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BU Researchers Pioneering Green Hydrogen Production through OcenGen Startup

A team of innovative researchers from Bournemouth University (BU) is making waves in the sustainable energy sector through their pioneering startup project, OcenGen. Focused on green hydrogen production, OcenGen aims to develop next-generation low-cost, high-performance electrocatalysts that could drastically reduce the dependence on expensive and scarce platinum-group metals currently used in conventional water electrolysers.

This ground-breaking project has recently been selected to join Cohort 8 at Conception X, which runs the leading cross-university programme dedicated to launching and accelerating deeptech ventures created by PhD researchers.

At the core of OcenGen’s innovation is the development of advanced electrocatalytic materials using earth-abundant transition metals, designed to work efficiently under mildly alkaline and seawater conditions. This makes the technology an ideal fit for Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolysers, offering a cost-effective and scalable alternative to the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) systems, which heavily rely on iridium and other rare metals.

Shadeepa Karunarathne, PhD researcher at BU and founder of OcenGen, shared his excitement:“We are thrilled to be part of the Conception X journey. This marks a significant milestone in translating our laboratory research into commercial reality. Our catalyst technology has the potential to revolutionise the green hydrogen sector by reducing material costs and enabling large-scale, sustainable hydrogen generation.”

Shadeepa further added, “Our work aligns closely with the UK’s Net Zero goals by 2030 and contributes toward the transition to clean energy. By enabling hydrogen production directly from seawater without costly desalination, we also offer a more sustainable path forward for offshore and coastal applications.”

The technology developed at OcenGen leverages cutting-edge material engineering techniques, including facet engineering and orbital occupancy tuning to optimise oxygen evolution kinetics. The team is also integrating machine learning algorithms to accelerate catalyst discovery and process optimisation with fewer physical experiments.

Supporting this effort, Associate Professor Amor Abdelkader, a renowned materials scientist and Shadeepa’s PhD supervisor, who serves as a senior advisor to the project, stated:
“This is a timely and impactful innovation. The OcenGen technology demonstrates how research excellence can be translated into practical solutions to address pressing global energy challenges. I’m proud to support a project that bridges fundamental science and commercial potential so effectively.”

The core OcenGen team includes Dr. Chirag Ratwani, Co-founder and expert in 2D materials and business strategy, and Eshani Fernando, AI Scientist responsible for integrating data-driven approaches for catalyst optimisation.

The team also extended their thanks to Michael Board, Research Manager and Facilitator, for his continued encouragement and support for innovation and entrepreneurship among BU’s PhD researchers.“Michael’s leadership in fostering a startup mindset within academia is truly commendable and has been instrumental in motivating us to pursue this venture,” said Shadeepa.

OcenGen now welcomes funding opportunities and collaborative partnerships to accelerate development and commercial deployment.

Get in touch to join our mission in driving the future of green hydrogen.

🔗 Staff Profile 🔗 LinkedIn

Author: Shadeepa Karunarathne

4th European Team-based Learning Symposium at BU in collaboration with FLIE Learning & Teaching Conference 2025!

conferences, innovation

AI Assessment and Feedback Department of Nursing Science Digital EdTech Education Events Faculty Information Generative AI Innovation National Teaching Fellow Nursing Sciences

European Team-based Learning Community Symposium 7th – 8th July 2025 at BU in collaboration with FLIE Learning & Teaching Conference 2025! Registration is open! (And free for BU staff!)Join us for the 4th European Team-based Learning (TBL) Community Symposium 2025, at BU! Keynotes, interactive workshops, lightening talks, posters, student panel – whether you are a seasoned TBL practitioner or new to TBL there is something for everyone!

Opening keynote in collaboration with FLIE Learning & Teaching Conference, 7th July 2025

Opening Keynote: Using Generative AI Effectively in Higher Education

Peter Hartley is an independent HE Consultant, National Teaching Fellow and Visiting Professor at Edge Hill University.

