Dr Kelly Lloyd

Profile

I am a Research Fellow working in the area of behavioural oncology at the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences. I am broadly interested in the area of behavioural science and cancer prevention and control research, medication decision-making, and working with populations at higher risk of cancer. In 2022, I completed an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded PhD on the topic of decision-making in cancer preventive therapy. In September 2023, I started a one-year ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship working in the area of supporting cancer preventive approaches for people with Lynch syndrome, who are at higher risk of the disease.

I have experience undertaking quantitative and qualitative research, such as:

• Systematic review synthesising quantitative and qualitative literature.
• Qualitative interviews exploring the views of patients, the public, and healthcare providers.
• Innovative behavioural trials, such as factorial trials.
• Developing behavioural interventions.
• Qualitative process evaluation of trials.

The majority of my PhD investigated informed decision-making in the context of clinical guidance recommending the medication aspirin for colorectal cancer prevention for populations at higher genetic risk (Lynch syndrome). The research was funded by a Cancer Research UK Catalyst award (PI: Professor Cuzick; AsCaP award).

My background is psychology. In 2015, I graduated from the University of Manchester with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. From 2015 to 2018, I worked as a project assistant in Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Research at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. In 2018, I was awarded an ESRC funded 1+3 PhD focusing on the area of cancer preventive therapy and behavioural science. In 2019, I obtained an ESRC funded MA in Social Research (Interdisciplinary) from the University of Leeds.

I am a keen advocate for open research practices, and the lead organiser of the ReproducibiliTea journal club at the University of Leeds. I am also a member of the University of Leeds Open Research Advisory Group which advises on the direction of open research activities for the University, and a steering group member on a campaign to improve health research (‘The Declaration to Improve Biomedical and Health Research’). I am currently a member of the School of Medicine Ethics Committee.

In 2022, I was awarded the Faculty of Medicine and Health and Leeds University Union Partnership Award for Postgraduate Researcher for my work in advocating open research practices at the University and in the wider academic field.

Research interests

• Behavioural science
• Cancer prevention research
• Working with populations at higher risk of cancer
• Medication decision-making
• Qualitative research methods
• Behavioural trials, factorial trials, Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST)
• Open and reproducible research

Qualifications

• BSc Psychology, University of Manchester (2015)
• MA Social Research (Interdisciplinary), University of Leeds (2019)
• PhD, University of Leeds

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Health Sciences
• Division of Primary Care, Palliative Care and Public Health