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Out now: 2025-2026 DECIPHer Annual Report
The report provides an overview of the exciting work of our team in the first year of our Health and Care Research Wales sustainability funding… Read More »Out now: 2025-2026 DECIPHer Annual Report
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Research
Coffee, carrot cake and the best kind of coincidence – my DECIPHer internship
Sarah Cawley is a final year Psychology student at Cardiff University. Sometimes, the best summers start in the most unexpected ways. Mine started with coffee… Read More »Coffee, carrot cake and the best kind of coincidence – my DECIPHer internship
‘I really enjoyed this opportunity to be creative.’ Via’s DECIPHer internship
Olivia (Via) Price is a final-year undergraduate psychology student at Cardiff University. My academic interests mostly lie within clinical psychology and developmental psychology. I recently… Read More »‘I really enjoyed this opportunity to be creative.’ Via’s DECIPHer internship
‘Exceeded all expectations!’ Alfie’s DECIPHer internship
Alfie Sharrock is a final year BSc Sociology and Social Policy student at Cardiff University. My academic interests are currently split between two ends of… Read More »‘Exceeded all expectations!’ Alfie’s DECIPHer internship
‘The most rewarding experience of my MSc journey.’ Georgie’s DECIPHer placement
Georgie Richards is studying for a MSc in Psychology at Cardiff University. As part of my degree, I completed a 12‑week work placement at DECIPHer,… Read More »‘The most rewarding experience of my MSc journey.’ Georgie’s DECIPHer placement
RISE in the National Spotlight on BBC’s The One Show
BBC’s The One Show caught up with the RISE team last week as Principal Investigator Dr Sara Long discussed what researchers are learning about free… Read More »RISE in the National Spotlight on BBC’s The One Show
What I learned about the school food system through RISE: From conversations with policy leaders to children’s lunchtime experiences
Anna Kolosowska, Public Health Research and Evaluation Assistant at Public Health Wales, gives her insight into RISE, and what she’s learned from the project so… Read More »What I learned about the school food system through RISE: From conversations with policy leaders to children’s lunchtime experiences
Backlash or buy-in: What shapes public attitudes to active travel?
Nick Morris led a review study gauging the UK public’s opinion on active travel. Here, he explains the findings and how they can help governments… Read More »Backlash or buy-in: What shapes public attitudes to active travel?
New Academy Fellows strengthen Cardiff University’s social science leadership
Two Cardiff academics have been recognised for their significant contributions to the field of social science by the Academy of Social Sciences. Professor Sin Yi… Read More »New Academy Fellows strengthen Cardiff University’s social science leadership
‘It doesn’t matter where you are in your career or what you are hoping to achieve, the DECIPHer short course can help to get you there.’
Sara James is a Clinical Lead Physiotherapist and Health and Care Research Wales Emerging Research Holder. Here, she shares her experience of the DECIPHer short… Read More »‘It doesn’t matter where you are in your career or what you are hoping to achieve, the DECIPHer short course can help to get you there.’
Picture this: Mapping activities in special schools and pupil referral units
How has the Whole School Approach been received in special schools and pupil referral units? Amy Edwards and the qualitative team used creative participatory methods to find out Over the… Read More »Picture this: Mapping activities in special schools and pupil referral units
‘Exactly the kind of guidance and invaluable input I had hoped for.’ Reflecting on my research stay at DECIPHer
Marina Hinßen is a Research Associate at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. She recently spent a month at DECIPHer. What led me here Throughout my academic journey,… Read More »‘Exactly the kind of guidance and invaluable input I had hoped for.’ Reflecting on my research stay at DECIPHer
‘Inspiring mentor’ receives inaugural Hywel Thomas ECR Prize
DECIPHer’s Dr Caitlyn Donaldson has received the Learned Society of Wales’ inaugural Hywel Thomas ECR Prize, in recognition of her mentorship, community building, and service at… Read More »‘Inspiring mentor’ receives inaugural Hywel Thomas ECR Prize
From managing datasets to presenting at the University of Oxford: My DECIPHer placement
Aoibheann Davis is a second-year Psychology student at Cardiff University. She recently completed a year’s placement at DECIPHer, working on international project FLOURISH. Prior to… Read More »From managing datasets to presenting at the University of Oxford: My DECIPHer placement
Why I got involved in the RISE Study – and why it matters
