Researcher, Public Health, University of Cambridge Melanie has been a researcher at the Department of Public Health for 14 years, following an earlier career as an RAF officer. She is currently funded by LUPUS UK and The lupus trust on several research studies. Her PhD was entitled “The impact of patient-clinician interactions on patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases”. She is passionate about equality and consistency of care for all, and all research fully involving patients as equal collaborators. Her research has generated significant media interest, with one study reported on the front page of The Times, and has been described by patients as “life-changing” particularly in highlighting that they are not alone in experiencing these symptoms and medical experiences. Melanie’s research interests are primarily in improving relationships between clinicians and patients, and designing and trialling interventions to improve the lives of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. Melanie is currently principal investigator/co-PI on the following studies:
Chartered Psychologist and Postdoctoral Researcher at the National Centre for Family Business, Dublin City University Dr Michelle Cowley-Cunningham CPsychol AFPsSI is a chartered and professions-led psychologist. She is a postdoctoral researcher at the National Centre for Family Business and co-investigator on the Family Business Succession Project. A Royal Statistical Society RSS Fellow and m-level accredited market researcher CMRS, she employs multidisciplinary insights to better inform psychological research. Michelle helped found, and serves as Secretary of, the Psychological Society of Ireland's Special Interest Group in Human Rights & Psychology. Her recent research and policy projects address how sustainable business values promote child and adolescent mental health in the climate crisis context (PSI UN submission, 2023). Professional activities and research: An Irish Research Council scholar, Michelle completed her PhD in psychology at Trinity College Dublin. Her doctoral thesis was subject of a full article in Nature Publications News and published as a book 'Hypothesis testing: how we foresee falsification in competitive games'. After a year-long lectureship in applied psychology at the University of Southampton, she was awarded a Katzenbach Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Law Faculty University of Oxford to develop research on the psychology of foresight and its connection to human rights (with visiting scholarship to Princeton University, USA). Michelle has published in the leading journals Psychology, Crime & Law, the International Journal of Forensic Science & Criminal Investigation, Irish Studies in International Affairs and Clinical Psychology Forum. Applying psychology and market research to roles held in QS Top 100 universities, FTSE 100 Index, CNBC Top 200 fintech and Irish Times Top1000 companies, her project management is cited in leading international media including the IC Investment & Wealth Management Awards (2019, 2020), Financial Times (2016, 2019, 2020),The Times (2022), PolicyCommons and the NYU Stern NET Institute Series. Michelle has been an Ambassador Facilitator with the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. She was a research lead on the SATLE funded Association of Higher Education Careers Services national award-winning Graduate Employability Superfoods Toolkit (2022), featuring in a Quality & Qualifications Ireland QQI Report (2022) and Government of Ireland Human Capital Virtual Labs HC1 P3 Initiative (2023). Michelle also serves on the Editorial Review Board of the Market Research Society's flagship journal International Journal of Market Research.
Research Fellow, School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia Michael Kyron is postdoctoral researcher and lecturer with the School of Psychological Science at the University of Western Australia. He is also the business support manager with the Suicide Prevention and Resilience Research Centre (SPARRC). Michael's work has primarily been focused on the application of innovative methods to predict and prevent suicide, including the application of dynamic modelling, machine learning, and wearable technology. He has extensive research experience with clinical and adolescent populations, and with ecological momentary assessment and large-scale longitudinal cohort research designs.
Professor of Molecular Endocrinology, University of Birmingham Professor Hewison’s work focuses on different facets of vitamin D physiology, including classical skeletal effects and non-classical extra-skeletal effects. He has a particular interest in the interaction between vitamin D and the immune system, where antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages synthesize active vitamin D (calcitriol) and also express the nuclear receptor for calcitriol (VDR). Vitamin D can therefore act as an endogenous regulator of both innate and adaptive immunity by enhancing antibacterial activity, and modulating antigen presentation and T lymphocyte function. Crucially these responses are highly dependent on the bioavailability of vitamin D, and Professor Hewison has hypothesized that immune function is influenced by vitamin D status in humans. His group is using a variety of models to test this hypothesis including basic molecular and cell analyses, and vitamin D supplementation trials in human cohorts. A key objective of his work is to increase awareness of vitamin D-deficiency in the UK population.
Senior lecturer in animation and digital media production, Sheffield Hallam University My taught subjects include stop motion animation, animation project development and production and experimental stop motion. In 2013 my first book, Stop Motion Animation, was published by Barrons educational books and translated into six different languages for sale around the world. My research areas include production temporality, animation technique, idea genesis and animation method identification. I previously worked as a studio animator and compositor for many years, co-founding two animation studios in Bristol before working as a freelance animator and project facilitator. During my time as a freelancer, I worked on over 150 projects covering animation, live action, online production and media distribution. I also work as a voice artist on short, award winning animations. Since working at Sheffield Hallam University, I have realised a hidden passion for teaching animation, for helping others grow their understanding and development of this creative art form. I am honoured to have been one of the recipients of the Sheffield Hallam University Inspirational Teaching award in 2017 as well as being recipient of the college level award in 2012, 2018 and 2021. Specialist areas of interest Pre-Production for Animation Stop Motion Animation Visual Techniques within Animation Post-Production for Animation and Animation Project Management Melvyn also enjoys studying idea genesis, technique identification and enjoying the freedom of his motorbike.
Associate Professor of Public Health, Boston University Dr. Wang is an Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She is globally and nationally recognized as a researcher, educator, and thought leader on health equity, racial justice, and community-based research targeting chronic diseases. Dr. Wang has generated over $6 million in federal and foundation funding for her program of research and published over 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts and policy documents. Her prior leadership roles included serving as Chair of the Narrative Office at the BU Center for Antiracist Research and Chair of the Civic and Public Engagement Committee at the Society of Behavioral Medicine. One of her current studies is a randomized controlled trial of a youth empowerment intervention to reduce consumption of sugary drinks and obesity risk through youth narratives. As an expert in curriculum development, case-based teaching, and digital learning design, Dr. Wang has developed and taught graduate courses on the social determinants of health at Harvard and Boston University since 2010. Dr. Wang has received numerous national, regional, and institutional awards for her research, teaching, and service, including the 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health Award from the National Minority Quality Forum, the Society of Behavioral Medicine Leading the Narrative Award, the Society of Behavioral Medicine Early Investigator Award, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Award, and the Boston University School of Public Health Excellence in Teaching Award and Excellence in Public Health Practice Award. At the national level, she advanced science communication initiatives through her former role as Chair of the Civic and Public Engagement Committee of the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Wang has served as a consultant to one of the largest social media companies in the world on COVID-19 health misinformation management. Her work and insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, The Boston Globe, and CBS. She obtained her doctoral and master's degrees from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
