Judith Lunn

Dr Judith Lunn serves as a Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, where she conducts research on adolescent health, substance use disorders, and health inequalities in pediatric care settings.

Her research spans health psychology with emphasis on adolescent substance use (ketamine, vaping), nicotine dependence in youth, healthcare staff burnout, and health inequalities in children's hospitals. She employs mixed-methods approaches to investigate public health challenges affecting children and young people, focusing on policy-relevant outcomes in substance abuse and mental health services.

Recent 2025 publications address critical emerging issues: rising non-prescribed ketamine use among under-16s, vaping-associated nicotine dependence in UK youth, burnout linked to health inequalities in children's hospitals, and antimicrobial prescribing for pediatric ear infections. These works demonstrate her focus on timely public health interventions for vulnerable populations.

Scientific Awards:

• NIHR Clinical Research Network North West Coast Research Showcase 2024 Winner

Dr Lunn supervises PhD student Gamze Kocdemir and leads multiple funded projects including the Supportive Novel Interventions for Cessation of Ketamine in Adolescence Study (2025-2026), AoMS Lancashire Child (2024-2025), and the Paediatric Otorrhoea Study (2022-2024), with research spanning substance abuse interventions, health inequalities, and antimicrobial stewardship.

She actively contributes to the Interdisciplinary network in culture, health, ethics and society, which drives cross-disciplinary research on societal dimensions of health and illness through initiatives like the 'i am what i am' film screening and Adolescent Emotional Health Dialogue Days.