Jen Brown

School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior Lecturer

j.v.brown@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 2XX XXXX

Barber House

Full contact details

Jen Brown
School of Medicine and Population Health
Barber House
Sheffield
S10 2HQ

Profile: I am a Senior Lecturer and specialising in the intersection of severe mental illness (SMI), physical health co-morbidities (including cancer), and health inequalities. My work focuses on closing the mortality gap for people living with SMI through the development and evaluation of complex interventions.

Currently, I lead a portfolio of work with a specific focus on diabetes management and the acceptability of digital health technologies for marginalised populations. I have a strong methodological interest in co-design and mixed-methods research, ensuring that patient voice drives clinical and service-level innovation.

Before joining The University of Sheffield in December 2025, I was a Senior Research Fellow at the University of York, having worked in the Department of Health Sciences and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination.

Qualifications: BA(Hons) Psychology (1st class), University of Strathclyde, 2010
MSc Health Psychology (Distinction), University of Stirling, 2011

Research interests: Health Inequalities: Addressing the physical health disparities faced by people with Severe Mental Illness (SMI).
Complex Interventions: Developing and evaluating behavioural interventions in the management of long-term conditions (specifically Diabetes & Cancer).
Methodological Innovation: Advanced application of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) in clinical trials.
Digital Health: Evaluating the real-world usability of sensor technology (e.g., Flash Glucose Monitoring) in diverse populations.

