.pone.0286920)
- Alhumud, M. , Moore, S. and Morgan, K. 2023. The socio-economic determinants of energy drink consumption and related health outcomes in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Global Journal of Health Science 15 (8), pp.8-31. (10.5539/gjhs.v15n8p8)
- John, A. et al., 2023. Self-harm, in-person bullying and cyberbullying in secondary school-aged children: a data linkage study in Wales. Journal of Adolescence 95 (1), pp.97-114. (10.1002/jad.12102)
- Richards, A. B. et al., 2022. WALES 2021 Active Healthy Kids (AHK) report card: the fourth pandemic of childhood inactivity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19 (13) 8138. (10.3390/ijerph19138138)
- Moore, G. et al. 2022. Mental health and life satisfaction among 10–11-year-olds in Wales, before and one year after onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 22 379. (10.1186/s12889-022-12752-6)
- Pell, B. et al. 2022. CHoosing Active Role Models to INspire Girls(CHARMING): protocol for a cluster randomised feasibility trial of a school-based, community linked programme to increase physical activity levels in 9–10-year-old girls. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 8 2. (10.1186/s40814-021-00961-6)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2021. From a research trial to routine practice: stakeholders’ perceptions and experiences of referrals to the National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Wales. BMC Health Services Research 21 1232. (10.1186/s12913-021-07266-7)
- Western, M. J. et al., 2021. The effectiveness of digital interventions for increasing physical activity in individuals of low socioeconomic status: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 18 (1) 148. (10.1186/s12966-021-01218-4)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2021. Identifying prenatal and postnatal determinants of infant growth: a structural equation modelling based cohort analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (19) 10265. (10.3390/ijerph181910265)
- Salmon, V. et al., 2021. Moving through motherhood: involving the public in research to inform physical activity promotion throughout pregnancy and beyond. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (9) 4482. (10.3390/ijerph18094482)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2021. Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption from 1998-2017: findings from the health behaviour in school-aged children/school health research network in Wales. PLoS ONE 16 (4) e0248847. (10.1371/journal.pone.0248847)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2020. Sources of potential bias when combining routine data linkage and a national survey of secondary school-aged children: a record linkage study. BMC Medical Research Methodology 20 178. (10.1186/s12874-020-01064-1)
- Morgan, K. , Rahman, M. and Moore, G. 2020. Patterning in patient referral to and uptake of a National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) in Wales from 2008 to 2017: a data linkage study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 (11) 3942. (10.3390/ijerph17113942)
- Khanom, A. et al., 2020. Parent recommendations to support physical activity for families with young children: Results of interviews in deprived and affluent communities in South Wales (United Kingdom). Health Expectations 23 (2), pp.284-295. (10.1111/hex.13020)
- Alhumud, M. , Moore, S. and Morgan, K. 2020. Energy drink mechanisms of harm in young people and adolescents: a narrative review. Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 8 (1), pp.33-38. (10.12691/jfnr-8-1-5)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2019. Use of the school setting during the summer holidays: Mixed-methods evaluation of Food and Fun Clubs in Wales. Journal of School Health 89 (10), pp.829-838. (10.1111/josh.12824)
- Raza, H. et al., 2019. Predictors of objectively measured physical activity in 12-month-old infants: A study of linked birth cohort data with electronic health records. Pediatric Obesity 14 (7) e12512. (10.1111/ijpo.12512)
- Hawkins, J. et al. 2019. Acceptability and feasibility of implementing accelerometry-based activity monitors and a linked web portal in an exercise referral scheme: A mixed-methods feasibility randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research 21 (3) e12374. (10.2196/12374)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2019. Socio-economic inequalities in adolescent summer holiday experiences, and mental wellbeing on return to school: analysis of the School Health Research Network/Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey in Wales. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16 (7) 1107. (10.3390/ijerph16071107)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2019. Formative research to develop a school-based, community-linked physical activity role model programme for girls: CHoosing Active Role Models to INspire Girls (CHARMING). BMC Public Health 19 437. (10.1186/s12889-019-6741-1)
- Hawkins, J. et al. 2017. Protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of the use of Physical ACtivity monitors in an exercise referral setting: the PACERS study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 3 51. (10.1186/s40814-017-0194-z)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2016. Predictors of physical activity and sedentary behaviours among 11-16 year olds: Multilevel analysis of the 2013 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Wales. BMC Public Health 16 569. (10.1186/s12889-016-3213-8)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2016. Cohort profile: growing up in Wales: the environments for healthy living study. International Journal of Epidemiology 45 (2), pp.364-373. (10.1093/ije/dyv178)
- Morgan, K. 2015. Obesity in pregnancy: infant health service utilisation and costs on the NHS. BMJ Open 5 (11) e008357. (10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008357)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2014. Physical activity and excess weight in pregnancy have independent and unique effects on delivery and perinatal outcomes. Plos One 9 (4) e94532. (10.1371/journal.pone.0094532)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2014. Obesity in pregnancy: a retrospective prevalence-based study on health service utilisation and costs on the NHS. BMJ Open 4 e003983. (10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003983)
- Morgan, K. et al. 2013. Association of diabetes in pregnancy with child weight at birth, age 12 months and 5 years--a population-based electronic cohort study. Plos One 8 (11) e79803. (10.1371/journal.pone.0079803)
Monographs
- Liu, S. et al. 2025. Learner health and well-being in Wales: Key findings from the SHRN Student Health and Wellbeing Survey in primary schools 2024. Project Report.The School Health Research Network.
- McConnon, L. et al. 2017. Food and Fun School Holiday Enrichment Programme 2016: evaluation report. Project Report.Cardiff: Welsh Local Government Association.
Websites
- Anthony, R. et al. 2024. Mental health and wellbeing related social support for care-experienced children and young people: A Scoping Review protocol of type, source and quality.. [Online].OSF. (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2U7BZ)Available at: https://osf.io/2u7bz/.
- McConnon, L. , Morgan, K. and Fletcher, A. 2017. Food and fun: How one programme is making a difference to children in Wales. [Online].Nesta. Available at: http://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/food-and-fun-how-one-programme-making-difference-children-wales.
Research
Current grants:
2025-2028 Long S, Morgan K (co-PI), Embling R, Murphy S, Gregory J, Morgan Kev et al., Reducing Inequalities in School food Environments (RISE): Supporting provision, uptake and consumption of Free School Meals in primary schools. UK Research and Innovation, £1,600,000
2025-2030. Moore G. Evans R, Hawkins J, Young H, Morgan K (co-I) et al. DECIPHer Centre Sustainability Funding. Health and Care Research Wales. £2,800,00.
2025-2030 Jago, R, Kidger, J, Hawkins, J, Morgan K (co-I), Jessiman, T, et al., Recommissioning of the Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team, PHIRST INSIGHT, NIHR-PHR, £2,500,000
2025-2029 Jago, R, Salway, R, Kipping, R, de Vocht, F, Morgan, K (co-I), Littlecott, H, et al., Town foR ActiVe travEL: a Systems Evaluation of a Welsh multi-level intervention (TRAVELS), NIHR, £1,372,177
2024-2029 John A, Pozo Banos, M, Murphy S, Inchley J, … … Morgan K (co-I) et al. Datamind Renewal: Mental Health Research in the UK. MRC, £6,999,700
2024-2026 Murphy S, Morgan K (co-PI), Page N, Boffey M, Angel L and Young H. The School Health Research Network (SHRN) Student Health and Wellbeing Survey. 01/03/24 to 31/03/26, Welsh Government, £1,476,000.
2023-2026 Anthony B, Morgan K (co-I), Evans R. Feeling loved and appreciated”: a mixed methods study to explore relationships and the association with mental health and wellbeing for young people who have experienced care. Health and Care Research Wales, £428,504
Past grants:
2025-2025 Allen, J, Morgan, K (co-I), Joinson, C and Lowe C. Exploring Pathways to Children and Young People’s Mental Health. GW4 Building Communities Programme, Generator Fund, GW4, £19,996
2020-2025 Campbell R, Jago R, Murphy S, Kidger J, de Vocht F, Hawkins J, Morgan K (co-I) and Gray C. Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST) National Institute for Health, Public Health Research Programme, £2,500,000
2020-2024 Moore G, Hawkins J, Morgan K (co-I), Murphy S, Roberts, J et al. Expansion of the School Health Research Network into primary schools. Welsh Government £1,500,000
2023 - 2023 Hawkins, J (PI), Morgan, K (co-I) and Long, S. Healthy Working Wales Survey Tools Benchmarking Project. Public Health Wales. £29,749.
