NIHRDataInsights/HRCSData huggingface dataset:
Title: 21st Century Families: Parent-child relationships and children's psychological wellbeing
Funder: Wellcome Trust

Abstract: New pathways to parenthood have recently emerged that did not exist, nor had even been imagined, at the turn of the 21st century. Individuals who were previously unknown to each other have begun to meet over the internet with the purpose of having children together; transgender men and women have begun to have children through medically assisted reproduction; single heterosexual men have begun to use surrogacy to become single fathers by choice; and women have begun to use identifiable egg donors to have children. These emerging family structures raise new ethical, social and psychological concerns, particularly regarding the potentially negative consequences for children. The proposed research will provide empirical evidence from a multidisciplinary perspective on the social and psychological consequences for children of growing up in family arrangements involving non-cohabiting co-parents, transgender parents, elective single fathers and identifiable egg donors. In this emotive area of family life on which people often hold strong opinions, our aim is to challenge prejudice and assumption with evidence on the actual consequences – good, bad or neutral – for children. The ultimate goal of the proposed research is to increase understanding of diversity in family life and improve the lives of 21st century children.

Lay abstract: No Data Entered

Research activity codes: 1.2 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC PROCESSES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE;REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND CHILDBIRTH
Title: Opportunity-Led - Impact of COVID-19 on mental health in Northern Ireland: an administrative data linkage study
Funder: Public Health Agency, NI

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to never before seen limits on social movement and social interactions. These limits have had a major impact not only on individuals’ personal lives but on the interaction with and delivery of our health and social care services. Enforced social distancing has led to increased isolation. Add in financial concerns and a decrease in help seeking behaviour and the impact of this pandemic on population mental health could be catastrophic. This project aims to explore the impact of the pandemic and subsequent “lockdown” on mental health using administrative data. Uptake of psychotropic medications, presentations to Emergency Departments with self-harm or suicide ideation and admissions to psychiatric hospital will be used as proxy indicators of mental ill health. Expected trends for 2020 (based on the previous 3 years) will be compared to actual observed trends as the pandemic broke in Northern Ireland and lockdown began right through to medium and longer term outcomes. Provision of data for this project is supported by all 5 Medical Directors and the project is in collaboration with Ulster University academic and Northern Ireland Mental health Champion Prof Siobhan O’Neill. A range of demographic and socio-economic factors will be explored to determine if the effects of COVID-19 are felt more greatly amongst certain sub-groups of the population.


Research activity codes: 2.4 SURVEILLANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFECTION
Title: Impact of COVID-19 on family carers for profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD): Development of a support programme.
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: Aim: This work will explore the experiences of family carers of people with PMLD during the pandemic and co-design an intervention to support their future wellbeing. Objectives: - To explore the experiences of family carers of people with PMLD and voluntary sector organisations during the pandemic and suggest possible mechanisms of future support. - To establish a co-design group of stakeholders with experience of PMLD during the pandemic. - To develop a support programme with the help of our co-design group. - To test the acceptability of the programme among family carers. - To implement the programme for use across the UK and Ireland.

Lay abstract: There is a dearth of research on the impact of COVID-19 amongst families of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and yet 59% of all COVID-19 deaths in England and Wales have been among people with disabilities. A recent 2020 study indicated that people with learning disabilities aged between 18-34 years are 32 times more likely to die of COVID-19 compared to the general population. We have chosen to focus on PMLD as an exemplar condition of people with severe disabilities as they comprise the most vulnerable population. The vulnerability of this group is exacerbated by a reduction in services at a time when needs have increased. A survey by Carers UK suggests that 4 out of 5 carers are now providing more care for their relatives. While effective vaccines have been discovered, the reduction of services during the pandemic may mean that the future of social care for these families is uncertain and subject to change in the longer term. We propose to ask family carers from across the UK and Ireland about their experiences and will then use this new learning to co-design a tailor-made support programme. We will do this by means of online focus groups with stakeholders using questions which have been co-designed with carers and our voluntary sector partners. The subsequently developed online programme will be tested for acceptability employing mixed methods and will be implemented across the UK and Ireland.

