Dr Richard Lowrie (FRPharmS, GPhC, MPC, MSc, PhD, Independent Prescriber)
Reader in Homelessness and Inclusion Health, School of Health in Social Science. Honorary Clinical Pharmacist, NHS Lothian (The Access Place). Lead Pharmacist Research and Development (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)
- Centre for Homelessness & Inclusion Health
- NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
- NHS Lothian
Contact details
- Tel: +44 7971827565
- Email: Richard.lowrie@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
School of Health in Social Science | The University of Edinburgh
2M.10 | Doorway 6, Old Medical School, Teviot Place - City
- Edinburgh
- Post code
- EH8 9AG
Background
Reader in the Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health, University of Edinburgh
Lead Pharmacist - Research and Development, Pharmacy Services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Honorary Clinician (Pharmacist Independent Prescriber) - NHS Lothian
Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer - University of Glasgow
Qualifications
RCGP - Certificate in Drug Misuse, 2017
Social Research Association - Qualitative Research, 2015
University of Aberdeen - Epidemiology, 2013
University of Glasgow, Department of General Practice & Primary Care - PhD, 2005-2012
University of Glasgow, Department of General Practice & Primary Care - PhD, 2005-2009
University of Glasgow, Department of General Practice & Primary Care - MPC, 2002-2005
Health Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen - Certificate in Health Economics, 1999-2000
College of Pharmacy Practice, University of Warwick - MCPP, 1997
School of Pharmacy, Queen's University of Belfast - MSc in Clinical Pharmacy, 1993-1995
School of Pharmacy, University of London - Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy (A), 1992-1993
Strathclyde University, Glasgow - Pharmacy BSc (first class), 1987-1991
Holyrood Secondary School, 1 A-level; 3 CSYS (2 As, B); 6 Highers (5As, 1B); 7 'O' grades (A). Four League and two Scottish Cup winners medals, 1981-1987
Responsibilities & affiliations
2025 - School of Nursing, Subject Area Director for Research
2025 - Co-lead, NAPCRG Homelessness Special Interest Group https://napcrg.org/member-center/specialinterestgroups/
2025 - Senior Editor, Pilot and Feasibility Studies
2023-2025 - National Clinical Advisor for the Reducing Drug Deaths National Innovation Challenge (Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office and UK Government Office for Life Sciences)
2024 - NHS Lothian HSCP. Clinical session (0.1WTE) The Edinburgh Access Place
2023 - St Mungo Medal Award Winner, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (outstanding achievement and contributions to clinical research)
2023 - NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Grand Round, 6 September 2023
2023 - Trial Steering Committee, HOME study (NIHR)
2023 - Joint chair, Society for Academic Primary Care Homelessness and Inclusion Health Committee
2023 - UK and Ireland Lead for Global Homelessness and Inclusion Health collaboration
2023 - Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
2013 - Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Glasgow Department of General Practice and Primary Care
2009 - Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Strathclyde
2000-present - Reviewer, numerous journals, grant awarding bodies, Subject Matter Expert, Homelessness and Inclusion Health (NIHR)
1998-2000 - Robert Gordon’s University, Aberdeen
1992 - Member of General Pharmaceutical Council
Undergraduate teaching
Course organiser: Homelessness and Inclusion Health (Online and Undergraduate); Contemporary Issues in Health and Wellbeing.
Postgraduate teaching
Three PhD students (main supervisor), third supervisor for three others.
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Research summary
Homelessness and Inclusion Health
Clinical trials of pragmatic, complex interventions to improve the health of people who are marginalised.
Knowledge exchange
Published trials and other outputs have led to the setup and continuation of services delivered by clinical pharmacists across the NHS in Scotland and parts of England. More details on request.
Current project grants
Contract for Provision of Support of HCV Treatment for Edinburgh’s Inclusion Health Groups. £44,385, 02/02/2026-01/02/2027 (PI).
Strengths-based, low caseload approach to integrated health, housing and practical support for people experiencing homelessness with multiple complex needs in temporary shelters (hostels): a cluster randomised controlled trial [REACH trial] NIHR 174677. £2M. (Co-I).
Accelerating NHS and Third Sector inclusion health evaluation capacity using experimental and quasi experimental methods. Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), Swindon, UK. £196,000, 01/08/2025-31/01/2027 (PI).
Reducing disparities in health, economic and social outcomes for people facing severe and multiple disadvantages in Scotland’s areas of highest drug misuse deaths: a definitive multicentre randomised controlled trial with parallel process and economic evaluation. UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), Swindon, UK. £2,500,000, July 2024-present (PI).
Past project grants
CSO Drug Deaths Innovation Challenge Fund. National Clinical Adviser. July 2024–Dec 2025. Chief Scientist Office (CSO), Edinburgh, UK. (Salary Award).
Edinburgh Homeless Fitness and Information Technology (FIT) prescription. NHS Lothian Gateway Awards. July 2024. NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK. (Salary Award). (PI).
