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Dr Chris Poyner
Name:
Dr Chris Poyner
Job Title:
NIHR Dem Comm Research Fellow
Place of work / study:
University of Birmingham & NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) West Midlands
Area of Research:
Dementia care, social science, peer support, care homes, end of life, structural inequalities & dementia support in rural communities
How is your research funded:
National Institute for Health and Care Research
Tell us a little about yourself:
I studied for a BA (Hons) in Sociology at the University of Warwick before completing my MA in Social Research at the University of Birmingham. After studying my academic career began at Bournemouth University in 2013 as a KTP Associate. This project explored a model of extra care housing designed specifically for couples living with dementia. I went on to start my PhD at Bournemouth. The primary aim was to critically evaluate a new and innovative model of dementia care within a new build care home environment. An ethnographic research design was employed.
I transferred my PhD to the University of Stirling in 2015. Whilst at Stirling he was employed as a researcher on 2 studies; one exploring the LGBT experience of homelessness and life in deprived communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh; and another investigating the usability of a medication management software in care homes. I also worked as a teaching assistant on several modules delivered for the faculty of social sciences.
My first postdoctoral role involved the facilitation and evaluation of the peer support and community engagement work taking place at the University of Salfords’ purpose built ‘dementia hub’. In 2018 I moved to the University of Birmingham as a Qualitative Research Fellow on various clinical trials for disease areas such as liver (CALIBRE trial), bowel (OCEAN trial), and growth hormone deficiency (GHD trial). During the pandemic I worked on COVID-19 specific studies, exploring issues such as the uptake of lateral flow tests and clinician experiences of working during the pandemic (COPE study).
My current post as a Dementia Fellow within the ARC West Midlands commenced in February of 2023, and I am now leading on a project exploring life in rural areas of the West Midlands with dementia.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself:
I am an avid Aston Villa supporter, and in my spare time I play football for a local amateur club called ‘Village FC’.
Why did you choose to work in dementia research?
Witnessing appalling conditions for people living with dementia in care homes during my BA dissertation fieldwork.
What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?
Develop a niche for yourself within your broader thematic area of research
What book are you reading right now? Would you recommend it?
Challenging Assumptions Around Dementia: User-led Research and Untold Stories. Ashworth et al (2023). Absolutely.
NIHR