Publications

Journal articles

O’Carroll GC, Brown JVE, Carswell C, Peck C, Russell G, Ajjan RA, Boehnke JR, Coventry PA, Hadjiconstantinou M, Hewitt C , Holt RIG et al (2025) DIAMONDS—a diabetes self-management intervention for people with severe mental illness: protocol for an individually randomised controlled multicentre trial. BMJ Open, 15(3). View this article in WRRO
Carswell C, Brown JVE, Shiers D, Ajjan R, Balogun‐Katung A, Bellass S, Holt RIG, Jacobs R, Kellar I, Lewisohn C , Lister J et al (2024) The lived experience of informal caregivers of people who have severe mental illness and coexisting long‐term conditions: a qualitative study. Health Expectations, 27(3), e14119. View this article in WRRO
Carswell C, Taylor J, Holt RIG, Brown JVE, Ajjan R, Böhnke JR, Doran T, Kellar I, Shiers D, Wright J & Siddiqi N (2024) A core outcome set for trials evaluating self‐management interventions in people with severe mental illness and coexisting type 2 diabetes. Diabetic Medicine, 41(4). View this article in WRRO
Carswell C, Coventry PA, Brown JVE, Alderson SL, Double K, Gilbody S, Holt RIG, Jacobs R, Lister J, Osborn D , Shiers D et al (2023) Development of a supported self-management intervention for people with severe mental illness and type 2 diabetes: theory and evidence-based co-design approach. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25. View this article in WRRO
Rønne ST, Joensen LE, Zabell V, Arnfred SM, Brown JVE & Jørgensen R (2023) Schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes: Perceptions and understandings of illness management in everyday life. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 32(3), 893-903.
Brown JVE, Ajjan R, Alderson S, Böhnke JR, Carswell C, Doherty P, Double K, Gilbody S, Hadjiconstantinou M, Hewitt C , Holt RIG et al (2022) The DIAMONDS intervention to support self-management of type 2 diabetes in people with severe mental illness: Study protocol for a single-group feasibility study. SSM - Mental Health, 2, 100086-100086.
Raine G, Evans C, Uphoff EP, Brown JVE, Crampton PES, Kehoe A, Stewart LA, Finn GM & Morgan JE (2022) Strengthening the clinical academic pathway: a systematic review of interventions to support clinical academic careers for doctors and dentists. BMJ Open, 12(9), e060281-e060281.
Carswell C, Brown JVE, Lister J, Ajjan RA, Alderson SL, Balogun-Katung A, Bellass S, Double K, Gilbody S, Hewitt CE , Holt RIG et al (2022) The lived experience of severe mental illness and long-term conditions: a qualitative exploration of service user, carer, and healthcare professional perspectives on self-managing co-existing mental and physical conditions. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1).
Coventry PA, Brown JE, Pervin J, Brabyn S, Pateman R, Breedvelt J, Gilbody S, Stancliffe R, McEachan R & White PL (2021) Nature-based outdoor activities for mental and physical health: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SSM - Population Health, 16, 100934-100934.
Carswell C, Brown J, Balogun A, Taylor J, Coventry P, Kitchen C, Kellar I, Peckham E, Bellass S, Alderson S , Lister J et al (2021) Exploring determinants of self-management in adults with severe mental illness: a qualitative evidence synthesis. BJPsych Open, 7(S1), S13-S13.
Brown JVE, Meader N, Wright K, Cleminson J & McGuire W (2020) Assessment of C-Reactive Protein Diagnostic Test Accuracy for Late-Onset Infection in Newborn Infants. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(3), 260-260.
Brown JVE, Crampton PES, Finn GM & Morgan JE (2020) From the sticky floor to the glass ceiling and everything in between: protocol for a systematic review of barriers and facilitators to clinical academic careers and interventions to address these, with a focus on gender inequality. Systematic Reviews, 9(1).
Meader N, King K, Llewellyn A, Norman G, Brown J, Rodgers M, Moe-Byrne T, Higgins JPT, Sowden A & Stewart G (2014) A checklist designed to aid consistency and reproducibility of GRADE assessments: development and pilot validation. Systematic Reviews, 3(1).
Rodgers MA, Brown JVE, Heirs MK, Higgins JPT, Mannion RJ, Simmonds MC & Stewart LA (2013) Reporting of industry funded study outcome data: comparison of confidential and published data on the safety and effectiveness of rhBMP-2 for spinal fusion. BMJ, 346(jun20 1), f3981-f3981.
Simmonds MC, Brown JVE, Heirs MK, Higgins JPT, Mannion RJ, Rodgers MA & Stewart LA (2013) Safety and Effectiveness of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 for Spinal Fusion. Annals of Internal Medicine, 158(12), 877-889.
Brown JVE, Carswell C, Podmore D, Featherstone I, Alderson S, Böhnke JR, Doran T, Hadjiconstantinou M, Hewitt CE, Holt RIG , Jacobs R et al () The DIAMONDS intervention for type 2 diabetes for people with severe mental illness: findings from a single-group feasibility study. Frontiers in Health Services, 5.
Marino LV, Meyer R, Veale S & Brown JVE () Scoping Review: Environmental Factors Influencing Food Intake in Mental Health Inpatient Settings. Dietetics, 4(2), 18-18.
Brown JVE, Ajjan R, Siddiqi N & Coventry PA () Acceptability and feasibility of continuous glucose monitoring in people with diabetes: protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence. Systematic Reviews, 11(1).
Akhter Z, Todowede O, Brown JVE, Jarde A, Mazhar L, narasimha VL, Muhammad S, Fazid S, Rehman K, Deshmukh C , Ayinla A et al () Pharmacological interventions for depression in adults with chronic hepatitis B or C. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2022(8).
Afaq S, Uphoff E, Borle AL, Brown JVE, Coales K, Dawson S, Elduma AH, Iqbal M, Jarde A, Koly KN , Murthy NS et al () Behavioural activation therapy for anxiety disorders in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021(11).
Balogun-Katung A, Carswell C, Brown JVE, Coventry P, Ajjan R, Alderson S, Bellass S, Boehnke JR, Holt R, Jacobs R , Kellar I et al () Exploring the facilitators, barriers, and strategies for self-management in adults living with severe mental illness, with and without long-term conditions: A qualitative evidence synthesis. PLOS ONE, 16(10), e0258937-e0258937.
Coventry PA, Young B, Balogun-Katang A, Taylor J, Brown JVE, Kitchen C, Kellar I, Peckham E, Bellass S, Wright J , Alderson S et al () Determinants of Physical Health Self-Management Behaviours in Adults With Serious Mental Illness: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12.
Wilson CA, Robertson L, Brown JVE, Ayre K & Khalifeh H () Brexanolone and related neurosteroid GABA(A) positive allosteric modulators for postnatal depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Brown JVE, Wilson CA, Ayre K, Robertson L, South E, Molyneaux E, Trevillion K, Howard LM & Khalifeh H () Antidepressant treatment for postnatal depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021(2).
Walsh V, Brown JVE, Copperthwaite BR, Oddie SJ & McGuire W () Early full enteral feeding for preterm or low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020(12).
Coventry PA, Meader N, Melton H, Temple M, Dale H, Wright K, Cloitre M, Karatzias T, Bisson J, Roberts NP , Brown JVE et al () Psychological and pharmacological interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid mental health problems following complex traumatic events: Systematic review and component network meta-analysis. PLOS Medicine, 17(8), e1003262-e1003262.
Brown JVE, Lin L, Embleton ND, Harding JE & McGuire W () Multi-nutrient fortification of human milk for preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020(7).
Brown JVE, Wilson CA, Ayre K, South E, Molyneaux E, Trevillion K, Howard LM & Khalifeh H () Antidepressant treatment for postnatal depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Walsh V, Brown JVE, Copperthwaite BR, Oddie SJ & McGuire W () Early full enteral feeding for preterm or low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Brown JVE, Walton N, Meader N, Todd A, Webster LAD, Steele R, Sampson SJ, Churchill R, McMillan D, Gilbody S & Ekers D () Pharmacy-based management for depression in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Dennis C-L, Brown JVE & Brown HK () Interventions (other than psychosocial, psychological and pharmacological) for treating postpartum depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Brown JVE, Walsh V & McGuire W () Birth room transition support for preterm infants: a Cochrane overview. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Brown JVE, Walsh V & McGuire W () Birth room transition support for term and near-term infants: a Cochrane overview. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Brown JVE, Walsh V & McGuire W () Formula versus maternal breast milk for feeding preterm or low birth weight infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Walsh V, Brown JVE, Askie LM, Embleton ND & McGuire W () Nutrient-enriched formula versus standard formula for preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(8).
Walsh V, Brown JVE, Askie LM, Embleton ND & McGuire W () Nutrient-enriched formula versus standard formula milk for preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Sampson SJ, Todd A, Walton N, Steele R, Webster L, Churchill R, McMillan D, Gilbody S & Ekers D () Pharmacy-based management for depression in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Walsh V, Brown JVE & McGuire W () Iodine supplementation for the prevention of mortality and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Brown JVE, Meader N, Cleminson J & McGuire W () C-reactive protein for diagnosing late-onset infection in newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(2).
Moe-Byrne T, Brown JVE & McGuire W () Naloxone for opioid-exposed newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018(10).
Brown JVE, Embleton ND, Harding JE & McGuire W () Multi-nutrient fortification of human milk for preterm infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Moe-Byrne T, Brown JVE & McGuire W () Glutamine supplementation to prevent morbidity and mortality in preterm infants.
Brown JVE, Meader N, Cleminson J & McGuire W () C-reactive protein for diagnosing late-onset infection in newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Moe-Byrne T, Brown JVE & McGuire W () Glutamine supplementation to prevent morbidity and mortality in preterm infants.
Brown JVE, Moe-Byrne T & McGuire W () Glutamine supplementation for young infants with severe gastrointestinal disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(12).
Moe-Byrne T, Brown JVE & McGuire W () Naloxone for opiate-exposed newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Brown JVE, Moe-Byrne T, Harden M & McGuire W () Lower versus Higher Oxygen Concentration for Delivery Room Stabilisation of Preterm Neonates: Systematic Review. PLoS ONE, 7(12), e52033-e52033.
Wagner JVE, Moe-Byrne T, Grover Z & McGuire W () Glutamine supplementation for young infants with severe gastrointestinal disease.
Moe-Byrne T, Wagner JVE & McGuire W () Glutamine supplementation to prevent morbidity and mortality in preterm infants.

