麻豆传媒

Helen is Social Care Workstream Lead and senior research methodologist with the NIHR Research Support Service 麻豆传媒 and Partners

Helen has a clinical background in community and palliative nursing care. Her PhD examined the organisation of care for children and adults with life-limiting illness and her research interests focus on end-of-life care and social justice for children and young people. Helen is an experienced applied health and social care researcher and has experience in both qualitative and quantitative research methods and in trial design and delivery. She has been a successful co-applicant on several NIHR trials and her research portfolio currently spans the areas of gastrointestinal disorders, mental health, social justice, social care, end of life care, adoption and fostering. Her current research focuses on short breaks for care-experienced children, and on the mental health needs of adopted children and families in the post-adoption period. As Workstream Lead for Social Care in the NIHR RSS, Helen has a strategic vision and plan to embed an evidence-based culture within social care.

Qualifications

• PGCE Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Durham University (2012)
• PhD Qualitative Applied Health Research, Northumbria University (2005)          
• B.Sc (Hons) Community Health Care Studies, Northumbria University (1999)       
• Specialist Nurse Prescriber, Northumbria University (1999)                     
• Specialist Practitioner: Community Nursing in the Home, Northumbria University (1999)  
• B.Sc (Hons) Nursing Studies and Registered General Nurse, Northumbria University (1993)

Area of expertise

Applied health and social research design and delivery. PPI. Coproduction. Working with adopted children and families.

Previous positions

2025-present date:       Associate Advisor, NIHR Research Support Service Specialist Centre for Social Care

2023-present date:        Workstream Lead Social Care & Senior Research Associate, NIHR Research Support Service (Hub delivered by 麻豆传媒 and Partners)

2018-2023*:    Senior Research Associate, NIHR Research Design Service North East North Cumbria, Population Health Sciences Institute, 麻豆传媒 (*parent-carer leave April 2020-June 2021)

Senior First Contact Advisor/Research Fellow, NIHR Research Design Service (North East), Durham University (2016-2017) 

Health Research Methodologist, NIHR Research Design Service (North East), Durham University (2009-2016)

Research Associate, Centre for Integrated Health Care Research, Durham University (2007- 2009)

Research Associate, Centre for Clinical Management Development, Durham University (2005-2006)

District Nursing Sister, Sunderland Primary Care Trust (1999-2005)

Senior Community Staff Nurse, Sunderland Primary Care Trust (1996-1998)

Junior Staff Nurse, St. Benedict’s Hospice, Sunderland (1993-1996)

Google Scholar:  

Research interests

My research interests are in end of life care, social justice, and social care for children with additional needs.

Funding:

• PAN-ICS study (PANenteric Crohn’s capsule versus Ileo-Colonoscopy and Scan) NIHR RfPB 2020 – 2022
• LENA I study Meeting the legal needs of adults with life limiting illness Legal Education Foundation 2017-2019
• An examination of factors influencing the success of a training app for individuals with partial visual loss. Dunhill Medical Trust 2016 – 2017
• NIHR Research Design Service North East re-tender 2012- 2018
• Optical diagnosis of small colorectal polyps in routine clinical practice (DISCARD 2) NIHR RfPB 2012 – 2014
• Tined lead test stimulation to predict long-term benefit from sacral nerve stimulation in patients with chronic constipation (TiLTS-CC) NIHR RfPB 2011-2015
• The association between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Ischaemic Heart Disease. Northern and Yorkshire Research Network 2009-2013
• Lithium Use and Risk of Renal Failure. British Renal Society 2008-2009
• Evaluating the implementation of a new psychiatric inpatient facility: a mixed methods approach NIHR Physical Environment Research Programme 2010 – 2012
• The Association between Sleep Disorders and Myocardial Infarction Wolfson Research Institute Collaborative Research Grant 2008-2009
• Use and Risk of Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease European Society for Primary Care Gastroenterology ‘Rising Stars’ award 2008-2009

