Monica is a researcher within the Centre for Contextual Behavioural Science, whose research interests include psycho-oncology, eating disorders research, and cognitive neuroscience. Monica teaches a variety of modules offered by the School of Psychology. Monica’s research interests pertain to improving wellbeing in populations with co-occurring physical and mental health concerns. Her current research involves the development and testing of psychological support for cancer survivors. She has also conducted research pertaining to the neuroscience of eating disorders and novel pharmacological treatments for eating disorders. Monica is a Chartered Psychologist and a member of the British Psychological Society Division for Academics, Researchers & Teachers in Psychology.
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Email
monica.leslie@chester.ac.uk -
Telephone
01244 512636
About Dr Monica Leslie
My academic journey began in my hometown of Perth, Australia, where I completed my first degree in Psychology at the University of Western Australia. In Australia, our Honours qualification is delivered as a separate 4th year of study, which was my first real foray into independent research.
As it happened, my Honours supervisor in Australia had an ongoing collaboration with several researchers in the UK, which helped to pave the way for me to move to the UK in 2016 to complete my PhD as an international student at King’s College London.
My PhD then opened up a range of career options, which enabled me to stay in the UK and ultimately join the University of Chester as a Senior Researcher and Lecturer in 2020. Each new stage of my academic journey has opened my eyes to opportunities I never imagined when I first started university, and I feel very lucky to get to work on research and teach the subjects I love every day.
Teaching
Monica contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the School.
Research
Monica is an active researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and cognitive neuroscience research. Monica’s research aims to improving wellbeing in populations with co-occurring physical and mental health concerns.
Monica is currently the senior researcher for the Finding My Way UK project, which is an adaptation and replication trial of online cognitive-behavioural therapy for cancer survivors in the UK.
Published Work
Hulbert-Williams, N. J., Leslie, M., Hulbert-Williams, L., Koczwara, B., Watson, E. K., Hall, P. S., Ashley, L., Coulson, N. S., Jackson, R., Millington, S., The Finding My Way UK Trial Steering Group, & Beatty, L. (2021). The Finding My Way UK Clinical Trial: Adaptation report and protocol for a replication randomized controlled efficacy trial of a web-based psychological program to support cancer survivors. JMIR Research Protocols, 10(9), e31976. doi:10.2196/31976
Hulbert‐Williams, N. J., Leslie, M., Hulbert‐Williams, L., Smith, E., Howells, L., & Pinato, D. J. (2021). Evaluating the impact of COVID‐19 on supportive care needs, psychological distress and quality of life in UK cancer survivors and their support network. European Journal of Cancer Care, e13442.
Leslie, M., Halls, D., Leppanen, J., Sedgewick, F., Lang, K., Fonville, L., Simic, M., Mandy, W., Nicholls, D., Williams, S., & Tchanturia, K. (2021). The neural correlates of a central coherence task in young women with anorexia nervosa. European Eating Disorders Review, 9(5), 744-755. doi:10.1002/erv.2852
Halls, D., Leslie, M., Leppanen, J., Sedgewick, F., Surguladze, S., Fonville, L., ... & Tchanturia, K. (2021). The emotional face of anorexia nervosa: The neural correlates of emotional processing. Human Brain Mapping. doi:10.1002/hbm.25417
Tchanturia, K., Dandil, Y., Li, Z., Smith, K., Leslie, M., & Byford, S. (2021). A novel approach for autism spectrum condition patients with eating disorders: Analysis of treatment cost‐savings. European Eating Disorders Review, 29, 514-518. doi: 10.1002/erv.2760
Leslie, M., Halls, D., Leppanen, J., Sedgewick, F., Smith, K., Hayward, H., ... & Tchanturia, K. (2020). Neural Correlates of Theory of Mind Are Preserved in Young Women With Anorexia Nervosa. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 2348. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.568073
Martins, D., Leslie, M., Rodan, S., Zelaya, F., Treasure, J., & Paloyelis, Y. (2020). Investigating resting brain perfusion abnormalities and disease target-engagement by intranasal oxytocin in women with bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder and healthy controls. Translational psychiatry, 10(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-00871-w
Leslie, M., Leppanen, J., Paloyelis, Y., Treasure, J. (2020). A pilot study investigating the influence of oxytocin on attentional bias to food images in women with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 32(5), e12843. doi:10.1111/jne.12843
Leslie, M., Leppanen, J., Paloyelis, Y., & Treasure, J. (2019). The influence of oxytocin on risk-taking in the balloon analogue risk task among women with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 31(8), e12771. doi:10.1111/jne.12771
Leslie, M., Lambert, E., & Treasure, J. (2019). Towards a Translational Approach to Food Addiction: Implications for Bulimia Nervosa. Current Addiction Reports, 1-8. doi:10.1007/s40429-019-00264-0
Cardi, V., Leppanen, J., Leslie, M., Esposito, M., & Treasure, J. (2019). The use of a positive mood induction video-clip to target eating behaviour in people with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder: An experimental study. Appetite, 133, 400-404.
Leslie, M., Leppanen, J., Paloyelis, Y., & Treasure, J. (2018). The influence of oxytocin on eating behaviours and stress in women with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. doi:10.1016/j.mce.2018.12.014
Leslie, M., Silva, P., Paloyelis, Y., Blevins, J., & Treasure, J. (2018). A systematic review and quantitative meta‐analysis of the effects of oxytocin on feeding. Journal of neuroendocrinology 30(8), e12584. doi:10.1111/jne.12584
Leslie, M., Turton, R., Burgess, E., Nazar, B. P., & Treasure, J. (2018). Testing the addictive appetite model of binge eating: The importance of craving, coping, and reward enhancement. European Eating Disorders Review. doi:10.1002/erv.2621
Treasure, J., Leslie, M., Chami, R., Fernandez-Aranda, F. (2018). Are trans diagnostic models of eating disorders fit for purpose? A consideration of the evidence for food addiction. European Eating Disorders Review 26(2): 83-91. doi:10.1002/erv.2578
Nazar, B. P., Trindade, A. P., Leslie, M., Malloy-Diniz, L. F., Sergeant, J., Treasure, J., & Mattos, P. (2018). Eating disorders impact on vigilance and decision making of a community sample of treatment naive attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder young adults. Frontiers in psychiatry, 9. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00531
Kim, Y.-R., Eom, J-S., Leppanen, J., Leslie, M., & Treasure, J. (2018). Effects of intranasal oxytocin on the attentional bias to emotional stimuli in patients with bulimia nervosa. Psychoneuroendocrinology 91: 75-78. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.02.029
Qualifications
Monica is a Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Monica completed a BSc(Hons) in Psychology at the University of Western Australia. She was awarded a PhD in Psychological Medicine Research by King’s College London for her research investigating the influence of intranasal oxytocin on eating behaviours and stress in women with eating disorders.