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Heather Strange   BA (Hons), MA, PhD

Dr Heather Strange

(she/her)

BA (Hons), MA, PhD

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Heather Strange

Overview

I'm a qualitative research associate/fellow at the Centre for Trials Research (CTR), with a background in medical sociology, science and technology studies, and bioethics. Methodologically, my work focuses on ethnographic and qualitative methods, implementation science, and collaborative/multidisciplinary research design.

My PhD (2015) explored the emergence and clinical translation of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), drawing on interviews with patients, clinicians, and experts. The study examined how NIPT reshapes boundaries between screening and diagnosis, and how it intersects with complex ethical, social, and political debates—especially around abortion and bioethical discourse.

Currently, I lead NEPTUNE, a follow-up study examining the integration of NIPT into routine prenatal screening in Wales, and co-convene the CTR’s qualitative research network.

Before this, I worked on a range of qualitative and bioethical projects at Cesagen (Centre for the Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics), the Specialist Unit for Research Evidence (SURE), and Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences. My contributions spanned diverse topics, including reproductive ethics, biometric technologies, biobanking governance and dementia care.

Publication

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2018

2017

2015

2010

2009

Adrannau llyfrau

Cynadleddau

Erthyglau

Gosodiad

Monograffau

Research

As Principal Investigator

🔹 Researcher Development Award: Advancing Researcher (HCRW-funded)
Four interlinked work packages on women's health research, working collaboratively with regional, national and international research teams and public, patient and professional stakeholders.

🔹 NEPTUNE (HCRW-funded)
Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) Wales: Understanding and Improving the New Landscape of Prenatal Screening
This project explores how NIPT is being integrated into routine prenatal screening in Wales, focusing on ethical, social, and implementation dimensions. CTR Project Page | End of project summary


As Co-Investigator and Qualitative Lead


🔹 ORION (Impact Accelerator Workstream)
The Organising Work of Nurses. Highlighting the often-invisible organisational work of nurses through public engagement, tool development (TRACT), and an innovative digital education platform. Project Site | Theory Framework

🔹 Plan-it (NIHR-funded)
Feasibility and acceptability of a pre-pregnancy weight loss intervention
A mixed-methods study exploring how planned interventions before pregnancy can improve outcomes. CTR Project Page | NIHR Award


As Research Associate

🔹 TTTS (MRC-funded)
Developing a non-invasive treatment for Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Contributing qualitative insight to the development of a novel, non-invasive intervention. ISRCTN Registry

🔹 SIMCA (NIHR-funded)
Multi-site ethnography examining the implementation of Midwifery Continuity of Carer (MCoC) in the NHS in England. Project page

🔹 ProJudge (RCN-funded)
Multi-site ethnography exploring how professional judgement is used in nurse staffing decisions.

🔹 PUMA (NIHR-funded)
Mixed-methods evaluation of a programme aimed at improving early warning systems in paediatrics. CTR Project Page | NIHR Award

🔹 PLACEMENT (HCRW-funded)
Clinical trial assessing pain management strategies post-amputation. CTR Project Page

Key areas of interest:

Medical sociology, science and technology studies/STS, bioethics, biopolitics, the sociology of reproduction, prenatal testing, genetics and genomics.

Reviewer for:

Bioethics, Health Care Analysis, The Journal of Bioethical Enquiry, Science Technology and Human Values, The Journal of Community Genetics, Sociology of Health and Illness, New Genetics and Society, Social Science and Medicine, Nature reviews Genetics, European Journal of Human Genetics.

Teaching

PGDip Medical Education. Qualitative research methods, 2017 - present.

MSc Genetic Counselling (Cardiff University). Guest lecturer (teaching on bioethics, ethics and infertility,
ethics and new technologies), 2009 to present.

MSc Tissue Engineering (CITER). Guest lecturer (teaching on bioethics) from 2013 - 2015.

Biography

Education and qualifications

PhD (Social Sciences/STS), Cardiff University, 2016

MA (Ethics and Social Philosophy), Cardiff University, 2007

BA Hons, first class (Philosophy), Cardiff University, 2004

Career overview

2024 - present: Research Fellow (Qualitative), Centre for Trials Research (CTR) Cardiff University

2016 - present: Research Associate (Qualitative), Centre for Trials Research (CTR) Cardiff University

2014 - 2016: Research Support, Specialist Unit for Research Evidence (Sure), Cardiff University

2011 - 2015: PhD student/doctoral researcher, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University

2008 - 2011: Research Assistant, ESRC Centre for the Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (Cesagen), Cardiff University

Honours and awards

  • National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (NISCHR), Health Studentship Award (2011), Welsh Government.
  • DM Phillips Tylerstown Philosophy Prize (2006-07), Cardiff School of English, Communication and Philosophy, Philosophy Board of Studies

Smaller grant funders (for travel and research dissemination) include: the British Sociological Association, Cesagen, the KISS DTC, the Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness, the Health Technology and Society Research Group, the European Society for Human Genetics, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Germany) and the Economic and Social Research Council.

Professional memberships

The British Sociological Association (BSA), date of registration 23/05/2012.

Academic positions

  • 2014 - 2016: Research Support, Specialist Unit for Research Evidence (Sure), Cardiff University
  • 2012 - 2014: Qualitative field researcher, Cardiff University School of Social Sciences (Forgotten Abergavenny and Care Home Organisations Implementing Cultures of Excellence/CHOICE, projects)
  • 2011 - 2015: PhD student, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
  • 2008 - 2011: Research Assistant, ESRC Centre for the Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics (Cesagen), Cardiff University

Committees and reviewing

  • Cesagene seminar series organising committee, 2014-15
  • Socsi Postgrad Café organising committee, 2011-12
  • Postgrad Forum on Genetics and Society, regional events (Wales) committee, 2012-13

Supervisions

Current students

Judith Cutter, PhD candidate School of Healthcare Sciences, Exploration of the Barriers and Facilitators to the Uptake of Early Postnatal Contraception

Past projects

  • Lisa Jones, MSc Genetic and Genomic Counselling dissertation. Approaches parents take to talking to their children living with Usher syndrome about the condition: a qualitative study (2022)
  • Kerry Metters, MPH dissertation. How BAME Women Experience Perinatal Care in South Wales (2021).
  • ShiHui Zhu, MSc Genetic Counselling dissertation. ‘Patient experiences of Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in the
    private sector’ (2017)
  • Erin Anderson, MSc Genetic counselling dissertation. ‘Experiences of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis in Wales’
    (2016)
  • Claire Giffney, MSc Genetic counselling dissertation. ‘Exploring Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis in Ireland’ (2011)
  • Amy Bamber, MSc Genetic counselling dissertation. ‘Attitudes towards non invasive prenatal diagnosis in the Down
    syndrome community’ (2012)

Contact Details

Email StrangeHR1@cardiff.ac.uk
Telephone +44 29225 10474
Campuses Neuadd Meirionnydd, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4YS

Specialisms

  • Reproductive medicine
  • Research, science and technology policy
  • Qualitative research methods
  • ethnography