Centre for Abuse, Trauma and Suicide Studies (CATS)

Advancing Technology, Safety and Wellbeing in a Complex Digital Age

About us

About us

Centre for Abuse, Trauma and Suicide Studies (CATS) logo

Centre for Abuse, Trauma & Suicide Studies (CATS) is an interdisciplinary research centre at Middlesex University focused on trauma, abuse and wellbeing related topics such as suicide prevention across the lifespan. The Centre combines the expertise of Psychology, Criminology and Computer Sciences to conduct rigorous, ethical and community-relevant research. CATS addresses issues of abuse, adversity and trauma and their impacts on victims, perpetrators, and professionals’ mental health and wellbeing. Much of the work is digitally and internet-informed – examining new online harms and utilising innovative online methods for assessment. At the same time, the Centre maintains a strong human focus, considering the lived experiences of those involved in abuse (including both survivors and practitioners) and ensuring research findings inform policy and professional practice for maximum impact. In addition to research, CATS provides consultancy, practitioner training, media dissemination, and knowledge exchange on a broad range of trauma and wellbeing-related topics, helping to translate research into practice and policy improvements.

Directors

Directors

Founded in 2008 by Emeritus Professor Antonia Bifulco and Professor Julia Davidson OBE as the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies, CATS was re-launched in 2025 and has since been led by Co-Directors:

  • Professor Lisa Marzano – Professor of Psychology and until recently Theme Director for Equity and Improvements in Health and Wellbeing at Middlesex University. For over twenty years she has worked closely with a range of stakeholders, academic collaborators and experts by lived experience to develop an interdisciplinary evidence-base to reduce suicides and self-harm in safe, effective and more compassionate ways. She has held a number of large research grants. Current areas of work include a focus on suicidal behaviour and ‘life-saving interventions’ in public places, ‘online harms’ and technological innovations in suicide prevention, and timely monitoring of suspected suicides at local and national level.
  • Prof Elena Martellozzo, PhD – Professor in Criminology who has been working in the area of cyber violence for 15+ years and is now recognised as a world leading expert in the area, focusing primarily on online harms, online safety and is involved in policy debates at the intersection of technology and human behaviour. One of Elena’s key focuses is to develop innovative research and share her findings in international fora. She continually attracts research funding in highly sensitive areas with government departments including the police, the Internet Watch Foundation, the NSPCC, the Children Commissioner for England, the Home Office. She has acted as an advisor on child online protection and online violence against women and girls to governments and practitioners in Italy (since 2004) and Bahrain (2016) to support the development of national child internet safety policy frameworks.
  • Associate Professor Dr Mahdi Aiash – Associate Professor in Computer Science and Cybersecurity with extensive expertise in practical cybersecurity, AI-driven security, and exploitation research. He leads the Cybersecurity Research Group at Middlesex University and has a strong background in industry collaboration, hands-on training, and research. As Director of Technology Safety and Digital Security at CATS, he plays a key role in integrating cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions into the Centre’s mission of addressing online harms, exploitation, and digital safety. His research focuses on AI for cybersecurity, threat intelligence, penetration testing, and safeguarding digital environments from emerging risks.
Team members

Team members

  • Dr Jeffrey DeMarco - Associate Director and Forensic Psychologist
  • Dr Ruth Spence – Senior Research Fellow in Psychology
  • Dr Laura Joyner – Researcher in Psychology
  • Dr Andrea Oskis – Senior Lecturer in Psychology
  • Dr Catherine Jacobs, CPsychol – Honorary Researcher specialising in attachment and parenting assessments
  • Dr Jenni Ward – Associate Professor of Criminology
  • Boglárka Meggyesfalvi – Researcher in Child Protection and Online Safety
  • Professor Erminia Colucci – Professor of Visual Psychology and Global Mental Health
  • Sophie Brown – Research Assistant
  • Jacob Greaves – Research Assistant

  • Damon Boughen – PhD researcher focusing on community-led youth suicide prevention
  • Jude Smit – PhD researcher exploring student mental health and suicide attempts

