Research Assistants

Projects

Lead Researcher: Dr Joyce Whittington
Collaborators: Dr Vriti Hansraj, Dr Mike Patterson
Funding: The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
Duration: 1st August 2004 - 31st July 2007

People with Prader-Willi syndrome do not reach normal satiation after eating a meal. They tend to eat to excess, unless prevented, resulting in severe obesity, morbidity and early death, even in childhood. Paradoxically, at birth, they have no interest in feeding and fail to thrive. We wish to discover what precipitates the change, in particular if the level of certain circulating hormones or polypeptides change at the same time as the interest in food.

I Graduated from Nottingham University in 2005 with a B.Sc. Hons in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience. I have since worked as an Assistant Psychologist working with people who have learning disabilities and mental health problems. In November 2007 I began work as a Research Assistant at the Learning Disabilities Research Group working on the LD-ROME project that is investigating the different treatment approaches that are currently used to manage epilepsy in people who have a learning disability. This is a large multi- centre project that aims to recruit 200 participants across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. The study aims to provide evidence about the efficacy and cost effectiveness of the different services (Neurology vs. Community Learning Disability services) that manage people’s epilepsy.

I graduated from Cambridge University in 2007 with a BA in Natural Sciences, specialising in Experimental Psychology. I joined the LDRG in November 2007 as a research assistant on the study LD-ROME which aims to investigate the Relative Outcomes in the Management of Epilepsy in people with Learning Disabilities. The study will run for 3 years and aims to recruit 200 participants from across Cambridgeshire and Norfolk who have their epilepsy treated either through community Learning Disabilities services or hospital based Neurology services.

I started work as a research assistant in July 2008 on a project looking at assisted eating and drinking in the care of people with profound and multiple disabilities. This aims to identify the prevalence, nature, and degree of dysphagia and other eating and/or drinking problems across Cambridgeshire and North Essex. Current legislation and policy is also being reviewed to assess the social significance of clinical interventions at mealtimes with the goal of improving safety and comfort. I graduated from the University of Reading in 2004 with a BSc Hons in Psychology and I have since worked as an assistant psychologist providing short term Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for adults with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and OCD.

I am working as a Research Assistant on a study looking at the rates of psychiatric illness in adult survivors of childhood brain tumours. This project is funded by the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust. My academic background includes a BA Psychology in University College Dublin, a MSc Psychology and Health from the University of Stirling, Scotland and a MA Gerontology in University College Cork. My research interests are in the area of neuropsychological functioning and its impact on quality of life, for people with neurological conditions, particularly as we age. I have worked in both residential and community rehabilitation settings with adults with neurological conditions, specifically with people with multiple sclerosis and acquired brain injuries for over 7 years. I have been actively involved with influencing social policy to enhance service provision for people with neurological conditions in for a number of years.