Consultant Nurse in Breast Research at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
About Sue
Sue Hartup is a Consultant Nurse in Research, leading and supporting clinical research activity within breast cancer services. Her role brings together advanced clinical practice, research leadership, and service development to improve outcomes and experiences for people living with and beyond breast cancer.
Full Name: Sue Hartup
Current Role: Consultant Nurse in Breast Research
Organisation: Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Email: s.hartup@nhs.net
Research Topic: Quality of life, survivorship, treatment decision‑making, surveillance strategies, and chronic pain after treatment
NHS R&D Programme: HEE/NIHR Bridging Scheme
Year of Cohort: 2022
Achievements and Research Impact
Since attending the NHS R&D North West programme, Sue has been awarded an NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) grant for a pilot study and an NIHR Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award (SCPRA). She has been appointed as Consultant Nurse in Research and has set up several new clinical trials as both Principal Investigator (PI) and Chief Investigator (CI). Her growing publication portfolio includes multiple peer‑reviewed papers, with one published in The Lancet, reflecting the impact and visibility of her work in breast cancer research.
Publications:
Sue has co-authored key publications in breast cancer research, including:
- Acceptability of acceptance and commitment therapy for medication-decision-making and quality of life in women with breast cancer: A qualitative process evaluation.
- Annual versus less frequent mammographic surveillance in people with breast cancer aged 50 years and older in the UK (Mammo-50): a multicentre, randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority trial.
- EORTC Quality of Life Group and Breast Cancer Group. An international Phase IV field study – psychometric properties of the updated module on assessing quality of life of patients with breast cancer EORTC QLQ-BR45.
- Three and twelve-month analysis of the PROM-Q study: comparison of patient-reported outcome measures using the BREAST-Q questionnaire in pre- vs. sub-pectoral implant-based immediate breast reconstruction.
- A pilot randomised controlled trial of acceptance and commitment therapy for medication decision-making and quality of life in women with breast cancer: the ACTION trial.
- Mammographic surveillance in early breast cancer patients aged 50 years or over: results of the Mammo-50 non-inferiority trial of annual versus less frequent mammography.
- The MARECA (national study of management of breast cancer locoregional recurrence and oncological outcomes) study: protocol for a prospective, multicentre cohort study.
- Managing chronic pain after breast cancer treatments: are web-based interventions the future?
- Exploration of pain assessment and management processes in oncology outpatient services with healthcare professionals: a qualitative study.
Reflections on the NHS R&D NW Programme
The NHS R&D North West programme equipped Sue with essential skills for research leadership, enabling her to secure major NIHR funding and lead high-profile trials. It fostered confidence in integrating research into clinical practice and collaborating across disciplines.
Professional Goals
Sue aims to expand NIHR-funded breast cancer research, lead more nurse-driven trials, and mentor clinical academics to embed evidence-based improvements in survivorship care and symptom management.
Congratulations to Sue for her remarkable progress transforming breast cancer care through rigorous research and patient-focused innovation.
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