Dr Lois Orton (she/her)

BSc Hons Imperial College, MSc UCL, PhD Manchester

School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations

Senior Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer

Research Cluster Lead: Bodies, Wellbeing and the Lifecourse

l.orton@sheffield.ac.uk

The Wave

11am - 1pm Tuesdays

Full contact details

Dr Lois Orton
School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations
The Wave
2 Whitham Road
Sheffield
S10 2AH

Profile: Lois joined the University of Sheffield in June 2020 on a Wellcome Trust University Award. Prior to that she spent over 10 years at the University of Liverpool in the department of Public Health & Policy. Her PhD at the University of Manchester (2006-2009) developed richly detailed understandings of the everyday lives of sanctuary seekers, describing both the challenges they faced and the ways in which they attempted to overcome them.

Research interests: Lois’ research questions taken for granted understanding of inequalities in health, particularly as experienced by racially minoritised groups and those with experience of migration. Her research aims to expose how race and racism shape social and health inequity and how these processes might be countered. She embraces complexity in unpacking how racism intersects with other forms of oppression, particularly sexism and classism. She does this through deeply embedded co-produced and creative research practices with communities of lived experience, developing new narratives that challenge accepted wisdom, take forward theoretical debates around anti-racism and identity opportunities for collective action.

Lois has a particular interest in antigypsyism (anti-Roma racism), which has been described as one of the last remaining forms of ‘acceptible racism’. She has explored the political construction of Roma communities, both in the UK and in Central and Eastern Europe, and has co-produced with Roma women richly detailed stories that depict their everyday experiences.

