Dr Vanessa Er
Research Fellow
LSHTM
15-17 Tavistock Place
London
WC1H 9SH
United Kingdom
I am a Research Fellow with the NIHR School for Public Health Research at LSHTM. I have an academic background in nutrition and have expertise in mixed method research. I am currently working on the evaluation of advertising restrictions on high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks on the Transport for London network.
My research interests include ethnic minority health and health inequalities. I am also interested in the application of systems theory and complexity science in public health research.
My interest in public health originated from my work experience at Bristol Public Health, working mainly in deprived areas of Bristol. Prior to LSHTM, I completed my doctoral research on diet and prostate cancer, and carried out research on children and young people's health with NIHR SPHR at the University of Bristol and DECIPHer: Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement.
Affiliations
Centres
Teaching
I am a seminar leader on the Principles and Practice of Public Health and Issues in Public Health modules. I am also a tutor on the MSc Public Health and MSc Nutrition for Global Health programmes.
Research
I am interested in policy evaluation. I currently lead the process evaluation of the advertising restrictions on HFSS foods and drinks on the TfL network. I also co-lead a pilot project exploring the impact of housing on health using Photovoice with residents of Tower Hamlets living in private, social and temporary accommodation.
My research interest in the application of a systems-lens to evaluation include work on systems-level evaluation guidance for public health practitioners, and an upcoming critical review on systems apporaches to evaluation in public health.
While working at the University of Bristol, my research was mainly on children and young people's health. I have experience conducting process evaluation of a school-based drug prevention intervention, systematic review of interventions for preventing multiple risk behaviours among young people, and dietary analysis for an intervention to increase healthy eating and physical activity among pre-school children.
I am also interested in using technology and participatory approaches to research. Since completing my doctoral degree, I have obtained funding to: 1. Capture the contextual factors associated with eating (tempting moments) in real-time using wearable cameras and mobile phone surveys. 2. Engage with Somali parents about the impact of neighbourhood environment on the health of pre-school children through photography and walkabout. 3. Carry out scoping work with a Women's Football Club in Hargeisa, Somaliland on women's health, focusing on physical activity and nutrition.