• Home
• About PHIRST
• PHIRST Connect

PHIRST Connect

The University of Hertfordshire (UH) based PHIRST team led by Professors Katherine Brown and Julia Jones, is formed of highly experienced researchers and practitioners who understand the challenges faced by the public health system and its partners in the UK. This experience has been gained by undertaking a large variety of work, which includes co-producing research with public health providers, service users and the general public over many years. 

The core team consists of a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) co-applicant and nine leading academics from UH, the University of East Anglia, the University of Birmingham and Queen's University Belfast. The wider multidisciplinary team in these institutions includes expertise from across the social, behavioural, life and clinical sciences, with experience of policy-relevant public health and economic evaluation research delivered in partnership with a range of frontline collaborators. The team has a wide range of extensive methodological expertise suitable for evaluating public health interventions, with added expertise in designing and delivering randomised controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, natural experiments and observational studies. 

Co-production and knowledge mobilisation sits at the heart of the UH led PHIRST team’s approach. In collaboration with our PPI co-applicant, the team includes a Public Involvement in Research group (PIRg) with oversight of all PHIRST projects. Project specific consultation groups or Public Voice groups are also established with local and project specific lived experience. The team also has experience of undertaking knowledge mobilisation activities among diverse audiences, using a range of creative formats and outputs. 

Evaluations

1. Evaluation of the move to remote models of service delivery by drug and alcohol services in Leeds during the COVID-19 pandemic
2. Adaptation of the Welsh National Exercise Referral Scheme (NERS) to virtual delivery: Evaluation of impact and opportunities
3. Whole Systems Approach to Diet and Healthy Weight – Community Pilots Project, Scotland
4. An evaluation of workplace health and wellbeing support in Walsall small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)
5. Southampton Covid Participatory Action Research and Champions initiative Evaluation (CoPACT)
6. Green Health Prescription Evaluation (GRAPPEL) for Dundee, Highland, and North Ayrshire
7. Lambeth Prevention and Promotion for Better Mental Health and Wellbeing
8. Evaluation of Live Life Better Derbyshire Health Checks with Online booking and text reminders for Wellbeing (ELBOW)
9. Getting RREAL about implementation of a Whole Systems Approach (WSA) to obesity prevention in Northern Ireland (NI): A process evaluation

WSA Roadmap

Our Connect team is leading on a programme of work to support local governments in implementing whole-system approaches to obesity within their regions. Read more about our plans and progress to date.

Connect members