John Hughes

Dr John Hughes is an Associate Professor at the School of Medicine and Biosciences, University of West London, and serves as the Director of Research at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, UCLH NHS Trust. His work bridges academic research and clinical practice in integrative medicine.

John Hughes earned his undergraduate degree in Health Sciences for Complementary Medicine from the University of Central Lancashire in 2000, followed by a PhD in acupuncture and rheumatoid arthritis from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2007. He previously worked in the Department of Health Services Research at the University of Liverpool before joining the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine as Research Coordinator in 2011.

His research focuses on patients' experiences of chronic illness and the use of non-pharmacological, self-care approaches for symptom relief. Key areas include self-acupuncture, autogenic training, fibromyalgia services, and psycho-educational support in cancer care. His work emphasizes qualitative and mixed-methods methodologies to understand patient perspectives and improve service delivery.

The recent publications reflect a strong trend in chronic disease management through integrative and patient-centered approaches. Themes include self-care empowerment, mental resilience, wearable technology for pain monitoring, and complementary therapies in oncology and rheumatology. His research spans disciplines such as integrative medicine, public health, psychology, and primary care.

• Funding from the National Institute for Health Research
• Funding from the World Health Organisation

Dr Hughes leads a research program that has received over £1 million in funding. He supervises PhD and other research degree students and contributes to teaching across multiple programs including Biomedical Science, Pharmacology, and Translational Medicine. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and continues to advance knowledge in patient-centered chronic illness management.

He is actively involved in interdisciplinary research teams and collaborates with institutions including UCLH and the University of West London. His work informs both clinical practice and health policy in integrative and self-care medicine.