Publications

Journal articles

Miranda DE, Mead R, Soto‐Ponce B, Mikulak M, Orton L & Scott S (2025) The Role of Power in Co‐Approaches to Health Research: Insights From Spain and the United Kingdom With a Rapid Review of Reviews. Health Expectations, 28(5).
Ayodeji O, Benton M, Orton L & Weich S (2025) The lived experiences of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus with poor glycaemic control in Nigeria: a qualitative study. Clinical Medicine Insights: Endocrinology and Diabetes, 18. View this article in WRRO
Cunningham-Oakes E, Perez-Sepulveda BM, Li Y, Hinton JCD, Nelson CA, McIntyre KM, Wardeh M, Haldenby S, Gregory R, Iturriza-Gómara M , Hertz-Fowler C et al (2025) Enhancing infectious intestinal disease diagnosis through metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing of 1000 human diarrhoeal samples. Genome Medicine, 17. View this article in WRRO
Orton L, Fuseini O, Kóczé A, Rövid M & Salway S (2022) Researching the health and social inequalities experienced by European Roma populations: complicity, oppression and resistance. Sociology of Health & Illness, 44(S1), 73-89. View this article in WRRO
Powell K, Barnes A, Bambra C, De Cuevas R, Halliday E, Lewis S, McGill R, Orton L, Ponsford R, Salway S , Townsend A et al (2021) Power, control, communities and health inequalities III: participatory spaces – an English case. Health Promotion International, 36(5), 1264-1274. View this article in WRRO
Ponsford R, Collins M, Egan M, Halliday E, Lewis S, Orton L, Powell K, Barnes A, Salway S, Townsend A , Whitehead M et al (2021) Power, control, communities and health inequalities. Part II: measuring shifts in power. Health Promotion International, 36(5), 1290-1299. View this article in WRRO
Ronzi S, Orton L, Buckner S, Bruce N & Pope D (2020) How is respect and social inclusion conceptualised by older adults in an aspiring age-friendly city? A photovoice study in the North-West of England. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24).
Townsend A, Abrahams C, Barnes A, Collins M, Halliday E, Lewis S, Orton L, Ponsford R, Salway S, Whitehead M & Popay J (2020) "I realised it weren't about spending the money. It's about doing something together" : the role of money in a community empowerment initiative and the implications for health and wellbeing. Social Science and Medicine, 260. View this article in WRRO
Rawlinson R, Aslam RW, Burnside G, Chiumento A, Eriksson-Lee M, Humphreys A, Khan N, Lawrence D, McCluskey R, Mackinnon A , Orton L et al (2020) Lay-therapist-delivered, low-intensity, psychosocial intervention for refugees and asylum seekers (PROSPER): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial. Trials, 21(1).
Orton L & Anderson de Cuevas RM (2019) Roma populations and health inequalities: a systematic review of multiple intersecting determinants. European Journal of Public Health, 29(Supplement_4).
Orton L, Anderson de Cuevas R, Stojanovski K, Gamella JF, Greenfields M, La Parra D, Marcu O, Matras Y, Donert C, Frost D , Robinson J et al (2019) Roma populations and health inequalities : a new perspective. International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 12(5), 319-327. View this article in WRRO
Orton LC, Ponsford R, Egan M, Halliday E, Whitehead M & Popay J (2019) Capturing complexity in the evaluation of a major area-based initiative in community empowerment: what can a multi-site, multi team, ethnographic approach offer?. Anthropology and Medicine, 26(1), 48-64.
Orton LC, Pennington A, Nayak S, Sowden A, Petticrew M, White M & Whitehead M (2019) What is the evidence that differences in ‘control over destiny’ lead to socioeconomic inequalities in health? A theory-led systematic review of high-quality longitudinal studies on pathways in the living environment. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 73(10), 929-934.
McIntyre KM, Bolton FJ, Christley RM, Cleary P, Deja E, Durie AE, Diggle PJ, Hughes DA, de Lusignan S, Orton L , Radford AD et al (2019) A Fully Integrated Real-Time Detection, Diagnosis, and Control of Community Diarrheal Disease Clusters and Outbreaks (the INTEGRATE Project): Protocol for an Enhanced Surveillance System (Preprint).
Lewis S, Bambra C, Barnes AJ, Collins M, Egan M, Halliday E, Orton L, Ponsford R, Powell K, Salway S , Townsend A et al (2019) Reframing 'participation' and 'inclusion' in public health policy and practice to address health inequalities: Evidence from a major resident-led neighbourhood improvement initiative. Health and Social Care in the Community, 27(1), 199-206. View this article in WRRO
Salway S, Katikireddi V, Raghavan R & Orton L (2018) 7.8-W1What can health humanities contribute to understanding and tackling ethnic and racial health inequities?. European Journal of Public Health, 28(suppl_1).
