Dr KAREN FORREST KEENAN
Research Fellow
work
+44 (0)1224 438161
work
+44 (0)1224 552120
pref
k.keenan@abdn.ac.uk
Research Fellow
|
|
Personal Details
|
||||||
Jump to:
Biography
Karen joined the unit as a Research Fellow in November 2010. She graduated in Sociology from the University of Aberdeen in 1997 and gained an MLitt in Sociology in 2002. From 1999 to 2004 Karen worked as a researcher on two Wellcome Trust funded studies which aimed to explore family communication about genetic risk and how young people experience growing up at risk of late-onset familial disease. In 2004 Karen moved to the Scottish Huntington's Association where she developed a National Youth Service for young people at risk of the hereditary disorder Huntington's disease. Whilst undertaking this post Karen completed her PhD and rejoined the University in February 2010 to work as a Research Fellow in Medical Genetics. In November 2010 she was awarded a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the CSO (Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Executive Health Department). This fellowship is a joint appointment with the Medical Genetics Group and HSRU. It will give Karen the opportunity to develop a broader range of generic research skills to become a health services researcher working on genetics issues, particularly the sharing of genetic information with children. Karen has particular expertise in qualitative methodology and conducting research with children and young people as health service users.
^ top
Current Research
Since November 2010, supported by a CSO Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Karen will develop a programme of research to investigate the changing information and support needs of young people growing up at risk of adult-onset genetic conditions. The overall aim is to produce the evidence for, and to develop a resource to aid parents and health professionals in sharing information with children and young people about genetic disease.
Recently completed projects:
· Parenting a child with clubfoot: a qualitative study. Pietrurcin-Materek, M, van Teijlingen E, Miedzybrodzka Z, Forrest Keenan K, Barker S.
· How young people find out about their family history of Huntington's disease. Forrest Keenan K, van Teijlingen E, McKee L, Miedzybrodzka Z,Simpson SA.
^ top
Collaborations
Karen is currently involved in a research project looking at sharing information with children and young people about genetic risk. The project has an external advisory team which includes a range of leading academics, clinical practitioners and patient representatives from the Scottish Huntington's Association and HEART-UK.
Karen is also a member of the European Huntington's Disease Network's Young Adult Working Group (see http://www.euro-hd.net/html/network ).
^ top
Research Grants
2002-2004 Wellcome Trust Programme in Biomedical Ethics Grant. Simpson SA, Forrest Keenan K, Miedzybrodzka Z, van Teijlingen E, McKee L. 'Growing up at-risk of late-onset familial disease' £81,876
^ top
Teaching Responsibilities
Karen teaches on the qualitative component of the Introduction to Research Methods module (HE3010) for third year Health Science students.
^ top
Qualifications
MA (Hons) Sociology (Upper Second), University of Aberdeen (1997)
MLitt (by research), Sociology, University of Aberdeen (2002)
PhD Public Health, University of Aberdeen (2009)
^ top
‹ back