Postgraduate supervision

I am currently supervising a number of MD students 

• Articles

  • Lee PS, Hall N, Davison C, McAlindon M, Sidhu R, Dhar A, Chattree A, Close H, Panter S. . Frontline Gastroenterology 2025, epub ahead of print.
  • Close H, Vincent S, Alderson H, Wilson-Harrop C, Allen S, Waters GM, Hanson S, Pepper GV, Neave N. . Cogent Psychology 2024, 11(1), 2416757.
  • Close H, Sidhu K, Genn H, Ling J, Hawkins C. . BMC Palliative Care 2021, 20, 47.
  • Hawkins C, Rothwell C, Close H, Emmett C, Hesslegreaves H. . Journal of Law and Medicine 2021, 28(Part 4), 1082-1091.
  • Hawkins C, Close H, Kirby M, Hesslegraves H, Rothwell C. . BMJ Supportive and Pallitative Care 2019, 9(4), A6-A7.
  • Yiannakou Y, Etherson K, Close H, Kasim A, Mercer-Jones M, Plusa S, Maier R, Green S, Cundall J, Knowles C, Mason J. . European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology 2019, 31(6), 653-660.
  • Stocker R, Close H, Hancock H, Hungin APS. . BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care 2017, 7(4), 464-469.
  • Yiannakou Y, Etherson K, Close H, Kasim AK, Mercer-Jones M, Plusa P, Maier R, Green S, Cundall J, Knowles C, Mason J. A randomised double-blinded sham controlled cross-over trial of tined lead sacral nerve stimulation testing for chronic constipation; TiLTS-cc results. 2017. Submitted.
  • Rees CJ, Rajasekhar PT, Wilson A, Close H, Rutter MD, Saunders BP, East JE, Maier R, Moorghen M, Muhammad U, Hancock H, Jayaprakash A, MacDonald C, Ramadas A, Dhar A, Mason JM. . Gut 2016, 66(5), 887-895.
  • Close H, Mason JM, Wilson DW, Hungin APS, Jones R, Rubin G. . PLoS ONE 2015, 10(10), e0139745.
  • Wood V, Gesler W, Curtis S, Spencer I, Close H, Mason J, Reilly J. . Health & Place 2015, 33, 83-89.
  • Close H, Reilly J, Mason JM, Kripalani M, Wilson D, Main J, Hungin APS. . PLoS ONE 2014, 9(3), e90169.
  • Dhar A, Close H, Hancock H, Maier R, Wilson D, Mason JM, Vishwanath YKS, Rees C, Dwarakanath D. . World Journal of Gastroenterology 2014, 20(48), 18199-18206.
  • Hancock HC, Close H, Fuat A, Murphy JJ, Hungin APS, Mason JM. . BMJ Open 2014, 4(3), e003866.
  • Stocker R, Close H. . BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care 2013, 3(4), 399-404.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Hawkins C, Close H, Kirby M, Hesslegreaves H, Rothwell C, Beardon S, Genn H. . In: Dying for change: evolution and revolution in palliative care, Hospice UK 2019 National Conference. 2019, Liverpool: BMJ Group.
  • Yiannakou Y, Etherson K, Close H, Kasim A, Mercer-Jones M, Plusa S, Maier R, Green S, Cundall J, Knowles C, Mason J. . In: European Society of Coloproctology 11th Scientific and Annual Meeting. 2016, Milan, Italy.
  • Cox J, Hancock H, Spratt J, Close H, May C, Mohammed U, Mason J. . In: UK Radiological Congress. 2015, Liverpool, UK.
  • Cox J, Hancock H, Spratt J, Close H, Lee CM, Mohammed U, Mason J. . In: British Society of Breast Radiology Annual Scientific Meeting 2014. 2014, Brighton, UK: BioMed Central Ltd.

• Editorial

  • Cornford C, Close H. . British Journal of General Practice 2016, 66(647), 286-287.

• Online Publications

  • O'Connor N, Bushby L, Barnabez J, Wallace S, Garcia-Gonzalez-Moral S, Close H, Pearson F. . 2024. Available at: .
  • Bevin-Nicholls A, Tshuma B, Close H. . London: NIHR Research Design Service, 2023. Available at: .