Research activity codes: 7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFECTION
Title: Farming resilience: civil society's role in supporting vulnerable rural communities through and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: The experience of a pandemic at a time of rural change (the post-Brexit agricultural transition is the biggest change to rural policy in a generation) presents a range of unique challenges to farmers, rural communities and the civil society organisations that support them. The project seeks to: i) understand the success of different activities in limiting the 'scarring' effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on farmers' mental health and resilience ii) understand the impacts of the pandemic on civil society organisations themselves (including severe fundraising shortfalls, operational restrictions and social challenges) and iii) scale up these understandings to build system and community resilience against future shocks, such as the impending challenges presented by the post-Brexit agricultural transition. It will do this through a scoping review, surveys and interviews with civil society organisations, and a range of policy and practice workshops with a range of stakeholders, supported by established partnerships and a strong steering committee. This research is important because we know very little about how the farming community, and the support systems underpinning them, are being affected by COVID-19. Our deliverables will enable policy-makers and organisations to support the levelling up of rural communities and to increase their community resilience to future challenges.

Lay abstract: The experience of a pandemic at a time of rural change (the post-Brexit agricultural transition is the biggest change to rural policy in a generation) presents a range of unique challenges to farmers, rural communities and the civil society organisations that support them. The project seeks to: i) understand the success of different activities in limiting the 'scarring' effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on farmers' mental health and resilience ii) understand the impacts of the pandemic on civil society organisations themselves (including severe fundraising shortfalls, operational restrictions and social challenges) and iii) scale up these understandings to build system and community resilience against future shocks, such as the impending challenges presented by the post-Brexit agricultural transition. It will do this through a scoping review, surveys and interviews with civil society organisations, and a range of policy and practice workshops with a range of stakeholders, supported by established partnerships and a strong steering committee. This research is important because we know very little about how the farming community, and the support systems underpinning them, are being affected by COVID-19. Our deliverables will enable policy-makers and organisations to support the levelling up of rural communities and to increase their community resilience to future challenges.

Research activity codes: 3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFECTION
Title: Monitoring socioeconomic and mental health trajectories through the COVID-19 pandemic
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: Aim: We will focus on how the Covid-19 pandemic and the policy response to it has led to shocks to adult mental health and household and individual financial circumstances, and how these are related. The aims are to assess: (1) which social and demographic groups of the UK population were the most severely impacted in terms of mental health by the pandemic and the policy responses to it. (2) which social and demographic groups of the UK population were the most severely impacted by the pandemic and the policy responses in terms of individual and household financial circumstances. (3) to what extent are changes in financial circumstances and variations in mental health during this period related to one another and does this relationship vary by population characteristics. (4) at what rate over time have these groups have been able to recover from the pandemic and the consequences of containment policies. (5) whether inequalities in mental health and its socioeconomic determinants have widened or narrowed as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lay abstract: This study will use nationally representative data collected monthly by the UK Household Longitudinal Study's (UKHLS) questionnaire which gathers information on people's experiences during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic. This information will be used to assess the pandemic's ongoing impact on individuals' mental health and financial situation, and how this differs among subgroups of the UK population. By combining information within the Covid-19 questionnaire with baseline data collected in previous years as part of the UKHLS, we will be able to identify who has felt the deepest and the longest-lasting impact on their financial situation and their mental health, and how these two impacts are related. Data collected in April 2020 - when the pandemic was at its initial height in the UK - will allow us to identify the groups that were immediately hit by the initial shock to the UK economy and social distancing measures introduced. The research will use statistical modelling to identify the significant factors in explaining poor mental health and poor economic circumstances at the height of the pandemic in the UK as well as to identify groups at particular high risk. Subsequent monthly data will allow us to identify the rate and extent of the recovery of high risk groups. By examining individuals' personal characteristics and socioeconomic situation (including their exposure to schemes aimed at mitigating economic shocks) as well as their mental health and economic situation at each time point, we will be able to identify what personal factors and external interventions are associated with a fuller or quicker recovery, and which individuals remain vulnerable and require additional help and possibly policy interventions to recover.

