Dr Melanie Handley is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care (CRIPACC), in the School of Health and Social Work, University of Hertfordshire. Her research focuses on health and care services for people living with multiple long-term conditions. 

She recently led the CONNECT study, working with people living with dementia, family supporters and hospital staff to co-design an intervention that facilitates person-centred approaches to hospital care. Her current research includes co-leading the MEDAL study that will model how people living with and supporting someone with dementia alongside other long-term conditions access and navigate support from health, care and community services. 

Melanie employs and combines a range of approaches including realist methodology, systems thinking and co-production. Her research is multi-disciplinary and aims to  establish what works and why for people with lived experience and those working in services.