Holly Sugg

Short presentation

Holly Sugg is a Lecturer (Education and Research) in the Academy of Nursing, University of Exeter, and an Affiliated Researcher with U-CARE, Uppsala University, http://www.u-care.uu.se/. The goal with U-CARE is to increase wellbeing among patients and close ones living with somatic disease. Holly specialises in mental health services research and, in particular, the development and testing of psychological therapies, using integrative mixed methods approaches.

Keywords

• psychology
• mental health
• mixed methods research
• mixed methods analysis
• qualitative research
• clinical research
• health services research

Biography

• • I have an LLB (Hons) in Law from the University of Exeter; Diploma (Postgraduate Conversion) in Psychology from the Open University; MSc in Psychological Research Methods and PhD in Medical Studies, both from the University of Exeter; and a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice from the Higher Education Academy.
  • I was appointed Lecturer (Education and Research) at the University of Exeter (Nursing Academy) in 2020 with a focus on evidence-based practice and healthcare research methods.
  • In 2024 I became an Affiliated Researcher with U-CARE. Within this role:
    • I am a collaborator on the INVOLVERA project, funded by the Kamprad Family Foundation and the Swedish Research Council (VR): https://www.uu.se/en/centre/u-care/research/research-projects/involvera;
    • I have been the subject of a Visiting Researcher grant awarded to Dr Joanne Woodford (https://www.uu.se/en/contact-and-organisation/staff?query=N17-1340) and funded by Forte, entitled: ‘How integrative mixed methods analysis can add value to complex healthcare intervention research’. This includes collaborating with U-CARE on a methodological review entitled: Mixed-methods integration during data analysis in clinical trials of complex healthcare interventions: how is it done, and what can it do? (DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-112876);
    • I have delivered multiple invited seminars, lectures and workshops focused on using Integrative Mixed Methods Analysis Techniques in the Development and Testing of Complex Healthcare Interventions, and in the Evaluation of Patient and Public Involvement in Research.
  • I currently teach on the following PhD courses run by U-CARE:
    • Design and conduct of feasibility studies for complex healthcare interventions
    • Development and adaptation of complex healthcare interventions
    • Public Contribution in Research
  • Since 2020 (until 2029) I have received around 13.5 MSEK (or equivalent in British pounds) in external grants as co-applicant mainly from the Swedish Research Council (VR) and the UK National Institute of Health Research/ UK Research and Innovation.
  • I have published 2 book chapters (with a third in press) and 18 peer-reviewed publications.
  • I have delivered multiple conference presentations including 6 invited conference presentations (3 of which were keynote/plenary presentations).
  • At the University of Exeter, I Co-Lead the following modules for both the BSc/MSc Nursing Programme (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate-degrees/msci-nursing/) and Nursing Degree Apprenticeship (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/degree-apprenticeships/programmes/adult-nursing/):
    • Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice;
    • Evaluation, Improvement and Research Approaches in Nursing; 
    • Clinical Academic Internship (MSc only).
  • I have experience supervising Master’s Students and Professional Training Year Students; I am currently the main supervisor for one PhD student and co-supervisor for one PhD student.
  • Since 2026 I have been a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and since 2025 I have been an International Consultant for the International Committee for Morita Therapy.
  • In 2024 I was competitively selected to participate in the UK GW4 Crucible research leadership programme (‘Tackling health inequalities and driving social justice through radical interdisciplinarity’).
  • I have received multiple awards including the UK National Institute of Health Research (South West Peninsula) Early Career Researcher Award in 2020; and a Dean’s Commendation for Exceptional Performance and two Above and Beyond Awards from the University of Exeter.

Research

• • My research concerns developing, testing, evaluating, and implementing complex healthcare interventions.
  • I focus on psychological therapies, and have expertise in integrative mixed methods research and analysis for complex interventions research.
  • Currently I am a collaborator on the following research projects, both in collaboration with U-CARE:
    • The INVOLVERA project aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a psychological intervention for people living with dementia and depression;
    • The ACT-ALL project aims to develop and evaluate an SMS intervention to reduce guardians’ abandonment of children’s maintenance therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Tanzania.