Dr Marie Kotzur
- Lecturer in Health Psychology/Behavioural Sciences related to Dentistry (Dental School)
- Honorary Research Fellow (School of Health & Wellbeing)
telephone:
0141 211 9802
email:
Marie.Kotzur@glasgow.ac.uk
University of Glasgow Dental School, Room K35, Level 8, Dental Public Health Department, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JZ
Biography
I am a behavioural scientist with a background in health psychology and passionate about reducing health inequalities in oral health and cancer outcomes. I am a founding member of the Cancer Behaviour Research Group.
My work focuses on evaluating a family support intervention for early childhood toothbrushing within Childsmile—the national child oral health improvement programme for Scotland. Since joining the University of Glasgow in 2015, I have worked on several projects to understand barriers to cancer screening participation and to support underprivileged groups (e.g. residents in low socioeconomic areas, ethnic minority groups, people with learning disabilities) with preventing and finding cancer early. My expertise is in mixed-method and participatory research as well as public and patient involvement and engagement in research.
Qualifications
2017 PhD in Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland
2010 BA(Hons) Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland
Appointments
2023 Lecturer in Health Psychology/Behavioural Science related to Dentistry
2018 Research Associate
2015 Research Assistant
Research interests
My work aims to improve oral health and cancer outcomes by reducing health inequalities in prevention and health promotion and access to health services through behavioural science.
Areas of expertise:
- Behavioural science
- Health psychology
- Health inequalities
- Motivation
- Decision-making
- Participatory research
- Mixed methodology research
- Patient and public involvement and engagement in research
Key projects:
- STAR tool process evaluation of a motivational interview intervention to support families with supervised toothbrushing (2023, ongoing)
- Improving access to cancer screening among people with intellectual disabilities: development of a complex intervention (2021-2024)
- A faith-based intervention for Muslim women in Scotland to encourage uptake of breast, bowel and cervical cancer screening (2020-2021)
- Increasing uptake of bowel cancer screening: development and trial of a FIT planning support tool (2018-2023)
- What can we learn about how to improve uptake of bowel cancer screening from higher rates of uptake in breast and cervical screening programmes? (2015-2018)
Grants
Grants and Awards listed are those received whilst working with the University of Glasgow.
- Evaluation of the STAR tool in Childsmile
NHS Lanarkshire
2023 - 2024
- Improving uptake of breast, bowel and cervical cancer screening among Muslim women: a feasibility study
Cancer Research UK
2023 - 2026
- Vet survey of antimicrobial use in sheep flocks in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Quality Meat Scotland
2022 - 2022
- Improving access to cancer screening among people with intellectual disabilities: development phase of a complex intervention.
Cancer Research UK
2021 - 2022
- Improving access to cancer screening among people with intellectual disabilities: development phase of a complex intervention.
Cancer Research UK
2021 - 2024
- A faith-based intervention for Muslim women in Scotland to encourage uptake of breast and cervical cancer screening: A community based participatory approach.
Scottish Government
2020 - 2021
- Increasing Uptake Of Bowel Cancer Screening: Development And Trial Of A FIT Planning Support Tool
Chief Scientist Office
2018 - 2021
Supervision
Potential students
I welcome enquiries from potential students interested in using behavioural science to improve oral health and/or cancer outcomes.
Further information about postgraduate research at the Glasgow Dental School and currently advertised PhD project can be found here.
Teaching
I contribute to teaching and supervision on the following courses:
-
Bachelor in Dental Surgery – Patient Management and Health Promotion (behavioural science, communication, health inequalities)
-
Masters in Public Health – Oral Health Module (behavioural Science, dissertation supervision)
Professional activities & recognition
Prizes, awards & distinctions
- 2023: Early Career Award (International Society of Behavioral Medicine)
- 2022: Participant in the EHPS Synergy Expert Meeting, Bratislava, Slovakia (European Health Psychology)
- 2021: Selected to participate in The Glasgow Crucible leadership development programme (University of Glasgow)
- 2019: Lillian and Herbert Smith Fund to support International Congress of Behavioural Medicine bursaries for delegates from low- and middle-income countries (The Royal Society of Edinburgh)
- 2019: Glasgow Knowledge Exchange Small Grants Fund (University of Glasgow)
- 2018: Cancer Prevention Innovation Grant to participate in the sandpit workshop 'Implementing Digital Health Interventions for Cancer Prevention', Potomac, MD, USA (National Cancer Institute/ Cancer Research UK)
- 2018: Participant in Synergy Expert Meeting, Galway, Ireland (European Health Psychology Society)
- 2016: Prevention Innovation Grant to participate in the associated collaboration generating workshop, Oxford, UK (Cancer Research UK)
- 2015: CREATE workshop grant to attend the CREATE workshop and EHPS conference, Limassol, Cyprus (European Health Psychology Society)
Grant committees & research advisory boards
- 2022 - 2024: Cancer Research UK, Early Detection & Diagnosis Expert Review Panel
Professional & learned societies
- 2021 - present: Evaluation and Dissemination Officer, European Health Psychology Society Synergy Board
- 2019 - 2021: Member, Local Organising Committee, International Congress of Behavioural Medicine
- 2017 - 2021: Membership Secretary, UK Society of Behavioural Medicine Executive Committee
- 2015 - present: Full member, UK Society for Behavioural Medicine
- 2015 - present: Member, European Health Psychology Society CREATE
- 2014 - present: Member, European Health Psychology Society