Understanding the scale, causes, characteristics and potential solutions to homelessness in rural Perth and Kinross. December 2023. Churches Action for the Homeless (CATH), Perth, UK. £25,000 (Grant) (PI).
Community Pharmacy PHOENIx. July 2023. National Institute of Healthcare Research (NIHR), London, UK. Funded extension £98,000 (Grant) (co-PI).
Community Pharmacy PHOENIx. January 2023. Chief Scientist Office (CSO) / NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Primary Care. (Excess Treatment Costs: £15,718 (Salary Award). (PI).
National Research Scotland - Career Researcher Fellowship. 2019 - October 2023. Chief Scientist Office (CSO). (Salary Award - 20% of annual salary).
Community Pharmacy based PHOENIx. March 2021–December 2023. National Institute of Healthcare Research (NIHR), London, UK. £800,000 (Grant). (Co-PI).
PHOENIx after overdose pilot randomised controlled trial. July 2020 – Sep 2022. Scottish Government Health & Social Care Directorate / Drug Death Task Force. £100,000 (Grant). (PI).
Tailored Intervention by Pharmacists and Consultant Physicians for people with COPD and multi-morbidities (TICC PCP): pilot RCT. Chiesi, Manchester, UK. £57,000. May 2020 (PI).
Increasing access to BBV screening and treatment in Glasgow’s homeless community: PHOENIx – Pharmacy Homeless Outreach Engagement Non-medical Independent prescribing Rx. 2019-2020. Gilead Sciences Ltd, London, UK - Gilead Celtic Nations HCV Fellowship Programme 2019. £19,622 (Grant). (PI).
Tailored Intervention by Pharmacists and Consultant Physicians for people with COPD and multi-morbidities (TICC-PCP): pilot randomised controlled trial. August 2019 – May 2023. Chief Scientist Office (CSO), Edinburgh, UK. £297,000 (Grant). (PI).
The Marie ‘Outreach’ Trust (MOT) Homelessness Support Project. 2019-2022. The National Lottery Community Fund. £499,332 (Grant). (Co-PI).
Pharmacy Homeless Outreach Engagement Non-medical Independent prescribing Rx (PHOENIx) - Assertive outreach pharmacist project. April 2019-April 2021. Scottish Government Challenge Fund / Corra Foundation, Edinburgh, UK. £98,844 (Grant). (PI).
Understanding stakeholder views regarding the design of an intervention trial to reduce anticholinergic burden. 2019-2020. Chief Scientist Office (CSO), Edinburgh, UK. £34,435 (Grant). (Co-I).
A study of the impact of a Community Falls Prevention Programme, a Fracture Liaison Service, and outcomes including hospitalisation and encashed prescribing. 2017-2019. AMGEN, California, USA. £120,000 (Grant) (PI).
Pharmacist outreach intervention for people who are homeless in Glasgow and Edinburgh. 2016-2017. Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), Scotland, UK. Healthcare Improvement Fund. £53,000 (Grant). (PI).
Structured Physical activity (football) for people experiencing homeless in Glasgow. 2017-2018. National Lottery Community Fund, UK - Awards for all. £10,000 (Grant). (PI).
A pilot study of pharmacy –technician led intervention to improve medicine adherence and self-care for patients with heart failure. 2014-2016. Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS), Edinburgh, UK. £5,000 (Grant) (PI).
Statin Outreach Support (SOS) randomised controlled trial. 2013. European Society of Cardiology (ESC), Amsterdam, Europe - Nursing and Allied Health professionals award (1st prize). Euros 3,500 (Award) (PI).
Tailored intervention by cardiology pharmacists for patients with heart failure. 2014. Servier. £17,582 (Grant) (PI).
Pharmacist independent prescriber intervention for COPD and multimorbidities: feasibility study. 2013-2015. Almirall, Manchester, UK. £44,000 (Grant). (PI).
National Research Scotland (NRS) - Career Research Fellow. 2012-2014. Chief Scientist Office (CSO), Edinburgh, UK. 0.1WTE salary.
Can a goal-focussed intervention delivered in Scottish community pharmacies improve outcomes for people with seasonal allergic rhinitis? A pilot randomised controlled trial. 2010-2012. Chief Scientist Office (CSO), Edinburgh, UK. £165,738 (Grant) (Co-I).
Pharmacist intervention in primary care to improve outcomes in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. 2010-2011. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GG&C), Scotland, UK. £100,000 (Grant). (PI).
Pharmacy Long Term Medicines Service for people in North and East. 2011. Scottish Government, Edinburgh, UK. £80,000 (Contract) (PI)
A randomised controlled trial of pharmacist led Statin Outreach Support in Primary Care. 2010-2014. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GG&C), Scotland, UK. £80,000 (Grant). (PI)
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde - Keep Well ‘Hard to Reach’ Anticipatory Care Programme. 2010. Scottish Government, Edinburgh, UK. £60,000 (Grant). (PI)
South Asian Anticipatory Care project and service. 2009. Scottish Government, Edinburgh, UK. £50,000 (Grant). (PI)