Conference proceedings

Brown JVE, Coventry PA, Siddiqi N & Ajjan RA (2023) Acceptability and feasibility of CGM for people with severe mental illness: a mixed-methods study. DIABETOLOGIA, Vol. 66(SUPPL 1) (pp S62-S62)
Carswell C, Brown JVE, Balogun-Katung A, Taylor J, Coventry PA, Kitchen C, Kellar I, Bellass S, Wright J, Alderson S , Lister J et al (2021) A qualitative evidence synthesis exploring the determinants of self-management in adults with severe mental illness. DIABETOLOGIA, Vol. 64(SUPPL 1) (pp 278-278)

Preprints

Brown JVE, Ajjan R, Siddiqi N, Kellar I & Coventry PA (2024) Supporting continuous glucose monitoring for people with serious mental illness and type 2 diabetes: Protocol for a co-design study, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Carswell C, Coventry PA, Brown JVE, Alderson SL, Double K, Gilbody S, Holt RIG, Jacobs R, Lister J, Osborn D , Shiers D et al (2022) Development of a Supported Self-management Intervention for People With Severe Mental Illness and Type 2 Diabetes: Theory and Evidence-Based Co-design Approach (Preprint), JMIR Publications Inc..
Brown JVE, Ajjan R, Siddiqi N & Coventry PA (2022) Acceptability and feasibility of continuous glucose monitoring in people with diabetes: protocol for a mixed-methods systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence, Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
Brown JVE, Ajjan R, Alderson S, Böhnke JR, Carswell C, Doherty P, Double K, Gilbody S, Hadjiconstantinou M, Hewitt C , Holt RIG et al (2021) The DIAMONDS intervention to support self-management of type 2 diabetes in people with severe mental illness: study protocol for a single-group feasibility study, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Grants: Ongoing projects
Participatory Research for Optimising Faecal Immunochemical Test (PRO-FIT) returns, enhancing bowel cancer detection and addressing health inequalities (NIHR 208910) - co-investigator and co-production lead

Whole-system Adaptation for Resilient Mental Health (WARM): Building a cross-sector collaborative (NIHR 506614) - co-investigator and lead for community partnerships

Completed projects (selected)
Addressing health inequalities through translation - Exploring Urdu-language delivery of the DIAMONDS self-management intervention to people from South Asian communities who have severe mental illness and type 2 diabetes ("DIAMONDS URDU"; NIHR 206939) - chief investigator

Teaching interests: I am available to supervise student projects that align with my research interests and methodological expertise, including systematic reviews/evidence synthesis.

Professional activities and memberships: UK Society for Behavioural Medicine (UKSBM), Chief Operating Officer, March 2025 to date
International Behavioural Trials Network (IBTN), Summer School Group Lead and Member of the Organising Committee, 2023 to date