Lucia Rehackova

Lucia Rehackova is an Assistant Professor in Health and Social Care Research at Northumbria University's Nursing Midwifery and Health Department. She holds a PhD from Newcastle University (2016), an MSc from Leiden University (2011), and a BSc from Comenius University (2009). Her research focuses on health behaviors (e.g., weight management, active travel), type 2 diabetes remission, mental health decision-making, sustainability in food systems and land use, and integrated care policy. She has led major projects like the £2.5M Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) and contributed to NHS weight management app development through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership at Southampton University.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology, Newcastle University (2016)
• MSc in Psychology, Leiden University (2011)
• BSc in Psychology, Comenius University (2009)

Research Interests: Her work integrates systems thinking to address health-environmental challenges. Key areas include:

• Diabetes remission via primary care interventions (e.g., DiRECT trial)
• Sustainable land use and food systems
• Decision aids for digital mental health choices
• Climate impact reduction in academic conferences
• Health policy for integrated care systems

Publications: Lucia’s recent work explores themes like diabetes intervention durability, digital health equity, and sustainable conference practices. Notable contributions include the DiRECT trial’s 2-year outcomes (Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology, 2019) and analyses of UK farmland preferences (Land Use Policy, 2021). Her research frequently bridges clinical efficacy with environmental sustainability.

Advising & Grants: She currently accepts PhD students and coordinates a co-produced decision aid project. Past roles include evaluating NHS Integrated Care Pioneers and translating evidence-based interventions into scalable tools.

Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary teams focusing on community-based health solutions and sustainable development goals (SDGs).