  • Dr Ilkay Başak Adıgüzel – Postdoctoral researcher from Hacettepe University, studying violence against women
  • Dr Tamara Fedotiuk – Postdoctoral researcher from Kyiv University, focusing on Ukrainian refugees and trauma

  • Professor Miranda Horvath – Expert in Violence Against Women and Girls research
  • Dr Kari Davies – Principal Academic in Psychology, Bournemouth University
  • Dr Paul Bleakley – Lecturer in Criminology
  • Professor Larysa Zasiekina – Trauma researcher and Visiting Fellow
Research projects

Research projects

CATS conducts numerous research projects with practical impact. Below is an exemplary list of projects (ongoing and completed) from the last few years:

Evaluation of new community-based suicide prevention hubs.

A £7m UKRI-funded collaboration led by KCL on improving population mental health and reducing inequalities.

An NIHR-funded study into the effectiveness and unintended consequences of suicide prevention technologies.

Working with National Highways and TRL to reduce road-related suicides and improve evaluation of interventions.

Research using new data sources to understand victim profiles and risk in sexual offense cases.

A Technology Coalition-funded project investigating the impact of exposure to child abuse materials on content moderators and developing interventions.

A Devon & Cornwall Police-funded project developing an algorithm to identify high-risk domestic abuse perpetrators and evaluating its implementation.

REPHRAIN-funded research (co-led by Prof. Julia Davidson, UEL and Prof. Martellozzo) examining the emerging metaverse and its potential risks to children, producing guidance for safer immersive digital environments.

An Innovate UK project creating an AI learning assistant to support neurodiverse professionals in cybersecurity (addressing Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Dysgraphia).

Developing an AI-driven tool to harden Linux systems by intelligent configuration of kernel capabilities (minimising security vulnerabilities).

A proactive security assessment and threat-hunting solution for Linux Mandatory Access Controls, leveraging the MITRE ATT&CK framework funded by Innovate UK.

A toolkit integrating multiple testing strategies to uncover blind spots in machine learning systems, improving ML security and reliability.

Collaboration with West Midlands Police on using predictive modelling to prioritise high-harm stalking and harassment suspects.

Youth Justice Board pilot evaluation (with Prof. A. Goodman) of a supervised housing scheme to reduce youth reoffending.

Major grant-funded evaluation of a new police tool for identifying stalking cases; in partnership with multiple UK police forces.

Development of web-based versions of CATS’s established assessments (in partnership with Youth-In-Mind) to enable efficient online delivery of trauma and attachment measures.

Mixed-method evaluation of a pilot programme for parents at risk of recurrent care proceedings, aimed at breaking cycles of child removal.

Collaborations and partners

Collaborations and partners

CATS has a wide network of institutional and project partners, reflecting its emphasis on applied research and knowledge exchange. Key partners and collaborators include:

  • herEthical.AI – A specialised AI consultancy providing machine learning solutions to police and third-sector organisations, aimed at combating gender-based violence through technology.
  • Resolver – Stands at the forefront of risk intelligence, safeguarding over $6.5 trillion in market cap for more than 1,000 global companies. Leveraging AI with deep human expertise, our innovative Risk Intelligence Platform provides comprehensive visibility into enterprise-wide risks, enabling prioritised, timely, and agile responses.
  • REPHRAIN - the National Research Centre on Privacy, Harm Reduction and Adversarial Influence Online. 
  • National Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC)
  • EU Child Safety Online
  • Child and Family Training (CFT)
  • Secure Base Solutions (SBS)
  • Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England
  • Action for Children
  • Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)
  • St Christopher’s Fellowship (SCF)
  • NatCen (National Centre for Social Research)
  • Isle of Man Government
  • St Michael’s Fellowship (SMF)
Contact information

Contact information

Centre for Abuse, Trauma & Suicide Studies (CATS), Middlesex University – Town Hall (TG47), The Burroughs, Hendon, London NW4 4BT. For more details and current updates, please visit the CATS external website.