Sue Beckingham is an Associate Professor and the Learning, Teaching and Assessment Lead in the School of Computing and Digital Technologies, Sheffield Hallam University. Peter and Sue are two of the editors of the book, Using Generative AI Effectively in Higher Education and they have a book chapter coming out soon on the responsible use of GenAI and the Generative AI CHECKLIST. We are delighted to welcome our distinguished guests to share their expertise on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of GenAI to HE.

What else to expect – meet the ETBLC Symposium, 7-8th July 2025 keynote speakers!

Hear from our keynote speakers who are internationally recognised experts in the implementation and practice of TBL.

Simon Tweddell is a Professor of Pharmacy Education, National Teaching Fellow and multiple award-winning educator who will talk about the impact of TBL on students and staff at the University of Bradford, and his own career.

Kate Ippolito is Principal Lecturer and Deputy Director of the Education Development Unit of the Centre for HE Research and Scholarship (CHERS), and Director of Postgraduate Studies at Imperial College, London. Kate will present an argument for the need to support social and emotional learning and self-efficacy building through TBL and practical ways you can do this.

Graeme Jones is Senior Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, Keele University, recent co-recipient of the AdvanceHE Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence and Chair of the Board of the European TBL Community. Graeme will lead a discussion on contemporary issues in TBL such as the threats and opportunities presented by the ongoing rapid advancements in technology notably, artificial intelligence.

 And there’s more! Find out more and register here! 

Crimmigration, Societies, Borders: Transformation of Boundaries and Narratives

Fri 16 May 2025 – in person – Talbot Campus

This is a one-day networking event focusing on crimmigration and migrant experiences, inviting all ECRs nationally from across the social sciences to discuss policies, practices, and responses to migration. The scope of this event is to identify and highlight how crimmigration (i) produces a moral panic and impacts social cohesion and (ii) challenges the inclusivity and diversity of contemporary societies.

This networking event is an initial step to establish a network and future research collaborations to explore the central question of how migrants and migrant communities are considered threats, how they are criminalised through the criminal justice system, government policy and political figures in the media, and how migration policies are used to legitimise the states’ power.

ECRs will have networking and collaboration opportunities, as well as the opportunity to expand their approach to public engagement via media training and connecting with non-academic local stakeholders from the CJS and NGOs.

Format and Key Highlight

  • Research Overview by each ECR: These presentations can result in forming the basis of a book proposal for an edited collection on crimmigration and migrant experience
  • Round-table discussions on current migration policy with ECRs and non-academic stakeholders working in the CJS and NGOs: The round-table discussion will offer a range of opportunities to build an inclusive approach among public, policy and academic relations for reforming policies and new initiatives, for ECRs to establish lasting networks and for non-academic stakeholders to collaborate on joint research on migration policy.
  • Media training for the ECRs by Prof Sam Goodman (Department of Humanities & Law Bournemouth University): 90-minute media training session to help ECRs learn how to use media effectively to provide academic content to a wider public audience.
  • Keynote talk by Prof Ana Aliverti (School of Law, University of Warwick): This session will bring both ECRs and established scholars together for a vibrant discussion on migration, state control and criminalisation of migrants.

The event invites participants who

  • Are a member of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network,
  • Interested in conducting research on issues surrounding migration, border criminology, criminalisation of migrants, state power,
  • Enthusiastic about building lasting, meaningful networks with ECRs and non-academic stakeholders.

