She holds the Help the Hospices Chair in Hospice Studies based at the Institute of Health Research and works in collaboration with the International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University. Professor Payne has a long track record in palliative care research and scholarship. She previously led the Palliative and End-of-Life Care Research Group at the University of Sheffield. Her research agenda focuses on palliative and end-of-life care for older people and bereavement support. She holds a number of major grants in these areas and supervises PhD students. She co-directs the NCRI funded Cancer Experiences Collaborative with Professor Addington-Hall. Sheila has published widely in academic and professional journals, written ten books, and edits the 'Health Psychology' book series published by the Open University Press with Sandra Horn.