CGSW Research Team (l-r): Dr. Rachel Iredale, Dr. Lisa Mundy, Julie Hayward, Jenny Hilgart

THE CANCER GENETICS SERVICE FOR WALES RESEARCH TEAM

A key goal of our research is to raise awareness of familial cancer and to improve services for families living with the risk of cancer across Wales. However, traditionally, the results of our research projects were only disseminated at academic conferences and in journals; almost nothing was fed back to either the patients participating in research projects or to new patients moving through CGSW generally.

We are now focussed on implementing the results of research projects conducted over the last decade in order to drive forward service improvement, and to better meet the needs of people at risk of inherited cancer across Wales. This involves identifying individuals' information and support needs at each stage of their cancer genetics journey, with a view to developing and evaluating initiatives that help them to cope with uncertainty and make informed health care decisions.

RESEARCH TEAM BIOGRAPHIES:

Dr Rachel Iredale: Senior Research Fellow

Rachel Iredale took her first degree in sociology and social policy at University College Dublin and completed her Master's degree at St. Patrick's College Maynooth, having spent time studying at the University of Bath and the University of Tilburg in the Netherlands. Her PhD was taken in Dublin and focused on the social policy implications of the new genetics in Ireland. Rachel moved to Wales in 1996 where she worked for the Welsh Institute for Health and Social Care as a Senior Fellow. Since 1999 Rachel has worked on a part-time basis at the University of Glamorgan. She is now a Reader at Glamorgan and her research interests centre on improving public participation in policy making and public attitudes towards genetics. Currently, she is a Beacon for Wales Champion for Public Engagement; a member of the European Institute for Women's Health, and a member of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Consumer Studies. Rachel has been with the Cancer Genetics Services for Wales (CGSW) as a Senior Research Fellow since 2000 and is involved in all aspects of research, with a particular interest in exploring patient centredness and different models of service delivery. She is a magistrate and has two daughters.

Dr Lisa Mundy: Research Assistant

Lisa graduated from the University of Reading in 2003 with a BSc in Psychology. After spending a year travelling, Lisa joined the School of Psychology at Cardiff University working as a Research Assistant on the Cardiff Child Development Study (CCDS). Whilst working with the CCDS, Lisa completed a PhD as a staff candidate. Her PhD focused on the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy on infant development. Lisa joined the research team at the Cancer Genetics Service for Wales (CGSW) as a Research Assistant in 2010 and is interested in increasing patient involvement within CGSW.

Julie Hayward: Research Secretary

Since graduating in 2000 from Swansea University with a joint honours degree in Geography and Social Policy, Julie has travelled around the world and lived in London working for a property consultancy. After that time, Julie returned to work at Cardiff University as a PA to the Head of School of Journalism and later as a PA to the Head of School of Architecture for four years. Since then Julie then went on to train as a Police Officer for 9 months but decided to return to work for Cardiff University in the different role of Research Secretary, supporting the Cancer Genetics Research Team at the Cancer Genetics Service for Wales (CGSW). Julie works closely with the team, taking every opportunity to involve herself with all aspects of the research ensuring the team achieves its goals.

Jenny Hilgart: Research Assistant

Jenny graduated from Cardiff University in 2006 with a BSc in Psychology and Education. Since then she has worked on a number of projects within the School of Medicine, including the CARIAD trial in the Institute of Medical Genetics. She has joined the CGSW research team as a Research Assistant and is interested in patients' experiences within cancer genetics services. Jenny is currently studying part-time towards an MSc in Health Psychology whilst working with the research team.