Samantha Sodergren

Samantha Sodergren serves as a Senior Research Fellow within the School of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton, where she focuses on patient-centered outcomes in oncology. Her work spans over two decades of developing and validating patient-reported outcome measures, with particular emphasis on quality of life assessments for cancer patients.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Health Psychology from the University of Plymouth (2002), which formed part of MRC-funded research on novel quality of life assessment approaches. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Southampton approximately two decades prior to her 2012 return to the institution.

Dr. Sodergren's research centers on health-related quality of life measurement, particularly for young cancer patients and those with gastrointestinal cancers. Her work involves questionnaire design, validation of patient-reported outcomes, and supporting cancer survivors through psychosocial interventions. She leads international projects funded by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Group and contributes to the Macmillan Survivorship Research Team.

Her publication portfolio demonstrates consistent focus on cancer survivorship across multiple tumor types, with recent work emphasizing adolescent and young adult (AYA) populations. Her research employs systematic reviews, mixed-methods approaches, and cross-cultural validation of quality of life instruments, reflecting evolving treatment landscapes and diverse patient needs.

Within the university, Dr. Sodergren teaches psychosocial content in undergraduate health science courses and serves as the School of Health Sciences Wellbeing Champion. She supervises PhD students including Kirsty Mollie Way and collaborates with research groups including the Centre for Psychosocial Research in Cancer and the Child and Adolescent Research Group.

Current projects include Supporting young people after treatment for cancer and the STRONG-AYA initiative building value-based healthcare for adolescents and young adults with cancer, alongside completed work on anal cancer quality of life assessment coordinated through EORTC.