Dr Natalia Monteiro Calanzani

Biography

I am a Lecturer in Applied Health Sciences (Teaching & Research) with qualifications in Business, Psychology and Population Health Sciences. Originally from Brazil, I have been involved in academic research in the UK for the past 14 years, and teaching/supervising students for the past eight years. 

I have research experience in palliative and end of life care, early cancer detection/diagnosis (cancer screening and symptomatic presentation in primary care) and process and outcome evaluations (adopting systems thinking and complexity theory). I have carried out quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research, and worked on a range of systematic reviews. My research outputs comprise peer-reviewed publications, presentations at conferences, evidence-based reports for charities and the government (Scotland and England), and a book chapter. My current research focuses on cancer outcomes across the cancer care continuum for patients living in rural and remote areas. I am also a co-investigator in a multi-methods 5-year research programme in cancer, musculoskeletal health and frailty (Building Rural-Urban healthCare Equity for Scotland - BRUCES). I am involved in research collaborations investigating the role of biomarkers for the detection of intrathoracic cancers; cancer risk in patients with multiple or recurring symptoms in primary care; and the use of artificial intelligence to facilitate the early diagnosis of cancer in primary care.

I joined the Institute of Applied Health Sciences (School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition) in January 2023. I am part of the Academic Primary Care Research Group, led by Professor Peter Murchie. Previously, I have held research posts at the University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow and King's College London.

Prizes and Awards

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Travel Bursary to attend the 2024 Ca-PRI Conference in Melbourne (Australia)

CRUK Bursary to attend the 2019 CRUK Early Diagnosis Conference in Birmingham (UK)

Wellcome Bursary to attend the 2019 course on "Improving the Uptake of Research into UK Policy" in Cambridge (UK)

Principal's Go Abroad Fund 2016, University of Edinburgh (UK)

Edinburgh Global Research Scholarship 2015, University of Edinburgh (UK)

Principal's Career Development PhD Scholarship 2015, University of Edinburgh (UK)

Joanna Mugridge Research Award 2012 (best poster presentation), Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Conference, London (UK)

Deloitte & Touche Postgraduate Prize 2008 (best overall performance in Birmingham Business School), University of Birmingham (UK)

MSc Scholarship 2007, University of Birmingham (UK)

Undergraduate Scholarship 2006, Exchange Programme at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA)

Funding and Grants

2024-2029 - Building Rural-Urban healthCare Equity for Scotland (BRUCES) – a multi-methods research programme in cancer, musculoskeletal health and frailty. Funder: Chief Scientist Office (CSO). Role: Co-Investigator.

2023-2024 - CORRECT: Cancer PriOrities in Rural and REmote SCoTland: a multi-method study to inform larger initiatives aiming to improve cancer outcomes. Funder: Friends of Anchor. Role: Principal Investigator (PI).

2023 - IAHS Staff Development Group Fund to attend the 2023 Cancer and Primary Care Research International Network's (Ca-PRI) Conference in Oxford, UK.

2023 -2027 - CANDETECT: Accelerating detection of upper gastro-intestinal (UGI) cancers using a multi-cancer early detection platform in primary care. Funder: CRUK. Role: Named researcher. Contributed by doing a rapid review and peer reviewing application.

2015-2020 -  The role of government policy initiatives in promoting earlier diagnosis of cancer: what can we learn from the Detect Cancer Early programme in Scotland? Funder: Scottish Government. Role: Lead researcher. Developed the idea, wrote the proposal, carried out research and wrote final report.

2013 - Understanding and Supporting Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Communities. Funder: Marie Curie Cancer Care. Grant to write a report on palliative care for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups. Role: Co-PI. 

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

I supervise Year 5 undergraduate medical students undertaking a research project as part of their Medical Elective.

I am also a PGR advisor at the Institute of Applied Health Sciences.