Joseph Bretten

I joined the Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) in October 2024 as a Research Assistant. I currently undertake this role on Thursdays and Fridays, where I have been assigned to the Metformin in Psychosis (METRIC) Trial. I spend the remainder of my week at Sheffield Children’s Hospital as an Assistant Psychologist.

My academic interests primarily involve the clinical applications of neuroscience and psychology, having previously completed my Masters degree in Clinical Neurology here at the University of Sheffield and SITraN (2021), and my Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University (2018). My own research projects have included a biopsychological laboratory study; a qualitative project exploring the experiences of informal carers of people with Motor Neuron Disease; and service evaluations within NHS mental health services. In my role at the Children’s Hospital, I am helping to establish and undertake a qualitative project regarding the play experiences of young children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI).

In addition to METRIC, I continue to support the OptiCALS trial and have previously assisted on the PRAISE and EXPERTS-ALS trials. Outside of research, I have over 5 years of clinical experience across acute and community psychiatric services, and I aspire to pursue this avenue to a doctoral level in the near future.