Christian Mallen - NIHR Research Professor in General Practice

Publication date: 22 April 2022

Christian talks about his research experience for the Research Engagement Hub.

Christian trained in clinical medicine in Nottingham and North Staffordshire, completing vocational training in general practice in 2003. He worked clinically as a GP for NHS North Staffordshire.

His academic training was supported by Arthritis Research UK Doctoral Training, Career Progression, and Clinician Scientist Fellowships. This allowed him to develop expertise in the early diagnosis and management of common musculoskeletal disorders in primary care.

He is a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health, and a Founding Fellow of the Faculty of Clinical Informatics.

Christian has been awarded both the Yvonne Carter and John Fry Awards for primary care research.

Professor Mallen's research interests focus on improving the management of common rheumatological complaints in primary care. In particular, Christian is interested in improving the diagnosis and prognosis of musculoskeletal disorders in a general practice setting, both in the UK and in low and middle-income countries.

Christian has active research collaborations with:

  • University of Birmingham - Dr Karim Raza (early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis)
  • University of Warwick - Lilford (NIHR Global Slum Health Unit)
  • University of Essex - Professor Dasgupta (polymyalgia rheumatica). 

He also works closely with Nottingham University academic rheumatology group.

About the writer

Christian Mallen is currently the NIHR Research Professor in General Practice and the interim Director of the Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences. He leads Keele University's Global Health Research and is also the Director of the Wellcome Trust Doctoral Training Programme for Primary Care.

Professor Mallen trained in clinical medicine in Nottingham and North Staffordshire, completing vocational training in general practice in 2003. He worked clinically as a GP for NHS North Staffordshire.

To read more research case studies, visit the Research Engagement Hub.