Nicola Stock

Dr. Nicola Stock is an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), based at the world-leading Centre for Appearance Research (CAR). She holds a DPhil in Psychology, two MSc degrees (Health Psychology and Research Methods in Psychology), and a BSc in Psychology and Mental Health. Her work focuses on the psychosocial impact of appearance-altering conditions like cleft lip/palate, craniofacial microsomia, and craniosynostosis, with a focus on developing evidence-based interventions and promoting holistic healthcare.

• Affiliations: Cleft Lip and Palate Association, Changing Faces, Statped, The Scar Free Foundation, and multiple international hospitals.
• Leadership: Leads the CARE research program on craniofacial microsomia and serves as Behavioral Sciences Section Editor for the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal.

Her research emphasizes patient and public involvement, service evaluation, and translational research to improve mental health outcomes. She collaborates with global organizations such as the NIHR Craniofacial Clinical Studies Group and the ACPA Global Task Force for Holistic Outcomes.

• Key Projects: REF 2021 Impact Case Study leader; COGENT (Cohort of Individuals with Craniofacial Microsomia) study.

Dr. Stock advocates for appearance diversity and inclusive healthcare, leveraging her expertise in qualitative research and outcome measures to bridge clinical and psychological care gaps.