Meet the Team
The Assured study is led by researchers at City St George’s, University of London and in collaboration with experts across the UK.
Professor Rose McCabe, Chief Investigator
Rose is a psychologist specialising in professional-patient communication in mental health care. She records professional-patient encounters and micro-analyses verbal and nonverbal communication.
Dr Alexandra Bakou, Program/Trial Manager
Alexandra has a background in psychology and neurosciences. She works as a Trial Manager for the Assured Study. Her PhD focused on investigating the relationship between negative affect and hazardous drinking, identifying mechanisms and developing brief, evidence-based interventions. She has a particular interest in addiction and substance use.
Mimi Suzuki, Research Assistant
Mimi is a psychology graduate with an MSc in Clinical Mental Health Sciences. She works at the Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry as a Research Assistant for the Assured study. She is interested in how health systems have an impact on mental health.
Tanja Christensen, Research Assistant
Tanja is a Psychology Graduate and Research Practitioner with three years experience working in research delivery. She has worked on a variety of studies, namely within dementia, perinatal mental health and chronic low mood research. She is interested in providing as many people as possible the opportunity to take part in research.
tanja.christensen@nhs.net
Aamena Akubat, Clinical Research Nurse
Aamena is a Senior Psychiatric Nurse within a Liaison Psychiatry team based in an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. She is supporting the research study as a Clinical Research Nurse and will be conducting follow-up sessions. Aamena is keen to better the care and support for people who present to A&E during mental health crisis and shape the aftercare following their visit, to aid effective support.
Louise Coombes, Research Assistant
Louise is a recent graduate of the University of Edinburgh where she completed her MSc in Global Mental Health and Society. In her dissertation, Louise explored how assessment tools for PTSD and trauma-related distress are being culturally adapted and validated for use in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Prior to completing her MSc, Louise worked as an Occupational Therapist in acute mental health services in Central London. Louise is passionate about using research to make health systems and services work better for the people who use them.
Katie Webb, Research Assistant
Katie has a BSc in Psychology from Bournemouth University and an MSc in Psychology, Culture and Evolution from Brunel University London. Before joining the Assured team, she worked as a Research Assistant at the University of York, investigating a brief gender-sensitive psychological intervention for male NHS workers, she has also previously worked in various roles in the health and social care sector. Katie is passionate about improving access and outcomes in mental health services.
Emerie Sheridan, Research Assistant
Emerie has a BSc in Medical Science (Neuroscience) from the University of Exeter and an MSc in Translational Neuroscience from Imperial College London. Prior to joining the Assured team, she worked as a research assistant at Imperial College researching eating disorders in adolescents. She is interested in the link between emotional dysregulation and mental health, and improving mental health care in emergency and acute settings.
Giovanni Amati, Research Assistant
Giovanni is an aspiring clinical psychologist with international education and experience. He earned a BSc in Psychology at Leiden University and an MSc in Clinical Neuropsychiatry at King’s College London. Giovanni has worked as an Assistant Psychologist in inpatient psychiatry in Italy and was a Research Assistant on the Cannabidiol for Parkinson’s Diseases Psychosis trial before joining the ASSURED and SASH projects. He hopes to explore psychedelic-assisted therapy in chronic illness or advance exposure therapy virtual reality techniques in his future doctoral training.
giovanni.amati@citystgeorges.ac.uk
Rimsha Parvaiz, Research Assistant
Rimsha holds a BSc in Psychology from The University of Huddersfield and an MSc in Early Interventions in Psychosis from King’s College London, where her research focused on the effects of cannabis use on the psychosis spectrum. During her master’s, she completed a placement as an Assistant Psychologist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust supporting young people experiencing symptoms of psychosis. Prior to joining the Assured Study, Rimsha worked as a research assistant on the Bipolar At Risk Trial (BART II), which investigates the efficacy of CBT for individuals meeting bipolar-at risk criteria. Her work specifically focusing on recruiting participants from underrepresented groups in research. She is passionate about early intervention and addressing the needs of marginalised individuals in society.
Maria Sanchez Elena, Research Assistant
Maria is a Clinical Research Practitioner in the Research & Development team at Devon Partnership Trust. She has held various clinical roles, including as a support worker in the Perinatal Mental Health Unit and Psychological Tele-coach Practitioner in the First Response Service. Maria’s PhD explored the relationships between life satisfaction, personality styles, and adaptive coping in individuals with chronic physical conditions. Maria is currently coordinating the moreRESPECT study on sexual health in people with severe mental illness and served as an interventionist for the ASSURED study.
Megan Consterdine, Research Assistant
Megan is a psychology graduate with an MSc in Psychology, working as a Research Assistant on the ASSURED study at the Devon Partnership Trust. Her research focuses on perinatal mental health, serious mental illness, and the experiences of carers for those with dementia. With a background in complex community care and psychological support in Cancer Services, she is passionate about improving access to research and using findings to shape future healthcare opportunities for patients.
Tara Jackson, Research Administrator
Tara holds a BSc in Psychology from Cardiff University, where she discovered her passion for psychological research and improving mental health outcomes. After graduating, Tara gained hands-on experience as a Learning Support Assistant, supporting the social and educational development of young adults with learning, language, and mental health difficulties. Motivated by her aspiration to advance in psychological research, she joined the SASH and ASsuRED trials, drawn to their alignment with her dedication to improving timely and effective mental health care.
Previous teams members
Sally O’Keeffe
Katherine Tallent
Oliver Mathias
Kirsten Brown
Lucy Goldsmith
Samuel Hayward
Zak Evernden
Ella Rowbotham
Aneta Zarska
Brad Begley
Co-Investigators:
Dr Peter Aitken, Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Professor Vera Araujo Soares, University of Twente
Professor Richard Byng, Plymouth University
Professor Chris Dickens, University of Exeter
Professor Richard Hooper, Queen Mary University of London
Dr Domenico Giacco, University of Warwick
Professor Navneet Kapur, University of Manchester
Dr Will Lee, University of Exeter
Professor Borislava Mihaylova, Queen Mary University of London
Paul Norris, Binary Vision
Professor Stefan Priebe, Queen Mary University of London
Dr Peter Riou, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Mary Ryan, PPI representative
Professor Alan Simpson, Kings College London
Dr Helen Smith, Devon Partnership NHS Trust
