Kate Byrnes is a PhD student in the School of Health and Life Sciences. She gained a BSc in Psychology from Teesside University in 2015. Kate then progressed onto an MSc in Health Psychology and Clinical Skills also at Teesside University, graduating in 2016. After graduating Kate worked for Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV NHS FT) in the Research and Development department helping set up research to recruit patients, service users and staff from the Trust.

Kate is currently studying for a PhD, where she is aiming to find out what the attitudes and opinions are of women with a mild to moderate learning disability, family carers, and paid care workers, towards the national cervical and breast cancer screening programmes. The PhD is being completed under the supervision of Dr Emma Giles, Dr Grant McGeechan, and Dr Hannah Crawford who is an external advisor from TEWV NHS FT. Whilst studying for the PhD, Kate was the PhD student representative for the School and is currently a member of the Tackling Cancer Together board within the South Tees Public Health team.

Kate has previously taught on various modules within the School including research methods and has been involved in the Learning Disability Nursing cohorts teaching on the barriers and facilitators to people attending cancer screening, and developing easy read documents to enhance person centered care. 

Kate is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society and the British Psychosocial Oncology Society. Kate’s research interests are within public health, specifically the early identification of cancers, and health inequalities of people with a learning disabilities.

Kate teaches primarily on research methods/ evidence based practice modules on Undergraduate programmes within the School of Health and Life Sciences. Kates also has experience of teaching on Data Analysis Methods within the level 7 Masters in Public Health programme.