Professor Irene Higginson OBE
Director of Better Health and Care Futures
- Founding Professor, Cicely Saunders Institute for Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation
- Professor of Palliative Care & Policy
Research interests
- Palliative care
Biography
Professor Irene Higginson, OBE, is the Director of Better Health and Care Futures. She is Professor of Palliative Care & Policy, Founding Professor of the Cicely Saunders Institute, Honorary Consultant in Palliative Medicine, NIHR Emeritus Senior Investigator and Fellow of the Academy of Sciences.
She is dual-trained and registered in palliative medicine and public health medicine. Professor Higginson is active in research and education and in the top 1% of highly cited academics. She teaches MSc, medical and PhD students. Through her current research programmes, she investigates treatments, symptom management, access and services in palliative care. She has published over 700 articles in peer-reviewed journals, plus several books.
Professor Higginson is Scientific Director for the charity Cicely Saunders International. Her research has pioneered better ways to measure outcomes and quality of life, evaluate palliative care especially new services and interventions, epidemiology, effectiveness, psychosocial care, symptom assessment, breathlessness, cachexia/anorexia, and multi-morbidity.
Research interests
Quality of life and outcome measurements; evaluation of palliative care especially of new services and interventions; epidemiology; effectiveness; psychosocial care; symptom assessment; breathlessness; cachexia/anorexia; multi-morbidity; COVID-19
Research profile
Research
C-POS: Children’s Palliative care Outcome Scale
C-POS will be a person-centred outcome measure to be used by children, young people and families affected by life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
Project status: Ongoing
Better Treatments for Refractory Breathlessness
Better Treatments for Refractory Breathlessness (BETTER-B) aims to improve the lives of people with severe breathlessness.
Project status: Completed
Big & Routine Data-Based Palliative & End of Life Care Research
The big data research projects include a range of research studies using large-scale routinely collected datasets to explore various end-of-life outcomes.
Project status: Ongoing
International Access Rights & Empowerment II
IARE II is an observational study of frail older people who do not have access to specialist palliative care services.
Project status: Ongoing
Better End of Life Project
Understanding experiences of dying, death, and bereavement in the UK, and compelling local and national policy-makers to act to improve people’s experiences.
Project status: Ongoing
Understanding Factors that Influence End-of-Life Decisions in Older Adults with Dementia
Investigating the systems-level factors that contribute to burdensome end-of-life care in older adults with dementia.
Project status: Ongoing
Understanding Factors that Influence Why People with Dementia Make Transitions from the Community to Acute Hospital Care Settings in the Last Months of Life
Utilising routine data to understand why people with dementia move between healthcare settings in the months preceding their death.
Project status: Ongoing
Understanding the Impact of Community Health & Social Care Services on Hospitalisation in the Last Months of Life
Examining primary and community health care and hospital admissions among people with cancer in their last 90 days of life.
Project status: Ongoing
Methods for Researching End of Life Care - Processes of consent
Methods for Researching End of Life Care (MORECare) is developing best practice guidance and processes of consent for adults lacking capacity.
Project status: Completed
Managing Care for Adults During Clinical Uncertainty in Community Hospitals
Development and feasibility evaluation of a new Symptom & Psychosocial Assessment & Communication Evaluation (SPACE) tool.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Professor Irene Higginson recognised as a Highly Cited Researcher in the world
Highly Cited Researchers List names the top 1% in their field in the world by citations.
Better Health & Care Hub set to tackle global health and care challenges
Initiative will address the rising tide of inequity, multimorbidity, and complex conditions.
King's draws together expertise to make the world healthier and advance our understanding of intelligence
Two new multidisciplinary research institutes have been created at King’s to help tackle major challenges for society and find innovative ways to advance...
Navigating the NHS, present and future
Annette Boaz, Irene Higginson and Mary Malone outline the challenges facing healthcare
King's colleagues attend Parliamentary reception to discuss new Impact Centre for Palliative and End-of-Life Care
The reception, hosted by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, was focused on improving palliative and end-of-life care and reducing inequalities.
Professor Vibhu Paudyal appointed new Professor of Health Services Research & Inequalities
Vibhu Paudyal, a leading researcher and educator in inclusion health has been appointed Professor of Health Services Research & Inequalities within the...
Celebrating NMPC staff and student success for International Women's Day 2024
To celebrate IWD 2024, in Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care we're celebrating the impact and successes of women in the Faculty.
Professor Irene Higginson named #30 in top UK female scientist rankings
The leading academic research portal, Research.com has announced its list of Top Female Sciences in 2023.
King's academics make the Best Female Scientists in the World 2023 Ranking
Five scientists from King’s have been ranked as some of the top female scientists in the world for this year by Research.com.
Cicely Saunders International welcomes new Life President and Chair
John McGrath has stepped down as Chair and Trustee to become a Life President of Cicely Saunders International, alongside former Trustee Christopher Saunders....
Events
Better Health & Care Hub launch at the House of Lords
In support of the Better Health & Care Hub, Baroness Mary Watkins hosted an event at the House of Lords to discuss the pivotal role of nursing, midwifery, and...
Please note: this event has passed.
Perseverance Trust Nightingale Fellowship Lecture 2022
This annual online lecture features talks from our staff, students and Nightingale Fellowship Award winners.
Please note: this event has passed.
