Health Services Research PhD / MPhil / MD

Research themes

Dr Paula Byrne - Interests include invisible or hidden work in the making and use of medical knowledge; communication of test results; the use and abuse of primary care services; sickness certification; and the use of medical technologies.

Professor Rumona Dickson - The conduct of systematic reviews of the clinical and cost effectiveness of health technologies.

Dr Lucy Frith - Lucy is interested in supervising research students in the following areas: general topics in bioethics and health care ethics, social approaches to health and well-being and social science methods in bioethics (empirical ethics).  Her particular interests are: reproductive technologies (infertility treatment, embryo and gamete donation, organisation of fertility care); maternity and childbirth (ante-natal care and organisation of maternity provision); ethical decision-making and health care public policy and organisation.

Professor Mark Gabbay - His research interests include investigating absenteeism and presenteeism, factors influencing development of incapacity for work, sickness certification processes, complex interventions and health inequalities including trials of treatments; mental health and wellbeing; sexual health and substance misuse.

Professor Rebecca Harris - Rebecca is interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of inequalities in oral health and service use, community health interventions both nationally and globally, dental service organisations and delivery of care, dental clinical trials, public policy and health education/ promotion.

Dr Ruaraidh Hill - Ruaraidh has a broad role which includes research, capacity development and teaching and learning related to evidence synthesis. Its reach includes Institute, University and national collaborations across health, social care and education sectors.

Professor Mari Lloyd-Williams - Mari leads the Academic Palliative and Supportive Care Studies Group (APSCSG); a group of multidisciplinary researchers. The group carries out qualitative and quantitative studies and clinical trials exploring interventions which support people to live well with life limiting illness. 

Professor Elizabeth Perkins - Her primary research interest is in patient and professional communication and decision making.

Professor Fiona Rowe - Fiona leads the VISION group which evaluates visual impairment in acquired brain injury and neurological conditions, explores and develops outcome measures in orthoptics, and seeks to explore the complexity of co-existent visual and functional impairments. 

Professor Richard Whittington - Richard is interested in improving care and treatment in inpatient mental health services and leads a research programme on these topics with close collaborations with local mental health service providers. 

Professor Nefyn Williams - Nefyn’s research interests include the rehabilitation of chronic disease such as hip fracture in the frail elderly, osteoarthritis and cancer, the promotion of physical activity in primary care populations and the re-design of primary healthcare services in the NHS, particularly the role substitution of doctors by nurses, pharmacists and therapists.

Research groups

We have a number of key partnerships that provide excellent research and educational opportunities for our postgraduates. These partners include NIHR CLAHRC NWC, Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group and other research groups in IPHS and the wider Faculty and University.

Clinical academic links such as these mean we're well placed to support and host PhD studentships provided by UKCRN partners, such as the MRC, ESRC, DH and EPSRC.

Our researchers collaborate with academic colleagues in Public Health, Psychological Sciences and other departments across the university which provides a rich inter-disciplinary environment for our students. There are particular overlaps with the Psychology of Healthcare group.

The fees below reflect one year of study during the 2024/25 academic year

The fees stated in the table above exclude potential research support fees also known as ‘bench fees’. You will be notified of any fee which may apply in your offer letter.

* Please note that if you are undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering the fee you pay, Band A or Band B, will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others e.g. if you are required to undertake laboratory work. You will be informed of the fee for your programme in your offer letter.

^ Self-funded, full-time international students studying a PhD programme classified as Band A will receive a £2,000 reduction in their fees for the first year only.