Psychosocial Research Group
About us
The Psychosocial Research Group (PRG) comprises a research team dedicated to the exploration of the interrelationship between psychology and health. The PRG’s two major research major strength are in the area of the psychosocial implications of genetics and the psychological impact of cancer (psycho-oncology). The PRG’s research program in the psychosocial implications of genetics comprises several themes, including: the psychosocial impact of genetic counselling and testing for hereditary disease; psychological adjustment and behavioural impact of hereditary disease; and the design and evaluation of interventions in the cancer genetic counselling setting, in particular decision aids as an innovative means of patient education.
In relation to its research program in psycho-oncology, the PRG is a leading research centre internationally in the area of the psychological and behavioural implications of cancer genetics. Other areas of national and international recognition include the psychosocial support and information needs of younger women with a diagnosis of breast cancer, fertility- and menopause related implications of cancer therapy and cultural aspects of cancer.
The PRG includes full- and part-time researchers, students and administrative staff. The PRG has developed an excellent reputation in the supervision of post-graduate students; thus far seven PhD students, two doctoral students, four master’s students and two Independent Learning Project students from a range of backgrounds, including psychology, public health, medicine, genetic counselling and science, have successfully completed their degrees.
The PRG has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles since 2000. To support our research programs we have received grants from the following funding bodies: National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, Cancer Council of New South Wales, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Cure Cancer Foundation, Cancer Institute NSW and the Susan Komen Foundation, United States.
Team
Associate Professor Bettina Meiser
Senior Res Fellow (NH&MRC)
Research Fellow
Research Assistant
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Research Assistant
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Research Assistant
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ILP student
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ILP student
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Clerk
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Research Assistant
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Research Associate
Collaborators
COLLABORATORS
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Name |
Position |
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Katherine Tucker, MBBS, FRACP |
Head of Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney |
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Lesley Andrews, MBBS |
Clinical Assistant, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney |
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Craig Lewis, MBBS, FRACP |
Medical Oncologist, Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney |
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Michael Friedlander, MBBS, FRACP, PhD |
Head, Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney |
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David Goldstein, MBBS, FRACP |
Medical Oncologist, Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney |
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Jessica Duffy, BBiotech, GradDipGenCouns |
Genetic Counsellor, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney |
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Jessica Gale, GradDipGenCouns |
Associate Genetic Counsellor, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney |
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Rachel Williams, B.Sc.GradDipGenCouns |
Genetic Counsellor, Hereditary Cancer Clinic, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney |
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Barbara Bennett, RN, BSc(Hons), PhD |
National Breast Cancer Foundation Post Doctoral Fellow |
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Helen Conlon,RN, BHealthSc |
Clinical Nurse Consultant |
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Kerry Tiller, BA(Hons), DPsych, MAPS, CClin |
Clinical Psychologist , Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney |
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Nadine Kasparian, BA(Psych, Hons), PhD |
NHMRC Postdoctoral Clinical Research Fellow, Registered Psychologist |
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Claire Wakefield, BPsych(Hons), MPH, PhD |
NHMRC Postdoctoral Clinical Research Fellow, Registered Psychologist |
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Mona Saleh, BSc, FHGSA (Genetic Counselling), PhD Scholar |
Genetic Counsellor, Research Officer |
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Susan Rovelli, BNursing, GradDipComHlth, Master of Nrsing |
Breast Care Nurse - Clinical Nurse Consultant, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney |
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Stephanie Burcher |
USYD, Masters of Genetic Counselling Student |
OTHER COLLABORATORS
A/Profess Kris Barlow-Stewart, Centre for Genetics Education, Sydney. Culture-specific beliefs about cancer and genetics and other studies.
Professor Phyllis Butow, CEMPMED, University of Sydney. Collaboration on prospective study internationally to identify the psychosocial predictors of breast cancer development in high-risk women.
A/Professor Jane Halliday, Murdoch Childrens’ Research Institute, Mebourne. Collaborations in the area of the psychosocial implications of cancer genetics and prenatal screening.
Dr Nina Hallowell, University of Edinburgh. Collaborating on qualitative analysis of research on psychosocial adjustment to prophylactic surgery in women at risk for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer.
AProfessor Judy Kirk, Familial Cancer Service, Westmead Hospital. Numerous collaborations on on the psychosocial implicantions of hereditary cancer, including current trial on the best ways to provide women newly diagnosed with breast cancer with education about treatment-focused genetic testing.
Dr Gillian Mitchell, Familial Cancer Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne. Collaborations on studies in the area of the psychosocial implications of hereditary cancer, including current trial on the best ways to provide women newly diagnosed with breast cancer with education about treatment-focused genetic testing.
Professor Phil Mitchell, School of Psychiatry, UNSW. Collaborations on several studies on the psychosocial implications of hereditray types of depression.
Professor Peter Schofield, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney. Collaborations on several studies on the psychosocial implications of hereditray types of depression.
A/Professor Lyndal Trevena, School of Public Health, University of Sydney. Collaborations on two web-based family history-based assessment tool: (i) in the area of bowel cancer for use by GPs and (ii) a novel resilience strenthening intervention aimed at young people wth a family history of depression.
Dr Victoria White, Cancer Council of Victoria. Collaborating on a multicentre RTC of a novel peer support program for cancer gene mutation carriers.
Resources & Tools
Decision aids produced by Psychosocial Research Group
Risk management options for women at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer: Information booklet and decision aid
Developed in April 2003 and redeveloped in 2008.
Understanding genetic tests for Lynch syndrome -information and decision aid
Fertility-related choices - A Decision for younger women with early breast cancer
Treatment-Focused Genetic Testing (TFGT) Educational Pamphlet
TFGT Pamphlet #2
TFGT Pamphlet #3
Grants & Funding
Grants
Over the last three years, PRG has received grants and funding totalling $1,767,420, administered through the Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW. Collaborative grants not listed.
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Psychosocial implications of genetic counselling and testing |
Meiser B. Career Development Award, Level 2 |
National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia APP1003921 |
2011 2012 2013 2014 |
$106,230 $106,230 $106,230 $106,230 |
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Psychosocial implications of cancer genetic counselling and testing |
Meiser B. Career Development Fellowship |
Cancer Institute NSW |
2010 2011 2012 |
$199,923 $199,341 $199,991 |
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Too much, too soon? The impact of treatment-focused genetic testing in patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer. |
Meiser B, Mitchell G, Tucker K, Saunders C, Geelhoed E, Hopper J, Watts K. |
Cancer Australia, Priority-driven Collaborative Cancer Research Scheme |
2010 2011 2012 |
$199,145 $196,375 $199,020 |
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The development and trial of tailored psycho-educational resources for melanoma patients |
Kasparian N, Meiser B, Menzies S, Mann G, Butow P, Barlow-Stewart K. |
Cancer Council NSW |
2010 2011
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$71,250 $71,250 |
Opportunities
Research Students
PRG has research opportunities for PhD, Masters, ILP and Honours students. Please contact A/Prof Bettina Meiser to discuss a potential research project.
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