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HomeAcademic staffDr Kirstie Soar
Dr Kirstie Soar

Dr Kirstie Soar

soark@lsbu.ac.uk

Psychology

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I am a senior researcher with twenty years' experience in HE and academic research. I'm a Chartered Psychologist and Fellow of the HEA. I have been researching on drugs and addictive behaviours for over 18 years and have published widely in both national and international journals.

I joined LSBU in September 2021 as a Trial Manager for the NIHR funded project - SCeTCH and as part of the Centre for Addictive Behaviours Research group.

I have been researching on drugs and addictive behaviours for over 18 years. My research interests include the cognitive and psychobiological effects associated with recreational drugs e.g. cocaine, MDMA/ecstasy and Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and 'vaping' of drugs such as cannabis and nicotine (e-cigarettes), as well as the process of recovery from drug and alcohol abuse.

My work is highly cited and has had significant impact, informing two 100% 4* rated impact case studies in the UoA 44 Research Excellence Framework (2014). Since then I have contributed evidence to the recent Drugs Policy Inquiry (2019), Health and Social Care Committee> My work is cited in a PHE training manual (2016) and forms part of written evidence submitted to UK Government consultations on supporting smokers to quit.

I have undertaken consultancy work for PharmaStrat Health Care Consulting company, The Royal Society funded by GlaxoSmithKline, and what were known as Thurrock and Essex Drug Action Teams. I have previously received funding for a networking event for Peer Support Services for Drug and Alcohol Use by AlcoholChangeUK and Sir Richard Stapleys Educational Trust.

PhD

School of Psychology, University of East London

2000
2006
PG Cert in Teaching and Learning in HE (Distinction)

University of East London

2003
2004
BSc (Hons) Psychology

School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex

1994
1997
Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol)

British Psychological Society

2003
Registered Fellow (FHEA)

Higher Education Academy

2004
Reader
University of East London

Academic research, lecturing, Leader of the Drugs and Addictive Behaviours research group, programme management, school marketing, recruitment and outreach leader, senior management.

2004
2020
Education
Researcher
University College London

Contribution to the development of the Addiction Ontology and in particular E-CigO, and associated research outputs.

2020
Education
Researcher
National Addiction Centre, Kings College London

Worked on the NIHR funded project assessing the impact of vaping on smoking, nicotine intake and toxin exposure among youth in England and North America. Took the lead on the preparation of ethics applications, reviewed and updated the study protocol based on new sub-study proposal.

2021
2021
Education
Associate Lecturer
Psychology Department, Oxford Brookes University

Seminar lead on research methods module, one-to-one tuition, lectures and associated marking.

2020
2021
Education
FunderYear wonProjectRole
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)2021Effects of e-cigarettes vs usual care for smoking cessation when offered at homeless centres: A cluster randomised controlled trialCo-Investigator
British Psychological Soceity
2004
Higher Education Academy
2004
Society for the Study of Addiction
2015
Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
2021

Lessons learnt from Project SCeTCH: a multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of e-cigarettes compared with usual care for smoking cessation in those accessing homeless services
Soar, K., Cox, S. and Dawkins, L. (2023). Lessons learnt from Project SCeTCH: a multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of e-cigarettes compared with usual care for smoking cessation in those accessing homeless services . Smoking Cessation and Health. Manchester 14 - 14 Sep 2023

Square Pegs, Round Holes: Issues and considerations from running a cluster Randomised Control Trial in people who smoke and experience homelessness
Soar, K., Mair, C., Cox, S. and Dawkins, L. (2023). Square Pegs, Round Holes: Issues and considerations from running a cluster Randomised Control Trial in people who smoke and experience homelessness. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. Oslo 17 - 21 Sep 2019

Smoking cessation in those experiencing homelessness in GB: e-cigarette provision versus usual care.
Soar, K., Brierley, J., Gardner, B. and Mair, C. (2023). Smoking cessation in those experiencing homelessness in GB: e-cigarette provision versus usual care. South London Clinical Research Network Forum. London 21 - 21 Feb 2023 National Institute for Health Research.

The effects of offering a disposable EC versus NRT on smoking cessation outcomes: a retrospective community pharmacy study.
Soar, K., Doshi,J and Cameron, J. (2022). The effects of offering a disposable EC versus NRT on smoking cessation outcomes: a retrospective community pharmacy study. International Scientific Conference on E-cigarette: Institut National Du Cancer. Paris 05 - 06 Dec 2022 Institut National Du Cancer.

Toward an ontology of identity‐related constructs in addiction, with examples from nicotine and tobacco research
Notley, C., West, R., Soar, K., Hastings, Janna and Cox, S. (2022). Toward an ontology of identity‐related constructs in addiction, with examples from nicotine and tobacco research. Addiction (Abingdon, England). 118 (3), pp. 548-557. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16079

A multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of e-cigarettes compared with usual care for smoking cessation when offered to smokers accessing homeless services: methodological challenges and experiences of collaboration.
Soar, K., Cox, S. and Dawkins, L. (2018). A multi-centre cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of e-cigarettes compared with usual care for smoking cessation when offered to smokers accessing homeless services: methodological challenges and experiences of collaboration. SSA Annual Conference, Society for the Study of Addiction. Newcastle 07 - 08 Nov 2018 Society for the Study of Addiction.

Toward an ontology of tobacco, nicotine and vaping products.
Cox, S., West, R., Notley, C., Soar, K. and Hastings, J. (2022). Toward an ontology of tobacco, nicotine and vaping products. Addiction (Abingdon, England). 118 (1), pp. 177-188. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16010

Effects of e-cigarettes vs usual care for smoking cessation when offered at homeless centres: protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.
Soar, K., Mair, C., Dawkins, L., Bauld, L., Brown, R., Lennon, J, Ford, A., McMillan, L, Hajek, P., Li, J., Parrott, S., Notley, C., Ward, E' Varley, A, Robson, D., Pesola, F., Tyler, A., Carlisle, M and Dr Sharon Cox (2022). Effects of e-cigarettes vs usual care for smoking cessation when offered at homeless centres: protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. London Network of Nurses and Midwives Homelessness Annual Conference. St Martins in the Field, London 01 - 01 Apr 2022

Evaluating the effectiveness of e‐cigarettes compared with usual care for smoking cessation when offered to smokers at homeless centres: Protocol for a multi‐centre cluster randomised controlled trial in Great Britain
Cox, S., Bauld, Linda, Brown, R., Carlise, M., Ford, A., Hajek, P., Li, J., Notley, C., Parrott, S., Pesola, F., Robson, D., Soar, K., Tyler, A., Ward, E. and Dawkins, L. (2022). Evaluating the effectiveness of e‐cigarettes compared with usual care for smoking cessation when offered to smokers at homeless centres: Protocol for a multi‐centre cluster randomised controlled trial in Great Britain. Addiction (Abingdon, England). https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15851

Mechanisms and processes involved in women's pathways into alcohol dependence and towards recovery: a qualitative meta-synthesis
Kougiali, Z., Pytlik, A. and Soar, K. (2021). Mechanisms and processes involved in women's pathways into alcohol dependence and towards recovery: a qualitative meta-synthesis. Drugs, Education, Prevention and Policy. 28 (5), pp. 437-453. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2021.1904836