Pennington A, Orton L, Nayak S, Ring A, Petticrew M, Sowden A, White M & Whitehead M (2018) The health impacts of women's low control in their living environment: A theory-based systematic review of observational studies in societies with profound gender discrimination. Health & Place, 51, 1-10.
Ronzi S, Orton L, Pope D, Valtorta NK & Bruce NG (2018) What is the impact on health and wellbeing of interventions that foster respect and social inclusion in community-residing older adults? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies. Systematic Reviews, 7(1).
Orton L, Halliday E, Collins M, Egan M, Lewis S, Ponsford R, Powell K, Salway S, Townsend A, Whitehead M & Popay J (2017) Putting context centre stage: evidence from a systems evaluation of an area based empowerment initiative in England. Critical Public Health, 27(4), 477-489. View this article in WRRO
Hyseni L, Atkinson M, Bromley H, Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, McGill R & Capewell S (2017) The effects of policy actions to improve population dietary patterns and prevent diet-related non-communicable diseases: scoping review. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71(6), 694-711.
Ronzi S, Pope D, Orton L, Valtorta NK & Bruce N (2016) OP28 What is the impact on health and wellbeing of interventions that foster respect and social inclusion in community-resident older adults? A systematic review of empirical studies. Oral Presentations, A20.1-A20.
Ronzi S, Pope D, Orton L & Bruce N (2016) Using photovoice methods to explore older people's perceptions of respect and social inclusion in cities: Opportunities, challenges and solutions. SSM - Population Health, 2, 732-745.
Hyseni L, Elliot Green A, Lloyd-Williams F, O’Flaherty M, Kypridemos C, McGill R, Orton L, Bromley H, Cappuccio F & Capewell S (2016) P48 Systematic review of dietary salt reduction policies: evidence for an “effectiveness hierarchy”?. Posters, A74.2-A75.
Orton L, Pennington A, Nayak S, Sowden A, White M & Whitehead M (2016) Group-based microfinance for collective empowerment: a systematic review of health impacts. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 94(9), 694-704A.
Whitehead M, Pennington A, Orton L, Nayak S, Petticrew M, Sowden A & White M (2016) How could differences in ‘control over destiny’ lead to socio-economic inequalities in health? A synthesis of theories and pathways in the living environment. Health and Place, 39, 51-61.
Hyseni L, Elliot-Green A, Lloyd-Williams F, O’Flaherty M, Kypridemos C, McGill R, Orton L, Bromley H, Cappuccio F & Capewell S (2016) Abstract P154: Systematic Review of Dietary Salt Reduction Policies: Evidence for an Effectiveness Hierarchy?. Circulation, 133(suppl_1).
McGill R, Anwar E, Orton L, Bromley H, Lloyd-Williams F, O’Flaherty M, Taylor-Robinson D, Guzman-Castillo M, Gillespie D, Moreira P , Allen K et al (2015) Erratum to: Are interventions to promote healthy eating equally effective for all? Systematic review of socioeconomic inequalities in impact. BMC Public Health, 15(1).
Ronzi S, Pope D, Orton L & Bruce N (2015) PP27 Towards healthy ageing in urban environments: engaging older people and stakeholders in strengthening respect and social inclusion in cities using photo-voice participatory methods. SSM 2015 Posters, A64.1-A64.
Hyseni L, Atkinson M, Bromley H, Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, McGill R & Capewell S (2015) PP57 Effectiveness of policy actions to improve population dietary patterns and prevent diet related non-communicable diseases: scoping review. SSM 2015 Posters, A77.2-A78.
McGill R, Anwar E, Orton L, Bromley H, Lloyd-Williams F, O’Flaherty M, Taylor-Robinson D, Guzman-Castillo M, Gillespie D, Moreira P , Allen K et al (2015) Are interventions to promote healthy eating equally effective for all? Systematic review of socioeconomic inequalities in impact. BMC Public Health, 15(1).
Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O’Flaherty M, McGill R, Anwar E, Hyseni L, Moonan M , Rayner M et al (2014) Smorgasbord or symphony? Assessing public health nutrition policies across 30 European countries using a novel framework. BMC Public Health, 14(1).
Orton L, Pennington A, Nayak S, Whitehead M, Petticrew M, White M & Sowden A (2014) The health inequalities impact of low control in the living environment: a theory-led systematic review of observational studies. European Journal of Public Health, 24(suppl_2).
Orton LC, Pennington A, Nayak S, Whitehead M, Petticrew M, White M & Sowden A (2014) PP43 Do microfinance initiatives improve women’s health? A systematic review of women’s empowerment interventions. Oral Presentations, A64.1-A64.
Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M, McGill R, Anwar E, Hyseni L, Guzman Castillo M , Rayner M et al (2014) Abstract P409: Assessing public health nutrition policies using a novel framework across 30 European countries: Lessons for the USA?. Circulation, 129(suppl_1).
Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M, Moonan M, Rayner M & Capewell S (2013) Public health nutrition actions across 14 EU countries: a qualitative study to elicit the views of policy makers and thought leaders. The Lancet, 382, S63-S63.
Bromley H, Lloyd Williams F, Orton L, McGill R, Anwar E, Moonan M, Taylor Robinson D, Calder N, O’Flaherty M, Guzman Castillo M , Hawkes C et al (2013) Utilising a novel framework to asess public health nutrition actions across 30 European Countries (EuroHeart II Project). European Journal of Public Health, 23(suppl_1).
Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, McGill R, Anwar E, Moonan M, Taylor-Robinson D, Calder N, O’Flaherty M, Guzman Castillo M , Rayner M et al (2013) Identifying the most effective public health nutrition policies: The views of policy-makers and thought-leaders across 14 EU countries. European Journal of Public Health, 23(suppl_1).
Orton L, LLoyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M, Moonan M, Rayner M & Capewell S (2013) Using the ‘4Ps’ marketing approach to evaluate healthy food policies: A rapid scoping review. European Journal of Public Health, 23(suppl_1).
Pennington A, Orton L, Whitehead M, Ring A, Fox D, Petticrew M, White M & Sowden A (2013) Missing women? The health inequalities impact of low control and gender discrimination: a theory-led systematic review of observational studies. European Journal of Public Health, 23(suppl_1).
R M, Anwar E, Orton L, Taylor-Robinson DC, Bromley H, Lloyd-Williams F, Calder N, O’Flaherty M, Castillo MG, White M , Petticrew M et al (2013) PP09 Assessing the Potential Effect of Healthy Eating Policy Interventions on Socioeconomic Inequalities: Systematic Review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A52.1-A52.
Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson DC, O’Flaherty M, Moonan M, Rayner M & Capewell S (2013) PP11 Using the “4Ps” Marketing Approach to Evaluate Health-Promoting Food Policies. A Rapid Scoping Review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A53.1-A53.
Orton LC, Pennington AJ, Nayak S, Petticrew M, White M, Sowden A & Whitehead M (2013) PP35 How are Health Inequalities Affected by Control in the Living Environment? A Critical Review of Theory. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A63.2-A64.
Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Orton L, Taylor-Robinson D, O’Flaherty M, Moonan M, McGill R, Calder N, Anwar E, Castillo MG , Rayner M et al (2013) OP15 Identifying the most effective public health nutrition policies: The views of policy-makers and thought-leaders across 14 EU countries. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A10.1-A10.
Pennington AJ, Orton L, Ring A, Fox D, Petticrew M, White M, Sowden A & Whitehead MM (2013) OP11 Missing Women? The Health Inequalities Impact of Low Control and Gender Discrimination: A Theory-Led Systematic Review of Observational Studies. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A8.2-A8.
Bromley H, Williams FL, Orton L, McGill R, Anwar E, Moonan M, Robinson DT, Calder N, O’Flaherty M, Castillo MG , Hawkes C et al (2013) OP16 Utilising a Novel Framework to Assess Public Health Nutrition Actions Across 30 European Countries (EuroHeart II Project). Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(Suppl 1), A10.2-A11.
Critchley JA, Young F, Orton L & Garner P (2013) Corticosteroids for prevention of mortality in people with tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13(3), 223-237.
Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, Bromley H, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson D, O’Flaherty M, Moonan M, Rayner M & Capewell S (2013) Using the "4Ps" marketing approach to evaluate health-promoting food policies. BMC Public Health.
Orton L, Griffiths J, Green M & Waterman H (2013) Engaging with marginalised groups in public health research: Lessons learned in an ethnographic study with people who were seeking asylum and living with HIV. Journal of Epidemiology of Community Health.
Critchley JA, Young F, Orton L & Garner P (2013) Corticosteroids for prevention of tuberculosis mortality – Authors' reply. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13(11), 916-917.
Orton L, Griffiths J, Green M & Waterman H (2012) Resilience among asylum seekers living with HIV. BMC Public Health, 12(1).
Orton LC, Bromley H, Hawkes C, Taylor-Robinson DC, Moonan M, O’Flaherty M, Lloyd-Williams F, Rayner M & Capewell S (2012) PS15 Policy Actions to Reduce Dietary Salt Intake: Price, Product, Place or Promotion? A Review of the Evidence. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 66(Suppl 1), A44.2-A44.
Crtichley J, Young F, Orton L & Garner P (2012) Corticosteroids for preventing tuberculosis mortality: meta-analysis.. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 13, 233-237.
Orton L, Griffiths J, Green M & Waterman H (2012) An exploratory study of resilience among asylum seekers living with HIV. BMC Public Health, 12, 926-926.
Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson DC, Moonan M, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2011) Prioritising public health: a qualitative study of decision making to reduce health inequalities. BMC Public Health, 11(1).
Taylor-Robinson DC, Lloyd-Williams F, Orton L, Moonan M, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2011) Barriers to intersectoral working to improve health: A qualitative study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 65(Suppl 2), A4.1-A4.
Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, Moonan M, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2011) O5-5.2 Evidence-based public health policy: myth or reality? A mixed method study of public health decision-making in the UK. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 65(Suppl 1), A55.1-A55.
Orton LC, Taylor-Robinson DC, Lloyd-Williams F, Moonan M, O’FLaherty M & Capewell S (2011) Evidence-based public health policy: myth or reality? A mixed method study of public health decision-making in the UK. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 6, 1-1.
Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2010) P54 Might financial cuts drive NHS decision-making “downstream”? A qualitative study of factors affecting public health decision-making. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64(Suppl 1), A54.3-A55.
Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S (2010) 052 Systematic review: the use of research evidence by public health policy-makers. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64(Suppl 1), A21.1-A21.
Orton LC, LLoyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, O’Flaherty M & Capewell S (2010) REVIEW: THE USE OF RESEARCH EVIDENCE BY PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY-MAKERS. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64, A21-A21.
Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson DC, O’Flaherty M & Capewell S (2010) MIGHT FINANCIAL CUTS DRIVE NHS DECISION-MAKING "DOWNSTREAM"? A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF FACTORS AFFECTING PUBLIC HEALTH DECISION-MAKING. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64, 54-55.
Orton LC & Omari AAA (2008) Drugs for treating uncomplicated malaria in pregnant women.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2008(4), CD004912.
Webster AC, Chapman JR, Craig JC, Mahan J, Orton L, Pankhurst T & Webb N (2004) Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for induction therapy in kidney transplant recipients (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Dowrick C, Rosala-Hallas A, Rawlinson R, Khan N, Winrow E, Chiumento A, Burnside G, Aslam R, Billows L, Eriksson-Lee M , Lawrence D et al () The Problem Management Plus psychosocial intervention for distressed and functionally impaired asylum seekers and refugees: the PROSPER feasibility RCT. Public Health Research, 10(10), 1-74.
McIntyre KM, Bolton FJ, Christley RM, Cleary P, Deja E, Durie AE, Diggle PJ, Hughes DA, de Lusignan S, Orton L , Radford AD et al () A Fully Integrated Real-Time Detection, Diagnosis, and Control of Community Diarrheal Disease Clusters and Outbreaks (the INTEGRATE Project): Protocol for an Enhanced Surveillance System. JMIR Research Protocols, 8(9), e13941-e13941.
Hyseni L, Elliot-Green A, Lloyd-Williams F, Kypridemos C, O’Flaherty M, McGill R, Orton L, Bromley H, Cappuccio FP & Capewell S () Systematic review of dietary salt reduction policies: Evidence for an effectiveness hierarchy?. PLOS ONE, 12(5), e0177535-e0177535.
Critchley JA, Orton LC & Pearson F () Adjunctive steroid therapy for managing pulmonary tuberculosis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(11).
Taylor-Robinson DC, Lloyd-Williams F, Orton L, Moonan M, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S () Barriers to Partnership Working in Public Health: A Qualitative Study. PLoS ONE, 7(1), e29536-e29536.
Orton L, Lloyd-Williams F, Taylor-Robinson D, O'Flaherty M & Capewell S () The Use of Research Evidence in Public Health Decision Making Processes: Systematic Review. PLoS ONE, 6(7), e21704-e21704.
Gray TA, Orton LC, Henson D, Harper R & Waterman H () Interventions for improving adherence to ocular hypotensive therapy.
Orton LC & Omari AAA () Drugs for treating uncomplicated malaria in pregnant women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(5).
Osei-Akoto A, Orton LC & Owusu-Ofori S () Atovaquone-proguanil for treating uncomplicated malaria. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Bukirwa H & Orton LC () Artesunate plus mefloquine versus mefloquine for treating uncomplicated malaria. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(5).
Orton LC & Barnish G () Unit-dose packaged drugs for treating malaria. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(5).

