Researcher
Sarah has a long-standing research record in General Neuropsychology and Adult Mental Health; and is also an internationally recognised expert in Neurotoxicology.
International collaboration
Brazil: Sarah is currently collaborating with Toxicologists at the Federal University of Espirito Santo in Brazil, researching the incidence and cause of pesticide poisoning in the country. Brazil has been described as an agricultural superpower and is one of the largest pesticide users in the world. Pesticide poisoning has become a major public health problem in the country, the incidence and cause of which is unclear and important to determine so that appropriate interventions can be identified, and public policies put in place.
Ecuador: Sarah was recently approached by a neuropsychologist in Ecuador with a view to collaborating on future research into the incidence and causes of pesticide poisoning in the Ecuadorian Flower Industry.
The Netherlands: Sarah recently collaborated with medical colleagues in the Netherlands and published two papers on Aerotoxic Syndrome in 2019. The first paper describes two pilots and one flight attendant who developed ill health during their flying career and reports the results of various medical evaluations. The second paper discusses possible diagnostic criteria for Aerotoxic Syndrome based on our evaluations of aircrew and recent research on this topic.
Worldwide: Between 2017 and 2019 Sarah collaborated with an international team of authors from a range of educational, medical and research establishments all over the world, who contributed chapters for the Handbook of Environmental Toxicology, published in December 2019 (see publications list).
In 2014 Sarah was appointed Guest Editor of the high impact neuroscience journal ‘Cortex’. and put together a special edition on ‘Neurotoxicology’. She collaborated with colleagues from around the world whom she invited to submit papers. A variety of subjects were covered in the special edition such as prenatal exposure to methylmercury; postnatal exposure to arsenic, pesticide poisoning in Chinese farmers and Egyptian workers; carbon monoxide poisoning; methyl iodide and manganese poisoning; and Gulf War Illness. The special edition was published in 2016.
USA: Sarah previously collaborated with Clement Furlong, Professor of Genome Sciences & Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle regarding genetic polymorphisms which render some individuals less able to metabolise organophosphate pesticides. Clement Furlong’s team undertook blood analysis as part of Sarah’s study on UK agricultural workers (see below).
Sarah previously collaborated with a group of researchers from the Universities of Oregon, California (San Francisco) and British Columbia investigating air quality issues within commercial aircraft.
Major research projects
Aviation: Between 2005 and 2009 Sarah’s team at the Neurotoxicology Unit examined a number of commercial airline pilots, cabin crew and passengers who complain of ill health following reported exposure to engine oil fumes. She prepared a report for a UK Government Scientific Advisory Committee called the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT). She gave evidence to the COT committee throughout 2006/2007 and was later invited to give evidence to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee in 2008. Sarah has published a number of scientific papers on this topic in peer reviewed journals (please see publications section).
Agriculture: In 2004, Sarah was awarded a grant by the UK Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (circa £700,000) to run a four-year research programme investigating whether low level exposure to organophosphates causes disabling neurological or psychiatric disease in sheep farmers. The study was completed in 2008 and a full report is available on the DEFRA website. The study findings have also been independently peer reviewed and published in the scientific journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology (please see publications section).
GENERAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
In 1994 Sarah joined a leading, internationally recognized research team from the University of Cambridge and undertook research on different types of dementia. She has also written a number of papers on memory disorders in general and has a particular interest in retrograde amnesia. Sarah has also been involved in a number of research projects looking at cognitive function in diabetic, renal failure and cancer patients (please see publications section).
ADULT MENTAL HEALTH
In 1997 Sarah was invited to join a team of Accident & Emergency Specialists at Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge to undertake a study to determine the psychological effect of witnessed resuscitation on bereaved relatives. The team were given an award for this work by the BUPA foundation 'Communication Award' in association with the Academy of Medical Rule Colleges and the Patients' Association. The award was granted for research which will fundamentally affect medical practice. In 1998 Sarah undertook a study concerning psychological morbidity following minor road traffic accidents (please see publications section).
OTHER
Research supervision
In addition to her own research work, Sarah supervises postgraduate students and qualified clinical psychologists undertaking research on a range of topics.
