Personal profile
Biography
James Desborough is Professor of Pharmacy Education and Communication at the University of East Anglia. His work focuses on advancing healthcare consultations and driving excellence in education governance and quality assurance.
James has extensive experience in curriculum leadership, accreditation, and strategic planning within higher education. He has chaired university governance panels, contributed nationally to professional standards through roles with the General Pharmaceutical Council, and led initiatives to enhance student experience and institutional reputation.
Alongside his leadership in education, James is an active researcher in medicines optimisation and pharmacy services, particularly in care homes. He has secured multi-million-pound grants, published widely in peer-reviewed journals, and collaborated with national and international partners to improve patient outcomes.
His current direction of travel includes shaping policy and practice in healthcare consultations, embedding quality frameworks in higher education, and fostering collaborative research to advance pharmacy practice and healthcare education.
Key Research Interests
- Healthcare consultation skills and patient engagement
- Education governance, quality assurance, and curriculum innovation
- Medicines optimisation in care homes
- Pharmacy services and workforce development
- Interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare education and policy
Teaching Interests
- Professional communication and consultation skills
- Clinical pharmacy and medicines optimisation
- Leadership and management in healthcare education
- Innovative teaching methods and digital learning tools
Key Responsibilities
- Head of Pharmacy Practice and Education Research Theme
- Chair of Multi-Faculty Appeals and Complaints Panel
- Accreditation and Recognition Team Leader, General Pharmaceutical Council
- External examiner roles across UK and Ireland
- Public engagement through Consultations4Health channel and professional conferences
Postgraduate Research Opportunities
I welcome collaboration on projects related to healthcare consultation skills, education quality frameworks, medicines optimisation, and pharmacy workforce development. Opportunities include joint research, curriculum innovation, and policy development partnerships.
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., Health Services Research, University of East Anglia
… → 2008
Master of Pharmacy, University of Bradford
… → 2003
Keywords
- Pharmacy
- Healthcare Consultation Skills
- Medicines Optimisation
- Care Home Pharmacy Servicess
- Health Services Research
- Phamracy Workforce Development
- Education Governance and Quality Assurance
Media Expertise
- Pharmacy
- Medicine
- Education
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 9 Finished
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Care Homes Independent Pharmacist Prescribing Service (CHIPPS): Development and delivery of a cluster randomised controlled trial to determine both its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness
Wright, D., Arthur, A., Barton, G., Bond, C., Desborough, J., Ford, J., Holland, R., Hughes, C., Norris, N., Poland, F., Shepstone, L., Small, I., Turner, D., Colles, A., Dyer, A., Swart, A. M., Blyth, A., Irvine, L. & Maskrey, V.
National Institute for Health and Care Research
1/05/15 → 31/10/20
Project: Research
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What is the role of Lithium Monitoring?
Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
1/04/12 → 31/03/15
Project: Training
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PhD Research Award - Development of Pharmacists Consulatation Skills
Harold and Marjorie Moss Charitable Trust
1/09/11 → 30/09/14
Project: Research
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Evaluation of a community pharmacy-based seasonal influenza vaccination placement for third-year pharmacy undergraduates: Monash Pharmacy Education Symposium Abstracts 2024
Parkhurst, C., Savickas, V., Nguyen, H., Marks, E., Sokhi, J. & Desborough, J., 1 Jul 2025, In: Pharmacy Education. 25, 3, p. 23-24 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure) -
The perspectives of pharmacy students on the impact of clinical simulation activities in undergraduate education: A qualitative study: Monash Pharmacy Education Symposium Abstracts 2024
Eguasa, B., Savickas, V., Taylor, S., Sokhi, J., Twigg, M., Marks, E. & Desborough, J., 1 Jul 2025, In: Pharmacy Education. 25, 3, p. 37-38 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Data resource profile: the virtual international care homes trials archive (VICHTA)
Irvine, L., Burton, J., Ali, M., Booth, J., Desborough, J., Logan, P., Moniz-Cook, E., Surr, C., Wright, D. & Goodman, C., 15 Jan 2024, In: International Journal of Population Data Science. 8, 6, 04.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (Scopus)40 Downloads (Pure) -
Evaluation of effectiveness and safety of pharmacist independent prescribers in care homes: Cluster randomised controlled trial
Holland, R., Bond, C., Alldred, D., Arthur, A., Barton, G., Birt, L., Blacklock, J., Blyth, A., Cheilari, S., Daffu-O’Reilly, A., Dalgarno, L., Desborough, J., Ford, J. C., Grant, K., Harry, B., Hill, H. J., Hughes, C., Inch, J., Maskrey, V., Myint, P., & 8 others, 14 Feb 2023, In: BMJ-British Medical Journal. 380, e071883.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile22 Citations (Scopus)51 Downloads (Pure) -
The Care Home Independent Pharmacist Prescriber Study (CHIPPS): Development and implementation of an RCT to estimate safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness
Wright, D., Holland, R., Alldred, D. P., Bond, C., Hughes, C., Barton, G., Poland, F., Shepstone, L., Arthur, A., Birt, L., Blacklock, J., Blyth, A., Cheilari, S., Daffu-O’Reilly, A., Dalgarno, L., Desborough, J., Ford, J., Grant, K., Gray, J., Handford, C., & 10 others, 1 Dec 2023, In: Programme Grants for Applied Research. 11, 10Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)8 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Program (External organisation)
James Desborough (Referee)
2010 → …Activity: Membership › Peer review panel
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Health Services Research in Pharmacy Practice Conference Organising Committee (External organisation)
James Desborough (Member)
2009 → …Activity: Membership › Committee
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International Journal of Pharmacy Practice (Journal)
James Desborough (Referee)
2009 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication peer-review
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Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics (Journal)
James Desborough (Referee)
2009 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication peer-review
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UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (External organisation)
James Desborough (Member)
2005 → …Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association