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Staff Profile

Grace Lewis

Academic Clinical Lecturer

  • Email: grace.lewis@ncl.ac.uk
  • Address: AGE Research Group,
    Biomedical Research Building
    Campus for Ageing and Vitality,
    Newcastle University,
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE4 5PL
Background

As an emerging leader in clinical research at the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), the aim of my NIHR Clinical Lecturership is to continue developing my portfolio of research in the field of ageing, sarcopenia, and multiple long-term conditions (MLTC) on a clear pathway to independence.

 

In addition to being a key member of the BRC’s Ageing Sarcopenia and Multimorbidity Theme, I have been awarded an Academy of Medical Sciences starter grant for Clinical Lecturers. This affords me the opportunity to lead a post-doctoral research pilot project, building evidence and skills that will inform a planned NIHR Advanced Fellowship application in Summer 2027.

 

This starter grant, investigating MLTC and social care need through a syndemic framework, is aligned with NIHR Newcastle BRC research priorities and seeks to build relationships with important stakeholders in social care, the voluntary sector, and with patients and the public. Building these professional academic relationships will be integral to a successful career, as well as in delivering innovative and impactful research that tackles health inequalities to improve the lives of older people in the North East of England. 

Research

·        I am a member of the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Group within the Ageing, Sarcopenia and Multimorbidity Theme in the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre. This role reflects my enthusiasm for PPIE, and my belief in its potential to strengthen the reach and relevance of research.

·        I contribute to the delivery of core studies via my role as research clinician in the MASS Lifecourse fieldwork team. In addition, I am also leading a nested qualitative study investigating participants’ perceptions of sarcopenia.

·        I am committed to building geriatric research capacity and to improving clinical care through my involvement with the Geriatric Medicine Research Collaborative (GeMRC). I am a member of the steering and planning committee for the GeMRC project, the FORCE:SEE study. This is a nationwide trainee-led study investigating whether hand grip strength and other bedside measures predict hospital readmission. During the COVID pandemic in 2020, I coordinated local trainees to undertake an investigation of frailty and mortality among COVID-19 inpatients.

·        I conducted an ambitious and innovative mixed-methods PhD project investigating frailty in community dwelling older adults in rural Tanzania. I supervised five successful MRes student projects during this time, all of whom produced publications. I am also proud of the dissemination work that I undertook, working with volunteers to develop and share leaflets and posters to feedback findings to the community.

·        I was awarded a competitive PROMOS scholarship from Humboldt-Universität, Berlin to undertake my MScIH thesis in Tanzania. The project I undertook was an epidemiological study of delirium prevalence and risk factors in older inpatients.

·        My first experience of research was a lab-based project during my intercalated MRes degree in medical and molecular biosciences (cancer research) 2008. The project “Insulin-like Growth Factor inhibitors prevent oestrogen-stimulated proliferation in breast cancer cells” was supported by the Breast Cancer Campaign and the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

 

Research training

Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Research 27th October 2022- Newcastle University studied part-time and via online modules.

Good Clinical Practice completed 29th October 2020, and kept updated with refreshers, most recently, 19th January 2026.

 

Research Grants

BGS Specialist Registrar Start Up Grant SPR/01/2018, £9,408.50

 

Academy of Medical Sciences Starter Grants for Clinical Lecturers (REF: SGL031\1004), £23,364.80 1st Oct 2024- 30th June 2027.

 

Scientific Publications

ORCID ID 0000-0001-9909-2731

Publications