Please submit a brief outline of research interests and ideas for future research related issues around migration and criminalisation of migrants (no more than 300 words) to dusta@bournemouth.ac.uk and awimbledon@bournemouth.a.cuk

Topics include but are not limited to

  • Crimmigration
  • Links between migration and crime
  • Racial discrimination in policing
  • Detention & Deportation Regimes
  • Far right extremism
  • Media representation of migrants
  • Securitisation of migrant communities
  • Border policies

Deadline for submission: 25th April 2025

Preliminary Programme

Session 1: Networking & Knowledge Exchange

10:00- 10:30: Arrival and Registration

10:30 – 10:40: Opening Introduction from Dr Dilvin Dilara Usta and Dr Anna Wimbledon

10:40- 12:00: Networking and Research Overview with coffee by ECRs

Session 2: Building Connections & Dialogue

12:00- 13:00: Round-table discussions with ECRs and stakeholders from NGOs and CJS

13:00-14:00: Networking Lunch

Session 2: Media Training

14:00-15:20: Participatory media training by Prof Sam Goodman, Department of Humanities & Law, Bournemouth University

15:20- 15:30: Coffee

Session 4: Keynote talk

15:30-16:30: Keynote talk by Prof Ana Aliverti (School of Law, University of Warwick)

16:30-: 16:45: QA session and Closing remarks

17:00: Networking dinner (Optional)

Event Aims and Objectives

  1. Generate and widen the research network among UK-based Early Career Researchers to provide opportunities for future collaborative activities and engage in joint manuscript writing. The paper presentations from the networking event will provide the basis for an edited collection.
  2. Widen methodological discussions on how academics can use the media to counter anti-migrant narratives and facilitate humanising representations of migrant communities to inform policy reform and changes.
  3. Reinforce the importance of collaboration between academic and non-academic stakeholders to gain an understanding of the aims of specific migration legislation and the Criminal Justice System’s perceived effectiveness in achieving these aims

Session Facilitators – Dr Dilvin Dilara Usta and Dr Anna Wimbledon

Call for volunteer members of the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network – Southwest & South Wales ECR Advisory Group

The British Academy ECR Network Southwest & South Wales cluster has begun its new phase under the leadership of the Universities of Exeter and Bath Spa as Delivery Partners. At the SWSW Consortium meeting in February, the Consortium agreed a new Governance Structure for the SWSW Network and the following set of Values. The structure includes an Advisory Group comprising ECRs representing institutions across the region, as well as a variety of SHAPE* disciplines. This Group will help inform the Consortium and Delivery Partners about ECR needs and help steer the delivery of the Network in the Southwest and South Wales.

Members of the ECR Advisory Group are expected to attend quarterly meetings (approx. 1hr online) and be a spokesperson for the Network at their institutions. The BA ECRN is “for ECRs, by ECRS” and we expect that members of the Advisory Group are a sounding board for Network activities and hold the Network accountable.  The cluster currently runs a monthly online Connect community meeting. The Advisory Board may choose to play a leadership role in this event.

For more information, contact Linda Lanyon, BA-ECRN SWSW Project Officer, University of Exeter: l.lanyon@exeter.ac.uk

To nominate yourself please contact Linda or your institutional contact, as instructed.

*SHAPE: social sciences, humanities and arts for people and the economy

Values Statement

In alignment with the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, the values of the British Academy’s Early Career Researchers Network – Southwest and South Wales Cluster are:

  • Community Integrity
  • Respect
  • Support
  • Compassion
  • Collaboration
  • Well-being
  • Inclusivity
  • Diversity
  • Transparency

 

I have hardly any friends………… (on Bluesky)

Three months ago I decided that it was no longer morally responsible to use Twitter and deleted my account.  Missing the ‘conversations’ on social media and not having a platform to inform the wider world about the latest Bournemouth University Research Blog, I joined Bluesky a week or two later.  The first thing to note is that Bluesky is: (1) much quieter; (2) much more civilised; and (3) much more North American based.  Moreover, at a personal level, I have not really managed to accumulate that many followers, yesterday the total stood at just ten!

 

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Successful 2025 Bid-generating Sandpit designed and facilitated by BU academics Catalin Brylla and Lyle Skains

Awarded & submitted bids, Industry collaboration, Knowledge Exchange, Knowledge Transfer

For our fourth run, 30 early career academics from ten universities came together 26-27 March in Bournemouth for a two-day sandpit funded by The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network and organised by Dr. Catalin Brylla (Centre for the Study of Conflict, Emotion, and Social Justice) and Dr. Lyle Skains (Centre for Science, Health, and Data Communication Research).

