Leah joined the School of Health & Life Sciences at Teeside University in October 2018, and was awarded her Chair in Applied Health Psychology in 2021. Prior to this she worked within the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University, which also involved a two year secondment with a commercial organisation to develop and deliver digital lifestyle programmes. 

She is a Chartered Health Psychologist and Behavioural Scientist. Leah lead a programme of research that involves the development and evaluation of interventions targeting health/lifestyle behaviours (predominantly physical activity, exercise and diet) in the context of physical and mental health (e.g., managing long-term health conditions and preparing people for surgery).

She also lead a multidisciplinary team that develops and evaluates interventions including those delivered digitally and in person that meet the needs of patient/community groups, that are suitable for integration into care pathways and organisations, and that are effective for improving health and wellbeing related outcomes.

Leah has developed a number of behavioural change interventions that have been commissioned, are accessed by people with long-term conditions across the UK and abroad, and has been nominated for and received several awards (e.g., winner of the Quality in Care Award for prevention and early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes; Diabetes Professional Care Awards).

Her research also involves identifying ways to successfully implement interventions. This involves collaboration with clinicians, members of the public/patient groups, commercial partners, and voluntary sector organisations to better understand the barriers and facilitators to uptake and adherance, what works for whom, under which circumstances and why. To achieve this she also develop and deliver bespoke training programmes and resources for providers of healthcare to help optimise consultation behaviour and facilitate implementation of guidelines into practice.

Leah is passionate about supporting students, trainees and early career researchers to reach their potential. She provides support and mentorship to colleagues from outside her discipline to use/integrate health psychology and behavioural science into their working practices, teaching and research. She also provides mentorship more generally to help individuals to reach their professional goals.

Memberships and Professional Activities

Chair of the School of Health & Life Sciences Reseach & Innovation Sub-Committee

Member of the Teesside University Research Culture and People Committee

Member of the Teesside University Grant Board

School of Health & Life Sciences, Centre for Rehabilitation, Public Engagement Champion

Associate Member of Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health

Past Academic member of the School of Health & Life Sciences Research Ethics Committee (2018-2020)

Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society 

Full member of the British Psychological Society, Division of Health Psychology

British Psychological Society accredited supervisor for the Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology

Member of the European Health Psychology Society

Peer reviewer and subject matter expert for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) PRP, RfPB, and PgfAR, Medical Research Council and Diabetes UK.

Qualifications

MRC Funded PhD in Health Psychology, Newcastle University
Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology, British Psychological Society
PgCert Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, Teesside University
MSc Health Psychology, Teesside University
BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Liverpool

Professional Registration

Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol), British Psychological Society
Practitioner Health Psychologist, Health & Care Professions Council

Research Funding

Avery L, Hardy T, Hallsworth K, McPherson S, Trenell M, Gately P, Lake A, Hancock H, Teare D, Gray Y, Lloyd S. Improving detection and Management of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Creation of a Tees Valley Research Partnership Hub. NIHR-EME, Feb 2023-July 2024.

Avery L, MacGowan G, Dewhurst M, Hann, K, Hartshorne-Evans N, Flynn D, Batterham A, Innerd A, Charman S. Feasibility of a theory-informed behavioural intervention to promote uptake of cardiac rehabilitation and increase habitual physical activity levels of heart failure patients (InAct-HF). Translational Research Project Grant, Heart Research UK, Feb 2023-July 2024.

Hallsworth K, McPherson S, Avery L. Assessing the feasibility of an evidence-informed digital intervention to support self-management in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Joint Research Executive Scientific Committee (JRESC), Newcastle Hospitals Charity, Nov 2022- Mar 2024.

Avery L, Barker J. Evaluation of the clinical support worker role in the context of mental health, Integrated Care System, Northeast and Cumbria, Aug 2022-July 2023.

Avery L, Danjoux G, Tew G, Gray J, Durrand J, Yates D. Digital prehabilitation before major surgery. Sport England, June 2021-May 2023.

Avery L, Teke Epse Che J, Flynn D, Haines R. Identifying the barriers and enablers to uptake and adherence to the low calorie diet programme for type 2 diabetes remission in people from ethnic minority groups. NIHR Research Capability Funding, Feb to Sept 2021.

Avery L, Birrell K, Ansari I, Andrews L, Morgan P, Flynn D. Development of digital prototype of REAL SDM. NHS England and Innovation, North East and Yorkshire Region – Personalised care team, Jan 2021 to Dec 2021.

Flynn D, Avery L, Birrell K, Gordon I, Ansari I, Andrews L, Morgan P. REAL general practice toolkit for Shared Decision Making (REAL SDM): Developing a skills development programme to prepare patients with type 2 diabetes and mental health difficulties to engage in person-centred discussions with clinicians to identify their priorities and options for living well. NIHR ARC NENC, Jan 2021 to 31st Dec 2021.

Bowden-Davies K, Taylor R, Avery L. A behavioural intervention targeting physical activity: Sustaining weight loss and type 2 diabetes remission following a very low calorie diet. Novo Nordisk Research Foundation, 2020-2021.

Hallsworth, K., Jakovljevic D., Cassidy, S., Charman, S., Houghton, D., Avery, L., Okwose, N., Taylor, R. An open non-randomised pilot study to assess acceptability and feasibility of an internet / mobile phone enhanced service pathway for the management of prediabetes. Changing Health Ltd, 2018-19.

Snowden CP, Avery L, Gerrand C, Prentis J, Haighton CA, Howell D, McColl E, Kaner E. Preoperative Behavioural Intervention for Risky Drinkers before elective orthopaedic Surgery (PreopBIRDS). NIHR-HTA, 2016-19.

Jakovljevic J, MacGowan G, Avery L, Skinner J, Bailey K, O’Brien N. Personalised home-based physical activity intervention in older adults with heart failure: advancing towards an effective clinical therapy, NIHR-BRC, 2015-16.

Trenell MI, Avery L, Taylor L. Pharmacy enhanced services for people with Type 2 diabetes (2015). Medical Research Council.

Kaner E, Avery L, Presseau J, Sniehotta F, Thomson R, Vale L. PhD awards for improvement science, Health Foundation, 2014-17.

Newbury-Birch D, Gilvarry E, McArdle P, Ramesh V, Stewart S, Walker J, Avery L, Beyer F, Brown, N, Jackson K, Lock C, McGovern R, Kaner E. The impact of alcohol consumption on young people: A review of reviews, Department for Children, Schools and Families, 2009.

Kaner E, Avery L, Brown N, Jackson K, Mason H, Newbury-Birch D. A rapid review of evidence on liver disease epidemiology, treatment and services, NIHR-CCF, 2007.