Una is a national leader in early cancer diagnosis research and contributes to policy development in this field. Her research interests are in primary care, cancer, and health inequalities, and she is at the forefront of improving the pathways of patients with cancer to diagnosis and treatment.
She is a Professor of Primary Care Medicine at Hull York Medical School and continues to work clinically on the ground as a GP at Bransholme Health Centre in Hull. She was a non-executive director at Hull University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust from 2020-2024 and the Dean of Hull York Medical School from January 2017 to January 2024.
Una's current research projects include:
TRANSFORM: Reducing inequalities in cancer outcomes in Yorkshire: Realising our potential for innovation in diagnosis, patient management, survivorship and palliative care research. The programme focussed on understanding and tackling cancer inequalities and improving health outcomes across the region. The programme has funded 25 researchers and staff and conducted 23 projects. Funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research.
PEOPLE-HULL: Primary care and community Engagement to Optimise time to Presentation with lung cancer symptoms. Funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Catch-up HPV screening project - this research will help to improve the diagnosis cervical cancer.
More information about Una's cancer research can be found here.
Una publishes regularly, advancing our knowledge of health inequalities with a special focus on cancer research.
Recent publications:
- A qualitative exploration of women's perspectives and acceptability of including new cancer awareness information in all‐clear breast or cervical screening results (2022). Bamidele, O. O., Green, T., Tookey, S., Walabyeki, J., & Macleod, U. (2022). A qualitative exploration of women's perspectives and acceptability of including new cancer awareness information in all‐clear breast or cervical screening results. European Journal of Cancer Care.
- Making sense of ‘best start’: exploring the early experiences of mothers in low-socioeconomic areas (2022). Thesis Miles, H. B. (2022). Hull York Medical School, the University of Hull and the University of York.
- Geographical distance and reduced access to palliative radiotherapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis (2022). Chand, C. P., Greenley, S., Macleod, U., Lind, M., Barton, R., & Kelly, C. (2022). Geographical distance and reduced access to palliative radiotherapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ supportive & palliative care.
- The PEOPLE-HULL Study: improving help-seeking for lung symptoms in Hull. Trial registration (2021). Mitchell, L., Macleod, U., & Walabyeki, J. (2021). The PEOPLE-HULL Study: improving help-seeking for lung symptoms in Hull. Trial registration. [Dataset].