PhD Profile
Increasing inclusivity in trials of interventions for older people living with sarcopenia
Philippa Watts - PhD Student and Clinical Trials Manager
philippa.watts@newcastle.ac.uk
About Philippa
Philippa has a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Dundee and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Research from Newcastle University. Her career has encompassed a variety of roles from grants management to running national public awareness campaigns. Since 2015 she has worked in the Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit, managing a range of non-commercial trials in a variety of therapeutic areas with a particular interest in research in older people.
About the Project
Philippa’s PhD focuses on identifying new ways to recruit and retain older people from under-served groups in sarcopenia trials. Her project involves working with patients and the public, co-producing interventions to improve recruitment and retention, and testing resources in a Study Within A Trial (SWAT) as part of the REVITALISE sarcopenia platform trial.
Why a PhD with AGE?
“While studying the ‘Clinical Research with Older People’ module in my PGDip, I became very interested in how we can increase inclusivity in clinical trials, and the barriers faced by older people when taking part. The PhD in the AGE Research Group meshes perfectly with both my professional role and my research interests. I hope it will open up opportunities for me to do further work on improving clinical trials for older people.”
PhD Fact File
Funder: NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre
Dates: 2024 to 2027
Lead supervisor(s): Professor Miles Witham
Supervisory team: Dr Claire McDonald, Professor Helen Hancock and Professor Amy O’Donnell (previously Professor Dawn Teare)