Book chapters

Critchley JA, Garner P, Hahn S, Mayosi BM, Mwandumba HC, Orton LC, Prasad K, Volmink J & Young F () Adjunctive steroid therapy for managing tuberculosis In Critchley JA (Ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Orton L & Garner P () Drugs for treating uncomplicated malaria in pregnant women John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Gray TA, Orton LC, Henson D, Harper R & Waterman H () Interventions for improving adherence to ocular hypotensive therapy In Gray TA (Ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Webster A, Chapman JR, Craig JC, Mahan J, Orton L, Pankhurst T & Webb N () Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for treating acute rejection episodes in kidney transplant recipients John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Bukirwa H & Orton L () Artesunate-mefloquine for treating uncomplicated malaria John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Webster A, Chapman JR, Craig JC, Mahan J, Orton L, Pankhurst T & Webb N () Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for treating acute rejection episodes in kidney transplant recipients In Webster A (Ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Orton L & Barnish G () Pre-packaged drugs for treating malaria John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Critchley JA, Garner P, Hahn S, Mayosi BM, Mwandumba HC, Orton LC, Prasad K & Volmink J () Adjunctive steroid therapy for managing tuberculosis In Critchley JA (Ed.) John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Osei-Akoto A, Orton L & Owusu-Ofori SPO () Atovaquone-proguanil for treating uncomplicated malaria John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Conference proceedings

Salway S, Katikireddi V, Raghavan R & Orton L (2018) What can health humanities contribute to understanding and tackling ethnic and racial health inequities?. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Vol. 28 (pp 17-17)
Orton LC & Sheard S (2017) P97 The ‘problem’ of roma health and wellbeing: a critical analysis of european policy perspectives. SSM annual scientific meeting 2017 (pp A95.2-A95)
Orton LC & Cuevas RAD (2017) OP19 Roma populations and health inequalities: a systematic scoping review of multiple intersecting determinants. Ethnicity 1 (pp A10.2-A10)
Halliday E, Orton L, Egan M, Lewis S, Powell K, Townsend A, Tyrrell R, Whitehead M & Popay J (2015) Understanding area-based community empowerment initiatives as events in systems and the implications for evaluating their potential to affect health inequalities. The Lancet, Vol. 386 (pp S41-S41)
Ponsford R, Collins M, Egan M, Lewis S, Orton L, Salway S, Townsend A, Halliday E, Whitehead M & Popay J (2015) Development of a framework for identifying and measuring collective control as a social determinant of health: findings from an evaluation of a natural policy experiment in empowerment. The Lancet, Vol. 386 (pp S64-S64)
Ronzi S, Orton L, Pope D, Valtorta N & Bruce N () Interventions for respect and social inclusion in older people and their impact on health and wellbeing: A systematic review. British Society of Gerontology Conference 2017. Swansea University, 5 July 2017 - 7 July 2017.

Reports

Orton LC, Lloyd-Williams F & Capewell S (2010) Local decision-making for Cardio-Vascular Disease treatment and prevention: promoting evidence-based policies: end of project report
Woolacott N, Orton L, Beynon S, Myers L & Forbes C (2006) Systematic Review Of The Clinical Effectiveness Of Self Care Support Networks In Health And Social Care

Theses

Orton LC (2009) Seeking asylum and living with HIV: an ethnographic study.
Orton LC (2001) Impregnated bed nets as a means of controlling malaria in The Gambia.

Preprints

Rawlinson R, Aslam R, Burnside G, Chiumento A, Eriksson-Lee M, Humphreys A, Khan N, Lawrence D, McCluskey R, Mackinnon A , Orton L et al (2020) Lay therapist delivered low intensity psychosocial intervention for refugees and asylum seekers (PROSPER): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial., Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
Rawlinson R, Aslam R, Burnside G, Chiumento A, Eriksson-Lee M, Humphreys A, Khan N, Lawrence D, Mahzir I, McCluskey R , Mackinnon A et al (2020) Lay therapist delivered low intensity psychosocial intervention for refugees and asylum seekers (PROSPER): protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial., Springer Science and Business Media LLC.

