Alison Elliott

Dr. Alison Elliott is a Professor and Head of Research Degrees, Impact, and Researcher Development at the Graduate School of Abertay University. She brings over two decades of research experience in applied health sciences and primary care, with a strong focus on symptom experiences, chronic pain, epidemiology, and research methodology. She plays a central role in shaping researcher development training and supports academic staff and postgraduate researchers in grant writing, publication, and research impact.

• University: Abertay University
• School: Graduate School
• Role: Head of Research Degrees, Impact and Researcher Development
• Email: a.elliott@abertay.ac.uk
• Phone: +44 (0)1382 30 8749
• ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6321-2145

Education:

• BSc Psychology (1st class Honours), University of Aberdeen (1995)
• PhD in Medicine, University of Aberdeen (2000)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Health Economics, University of Aberdeen (2003)

Research Interests: Dr. Elliott’s research spans symptom experiences (particularly those indicative of cancer), chronic pain epidemiology and management, research design, longitudinal studies, and multivariate modeling. She investigates how symptoms are perceived and managed in the community and the determinants of healthcare-seeking behavior. Her work also explores professional resilience in primary care practitioners and the development of evidence-based interventions.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2015–2025) reflect a strong emphasis on symptom epidemiology, help-seeking behavior for potential cancer symptoms, chronic pain management, resilience in healthcare professionals, and health system complexity. She frequently employs mixed methods, including cohort studies, qualitative interviews, discrete choice experiments, and systematic reviews. Her work is published in high-impact journals such as BMJ Open, British Journal of General Practice, and European Journal of Pain.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship (2006–2009)
• Scottish Crucible leadership programme (2009)
• Best presentation at the British Pain Society (2008 and 1998)

Research Leadership and Advising: Dr. Elliott has supervised numerous PhD and MSc students and has been Principal or Co-Investigator on grants totaling around £2 million. She chairs the Graduate School Forum, leads REF Impact Case Study development, and contributes to national research policy. She has served on committees including the Universities Scotland Researcher Development and Training Committee and the British Pain Society guideline panels.

Labs and Teams: She collaborates extensively with interdisciplinary teams across primary care, public health, and health psychology. Her research is embedded within national initiatives such as the Scottish School of Primary Care and involves partnerships with NHS bodies and governmental advisory groups.