Professor Monique Lhussier

Professor

School: Communities and Education

Having graduated as an engineer in biological sciences, with a Masters in cellular nutrition and a PhD in sociology, I am a lifelong researcher. As a social scientist, I have expertise in marginalisation, welfare and wellbeing. My work focuses on understanding processes of engagement for groups which are often deemed ‘hard to reach’ or in situations of social or health precarity. I have expertise in a number of research methodologies and I am particularly known for my innovative work in realist approaches to research.

I am founding Director of the Centre for Health and Social Equity; and social justice lead for the NIHR North East North Cumbria Applied Research Collaboration (https://arc-nenc.nihr.ac.uk/).

I am currently co-leading a £1.5M UKRI funded programme of work to help tackle homelessness in the North East and Cumbria, referred to as See Me North

I have also recently undertaken research on women's experiences of homelessness.

Campus Address

Coach Lane Campus East (H005)

Email Monique

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

I have held awards, as Principal Investigator and collaborator, totalling over £29 million from funders including the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the UK Research and Innovation, which focus on knowledge translation and on the experiences of people who are marginalised or find themselves in situation of social or health precarity.

My research is two pronged. On the one hand it focuses on the experiences of marginalisation, in all of its presentations. I also focus on the pragmatic understanding of ‘what works’ in service delivery to cater for those experiences, and meet the needs of people who may have complex and multiple needs. I use theory to explain the vagaries of public health interventions in their broadest possible sense, with a focus on the broader societal and structural determinants of health. As well as embracing postmodern approaches to research, I have expertise in soft system methodology and realist evaluation and synthesis.

I am currently co-leading a £1.5M UKRI funded programme of work to help tackle homelessness in the North East and Cumbria.

I have also recently undertaken research on women's experiences of homelessness.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Adolescent health: from individual risk behaviours to wellbeing ecosystems: learning from the paradigm shift, Cooper, C., Lhussier, M. 14 Jan 2025, In: International Journal of Inclusive Education
Community asset mapping: An ethical, strength-based approach to co-production and inclusion, Hall, K., Lochhead, L., Alderson, H., Lhussier, M., McGovern, R., Sattar, Z., Watson, P., McGovern, W. 3 Nov 2025, Public Involvement and Community Engagement in Applied Health and Social Care Research, Leeds, Emerald
Community Asset Mapping: Promoting Inclusion and Equity and Countering Stigma in Applied Substance Use Research, McGovern, W., Shrimpton, L., Alderson, H., Hall, K., Lhussier, M., Sattar, Z., Watson, P., McGovern, R. 28 Sep 2025, In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Complexities of conducting dressing selection research for malodourous fungating wounds, Pagnamenta, F., Lopez, V., Desjardin, C., Lhussier, M. 25 Sep 2025, In: Wounds UK
Co-production from the Perspectives of People Who Have Experienced Homelessness, Lhussier, M., Cooper, C. 24 Oct 2025, Public Involvement and Community Engagement in Applied Health and Social Care Research, Leeds, Emerald Publishing
‘If I wasn’t on drugs or I didn’t take anything, I wouldn’t be here’: Mental health ‘problems’ as an unfolding dimension of social harm generated by stigma, Addison, M., Lhussier, M. 15 Mar 2025, Mental Health, Crime and Justice, Cham, Switzerland, Palgrave Macmillan
“If You don’t say It, It doesn’t Exist”: Using Timelines to Uncover Women’s Invisible and Complex Narratives of Multiple Exclusion, McGrath, J., Lhussier, M. 2025, In: International Journal of Qualitative Methods
Introduction to PICE Work and Themes Within the Collection, McGovern, W., Lhussier, M., Alderson, H., Bareham , B. 24 Oct 2025, Public Involvement and Community Engagement in Applied Health and Social Care Research, Leeds, Emerald
Public Involvement and Community Engagement in Applied Health and Social Care Research: Critical Perspectives and Innovative practice, McGovern, W., Alderson, H., Bareham, B., Lhussier, M. 10 Nov 2025
Stigma and the Inverse Care Law: Experiences of ‘Care’ for People Living in Marginalised Conditions, Addison, M., Scott, S., Bambra, C., Lhussier, M. Jan 2025, In: Sociology of Health & Illness

Current and Recent Projects

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Making every community asset count: improving health and reducing inequalities for people experiencing homelessness, Cooper, C. (Principal Investigator), Lhussier, M. (Co Investigator), Arts & Humanities Research Council, 01/02/24 - 31/01/27, £1,255,235.00
Exploring Non-clinical Drug and Alcohol harm and service access experiences of British South Asian youth, Sattar, Z. (Principal Investigator), Lhussier, M. (Co Investigator), Newcastle City Council, 01/04/23 - 31/03/24, £24,211.00
Community Asset Mapping the Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Services, Organisations and Recovery Groups in the Newcastle Area, McGovern, W. (Principal Investigator), Lhussier, M. (Co Investigator), Newcastle City Council, 01/02/23 - 31/01/24, £49,971.00
Building and Evidencing Community Asset Partnerships in Housing and Health to address Health Disparities in North East North Cumbria, Lhussier, M. (Principal Investigator), UK Research and Innovation, 01/11/22 - 31/07/23, £195,356.00