Professor Nick Francis PhD, MD, BA, PGD (Epidemiology), MRCGP
Professor of Primary Care Research
Professor Francis is a Professor of Primary Care Research in the School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education.
His main research interest is in helping patients and healthcare professionals prevent and manage infections in order to improve outcomes and reduce antimicrobial resistance.
Professor Francis leads research that focuses on the management of respiratory, urinary and skin problems in a primary care setting, with a particular focus on the prevention, diagnosis and management of infections and antimicrobial stewardship. Key area of interest include: COPD, asthma, skin infections and acne.
He brings extensive experience and expertise in leading clinical research including randomised controlled trials, observational studies, developing complex interventions, and epidemiological studies using large routine healthcare datasets.
He has helped to secure grant and infrastructure funding worth more than £46M, has published widely in high-impact journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet and British Medical Journal, and contributes to research leadership and impact through membership in national and international bodies such as the National Institute for Health Research (funding panel member), European Centre for Disease Control (Technical Advisory Committee), Department of Health (antimicrobial resistance working group), Public Health England (antimicrobial stewardship), Royal College of General Practitioners (Research Paper of the Year Panel Chair), Society for Academic Primary Care (Heads of Department Secretary).
Qualifications
PhD, Primary Care Medicine, Cardiff University, 2010
PGD, Epidemiology, University of London, 2007
MD, Medicine, University of Western Ontario, 1992
BA, Life Sciences, Queen’s University, 1990
Academic appointments held
2019 – ongoing Professor of Primary Care Research, School of Primary Care, Population Sciences and Medical Education, University of Southampton (6 sessions per week)
2019 – ongoing Clinical Director – CRN Wessex Division 5
2017 – ongoing Associate Senior Researcher, Academic Centre for Primary Care, University of Oslo (2 sessions per week)
2014 – 2018 Reader, Division of Population Medicine, Cardiff University
2010 – 2014 Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Cardiff University
2005 – 2010 MRC Fellow/Clinical Lecturer, Cardiff University
2003 – 2005 Associate Academic GP (Academic Fellow), Cardiff University