Cicely Saunders International Annual Lecture 2020
Palliative care in an era of COVID-19: Perspectives from three continents
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Navigating the NHS, present and future: how might an incoming government respond?
Ahead of the general election PROFESSOR IRENE HIGGINSON looks at how the NHS can move forward, from failings and criticisms and into a better future.
Spotlight
Transforming the management of breathlessness in advanced illness
The drug-free support helping people cope with breathlessness
- MSc in Palliative Care: Applying Epidemiology in Palliative Care (7MMPAC08)
- Research Methods & Statistics in Palliative Care (7MMPAC01)
- PhD Supervision - open to taking PhD students in the areas of interest above; active programme of supervising a small number of students as first supervisor.
Research
C-POS: Children’s Palliative care Outcome Scale
C-POS will be a person-centred outcome measure to be used by children, young people and families affected by life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
Project status: Ongoing
Better Treatments for Refractory Breathlessness
Better Treatments for Refractory Breathlessness (BETTER-B) aims to improve the lives of people with severe breathlessness.
Project status: Completed
Big & Routine Data-Based Palliative & End of Life Care Research
The big data research projects include a range of research studies using large-scale routinely collected datasets to explore various end-of-life outcomes.
Project status: Ongoing
International Access Rights & Empowerment II
IARE II is an observational study of frail older people who do not have access to specialist palliative care services.
Project status: Ongoing
Better End of Life Project
Understanding experiences of dying, death, and bereavement in the UK, and compelling local and national policy-makers to act to improve people’s experiences.
Project status: Ongoing
Understanding Factors that Influence End-of-Life Decisions in Older Adults with Dementia
Investigating the systems-level factors that contribute to burdensome end-of-life care in older adults with dementia.
Project status: Ongoing
Understanding Factors that Influence Why People with Dementia Make Transitions from the Community to Acute Hospital Care Settings in the Last Months of Life
Utilising routine data to understand why people with dementia move between healthcare settings in the months preceding their death.
Project status: Ongoing
Understanding the Impact of Community Health & Social Care Services on Hospitalisation in the Last Months of Life
Examining primary and community health care and hospital admissions among people with cancer in their last 90 days of life.
Project status: Ongoing
Methods for Researching End of Life Care - Processes of consent
Methods for Researching End of Life Care (MORECare) is developing best practice guidance and processes of consent for adults lacking capacity.
Project status: Completed
Managing Care for Adults During Clinical Uncertainty in Community Hospitals
Development and feasibility evaluation of a new Symptom & Psychosocial Assessment & Communication Evaluation (SPACE) tool.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Professor Irene Higginson recognised as a Highly Cited Researcher in the world
Highly Cited Researchers List names the top 1% in their field in the world by citations.
Better Health & Care Hub set to tackle global health and care challenges
Initiative will address the rising tide of inequity, multimorbidity, and complex conditions.
King's draws together expertise to make the world healthier and advance our understanding of intelligence
Two new multidisciplinary research institutes have been created at King’s to help tackle major challenges for society and find innovative ways to advance...
Navigating the NHS, present and future
Annette Boaz, Irene Higginson and Mary Malone outline the challenges facing healthcare
King's colleagues attend Parliamentary reception to discuss new Impact Centre for Palliative and End-of-Life Care
The reception, hosted by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, was focused on improving palliative and end-of-life care and reducing inequalities.
Professor Vibhu Paudyal appointed new Professor of Health Services Research & Inequalities
Vibhu Paudyal, a leading researcher and educator in inclusion health has been appointed Professor of Health Services Research & Inequalities within the...
Celebrating NMPC staff and student success for International Women's Day 2024
To celebrate IWD 2024, in Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care we're celebrating the impact and successes of women in the Faculty.
Professor Irene Higginson named #30 in top UK female scientist rankings
The leading academic research portal, Research.com has announced its list of Top Female Sciences in 2023.
King's academics make the Best Female Scientists in the World 2023 Ranking
Five scientists from King’s have been ranked as some of the top female scientists in the world for this year by Research.com.
Cicely Saunders International welcomes new Life President and Chair
John McGrath has stepped down as Chair and Trustee to become a Life President of Cicely Saunders International, alongside former Trustee Christopher Saunders....
Events
Better Health & Care Hub launch at the House of Lords
In support of the Better Health & Care Hub, Baroness Mary Watkins hosted an event at the House of Lords to discuss the pivotal role of nursing, midwifery, and...
Please note: this event has passed.
Perseverance Trust Nightingale Fellowship Lecture 2022
This annual online lecture features talks from our staff, students and Nightingale Fellowship Award winners.
Please note: this event has passed.
Cicely Saunders International Annual Lecture 2020
Palliative care in an era of COVID-19: Perspectives from three continents
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Navigating the NHS, present and future: how might an incoming government respond?
Ahead of the general election PROFESSOR IRENE HIGGINSON looks at how the NHS can move forward, from failings and criticisms and into a better future.
Spotlight
Transforming the management of breathlessness in advanced illness
The drug-free support helping people cope with breathlessness
- MSc in Palliative Care: Applying Epidemiology in Palliative Care (7MMPAC08)
- Research Methods & Statistics in Palliative Care (7MMPAC01)
- PhD Supervision - open to taking PhD students in the areas of interest above; active programme of supervising a small number of students as first supervisor.