The participants specialise in a variety of disciplines such as psychology, music, business management, environmental sciences, computing, law and social work. They brought their interests in a sustainable world and society (as represented by the UN Sustainable Development Goals) to the sandpit for networking, team-building, and funding and project development workshops, many of which were based on the successful and innovative NESTA-developed ‘Crucible’ programme (no longer online, but see the Welsh Crucible).

The success of the sandpit’s activities is highlighted by the culmination of six projects proposed to a panel of subject experts from Bournemouth University: Prof. Huseyin Dogan (computing), Dr. Emily Arden-Close (Psychology), Dr. Lyle Skains (arts practice and interdisciplinarity), Dr. Catalin Brylla (media practice) and Eva Papadopoulou (research development). These experts provided mentorship and feedback on the projects as they develop toward funding proposals. Two sandpit follow-up sessions will also aid the participants in developing their funding proposals.

To receive news of further sandpits and development opportunities, join the BA ECRN.

 

 

Paper on Nepal reaching 5,000 readers

international, open access, Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing

Today ResearchGate informed us that our 2010 paper ‘Women’s autonomy in household decision-making: A demographic study in Nepal‘ [1] has been read 5,000 times.  This academic paper published in the international journal Reproductive Health is Open Access, hence available to anybody globally with internet access. The study explored the links between women’s household position in Nepal and their autonomy in decision making.  Using existing data (n = 8,257)  from the Nepal Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2006 we (Dr. Pramod Regmi and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen with colleagues from other UK universities) focused on four types of household decision making: (1) women’s own health care; (2) making major household purchases; (3) making purchase for daily household needs; and (4) visits to her family or relatives.

We found that women’s autonomy in decision making is positively associated with their age, employment and number of living children. Women from rural area and Terai region (the southern part of Nepal bordering India) have less autonomy in decision making in all four types of outcome measure. There is a mixed variation in women’s autonomy in the development region across all outcome measures. Western women are more likely to make decision in own health care (1.2-1.6), while they are less likely to purchase daily household needs (0.6-0.9). Women’s increased education is positively associated with autonomy in own health care decision making (p < 0.01), however their more schooling (school-leaving certificate and above) shows non-significance with other outcome measures. Interestingly, rich women are less likely to have autonomy to make decision in own healthcare.

 

Reference:

  1. Acharya, D.R., Bell, J.S., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E., Regmi, P. (2010) Women’s autonomy in household decision-making: a demographic study in Nepal. Reproductive Health 7, 15   https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-7-15

An Audience with… Bob Wilson

Last Monday, the BU Business School and the Sport & Physical Activity Research Centre (SPARC) were delighted to welcome Mr Bob Wilson, OBE, for a special session. 

Launching the annual ‘SPARC Audience with ….’ Series, this inaugural event explored the multiple careers of Bob Wilson: a former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper, a presenter and broadcaster, the first ever specialist goalkeeper coach, and founder of the national charity, The Willow Foundation.

Professor Mike Silk in conversation with Bob Wilson OBE

Professor Mike Silk in conversation with Bob Wilson OBE

During An Audience with Bob Wilson, Bob touched on a multitude of topics that are germane to the BU community, covering topics that included the sport media, the life of a professional athlete, (national) identity politics in sport, the development of the women’s game, football as ‘work’, injury, the commercial spectacle of the modern game, and some of the broadcast personalities with whom he has worked.

Bob regaled the audience with stories from his early playing days explaining how his Father refused to let him join Manchester United, insisting instead he completed teacher training at Loughborough College so he could hold down a ‘proper job’. We celebrated some of Bob’s accomplishments, including being an ever present in the 1970/71 double winning season, with Bob sharing his winning medals from both the League and FA Cup final and his international caps. He spoke about the ways in which he was treated by the Scottish press when—as an Englishman—he was picked to represent the Scottish national team. He spoke of losing his older brothers in the second World War and how his family reacted to Bob idolising the playing style of ex-German soldier and Manchester City Goalkeeper, Bert Trautman.

