Alison Thomson

Dr Alison Thomson is a Senior Lecturer in Patient Public Involvement (PPI) and Public Engagement in Science (PES) at Queen Mary University of London, affiliated with the Wolfson Institute of Population Health and the Centre for Preventive Neurology. She co-leads the Institute’s Public Advisory Panel and is a member of the Design Societies Research Unit at Goldsmiths, focusing on technoscientific and environmental matters of care. Her practice-based design research employs Science and Technology Studies (STS) to explore patient experiences, particularly in Multiple Sclerosis care.

Education includes a PhD in design-led research from Goldsmiths (following a degree in Design Interactions at the Royal College of Art). She contributes to grant review panels for The Wellcome Trust, UKRI, and the ESRC Peer Review College. Her teaching includes co-leading the award-winning 'Engaging the Public with Science' module and supervising undergraduate and doctoral students.

Research interests center on designing innovative health interactions through tangible artifacts, impacting clinical settings and patient lives. She advocates for PPI/PES through initiatives like PhD By Design and collaborates across disciplines to address healthcare challenges.

Affiliations include Queen Mary, Goldsmiths, and international design and STS networks. Her work bridges academic, clinical, and public spheres, emphasizing ethical and participatory design in healthcare.