Research group: Research Cluster Lead for Bodies and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse within the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations.
University of Sheffield NIHR School of Public Health Research Executive Board Member.
Co-lead for the NIHR School of Public Health Research Health Inequalities Programme.
Member of the University of Sheffield Migration Research Group and Health Equity Research Group.
Member of the BSA Race, Ethnicity and Migration Study Group.
Member of the cross-university Systems Evaluation Network.

Grants: VoySES: Discrimination and Health (2025 - 2027)
NIHR School for Public Health Research £367.806
PI: Lois Orton, Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh and Katie Powell (University of Sheffield)

CLARITY+: Collective reimagining of community-led public health evaluation from the perspective of racially minoritised communities (2024 - 2026)
NIHR School for Public Health Research £190,398
PI: Lois Orton and Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh (University of Sheffield)

Storying Life Courses for Intersectional Inclusion: Ethnicity and Wellbeing Across Time and Place (2022 - 2025)
ESRC £1,357,379
PI: Majella Kilkey (University of Sheffield)

Roma populations and Health Inequalities: Deconstructing a European Policy Problem (2020 - 2026)
Wellcome Trust University Award £534,192
PI: Lois Orton (University of Sheffield)

CLARITY: Co-creating knowledge with minorities and marginalised groups (2023 - 2024)
NIHR School for Public Health Research £256,849
PI: Sarah Salway and Stephanie Ejegi-Memeh (University of Sheffield)

The Health of Europe’s Roma: Where are the women? (2019 - 2020)
Wellcome Trust £49,984
PI: Lois Orton (University of Liverpool)

Integrating attention to ethnicity and migration within applied public health and health inequalities research (2017 - 2018)
NIHR School for Public Health Research £73,384
PI: Sarah Salway (University of Sheffield)

Feasibility study and pilot trial of an evidence-based low intensity psychosocial intervention delivered by lay therapists for asylum seekers and refugees (PROSPER) (2018 - 2021)
NIHR Public Health Research Programme £498,306
PI: Chris Dowrick (University of Liverpool)

What are the health and health inequalities impacts of the Big Local community empowerment initiative in England? (2018 - 2021)
NIHR Public Health Research – Community Engagement £836,169
PI: Jennie Popay (Lancaster University)

The ‘problem’ of Roma health and wellbeing: A critical analysis of European perspectives (2016 - 2017)
Wellcome Trust. £4,964
PI: Lois Orton (University of Liverpool)

Unpacking the multiple determinants of health for the Roma in Europe (2015 - 2016)
University of Liverpool Interdisciplinary Network Fund £2,879
PI: Lois Orton (University of Liverpool)

Seeking asylum and living with HIV: an ethnographic study (2006 - 2009)
University of Manchester Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences Research Scholarship £5,000
PI: Lois Orton (University of Manchester)

Seeking asylum and living with HIV: An ethnographic study (2006 - 2009)
ESRC and MRC Interdisciplinary Research Studentship (awarded in open competition). £50,000
PI: Lois Orton (University of Manchester)

Teaching interests: Lois convenes the Masters Dissertation module in the School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations.

She is also an invited lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University where she co-delivers (with a Roma colleague) sessions introducing MA students to Critical Romani Studies as a lens to understanding the experiences of Roma people living across the world.

Through her teaching, Lois aims to share her critical and engaged perspectives with the next generation of social science scholars and professionals. Her research and teaching are closely aligned, both substantively and methodologically. She draws on her wealth of research experience to directly support a large cohort of Masters students through the process of developing and delivering their dissertation projects. Substantively, her teaching focuses on the theory and practical application of a range of complementary methods drawn from sociology, political science and history to explore and address the avoidable differences in health between different groups in society (health inequalities). Methodologically, there is a focus on complexity theory, ethnography and critical policy studies. Substantive topics include the intersection of three main axes of inequality: race/ethnicity, gender and poverty and, within this, on the role of power/control as an underlying social determinant of health.