Research activity codes: 2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFECTION
Title: Cost-of-living: impact on emotional support for young Londoners
Funder: The Health Foundation

Abstract: Research shows that young people have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. They report more mental distress and loneliness than any other group, and will experience more long-term harm due to the disruption of their education. London is experiencing the highest overcrowding levels in the UK, which placed strain on young people and their families during the movement restrictions due to COVID-19. Alongside this, rising living costs mean that for low-income families, supporting themselves and their children is now even more challenging. Toynbee Hall’s recent work with young Londoners suggests that parents are often unable to provide effective emotional support due to their own life circumstances and stresses, intergenerational differences, and cultural barriers. This project will investigate the impact of increased living costs on families’ capacity to provide emotional support, and the consequences on young people’s health and development. Understanding the impact on young people is central to mitigating the long-term negative impact on them. Using a participatory action research approach, a group of 10 young Londoners (aged 16 to 22 years) from low-income families will be trained and supported to be ‘peer researchers’. They will conduct 14 focus groups with up to 55 young people and 30 family representatives, and co-design a nationally representative survey reaching 1,000 participants. They will then be supported to analyse the responses to identify key issues, and develop proposals about how to help families, services and the government to support young people better, and share the findings and proposals with decision makers.


Research activity codes: 2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFECTION
Title: Pandemics of disease, pandemics of hatred from the Plague of Athens to AIDS.
Funder: Wellcome Trust

Abstract: The project will investigate the extent to which collect violence and scapegoating accompanied pandemics from antiquity to the present. It will challenge common assumptions that collective violence was the usual consequence of pandemics and explanations based on single diseases at a few places and moments of history, such as the Black Death, cholera in the nineteenth century, and AIDS in the 1970s and 1980s. By studying hundreds of pandemics over two-and-a-half millennia, the project will be com parative over time, place, and disease to explain, for instance, why cholera continued to spark class hatred and riots from its first appearance to as late as 1912, while yellow fever did not, even though its symptoms were as gruesome, its causes remained mysterious for longer, its victims centred more on the poor and recent immigrants, and its mortality rates could soar as high as 70 percent. By building databases of pandemics and hatred, the project will chart the varied relations between dise ase and collective violence. Knowledge of these factors will prove critical for understanding the socio-psychological effects of future pandemics.


Research activity codes: 2.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS;2.4 SURVEILLANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFECTION
Title: Neuroinflammation as a Contributor to Depression Amongst People Living with HIV
Funder: Wellcome Trust

Abstract: 1.5 million people contracted a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in 2020. Due to advancements in antiretroviral therapy, this diagnosis is no longer life-limiting, but continues to be life-changing. People living with HIV are still at a significantly higher risk for depression than HIV– individuals, but the reason for this high prevalence of depression is unclear. Inflammation (that is, activation of the body’s innate immune system) has been linked to depression in the general population, and HIV infection in the brain elicits a sustained neuroinflammatory response. Could this neuroinflammation be responsible for the high rates of depression amongst people living with HIV? This project aims to determine whether neuroinflammation, measured using brain imaging and blood assays, contributes to the association between HIV infection status and depression. Two independent groups of HIV+ and HIV– participants with varying levels of depression, one in the UK and one in South Africa, will be assessed for neuroinflammation and depression severity. Using this data, this project will seek to investigate links between HIV and depression in two distinct populations. In doing so, this research may guide clinical practice and alleviate the burden of depression amongst people living with HIV.