In addition to appreciating his football career, we spoke about how he transitioned to a career in the media—going on to present programmes such as Grandstand, Match of the Day, BBC Breakfast and Sportsnight on the BBC as well as League Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and World Cup coverage on ITV. Bob gave fascinating insights into the creation of his own programme, Football Focus, as well as his unique ‘running’ reporting style from coverage of the London Marathon. We heard insights into the tensions and dynamics of live television when Bob told us how he and the production team dealt with being live on air on the Saturday afternoon of the 15th April, 1989 as he fronted Grandstand and bought the country to a standstill with coverage of the unfolding Hillsbrorough disaster.

Bob provided a unique lens into the development of the game of football. He was the first ever goalkeeper coach, staying on at Arsenal after his playing days—juggling coaching with his media career—providing coaching for the likes of Pat Jennings, John Lukic and David Seaman. This was a role he did for free until the arrival of Arsene Wenger as Arsenal Manager who insisted he be paid for his duties. Bob was, in many ways, the pioneer for the plethora of specialist coaches that exist today in the modern game.

Finally, we spoke of the incredible achievements of the Willow foundation, the charity he and his wife, Megs, set up in 1999 in memory of his daughter Anna who died from cancer at 31 years of age. The Willow Foundation—so named after his own football nickname, Willow—provides psychological and emotional support for seriously ill 16-40 year olds through the provision of special day experiences. Bob explained how, to date, the Willow Foundation has in 25 years supported over 22,000 families.

With some great questions from the audience, hilarious stories and insightful discussion, An Audience with Bob Wilson saw staff and students from across the institution engage with a sporting and broadcasting legend.

Unique PhD processes – why they are important.………..

Centre for Excellence in Learning, PG research, Publishing, REF Subjects, student research, Training, writing

Most people only really think about the processes involved doing a PhD study when they are doing their own unique research project at one specific university. It is often only when talking to other PhD students at a conference or listening to their supervisors reminiscing about doing theirs at a different university and in a different time, that they realise there are important differences in processes between universities, and even across disciplines within universities. This is true both nationally and globally.  These differences can exist at many different stages of the PhD and Bournemouth University academics have written about several of these differences within a national context (1-6).

PhD aspects can differ from the start, e.g. the expected format of a PhD proposal (5) to the very end, e.g. possible outcomes of a viva (4), or whether the PhD includes clinical or practice components to help bridge the gap between academia and practice (2).  Variations across universities also occur in the expected layout and format of the theses (1), or the way supervisors are expected to supervise by different universities (3), or the format or timing of transfer or progress viva(6).

You might ask why this uniqueness of the postgraduate research journey matters? We argue that academics need to celebrate the diversity of the PhD process and of our postgraduate research students and recognise that excellent research can be achieved in different ways. A personalised process can ensure that postgraduate students are successful in achieving their goals.

 

Dr. Orlanda Harvey, Prof. Vanora Hundley, Dr. Vincent Marmion, Dr. Pramod Regmi, Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

 

 

 

References:

  1. van Teijlingen E (2007) PhD theses: the pros and cons (letter), Times Higher Education Suppl. Issue 1808 (August 24th): 15.
  2. Way S, Hundley V, van Teijlingen E, Walton G, and Westwood G. (2016) Dr Know. RCM Midwives Spring 64-65.
  3. Regmi, P., Poobalan, A., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2021) PhD supervision in Public Health, Health Prospect: Journal of Public Health 20(1):1-4. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/HPROSPECT/article/view/32735/28111
  4. van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, B., Regmi, P., Simkhada, P., Hundley, V., Poudel, K.C. (2022) Reflections on variations in PhD viva regulations: “And the options are….”, Journal of Education and Research 12(2),61-74. https://doi.org/10.51474/jer.v12i2.624
  5. Wasti, S.P. Regmi, P.R., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E., Hundley, V. (2022) Writing a PhD Proposal, In: Wasti, S.P., et al. (Eds.) Academic Writing and Publishing in Health & Social Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal: Himal Books: 176-183.
  6. van Teijlingen, A., Marmion, V., Harvey, O., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2024) PhD Progress and Transfer Vivas at Universities in the United Kingdom, Journal of Education and Research, 14(1): 104-116, https://doi.org/10.51474/jer/16196

 

Speaker @ NLP Healthcare Summit 2025: Evaluating LLMs in Understanding Image Series Textual Narratives

international

📢 This is a short and final notice that already today 02 April 2025 I am going to showcase the advances made a part of Marking Medical Images with NLP at Bournemouth University and National Centre for Computer Animation, Bournemouth University at NLP Healthcare Summit 2025.

🗓️ Save an event in Google Calendar: https://lnkd.in/eHfMyRUk
⏲️ Time: 8.10 PM (Europe / London Timezone)

🙌 Feel free to join and ask me any related questions

> What is going to be about?
> We overview the problem of extracting image series acquisition aspects from short text medical reports in the domain of HCC liver cancer imaging. Our focus is to evaluate performance of various stock LLM model in out-of-the-box condition using instruction based approach. The goal is to answer the question: to what extent we can trust LLM for retrieving medical aspects and depending of the scale of LLM.

Dr. Nicolay Rusnachenko
Research Fellow at Centre For Applied Creative Technologies PLUS (CFACT+)
Bournemouth University

BU Research Project named in BCP Domestic Abuse Strategy Consultation document

A team of researchers from Bournemouth University (Dr Terri Cole, Dr Louise Oliver, Dr Orlanda Harvey, Anisha Sperrin and Dr Jane Healy) are working with BCP Council on a Perpetrator Programme Review Project- This project aims to review local, national and international programmes for perpetrators of domestic abuse and literary review, alongside stakeholder engagement to make recommendations of a best practice model for a perpetrator programme.

The project is mentioned in one of three draft strategy documents that are out for public consultation.

“The three proposed strategies are as follows:

The draft Preventing Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-2030 is the overarching strategy to our response to domestic abuse across the BCP area, detailing our proposed priorities and how we aim to take our plans forward with partnership agencies.
The draft Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy 2025-2030 is focused on the provision of safe accommodation in the BCP area for survivors of domestic abuse who need support around their housing needs.
The draft Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Strategy 2025-2030 is focused on how we respond to perpetrators of domestic abuse across the BCP area. The strategy aims to prevent people from perpetrating domestic abuse, thereby preventing the harm caused to individuals, children and society.”

Here is the link to the consultation webpages, there is the option to consult on all or some of the three strategies.

https://haveyoursay.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/domestic-abuse-strategies

Promoting Human-Centred Design in Drowning Prevention

international, Knowledge Exchange, student research

The Department of Design and Engineering at Bournemouth University has a reputation for its Human-Centred Design (HCD) work.  In our interdisciplinary Sonamoni project we have HCD at its centre.  The Sonamoni project is coordinated by Bournemouth University in collaboration with the University of the West of England (Bristol), the University of Southampton, and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Design Without Border (DWB) in Uganda and Centre for Injury Prevention and Research, Bangladesh (CIPRB). The interdisciplinary team at Bournemouth University covers three faculties and six academics: Dr. Mavis Bengtsson, Dr. Kyungjoo Cha, Dr. Mehdi Chowdhury, Dr. Yong Hun Lim, Mr. John Powell, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen.

