Ms Lucy Kirkland

I am a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Exeter Medical School. I am passionate about innovation in patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE), community partnership development, and health equity in early cancer diagnosis. I co-lead PPIE on the HELP Flag study (www.helpflag.com), an NHS-embedded innovation that uses routine blood tests to identify patients at risk of multiple cancers. HELP Flag applies age- and sex-adjusted risk thresholds to full blood count results to generate dynamic cancer risk profiles, supporting earlier diagnosis, reducing emergency presentations, and improving equity in cancer care. I coordinate a dynamic, two-region PPIE model across Exeter and Manchester, ensuring patient voices guide study design, implementation, and risk communication.

I also support a public co-applicant in PPIE on the Cancer Research UK–funded project on blood-based markers and diagnostic tests for early cancer detection in primary care, and have contributed to The diagnostic performance of CA-125 for the detection of ovarian cancer in women from different ethnic groups (funded by Cancer Research UK) and Supporting clinical decision-making in patients with symptoms of cancer and pre-existing long-term health conditions (funded by Associate Professor Sarah Bailey's NIHR Advanced Fellowship).

I have secured £7,000 funding from Exeter Innovation to co-design community engagement projects with underrepresented groups. I understand the importance of trust in community-based research. I'm passionate about reducing health inequity in cancer diagnosis, and ensuring research reflects community needs. I build partnerships with diverse communities to co-produce research and engagement activities, including public engagement events and community consultations. With a background in social work, I bring over seven years of experience in frontline children’s services, adult mental health, and drug rehabilitation, as well as international community experience.

Interests:

• Patient and public involvement and co-production
• Early cancer diagnosis and risk stratification
• Community engagement and health equity
• Research proposal support and project coordination

Observational data experience:

• The Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and linked datasets

Awards:

• Above & Beyond Award, 2023
• Above & Beyond Award, 2024

Research income:

SPCR Seedcorn funding award, £9000

Protected time to develop research career and PhD proposal in cancer diagnosis; advanced community engagement and PPIE work including mentoring from People Street; shortlisted for CanTest 2026; developing a proposal for a scalable co-design model to prevent under representation in PPIE. 2025

APEX PPIE Fund £1000

Co-designed an engagement project with Caribbean community leaders in Exeter, building trust, listening to lived experiences, and co-designing pathways for culturally responsive cancer research. Co-Applicants, Dr Tanimola Martins, Melissa Barlow, Faye Doris, University of Exeter, 2025

Engaged Research Fund £3500

Building a relationship between cancer diagnosis researchers, people in the community and FORCE cancer charity through collaborative community programmes with Inclusive Exeter and FORCE cancer charity. Improving involvement and representation of diverse heritage communities in cancer research and promoting the patient and public voice in shaping existing support services to meet the needs of Exeter's diverse communities. Community Co-Applicants, Joy Okumbor, Pastor Samuel Oluwafemi Odewunmi, and Edith Chinnah, Co-Applicants Prof. Sarah Bailey, Dr Tanimola Martins, Melissa Barlow, and FORCE Cancer Charity Alex Moseley and Kayleigh Brown

University of Exeter, 2024

Participatory Research Exploratory Award Fund £500

Building a relationship between cancer diagnosis researchers and the diverse community attending Exeter Mosque. Improving involvement and representation of diverse heritage communities in cancer research. Community Co-Applicant Neomi Alam, Co-Applicants Prof. Sarah Bailey, Dr Tanimola Martins.

University of Exeter, 2024

Bridging Communities Fund £2000

Building a relationship between cancer diagnosis researchers and the community attending the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Exeter to build trust and identify community-led research priorities. Improving involvement and representation of Black African, Caribbean and Asian heritage communities in cancer research. Community Co-Applicant Pastor Samuel Oluwafemi Odewunmi, Co-Applicants Prof. Sarah Bailey, Dr Tanimola Martins.

University of Exeter, 2024

Qualifications:

• BSc (Hons) Social Work (University of Portsmouth, 2008)
• MSc Psychology (University of Exeter, 2022)
• GMBPsS Graduate Member, British Psychological Society