Research activity codes: 2.1 BIOLOGICAL AND ENDOGENOUS FACTORS
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFECTION;NEUROLOGICAL
Title: RCT to evaluate an intervention for depressed HIV-positive women in the perinatal period, to enhance child development and reduce maternal depression
Funder: Medical Research Council

Abstract: Rates of HIV among pregnant women in parts of South Africa reach 35%. With PMTCT regimes, the vast majority of children are born HIV-negative, but will grow up with at least one HIV-infected parent. Almost a quarter of HIV-positive pregnant women fulfil criteria for a depressive disorder. Perinatal depression is associated with negative effects on children's cognitive development, especially when depression is combined with social adversity (lack of support and socio-economic disadvantage). Depression interferes with parenting, particularly the parent's capacity to support the infant's development of attention and learning. Cognitive development by 2 years of age is a key predictor for school readiness and later life opportunities. We aim to conduct a cluster RCT to test the efficacy of a home-based integrated intervention to treat depression and enhance parenting, delivered during pregnancy and the postnatal period. It comprises BA to treat depression and a parenting programme (CCD) to improve maternal responsiveness. The control arm will be treatment as usual (TAU) with an additional in-person therapy session during pregnancy, two follow-up phone calls, and a parenting booklet. The RCT will comprise 48 clusters (24 per arm) with 11 mothers (and infants) per cluster totalling 528 mothers and infants. This total includes 25% to take account of attrition. Women who meet criteria (have depression during pregnancy and are HIV-positive) will be recruited between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy and followed until the child is aged 2 years. The main outcome is child cognitive development at 2 years using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development. The secondary outcome is maternal depression. Tertiary outcomes include; maternal adherence to ART; exclusive breastfeeding rates; maternal contingent responsiveness to infant cues; cognitive and emotional stimulation at home; and child growth, language and behaviour problems, and gastro-intestinal infections.


Research activity codes: 6.6 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFECTION;REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND CHILDBIRTH
Title: MQ Fellowship
Funder: Versus Arthritis

Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis is a common long-term condition associated with reduced quality of life. Around one-third experience mental health problems. Current treatments are effective at reducing inflammation but even in those achieving a low disease activity target around 40% experience persistent physical and psychological symptoms (PP&PS). Identification of individuals likely to experience PP&PS at the time of treatment initiation, even if a low disease target is achieved, could help targeting pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments within an integrated healthcare setting. The research programme is split into three related studies. The first, will review the literature to determine the prevalence of PP&PS (objective 1). Building on this, the second study will determine the prevalence of PP&PS in two large RA studies allowing for the examination of period-effects (objective 1), and identify correlates of PP&PS despite low inflammation (objective 2). The third study, will identify disease phenotypes in response to treatment initiation and their correlates (objective 2) and develop a prognostic model to identify those likely to experience PP&PS (objective 3). This will involve recruitment to a multi-centre prospective observation study with validation using existing datasets. The results of these studies will inform the development of a co-designed tool for use in clinical consultations.


Research activity codes: 2.4 SURVEILLANCE AND DISTRIBUTION;4.1 DISCOVERY AND PRECLINICAL TESTING OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES;4.2 EVALUATION OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFLAMMATORY AND IMMUNE SYSTEM
Title: Study of the host immune-metabolic-intestinal microbiota interface using a humanised mouse model of obesity.
Funder: Wellcome Trust

Abstract: Our intestines are home to trillions of different microorganisms (the microbiota). Although these microbes are largely beneficial, aiding in digestion of food and helping develop our immune system so that we can ward off infectious agents, our beneficial relationship with these microbes can sometimes breakdown and they can promote development of disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and obesity. Nevertheless, the manner in which we communicate with our microbial partners to maintain healt h has yet to be discovered. Obesity is characterised by changes in our metabolism, inflammatory immune responses, and the types of microbes that live in our intestines, all three of which play causative roles in this disease. As host metabolism is altered by the intestinal microbiota, and since immune responses can be modified by host metabolism, I hypothesize that the immune system interacts with the microbiota by assessing which metabolites they manufacture. I plan to examine how the microbiot a from an obese individual can modulate host immune responses and promote obesity through the metabolites the gut microbial community produces. Identification of metabolites that can shape immune responses might lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets and medicines to treat and/or prevent obesity.


Research activity codes: 2.1 BIOLOGICAL AND ENDOGENOUS FACTORS
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFLAMMATORY AND IMMUNE SYSTEM