Professor Annette Hand is the first Clinical Academic Professor of Nursing across the Northeast and North Cumbria, holding a joint full-time appointment between Northumbria University and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Renowned for her international research profile, Professor Hand has made significant and sustained contributions to the care and management of people with Parkinson’s disease and their carers, evidenced by high-quality research outputs, impactful policy leadership, and membership in major regional, national, and international research bodies.

Renowned for her international research profile, Professor Hand has made significant and sustained contributions to the care and management of people with Parkinson’s disease and their carers, evidenced by high-quality research outputs, impactful policy leadership, and membership in major regional, national, and international research bodies. Her academic contributions include 11 book chapters and 53 publications—five as first author in leading international journals—and she was a key contributor to the Northumbria University 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

Professor Hand has been instrumental in advancing the NMAHPs research agenda mentoring the next generation of NMAHP researchers and supporting the development of research strategy.  Professor Hand is the director of the NIHR NENC INSIGHTs, a programme that has been designed in inspire and support earlier careers into research across the region.

Professor Hand’s leadership extends beyond academia to influence clinical innovation, policy, and service improvement. She has served as Clinical Lead for Nursing within the Parkinson’s Excellence Network and Vice Chair of the national Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist Association and she sits on a number of NIHR and PUK boards and funding panels.

Her research has pioneered new insights and tools, such as the Non-Motor Symptom Questionnaire for Parkinson’s disease, which is now widely used in clinical practice and research globally. Professor Hand is also regularly invited to present at major national and international conferences, advised the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and consulted for broadcast media.

She holds a Professional Doctorate in Healthcare, a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Research with distinction, and a Master of Arts in Advanced Practice, Nursing. Professor Hand is a supervisor for PhD and MSc students, a reviewer for numerous journals, and has a strong academic publication record and a history of securing research funding from the NIHR and other major bodies. Her work continues to shape national strategies, improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s and their families, and develop the future of nursing and healthcare research.

Professor Hand is a clinical academic, specialising in the field of Parkinson's disease. She has worked within specialist Parkinson’s services in the UK for over 28 years, starting as the Research Associate before obtaining a nurse specialist post.  For over 21 years she worked as a Nurse Consultant in Parkinson’s.  As a clinician her main role is to support patients and their families and support a team of Parkinson’s specialist nurses. As an autonomous practitioner she is responsible for diagnosis and management of all stages of Parkinson’s.  She has worked on and been involved with multiple research studies at a local, national and international level, including non-motor symptoms, sexual dysfunction, Information Prescriptions and Care Needs in Parkinson’s.  Her doctorate focused on understanding carer stain and its relationship to care home placement for people with Parkinson’s. Annette also has held the UK national role of Clinical Lead for Nursing within the Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network, as part of the clinical leadership team. This role was developed to support service improvements through education, knowledge exchange and evidence based practice and support the role of the Parkinson’s Nurse across the UK.

Annette was appointed to Professor of Nurisng - Clinical Academic in July 2021, a joint appointment between Northumbria University and Newcastle upon tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to drive a collaborative nursing, midwifery and Allied Health Professional agenda in research, education and clinical practice.

Professor Hand is a clinical academic, specialising in the field of Parkinson's disease, nurisng research, patient safety and informal carers. Her research interests include examining motor and non-motor features of Parkinson's, sexual dysfunction, care needs in Parkinson's and transitions of care. She is led on a longitudinal study examining the care needs in people with moderate to advanced disease and aspects related to care home placement and a project that examined the scope and role of the Parkinson's Nurse across the UK. She is currently leading an NIHR award to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a digital intervention for carers for people with Parkinson's. Professor Hand is also part of the Newcastle PSRC, and co-theme lead looking at safer transitions of care.