Katarina Medved

Katarina Medved is a SPHeRE PhD Scholar (Structured Population and Health-services Research Education programme, funded by the Health Research Board) and an affiliate PhD scholar of the HRB-TMRN, based at the School of Public Health, University College Cork. She holds a first-class honours bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Science with Drug Development from IT Sligo and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Trials from University College Cork.

In 2022, Katarina became a Clinical Trial Data Manager with Cancer Trials Group, University College Cork, where she worked on the LYSA and LIAM Mc randomised clinical trials, writing and reviewing study documentation, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of trial data, and managing the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) panels.

Katarina’s doctoral research, “Engagement and Retention of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Contributors in Cancer Clinical Trial PPI Activities”, comprises four studies: a scoping review of factors and methods influencing PPI engagement and retention in cancer clinical trial PPI activities; a survey across Ireland and the UK of PPI contributors’ demographics and disparities in participation; qualitative interviews with PPI contributors about their experiences and what affects their engagement; and focus groups with PPI contributors and researchers to identify training needs and preferences for improving PPI engagement. She is supervised by Prof Frances Shiely (HRB Clinical Research Facility, University College Cork), Prof Patricia Kearney (School of Public Health, University College Cork), Dr Laia Raigal (Cancer Research @UCC) and Dr Alice Biggane (Pfizer, UK).