Fran Gaiera

My research interests focus on Parkinson’s disease, with particular emphasis on the psychological, psychosocial and behavioural factors that influence quality of life and wellbeing. I am particularly interested in stigma, psychosocial experiences, life satisfaction and the relationship between Parkinson’s symptoms and wider social and psychological outcomes. I am also interested in the role of exercise, physical activity and dance as approaches to supporting movement, wellbeing, participation and quality of life in people living with Parkinson’s disease.

My research incorporates multidisciplinary and multi-method approaches, including quantitative, qualitative and psychobiological methods. I have experience exploring the psychobiological basis of stigma using measures such as heart-rate variability and eye-tracking, alongside research examining lived experiences and health-information needs following a Parkinson’s diagnosis. More broadly, I am interested in how neurological, psychological and contextual factors interact in health and neurodegenerative disease, including the influence of gender and culture on experiences of Parkinson’s disease and engagement with care and interventions.