RISE Public Contributor Sian Harding writes about her role, what the study is all about, and why it really matters. RISE stands for Reducing Inequalities… Read More »Why I got involved in the RISE Study – and why it matters
‘An important milestone’ – the first annual SERENA Consortium meeting
Researchers Jonathan Ablitt, Zoe Bezeczky and Sarah Thompson report on the event, which took place in Cardiff Bay. On 15–16 September 2025, we participated in the first Annual SERENA Consortium meeting at St. David’s… Read More »‘An important milestone’ – the first annual SERENA Consortium meeting
RISE Study Lead Dr Sara Long Featured on BBC’s The One Show
Dr Sara Long, DECIPHer’s Academic Lead for Partnership with Public Health Wales and RISE lead investigator, was speaking on The One Show as part of… Read More »RISE Study Lead Dr Sara Long Featured on BBC’s The One Show
How can we improve nutrition and activity in Early Years settings? Evaluating the NAP SACC UK programme
The Centre for Trials Research and DECIPHer at Cardiff University, both funded by Health and Care Research Wales, participated in a study recently featured in leading medical… Read More »How can we improve nutrition and activity in Early Years settings? Evaluating the NAP SACC UK programme
A look back at five years of DECIPHer short courses
A key element of DECIPHer’s methods research programme over 2020-2025 has been our short courses providing training on methods for public health intervention science. As… Read More »A look back at five years of DECIPHer short courses
PHIRST Insight awarded five more years of funding
Researchers from the Universities of Bristol and Cardiff have been awarded £2.5 million from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to conduct… Read More »PHIRST Insight awarded five more years of funding
Meet the RISE team – part 2
Now in its tenth month, The RISE Study is continuing its research into the provision, uptake and consumption of school meals. Here, we introduce the… Read More »Meet the RISE team – part 2
Meet the RISE team
The RISE Study is firmly underway, looking at the provision, uptake and consumption of school meals. In the first of a two-part blog, we introduce… Read More »Meet the RISE team
New DECIPHer report looks back on five years of funding
The report offers an overview of what we have achieved over the last five years of funding from Health and Care Research Wales. This year’s… Read More »New DECIPHer report looks back on five years of funding
Arsha: ‘I sometimes have to pause and remind myself how far I’ve come.’
Arsha Kaur is in her fourth year of a Biomedical Sciences degree. She recently completed a six-month placement with DECIPHer and Cardiff Third Sector Council… Read More »Arsha: ‘I sometimes have to pause and remind myself how far I’ve come.’
Georgina’s placement: ‘I’ve gained so many skills from taking part’
Georgina Booth is studying for a Master’s degree in Psychology at Cardiff University. She recently completed a three-month placement at DECIPHer with Dr Rabeea’h Waseem… Read More »Georgina’s placement: ‘I’ve gained so many skills from taking part’
Pupils’ voices and teachers’ views – The Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being
As part of their evaluation of the Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being, DECIPHer researchers asked pupils and teachers in both primary and… Read More »Pupils’ voices and teachers’ views – The Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being
Where do interventions come from, and how can we know if they are any good? Oishee’s review of the DECIPHer 2025 Short Course
Research Associate Oishee Kundu feeds back on her experience of the June 2025 course ‘Development, Evaluation, Adaptation and Implementation’. I accidentally fell into the world… Read More »Where do interventions come from, and how can we know if they are any good? Oishee’s review of the DECIPHer 2025 Short Course
Reducing Inequalities in School Food Environments (RISE): Supporting provision, uptake and consumption of Free School Meals in primary schools
Lead Investigators Dr Sara Long, Dr Kelly Morgan Co-Investigators Rochelle Embling; Judith Gregory; Lucy Jayne; Prof John McKendrick; Prof Graham Moore; Dr Kelly Morgan; Prof… Read More »Reducing Inequalities in School Food Environments (RISE): Supporting provision, uptake and consumption of Free School Meals in primary schools
School meals focus of new UK-wide study
Researchers will investigate how children can be better supported to make healthier choices The provision, uptake and consumption of school meals will be investigated in… Read More »School meals focus of new UK-wide study
Experts join forces to improve research on suicide prevention and self-harm in Wales
Cardiff University academics are teaming up with experts across Wales to drive research into suicide prevention and self-harm. The National Centre for Suicide Prevention and… Read More »Experts join forces to improve research on suicide prevention and self-harm in Wales