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. 28 Jan 2026, In: International Journal of Inclusive Education
Beyond ‘firefighting’ health inequalities in times of austerity: local authorities as ambidextrous organisations, Cooper, C., Lhussier, M. 15 Feb 2026, In: Perspectives in Public Health
'Do You Know What I Mean?’: Rhizomatic Biographies and Unbelievable Stories in Trauma Narratives, Astley, T., Lhussier, M., Bilby, C., Cooper, C., Kirton, A., Riley, F. 17 Apr 2026, In: International Review of Qualitative Research
“Like having 16000 tabs open in my head”- unravelling the complexity of safeguarding adults at risk of exploitation, Cooke, K., Lhussier, M. 22 Apr 2026, In: European Journal of Social Work
Community asset mapping: An ethical, strength-based approach to co-production and inclusion, Hall, K., Shrimpton, L., Alderson, H., Lhussier, M., McGovern, R., Sattar, Z., Watson, P., McGovern, W. 10 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. 10 Nov 2025, Public Involvement and Community Engagement in Applied Health and Social Care Research, Leeds, Emerald Publishing
Exploring agency, autonomy and authority among lead tissue viability nurses: a qualitative study, Pagnamenta, F., Rapley, T., Lhussier, M. Dec 2025, In: Nursing Open
‘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

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

Professional Activity

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Invited talk: Webseminar on realist approaches to research 2016

PGR Supervision

Helen Forrow Why we should worry about falls in hospices - a realist evaluation Start Date: 01/03/2020 End Date: 17/10/2025
Helen Forrow Why we should worry about falls in hospices - a realist evaluation Start Date: 01/03/2020