Barbara Jack

Professor Barbara Jack is a part-time Professor in Palliative & End of Life Care at Edge Hill University's Medical School. She holds an honorary position at the University of Liverpool and is an academic lead for palliative care MSc programs. Her career spans nursing practice, research, and academic leadership, including former roles as Head of Research in the Faculty of Health & Social Care.

Education:

• PhD (Evaluating Impact of Hospital Specialist Palliative Care Team), University of Manchester (2001)
• Postgraduate Teaching Diploma, University of Manchester
• Nurse Training, Sefton School of Nursing

Research Focus: Barbara’s work centers on improving end-of-life care for patients and their families, particularly in cancer and progressive illness contexts. Her innovations include the Carers Alert Thermometer (CAT), used globally to assess caregiver needs. She also studies palliative care in low-resource settings via collaborations with Hospice Africa Uganda.

Recent Trends in Work: Recent articles emphasize the role of hospital chaplaincy during the pandemic, caregiver support in stroke cases, and spiritual care service improvements. Her projects often bridge clinical practice and academic research to drive policy changes.

Awards:

• ENB Research Bursary (1997)
• Palliative Care Research Society Award (2003)
• Marie Curie Poster Award (2006)
• EAPC 2019 Abstract Prize

Grants & Mentorship: Secured over £1M in grants, including an NIHR RfPB grant for carer support studies. Served as Chair of the Palliative Care Research Society (2010–2016) and mentors researchers via the Royal College of Nursing Academy.

Collaborations: Active partnerships with the Palliative Care Institute Liverpool and international initiatives like Hospice Africa Uganda’s nurse prescribing programs. Leads multidisciplinary teams in service evaluations and policy advocacy.