Personal profile
Research interests
I am a methodologist with expertise in inclusive research, evidence synthesis, and patient and public involvement and engagement. My work focuses on designing, conducting and evaluating inclusive research to address health inequities in primary care, clinical trials and applied health research.
I lead the Trial Forge Inclusive Research Centre, which aims to strengthen the evidence base for methodological approaches to improve inclusivity in trials, thereby enhancing decision-making, relevance and generalisability. I co-lead the GPs at the Deep End Network, Bristol, which aims to reduce health inequalities through peer support, advocacy, training and research for primary care clinicians working in disadvantaged areas.
My current work includes a World Health Organisation-funded project developing policy guidance to improve access for under-represented populations to clinical trials and research. Internationally, I contributed to the RECONSIDER advisory group (2022–2024), supporting the development of methodological and reporting guidance to improve ethnic diversity in trials globally. I am also a member of the Milken Institute FasterCures Health Equity Advisory Council.
In 2025, I was elected to the Society for Academic Primary Care Executive Committee as the EDI Lead. I am also the Inclusive Research Lead for the NIHR Multiple Long-Term Conditions Cross-NIHR Collaboration Methodology Workstream.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Research output
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Are equity, diversity and inclusion considered in early phase studies evaluating innovative and developing surgical procedures? Protocol for a scoping review
Etemadi, M., Macefield, R. C., Avery, K. N. L., Elliott, D., Dawson, S., Blencowe, N. S., Coyle, M., Richards, H. S., Graham, B., Jones, E., Torkington, A., Chatfield, K., Malik, H., Garlick, M. & Blazeby, J., 9 Feb 2026, In: BMJ Open. 16, 2, 7 p., e112489.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access -
Delivering inclusive cultural offers for social prescribing: a realist evaluation involving older people from global majority backgrounds and cultural sector providers in the UK.
Westlake, D., Mahtani, K., Wong, G., Gorenberg, J., Santillo, M., Husk, K., Vougioukalou, S., Baxter, R., Dawson, S., Potter, C., Warburton, H., McDougall, B. & Tierney, S., 14 Feb 2026, In: Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy. 29, 1, 14 p., e70550.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access -
Equality, diversity and inclusion strategies of NIHR biomedical research centres and clinical research facilities across England: a qualitative content analysis
Hua, P., Dawson, S. & Phillips, H., 19 Feb 2026, In: BMJ Open. 16, 2, 21 p., e109321.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access
Projects
- 7 Finished
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Remembering everyday healthcare c.1940-1970: Testing a novel interdisciplinary methodology
Caddick, B. A. (Principal Investigator), Dawson, S. (Co-Investigator), Hay, A. D. (Co-Investigator), Payne, R. (Co-Investigator), Clark, H. (Co-Investigator) & Clapp, S. (Co-Investigator)
12/05/23 → 31/07/23
Project: Research
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Prevalence and risk factors for prescription medication sharing in the UK general population
McCahon, D. (Co-Principal Investigator), Dawson, S. (Co-Principal Investigator), Caddick, B. A. (Co-Investigator), Payne, R. A. (Co-Investigator) & Scott, J. (Co-Principal Investigator)
1/06/22 → 31/05/24
Project: Research
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Systematic reviews to inform the design of usual care comparator arms in primary care trials: methodological approaches and profiling of current research practice.
Turner, K. M. (Principal Investigator), Dawson, S. (Co-Investigator) & Huntley, A. L. (Co-Investigator)
1/09/21 → 31/01/23
Project: Research
Prizes
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51st Annual Meeting, North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) Reciprocal Award
Dawson, S. (Recipient), 2 Nov 2023
Prize: Prizes, Medals, Awards and Grants
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Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) Outstanding Early Career Researcher Award (Primary Care Scientist)
Dawson, S. (Recipient), 21 May 2021
Prize: Prizes, Medals, Awards and Grants