Leah McLaughlin

Leah Mc Laughlin is a health services researcher at Bangor University whose work explores how evidence can better shape health and care services, particularly in areas involving ethically complex, emotionally charged decisions. She has contributed to several major UK studies on organ donation and transplantation, including the evaluation of opt-out consent legislation and research into family decision-making at the end of life.

Leah’s interests span organ and tissue donation, transplant, kidney disease, reproductive health, women’s health and service improvement, with a particular focus on complexity science and real-world decision-making. Her recent work has helped shape public education, NHS policy, and clinical practice. She is currently helping to develop a new programme of research on paediatric organ donation, and is exploring the ethical, societal, and health service challenges of emerging transplantation technologies, including xenotransplantation.

With a background in the creative arts, Leah brings a distinctive interdisciplinary lens to her research. She specialises in co-production and patient and public involvement, and works closely with partners across NHS Blood and Transplant, academic networks, and third sector organisations. She is convenor of the British Sociological Association’s Deconstructing Donation group and a member of the European Platform on Ethical, Legal and Psychosocial Aspects of Organ Transplantation, public issues working group. In 2024, she was selected to join the Welsh Crucible programme for future research leaders in Wales.