2021-2022 Morgan K (PI), Hawkins J, Moore G, van Sluijs E, Hallingberg B, Roberts J, Charles J and Cannings-John R. CHoosing Active Role Models to INspire Girls (CHARMING): cluster randomised feasibility study of a school-based, community-linked programme to increase physical activity levels in 9-11-year-old girls, Health & Care Research Wales, Health Grant Award, £249,830
2020-2021 Pulsford R, Foster C, Rouse P, Morgan K (co-I), Salmon V, Rodgers L and Williams O. Moving through Motherhood. GW4 Building Communities Programme, Generator Fund, £14,948.85
2016-2019 Morgan K (PI) (Mentor Moore G) Health & Care Research Wales Post-doctoral Fellowship. £279,000
2017-2017 Morgan K (PI), Moore G (co-PI), Hawkins J, Littlecott H, Long S and McConnon L. An evaluability assessment of the Food & Fitness School Holiday Enrichment Programme in Wales. WLGA. £49,718
2016-2017 Fletcher A, Morgan, K (co-I) and Hawkins, J. A formative evaluation of a School-Holiday Enrichment Programme. WLGA. £50,000
2015-2016 Morgan K (PI), Fildes A and Darwent K. The CHARMING study: Choosing Active Role Models to INspire Girls. Cancer Research UK - Innovation Grant Application. £20,000
2010-2014 Morgan K (Supervisors Professor Sinead Brophy and Dr Rebecca Hill) Centre for Health Information and Evaluation Research (CHIRAL) PhD studentship. £42,000
Research Interests
With an overarching focus on public health research, my research interests fall into three broad themes:
The development and evaluation of complex public health interventions:
- Principle investigator on the development of a school-based physical activity intervention (CHARMING study)
- Principle investigator on the long-term evaluation of a National policy (National Exercise Referral Scheme in Wales)
- Involved in the evaluation of two school-based interventions (School Holiday Enrichment Programme (Co-App) and The Activity Knowledge Circuit (Research Assistant))
Utilising expertise of quantitative techniques and routine data linkage:
- Lead author on high-impact papers using a well-established health-informatics platform
- Lead researcher examining environmental influences on health and wellbeing with a particular focus on obesity prevention
- Experienced in using routine data to evaluate healthcare provision and existing primary care interventions, at both the community and population level
Improving child health and wellbeing:
- Involved in the establishment of a prenatally recruited birth cohort study: Growing Up in Wales
- Produced robust evidence for school, regional and national stakeholders (School Health Research Network)
- Appreciation of the complexities involved in the measurement of physical activity (during pregnancy, infancy, childhood and adulthood)
Teaching
My contributions to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching span a range of areas as follows:
Cardiff University (School of Medicine)
- 2020 - Present Health Improvement module of the Masters in Public Health (Lecturer)
- 2017 - 2020 Health Improvement module of the Masters in Public Health (Module lead and lecturer)
University of Bristol (School for Policy Studies)
- 2019 - 2020 Physical activity and Nutritional Interventions (Guest lecturer)
- 2018 - 2019 Practical Research Methods, MSc Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health (Module lead)
- 2018 - 2019 Guided Independent Study
Cardiff Metropolitan University (School of Sport)
- 2008 - 2010 Applied Sports Principles and Techniques (Levels 1-3)
- 2008 - 2010 Games Applications (Levels 1-3)
DECIPHer Methodology Short Course Programme
- 2019 - present Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions
Biography
Education and qualifications:
- 2014 PhD Public Health, School of Medicine, Swansea University
- 2010 MSc (with distinction): Physical Activity and Health, University of Wales Institute Cardiff
- 2008 BSc (First class Hons): Sport and Physical Education, University of Wales Institute Cardiff
Career overview:
- 2021 - present Senior Research Fellow, DECIPHer, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
- 2016 - 2021 Research Fellow, DECIPHer, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
- 2019 - 2019 Lecturer, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol (Part time)
- 2016-2016 Research Fellow, Y Lab (Secondment), Cardiff University
- 2015-2016 Research Associate, DECIPHer, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
- 2010-2015 Research Assistant, School of Medicine, Swansea University
- 2008 -2010 Hourly Paid lecturer. University of Wales Institute Cardiff
Honours and awards
- Wales Emerging Leader award, 2025
- Womenspire Finalist- Sport award, Chwarae Teg (2018) cteg.org.uk/womenspire-18/2018-finalists/
- Commonwealth Games Athlete (2014, 2018)
Professional memberships
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- International Society for Physical Activity and Health
Committees and reviewing
Funding committee member
Health and Care Research Wales
- Integrated Health Funding Award 2024 – Present
- Advancing Researcher Award 2025 – Present
- Next steps Awards 2025 – Present
National Institute for Health and Care Research, Policy Research Programme, Expert Advisor 2025 – Present
Reviewing
- Associate Editor, Archives in Public Health
- Journal reviewer
Supervisions
I have supervised one PhD student to completion alongside a number of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations in the Schools of Medicine and Social Sciences. I have also provided postgraduate supervision to students at the University of Bristol and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
I am currently supervising four PhD students:
- Anna Pennington: A feasibility and acceptability study of the Equality Health-CVD intervention for patients with vascular conditions. Kelly Morgan, Jonathan Hewitt
- Rachel Rees: Advanced Clinical Practitioners in Wales: Job satisfaction and the four pillars of practice Simon Murphy, Kelly Morgan
- Cailtin Jackson: Impacts on child dietary behaviours and health: Exploring school policy responses to the rise in cost of living. Supervisors: Kelly Morgan, Nicholas Page
- Nick Morris Evaluating the impact of the novel Welsh Government ‘Active Travel Town’ on inequalities in travel modes and physical activity and to inform policy development - GW4 BioMed MRC DTP Supervisors: Ruth Kipping, Russ Jago, Ruth Salway, Kelly Morgan
I am interested in supervising research projects in areas including:
- intervention development/evaluation methods;
- routine data linkage studies;
- school-based studies;
- obesity prevention methods;
- child and adolescent health;
- pregnancy and the early years.
Current supervision
Caitlin Jackson
Anna Pennington
