Kieran Breen (Head of Research & Innovation)

Kieran Breen joined St Andrew’s Healthcare to head up the Research team in February 2018.

He had an academic research career before moving to research funding charities - including Parkinson’s UK and Brain Tumour Research -where he implemented new strategic research funding initiatives. He serves on the review boards for a number of international research organisations and has been involved in the development and utilisation of patient data registries.

Kieran is a member of a number of working groups at the European Medicines Agency and was recently appointed as a Visiting Fellow in Secure Mental Health at the University of Loughborough where he co-supervises a number of PhD students. At St Andrew's, he has developed an innovative research strategy focussing on improved patient outcomes and key research areas have included patient inequalities, technology-based therapies, physical exercise, sleep and personalised medicine. He has also led the evaluation of the East Midlands CAMHS Provider Collaborative.

With more than 75 peer-reviewed publications in the area of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, Kieran brings over 30 years of research knowledge to St Andrew’s Healthcare.

Louise Millard (Senior Project Manager)

Louise has been working in health research support management, in the higher education sector, since 2013.

Previous roles include working as a television production assistant at the BBC for 15 years, and supporting a county construction training group.

Excited by the prospect of being involved with the translation of research into real outcomes for patients within a healthcare setting, Louise joined St Andrew’s Healthcare from The Open University’s Faculty of Health & Social Care in August 2017.

Inga Stewart (Clinical Research Fellow)

Dr Inga Stewart is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Research Fellow at St Andrew’s Healthcare, with appointments with Universities of Leicester, Birmingham, Kent and Canterbury Christ Church.  For nearly two decades she has worked with patients presenting with behaviour that challenges or offence related risk, currently specialising with those living with degenerative neurological impairment, including Dementia and Huntington’s disease.

Dr Stewart has published in the areas of co-production, risk assessment in Intellectual disability, emerging technology interventions in dementia, overt aggression, inappropriate sexual behaviour and sexuality, operant learning, measuring behavioural outcomes in neurodisability, quality of life in Huntington’s and coercive treatments in forensic psychiatry. Dr Stewart joined the Research & Innovation team in July 2021 and is now leading a programme of investigation exploring co-production with people living with dementia within mental healthcare settings.

Charlie Staniforth (Clinical Research Fellow)

Dr Charlie Staniforth is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. During her career, Charlie has mainly worked with children, young people and their families within a range of settings but mainly in secure settings. Charlie’s experience lies mainly within the developmental trauma, ASC and learning disability arena. Her special interest is Trauma Informed Care. 

Charlie has taught on Post Graduate courses and has a number of book chapters and articles written including publications in peer reviewed journals. She joined the Research & Innovation team in July 2021 as a Clinical Research Fellow and is now leading a programme concentrating on sexual health assessments of young people and the wider identification of sexual needs and the development of a tool kit specifically for young inpatients with mental health problems.

Sarrah Fatima (Research Assistant)

Sarrah recently graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Psychology and Counselling, and is currently undertaking her MSc at King's College London, studying Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health. 

Sarrah has worked in the charity sector for five years; working with Samaritans, Cancer Research and Mind BLMK. Sarrah joined the R&I team in August 2021.

Kristina Brenisin (Senior Research Assistant)

Kristina joined St Andrew's in 2017 as a Healthcare Assistant working in the Women's Mental Health and Personality Disorder service. Her educational background includes an MSc in Psychology. 

In 2020 Kristina joined the Research & Innovation Team and has developed extensive skills and knowledge across a wide range of research areas, has supported external students, published in Peer Reviewed Journals and is currently working on a project in the CAMHS pathway. 

Esther Gathii (Research Assistant)

Esther joined St Andrew's in September 2022; working a split role as a Research Assistant and an Assistant Psychologist in a low secure setting. Esther has completed an MSc Forensic Psychology and has previously worked in both clinical and education settings. She is currently working on a research project in the CAMHS pathway.

Jacqueline Batchelor (Research Nurse)

Jay joined St Andrew's Healthcare in 2010 as a Healthcare Assistant and progressed to Clinical Nurse Lead. Jay has worked across the charity mainly in the medium secure division and specialises in deaf mental health. As a qualified nurse, Jay actively seeks new learning opportunities which has led her to the Research & Innovation team! From working on various wards for over 12 years, this research role will provide an alternative experience and development opportunities. Jay started in the R & I team in October 2022 and is working on the NSP-4-IMH project.

Lucy Lee (Research Administrator)

Lucy has worked within administration for over 15 years, and her career journey has been a varied one.

She started out as a Physical Education and English teacher and then became a Police Constable in the Hertfordshire Constabulary where she had a number of roles, including working in the Control Room and assisting in the Domestic Violence Unit.

Following eight years as a School Administrator at All Saints Primary School in Northampton, Lucy joined St Andrew’s Healthcare as the Research Administrator in April 2016.