Julia Jones is Professor of Public Involvement and Health at the University of Hertfordshire and Co-Chief Investigator for the NIHR-funded PHIRST Connect. Julia is an experienced health researcher with a strong record of conducting international and interdisciplinary research in the fields of patient and public involvement (PPI), mental health and kidney care.  In her role at the University of Hertfordshire, Julia leads the Patient Experience and Public Involvement Research Unit in the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care (CRIPACC) in the School of Health and Social Work.  Working collaboratively with service users and carers in research is central to her research practice, which includes chairing the Public Involvement in Research group (PIRg) based in CRIPACC. Her key areas of expertise include: Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in health and social care research; mental health of children and young people; and; conducting research on sensitive topics.