Lois uses a range of techniques to inspire students from diverse backgrounds, many studying in the UK for the first time. She is a firm believer in active learning and encouraging students to share and reflect on their personal experiences.

Teaching activities

Postgraduate supervision

Lois has supervised Masters and PhD students in a range of social science projects exploring and addressing the drivers of health inequality among various multiply-marginalised groups (racially minoritised groups, those with migration backgrounds, those living in under-resourced environments, older people).

She is particularly interested to hear from prospective students whose research critically explores the intersection of health and social science with a focus on inequality, lived experience and action.

Professional activities and memberships

Some of Lois' other professional activities include:

Acquiring the PGCert in Learning and Teaching and becoming an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2012.
Establishing and acting as inaugural chair for NIHR School for Public Health Research Researchers’ Network in 2015.
Completing the Aurora programme for developing future female leaders in higher education in 2017.
Being invited to speak at the 11th Annual Roma Conference ‘Legacies and Manifestations of Anti-Roma Racism in Health Policies, Practice, and Research’ at Harvard (USA) in 2023.
Joining the Board of Trustees for Clifton Learning Partnership, a charity supporting the Roma community of Rotherham and being appointed as Chair in 2026.
Training peer researchers and joining the advisory board for the Office for National Statistics project on Roma Lived Experience in England and Wales (2024 - 2026).

Partnership work, impact and engagement is at the heart of Lois’ work. Below are a few recent examples.

The NIHR-funded CLARITY/CLARITY+ projects began with a blank page, asking around 20 grass-roots organisations serving racialised communities in South Yorkshire and the West Midlands to suggest how the university sector could help them meet their own needs. This led to the establishment of what was termed ‘Knowledge Partnerships’. These Partnerships have evolved over the years into what is now referred to as the ‘CLARITY+ Collective’ (including academics such as myself and community partners). The Collective have been organising a series of showcase and peer-to-peer events for mutual knowledge exchange.

The NIHR-funded VoySES Discrimination & Health project is a unique collaboration between the NIHR School of Public Health Research and the People’s Health Trust (a large umbrella charity that exists to end unfairness and ensure everyone has the chance to live a long, healthy life). In this project Lois co-leads a team of academics that are working with six community organisations across the UK delivering projects aimed at reducing discrimination and its health harms. Learning from the project will directly inform their practices and that of the 600 community organisations that PHT supports.

The ESRC-funded ‘Storying Life Courses for Intersectional Inclusion’ project and Lois’ Wellcome-funded ‘Roma Populations and Health Inequalities’ project take a similar approach. In both cases, policy and practice partners, and researchers recruited directly from racialised communities, are involved in every stage of design and delivery. The ESRC project also includes co-investigators from anchor organisations supporting racially minoritised communities in Sheffield and Rotherham. Both projects have been identified as potential impact case studies for the next REF submission.

The creative methods that Lois uses in her research (including poetry, art and performance) lend themselves well to storytelling, which has proved to be an effective way of communicating with a wide range of audiences. She has organised public-facing events at various fora, from local festivals (such as Migration Matters and Festival of Debate) to the national ESRC Festival of Social Science. Lois has also produced online resources (often linked to these events) that are designed to reach a wider audience.

Lois often receives requests for advice on how to better support the Roma population from health and social care providers in South Yorkshire and beyond. She has delivered events at Sheffield Town Hall (in collaboration with the Mayor of Sheffield), at the Rotherham Health and Wellbeing Board and with MPs across race and migration related All Party Parliamentary Groups in London. Lois’ role on the Office for National Statistics Roma Lived Experience project is shaping a final report that will address the recognised inadequacies of Census data.

Lois’ role as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Clifton Learning Partnership has provided additional opportunities to closely connect her research with real world concerns. A number of collaborative projects have sprung directly from learning that emerged through this role, shaping both research and health/social care delivery in the region.