Polly-Anna Ashford

Dr

  • 2.17 Medical School

Personal profile

Biography

I am Research Lead for Psychology and Mental Health at Norwich Clinical Trials Unit, within Norwich Medical School.

I studied at the University of East Anglia for an MChem in Chemistry with Analytical and Forensic Science (2006-2010), and a PhD on the synthesis of novel glycopeptide antibiotics (2010-2014). Following my PhD I joined the Royal Society of Chemistry as a publishing editor on the materials portfolio, before returning to UEA to pursue a career in clinical trials at Norwich CTU in 2017. 

Key Research Interests

My research interests are in clinical trials methodology, in three key areas:

  • Design and operational delivery of clinical trials of psychological interventions
  • The impact of recruitment processes on trial population characteristics and retention
  • The inclusion of under-served groups, including participants with physical and mental disabilities, in clinical trials