Biography
Martha is a member of the Long-Term Conditions Group which aims to better understand and improve the lives of people with autoimmune diseases. In particular, she leads the INSPIRE project which investigates the prevalence and impact of neuropsychiatric symptoms in rheumatology patients. She is also leading INSPIRE-Flare, a study exploring the triggers, prevents and order of symptoms in autoimmune disease flares.
Before working at the University of Cambridge, Martha completed a BSc in Maths and Philosophy at Durham University and an MSc in Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London. Her Master’s research explored experiences of menopause among autistic and non-autistic people.
Research supervision
Martha has supervised research projects of MSc Neuroscience students at Kings College London and medical students at the University of Cambridge. She is currently supervising projects exploring:
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Stigma surrounding mental and cognitive symptoms in autoimmune patients (KCL)
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The role of peer support in rheumatology patients (Cambridge)
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The medical experiences of low-income women with autoimmune diseases (Cambridge)
The psychological impact of in-patient restraint among autoimmune encephalitis patients (KCL)
Research
Autoimmune patient experiences; autoimmune disease flares; co-production; cognition and mental health; menopause and autoimmunity; menopause and neurodivergence
Publications
Piper MA, Charlton RA. Common and unique menopause experiences among autistic and non-autistic people: A qualitative study. Journal of Health Psychology. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/13591053251316500
Piper, M. A., Tunks, A., Humfrey, S., Calderwood, L., Tayabali, S., Taylor, S., Kaul, A., Dalby, E., Ahmed, S., Farrington, S., Pollak, T. A., Sloan, M. (Under review) “My world has shrunk”: The impact of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases on patients’ lives. Lancet Rheumatology.
Arunasalam, A., Pollak, T. A., Varshney, A., Bourgeois, J. A., D'Cruz, D., Leschziner, G., Pitkanen, M., Bortoluzzi, A., Calderwood, L., Naidu, K., Dunbar, E., Andreoli, L., Piper, M., Taylor, S., & Sloan, M. (2025). Hallucinations and Related Perceptual Phenomena in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Inflammatory Arthritis: A Cross-sectional Mixed-Methods Study. Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, S2667-2960(25)00486-0. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaclp.2025.05.005
Self-reported cognitive dysfunction in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases: mixed methods analysis of the international INSPIRE study. Varshney A…Piper MA… Rheumatology (Oxford) (accepted Jun 25)
