Monica Busse is an Allied Health Professional academic specialising in the development and evaluation of complex physical and psychosocial interventions for chronic long term health conditions. Her research focuses on the interplay between physical, behavioural, and mental health factors, with particular emphasis on the promotion of lifelong health and wellbeing and improving access to health services for underserved groups. Most recently, this includes co-leading the LISTEN trial—the first personalised self-management intervention for long COVID tested at scale across England and Wales—alongside two major NIHR-funded interdisciplinary rehabilitation trials (Shoulder Replacement Prehabilitation and Rehabilitating Early (SPRING study) and MulTI-domain Self-management in Older People wiTh OstEoarthritis and Multi-Morbidities (TIPTOE)).

Monica's own career journey has shaped her understanding of the varied paths people take in academia. Beginning as a clinical physiotherapist educated and practising in South Africa, she transitioned to Wales where she was awarded a PhD in 2005 and later secured a Welsh-based NIHR post-doctoral fellowship (2013) and a Post Graduate diploma in Clinical Trials from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. This was followed by various UK and European grants to support her research which has directly informed international clinical practice guidelines, including the 2019 International Guidelines for Huntington's Disease Treatment and 2020 American Academy of Neurology Clinical Recommendations. Monica's experience of navigating different educational systems, managing career transitions, and balancing academic ambitions with personal circumstances has given her authentic insight into the challenges facing academics from diverse backgrounds and at different career stages. She combines her commitment to research excellence with a genuine dedication to creating inclusive environments where colleagues can thrive. She is a certified Executive Coach with European Mentoring and Coaching Council Practitioner Accreditation and Future Leaders Fellows Development Network Mentor.

Research interests

• Complex Intervention Development for individuals with chronic conditions and comorbidities
• Mixed-methods and pragmatic evaluations of healthcare interventions
• Patient and public involvement strategies in complex intervention trials
• Personalised self-management for chronic long-term conditions
• Use of technology in complex interventions in long-term conditions
• Real-world allied health interventions in primary and community care settings
• Rural and remote access to specialised health and care services
• Caregiver support and burden in long-term conditions

Enquiring about potential PhD supervision

If you’re thinking of applying for one of our PhD programmes and are looking for potential supervisors, please email nmpc_pgr_enquiries@kcl.ac.uk listing the names of the supervisors you’ve identified as having expertise in your chosen area, along with your CV and a short research proposal. 

Our Postgraduate Research Team will contact supervisors on your behalf and get back to you. If you have any queries in the meantime, please use the email address above, rather than contacting potential PhD supervisors directly, because they are unable to respond to initial enquiries.