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After receiving her PhD earlier this year, SPCR Research Fellow Alison Gregory has been awarded an Elizabeth Blackwell Early Career Fellowship.

Dr Gregory’s innovative PhD investigated the impact of domestic violence and abuse on those who informally support survivors. Findings suggest substantial impact experienced which negatively affects the friends, relatives and colleagues in a number of ways, including their physical and mental health, their relationships and their daily living/routines. In addition, they experience abuse, violence, manipulation and intimidation themselves from the perpetrators. “The PhD was awarded in March and I'm currently taking the work forward with an NIHR SPCR Primary Care Scientist Launching Fellowship,” said Dr Gregory.

“During this fellowship I have been able to secure on-going funding, work with Women's Aid and Bristol City Council around the knowledge mobilisation of findings and plan a qualitative piece of work which will be conducted in June with staff who answer calls for the National Domestic Violence Helpline.” This study will explore the needs and requests of informal supporters of survivors who contact the Helpline, so that we can gain an understanding of the ways in which they access currently available support and identify gaps in provision.

The further funding Alison has secured is an Early Career Fellowship from the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research.

I am delighted to have been awarded because it demonstrates a recognition of the importance of research in this area... It enables me to continue to progress in my career whilst conducting research for which I have a strong vision; to better support and equip informal supporters so that they can better support DVA survivors.”
- Dr Alison Gregory, Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol