NESREIN HAMED

Health and social care researcher and lecturer with a pharmacy background and a PhD (near completion) on medicine optimisation among older adults from ethnic minority communities. I specialise in qualitative interviews, focus groups, and reflective methods to explore how culture, religion, stigma, and lived experience shape health behaviours, and patient–practitioner communication.

My work applies narrative and reflective approaches to capture patient voices. I also bring experience in teaching, curriculum design, and group facilitation across pharmacy, health, and social care programmes. Beyond academia, I collaborate with stakeholders in the UK and MENA region to promote inclusive, patient-centred care. Fluent in Arabic and English.

After completing my Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree at the University of Bradford, I transitioned into academic and research-focused roles. I served as a Lecturer in Health and Social Care at Leeds Trinity University, where I taught across the BSc programme. In this role, I supervised four undergraduate Level 6 dissertation projects and contributed to the development of teaching content and assignment briefs, particularly within the Research Methods module.

Beyond formal teaching, I am actively engaged in several research networks, including the Medicine Optimisation Research Group, the MEDpharm Group, and the Early Career Qualitative Health Researcher Network. Through these groups, I participate in informal training, collaborative projects, and knowledge exchange activities that support my academic development.

Before beginning my PhD, I undertook specialised training in realist methodologies through Realism at Nottingham (University of Nottingham) and the Realist Hub at Aston University, which provided both theoretical and practical grounding in the evaluation of complex healthcare interventions.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Hamed, N., Bates, C., Khan, M.U. et al. (2025). Understanding the challenges of medicine optimisation among older people (aged 60 years and above) from ethnic minority communities with polypharmacy in primary care: a realist review protocol. Systematic Reviews, 14, 166. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-025-02920-1 (Q1 journal).
• Bates C, Efstathiou N, Sutton C, Hamed N., et al. (2025). Views of key stakeholders on deprescribing preventive medication in people living with dementia: a qualitative systematic review protocol. BMJ Open, 15:e085812. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085812 (Q1 journal).

Manuscripts Under Review

• Hamed N, et al. Realist Review: Understanding the Challenges of Medicine Optimisation among Older People from Ethnic Minority Communities with Polypharmacy in Primary Care. Submitted to BMC Geriatrics (Q1 journal).
• Bates C, Hamed N, et al. The views of healthcare professionals and family members on deprescribing preventive medication in people living with dementia: a qualitative systematic review. Submitted to Age and Ageing (Q1 journal).

Published Protocols (PROSPERO)

• Hamed N, et al. Understanding the challenges of medicine optimisation among older people from ethnic minority communities (aged 60 years and above) with polypharmacy in primary care: a realist review protocol. PROSPERO, Registration No: CRD42023432204.
• Bates C, Hamed N, et al. The views of key stakeholders on deprescribing preventive medication in people living with dementia: a qualitative systematic review protocol. PROSPERO, Registration No: CRD42023476394.

Conferences and Academic Engagements

• Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) – presentation on medicine optimisation in ethnic minority communities (Realist Review), 2024, Bristol, UK.
• International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) – presentation on pharmacy practice and healthcare equity, 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark.
• British Geriatrics Society (BGS) – Presented findings from a realist evaluation on polypharmacy in older ethnic minority populations, 2025, Belfast, UK.
• Aston Postgraduate Research Day – Presented PhD research progression, 2024, Birmingham, UK.
• NIHR Doctoral Training Camp – Participated in workshops on grant writing, interdisciplinary collaboration, and research impact, 2024, Blackburn, UK.

Peer Review and Editorial Service

• Peer Reviewer, Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research (Oxford University Press), 2023–present.
• Invited Reviewer, Age and Ageing (Oxford University Press), 2025.
• Peer Reviewer, BMC Geriatrics (Springer Nature), 2024–present.

• Small Research Grants (PhD, Aston University) – Accumulated over £10,000 for conference travel, training, and research dissemination (2023–25).
• Full Scholarship, Libyan Ministry of Higher Education – awarded for academic excellence (2015–20). The award was based on ranking among the top 10 students nationally in high school examinations (7th highest in the country)
• Trustee Award, Harold & Marjorie Moss Charitable Trust – three consecutive years for research excellence (2023–25).
• Fergus Anderson Prize for Best Scientific Poster, British Geriatrics Society (2025).
• Top 10 Abstracts – Presidential Round, British Geriatrics Society (2025).
• Young Scientist Award Nominee, International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), 2025.
• Best Poster Presentation, Aston Postgraduate Research Day (2024).

• PhD researcher, Aston University.
• Member, Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS).
• Member, British Geriatrics Society (BGS).
• Member, Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC).

• Https://publications.aston.ac.uk/id/eprint/46346/1/PharMED_May_2024.pdf
• https://www.aston.ac.uk/research/hls/pharmaceutical-and-clinical-pharmacy-research-group/medication-management
• Https://www.linkedin.com/in/nesrein-hamed-15a05b99/