Eila Watson

Eila Watson is a Professor in Supportive Cancer Care at Oxford Brookes University, serving as Deputy Director (Interim) of the Oxford Institute of Allied Health Research (OxInAHR) and co-leading the Centre for Healthcare Research within the Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery. With over £8 million in research funding from NIHR, Cancer Research UK, and other agencies, her work focuses on cancer survivorship, psychosocial oncology, and patient-centered interventions across prostate, breast, pancreatic, and blood cancers. She leads the Supportive Cancer Care Research Group and co-leads the Applied Health, Nursing and Midwifery Doctoral Training Programme.

Research Expertise:

• Quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Systematic reviews and meta-ethnographies
• Complex intervention trials
• Patient and public involvement (PPI)
• Digital health interventions for survivorship

Article Trends: Her 15 most recent publications (2025–2018) emphasize breast cancer surveillance optimization (Mammo-50 trial), alcohol reduction strategies for cancer risk, digital interventions for endocrine therapy adherence (SWEET study), psychosocial impacts in HPV-related cancers, and nutritional support in oncology. These span public health, clinical oncology, digital health, and behavioral science, with sub-fields including patient-reported outcomes, health communication, survivorship self-management, and primary care integration.

Supervision: Supervises PhD students including Sara Matthews (HPV cancer caregivers), Francesca Tabacchi (nutritional support), and Claire Coughlan (bowel cancer follow-up). Current active projects involve Dr. Angela Bygrave Griffiths (atrial fibrillation quality of life) and Dr. Hilary Brown (pancreatic cancer care).

Grants & Collaborations: Leads projects funded by NIHR (£11,728–£559,683), Medical Research Council (£29,772), and Prevent Breast Cancer. Collaborates with institutions like Newcastle University, University of Birmingham, and University College London Hospitals.

Advisory Roles: Member of National Cancer Research Institute Living With and Beyond Cancer Group, Yorkshire Cancer Research Advisory Panel, and NIHR Research Design Service (South Central). Formerly chaired the British Psychosocial Oncology Society (2015–2019).

Labs & Teams: Leads the Supportive Cancer Care Research Group, co-leads the Centre for Healthcare Research, and contributes to international collaborations like the PROSPECTIV and RENEWED trials.