Kelly Rushton

Kelly Rushton is a Researcher at the University of Manchester, currently leading the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) initiative for the NIHR-funded EQUITy programme aimed at improving telephone-delivered psychological interventions. She co-leads app development for the UK's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services. Her work spans mental health service optimization, animal-assisted therapy (AAT), and autism research. Dr. Rushton holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Manchester (2010) and a BSc in Biological Sciences from Lancaster University (2005).

Her research interests include sensory-motor integration in autism, telehealth implementation, and PPI methodologies. Media highlights include international coverage of her studies on companion animals' mental health benefits. She contributes to public engagement through school collaborations with animal charities and co-authored a PPI research methods guidebook.

Her recent work emphasizes balancing clinical protocols with patient-centered care in telehealth, supported by routine outcome measures. Awards and grants are not explicitly listed, but her extensive publications reflect high impact in mental health service research. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and actively participates in the National Institute of Health Research Clinical Research Network and INVOLVE.