About the Centre
Established in 2019, the Centre for Reproductive Research & Communication (CRRC) at BPAS exists to develop and deliver a research agenda that furthers access to evidence-based reproductive healthcare and choices. Through rigorous multidisciplinary research and impactful communication, the CRRC aims to inform policy, practice, and public discourse. We draw directly on BPAS’ own work as a reproductive health provider to inform our agenda and work in collaboration and through strategic partnerships to achieve our mission.
As a research team, we have experience of conducting research on abortion, contraception, pregnancy, and public health. We have expertise in clinical practice, medical ethics and law, epidemiology, evaluation research, and the social sciences.
The work of the CRRC is overseen by our Steering Committee.
For more information, please see our Integrated Research and Innovation Strategy (2025- 2030).
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Meet the team
Patricia trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center followed by a Fellowship in Family Planning & Contraceptive Research and Master’s Degree in Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. She has been Director of the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication since 2020, and served as Medical Director at BPAS from 2007-2024 before taking up the post of Director of Research and Innovation.
Patricia's research interests include quality in abortion care, medical and surgical abortion service delivery, and optimal methods for second trimester abortion. She has published a number of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on family planning and has contributed to evidence-based guidance produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, and Society of Family Planning. Patricia serves as an Associate Editor for the journal BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, an Advisor to the charity Abortion Talk, and as Co-Chair of the British Society of Abortion Care Providers.
Rebecca is a multidisciplinary researcher with an MPH from Imperial College London and BA in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge. Her current research encompasses several projects on abortion, contraception, and public health and pregnancy. Rebecca’s interdisciplinary training means she uses wide a range of methods. Recent projects include a systematic review of abortion in low-and-middle income countries, a quantitative evaluation of telemedical abortion services in the UK, and a qualitative exploration of what ‘quality’ of care means to abortion patients.
Rebecca was lead researcher on WRISK, a research-engagement project funded by the Wellcome Trust which aimed to improve our understanding of the way that pregnancy-related risk is communicated.
Rebecca is an Associate Editor for the journal BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health. She was awarded a prestigious NIHR/Wellbeing of Women Doctoral Fellowship in 2023 to study how the introduction of telemedicine has impacted the accessibility and equity of abortion in England and Wales.
You can find Rebecca Blaylock's profile on ORCiD here.
Chloe is a mixed methods researcher with expertise in reproductive health, justice, and rights. She holds an MSc in Gender, Development, and Globalisation from the London School of Economics (LSE). Chloe has over five years of experience conducting and leading research on topics such as abortion and post-abortion care, health equity, and the intersection of technology and reproductive healthcare. She has contributed to impactful projects at MSI Reproductive Choices, the Global Fund for Women, and UNFPA. Chloe shares the Research and Engagement Lead role with Rebecca, working to advance evidence-based reproductive health policies and practices.
Po is a multidisciplinary researcher and evaluation specialist. Her research aims to improve reproductive health outcomes and healthcare services, particularly for people living with disability and chronic illness. With a BA in Medical Anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), she has worked internationally on ethnographic studies, clinical trials, and mixed-methods evaluations. These include researching menstrual healthcare in China, menopause management in England, and abortion and post-abortion service delivery in Ghana.
Po is also interested in using public and participatory methodologies and inclusive health communication strategies to advance equitable health outcomes. In 2021, she founded an online journal that published diverse and accessible discussions in global health, leading a team of over 70 editors and contributors across 12 countries. She remains committed to actively decolonizing and (re)distributing health information in her work and activism. You can find Po’s ORCID here: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0993-8941
Rachel is a qualitative researcher with an LLM in Medical Law and Ethics, MA in Methods of Social Research, and LLB in European Legal Studies from the University of Kent. Her current research focuses on social and policy regulation of behaviour and maternal consumption during pregnancy,with a strong focus on socio-legal methods. Rachel is currently a SeNSS (ESRC) funded socio-legal PhD student at the University of Kent, exploring the communication of risk with regards to medication use during pregnancy, post- Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board [2015].
You can find Rachel Arkell's profile on ORCiD here.
Nicole is a biomedical scientist with a passion for women’s health, combining practical clinical experience with research expertise. She holds a Biomedical Science degree from Solent University and has built a foundation in women’s health research through completing courses such as Improving the Health of Women, Children, and Adolescents: From Evidence to Action with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Women’s Health After Motherhood with Trinity College Dublin. In parallel, Nicole has worked in healthcare for over two years, gaining hands-on experience as an administrative and healthcare assistant in the clinics at BPAS, where she supports both patient care and clinic operations. Her work reflects a commitment to advancing women’s health through both evidence-based knowledge and direct clinical practice.
Kathryn is an experienced healthcare professional with a strong interest in service improvement and the integration of technology in reproductive healthcare. Since joining BPAS in 2019, she has worked in both client-facing and operational roles, progressing from a bank Client Care Coordinator to her current position as a Support Services Coordinator in Clinic. In this role, she ensures the smooth running of clinic operations, balancing administrative responsibilities with hands-on tasks that support staff and patients.
Alongside her practical experience, she is currently contributing to research on the potential of AI technology to enhance BPAS services for both patients and staff. She is also an active member of the People Forum, helping to shape workplace culture within the organisation.
Hannah McCulloch is a mixed methods researcher with nearly a decade of experience in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) research. She holds an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and has worked across academic, NHS, NGO, and femtech settings in the UK and internationally. From 2021- 2025, Hannah was an Evaluation Researcher at the CRRC. She led evaluations of clinical and operational changes in BPAS care, with a focus on pain management in medical abortion, young people’s care and telemedicine services. Now an affiliate member of the CRRC, Hannah currently works as an independent SRH research and evaluation consultant. She is particularly interested in person-centred abortion care, self-care innovations in SRH, and improving health equity through inclusive and impactful research.
See Hannah’s LinkedIn and her ORCID for more information, including her publications.
