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).
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.
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 Education and Training Committee.
You can find Patricia Lohr's profile on ORCiD here.
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.
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 bio-ethical and 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.
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.
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 is a mixed methods researcher with an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She has almost five years’ experience in the evaluation of innovative sexual and reproductive health service provision in the UK and in Kenya. Recent evaluations that she has conducted include a service evaluation examining the safety of remote chlamydia treatment services across England, a mixed methods study exploring the accuracy of self-reported blood pressure and BMI given by those obtaining the combined pill from an online service in South East London, and a cross-sectional study exploring patient compliance with advice provided by a WhatsApp-based contraception service in Nairobi, Kenya. She joins the CRRC as an Evaluation Researcher, conducting service evaluations of BPAS' clinical services.
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