Contact
Biography
Kieran is a Senior Research Fellow and chartered member of the British Psychological Society (CPsychol). Kieran currently is supported by an NIHR School for Primary Care Research Post-Doctoral Launching Fellowship which focuses on optimising and testing a brief psychological intervention to enhance vaccination outcomes in older adults.
Kieran completed a BSc. (Hons) in Psychology on The Open University in 2010 before completing an MSc. in Psychological Research at The University of Sheffield in 2012. Between 2012 and 2013, Kieran worked as a Research Assistant on a collaborative project between CLAHRC South Yorkshire and The University of Sheffield focused on the development and evaluation of a complex intervention for young adults with type 1 diabetes. Kieran then moved to The University of Nottingham completing an NIHR School of Primary Care Research funded PhD studentship in 2017, focusing on psychological and behavioural influences on immunity and vaccination outcomes, with a view towards the development of brief primary care interventions.
Between 2012 and 2016, Kieran sat on the Early Career Network Committee for the UK society of Behavioural Medicine, acting as Chair during 2015 and 2016.
Expertise Summary
Research Interests
(1) Developing and evaluating brief, pragmatically-driven psychological and behavioural interventions;
(2) The role that tailoring/personalisation can play in psychological and behavioural interventions (i.e., precision behavioural medicine).
(3) Interactions between biological, psychological, and lifestyle factors as they pertain to health.
Current Research
Kieran's current research focuses on how psychological and behavioural factors influence immune responses to vaccines, particularly among vulnerable populations. In addition, Kieran's current research concerns multiple aspects of behavioural science and lifestyle change, with current projects focusing on lifestyle change in patients at-risk of developing liver disease.
Kieran has significant experience of setting up and conducting research within primary and secondary NHS settings. Kieran is experienced in a range of quantitative and qualitative methods, with practical experience of working in large multidisciplinary research teams. His overarching research interests are how medical practice can be informed by, and benefit from, psychological research and how psychological well-being influences health outcomes.
Kieran's previous research has included the development and evaluation of a complex intervention for young adults with type 1 diabetes, analysing the role of standard care variation in RCT outcomes and investigating daily living restrictions in morbidly obese adults.
Teaching Summary
Kieran currently guest lectures on the topic of Psychoneuroimmunology for The University of Nottingham Health Psychology Masters Module 'Chronic Illnesses'
Recent Publications
AYLING, K., JIA, R., COUPLAND, C., CHALDER, T., MASSEY, A., BROADBENT, E. and VEDHARA, K., 2022. Psychological Predictors of Self-reported COVID-19 Outcomes: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study Annals of Behavioral Medicine. kaab106 BLAKE, H., KNIGHT, H., JIA, R., CORNER, J., MORLING, J. R., DENNING, C., BALL, J. K., BOLTON, K., FIGUEREDO, G., MORRIS, D. E., TIGHE, P., VILLALON, A. M., AYLING, K. and VEDHARA, K., 2021. Students’ views towards sars-cov-2 mass asymptomatic testing, social distancing and self-isolation in a university setting during the covid-19 pandemic: A qualitative study International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18(8), 4182 GASTEIGER, N., VEDHARA, K., MASSEY, A., JIA, R., AYLING, K., CHALDER, T., COUPLAND, C. and BROADBENT, E., 2021. Depression, anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a New Zealand cohort study on mental well-being BMJ Open. 11(5), e045325 CARLISLE, S., AYLING, K., JIA, R., BUCHANAN, H. and VEDHARA, K., 2021. The effect of choice interventions on retention-related, behavioural and mood outcomes: A systematic review with meta-analysis Health Psychology Review. Published Ahead of Print Online: 16 September 2021,
Past Research
My previous research has included work related to the development and evaluation of a complex intervention for young adults with type 1 diabetes, analysing the role of standard care variation in RCT outcomes and investigating daily living restrictions in morbidly obese adults.