Last month two staff from CIPRB, Notan Chandra Dutta and Mirza Shibat Rowshan visited DBW in Uganda, as part of so-called South-South learning. Their objective was to share (1) knowledge and experience of using HCD techniques and (2) best practices of drowning prevention in both countries. Utilizing HCD techniques, Sonamoni is working to identify and prioritize potential solutions, develop prototypes, and assess the acceptability of the interventions to reduce drowning deaths among old children under two in Bangladesh.

During the visit, Notan and Shibat participated a four-day ideation workshop with the fisher community near Lake Victoria, organized by DWB. In the workshop, different HCD tools were used along with other group activities to generate and refine ideas for the solutions. The generated ideas were recorded by visualization tools. Notan and Shibat also attended a session on the principles of creative facilitation of HCD, including the need to understand the problem, role of the facilitator and other stakeholders.  Various visualization tools were discussed, e.g.  ‘journey maps’, ‘stakeholder map’, ‘context map’ and different types of sketches.  Notan shared CIPRB’s experiences of managing the best drowning prevention practices and its challenges from Bangladesh context.

This international project funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) through their Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation programme, also includes a BU-based PhD student, Mr. Md. Shafkat Hossein.  Last week Shafkat presented our Sonamoni project in lecture to BU Engineering students at Talbot campus.

 

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health

First paper by PhD student

NHS, open access, PG research, Publishing, student research, writing

We are delighted to announce that Bournemouth University (BU) and University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust (UHD) Clinical Match-Funded PhD researcher, Leila Kattach, has published her first academic paper. This milestone marks an important step in Leila’s research journey and highlights the impactful work being carried out within our clinical research community.
The paper, titled “Nurse-Led Models of Service Delivery for Skin Cancer Detection: A Systematic Review“, was published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing yesterday (April 1, 2025) [1]. This research consolidates evidence on nurse-led models for skin cancer detection, comparing their effectiveness to physician-led care and highlighting their potential benefits in terms of accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and patient satisfaction.
The systematic review, co-authored with Heidi Singleton, Steven Ersser, Debbie Holley, Ian Pearson, and Abdulrahman Shadeed, rigorously analyzed studies from 1992 to 2024, assessing the role of nurses in diagnosing, treating, and supporting skin cancer patients. The findings demonstrate that nurse-led models can complement or even substitute traditional physician-led care, offering high diagnostic accuracy, improved access to care, and enhanced patient education.
Key highlights from the study include:
Comparable diagnostic accuracy between nurses and ophthalmologists in skin cancer detection.
Increased accessibility and reduced waiting times for patients through community-based, nurse-led services.
Significant cost savings associated with nurse-led care delivery.
Patient preference for nurse-led models, citing convenience and enhanced education on self-examination.
The study also emphasizes the need for further research and standardized national guidelines to scale and integrate nurse-led models effectively into healthcare systems.
Leila’s research has strong implications for policy and clinical practice, advocating for:
✅ Enhanced dermatology nursing training to equip nurses with advanced skills in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
✅ Development of Dermatology Nurse Consultant Training Programmes to support professional development and independent practice.
✅ Support for community-based care to enhance accessibility, particularly in underserved regions.
✅ Standardization of nurse-led models to ensure consistency and high standards across healthcare settings.
Leila Kattach’s research has a PhD studentship jointly funded by BU and UHD NHS Foundation Trust. The study was conducted in collaboration with academic dermatology experts, specialist clinicians, and a patient representative with lived experience of melanoma, ensuring a patient-centered approach.  Leila’s work paves the way for further exploration into nurse-led service delivery models and their long-term impact on skin cancer care, cost-effectiveness, and healthcare workforce sustainability. We look forward to seeing how her research evolves and contributes to improving patient care in dermatology.
👏 Congratulations to Leila Kattach and the research team on this outstanding achievement!
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Reference:
  1. Kattach, L., Singleton, H., Ersser, S., Holley, D., Pearson, I. & Shadeed, A. (2025), Nurse-Led Models of Service Delivery for Skin Cancer Detection: A Systematic Review. Journal of Advanced Nursing.[online first]  https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16854