Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Paul Toner has a PhD in Psychology and an MSc in Social Research Methods from the University of Bath and a first class BSc with Honours in Psychology from Queen’s University Belfast. He has a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) from the University of York, is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS).
Paul has supervised seven doctoral and 44 master’s students to completion. He has secured over £1.3M in competitive external research funding, including £308k as Principal Investigator.
Research interests
Paul leads the substance use research group, and conducts high-quality research aimed at preventing and alleviating the suffering and economic burden caused by addiction and mental health difficulties. Through rigorous development processes, experimental and mediation testing utilising innovative methods, his research attempts to improve ways of preventing, assessing, and treating these issues across individual, family, community, and population levels. A key component of his research is ensuring implementation fidelity, supporting the translation of research findings into real-world contexts and achieving impact beyond the academic environment.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Dive into the research topics where Paul Toner is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Improving Outcomes For People With Problem Substance Use And Poor Mental Health: Co-Designing Psychological Treatment Delivered Inside Virtual Reality Nature
Hubbard, G. (Investigator) & Toner, P. (Investigator)
1/04/26 → 31/07/28
Project: Research
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Feasibility of a safer consumption facility in Dundee
Roe, L. (Investigator) & Toner, P. (Investigator)
1/09/25 → 31/03/26
Project: Research
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Rapid review of evidence on the effectiveness & delivery of ABIs in primary care settings
Mohan, A. (Investigator) & Toner, P. (Investigator)
1/02/25 → 31/07/25
Project: Research
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Beyond Temporary Sobriety: The Association Between Sobriety Campaign Completion and Intention to Quit Alcohol
Srisuk, N., Penpong, M. S., Sonthon, P., Phenwan, T., Toner, P. & Saengow, U. (Lead / Corresponding author), 16 Jul 2026, In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 23, 7, 15 p., 912.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure) -
Blog post. From Trauma to Growth: A Prize-Winning Substance Use Recovery Project
Toner, P., 3 Feb 2026, Drugs Research Network Scotland.Research output: Other contribution
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Identification of important outcomes for surgical and brace treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Qualitative analysis of the perspectives of young people, parents, and healthcare professionals
Graham-Wisener, L. (Lead / Corresponding author), Sloan, S., McMullan, J., Waterworth, R., Close, C., Clarke, M., Gordon, R. & Toner, P., 12 Jan 2026, In: Bone & Joint Open. 7, 1, p. 54-65 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)12 Downloads (Pure) -
A systematic literature review and meta‐analysis of virtual reality nature effects on higher education students' mental health and wellbeing
Hubbard, G., Verde, P. A., Barrable, A., O’Malley, C., Barnes, N. & Toner, P., Oct 2025, In: Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. 17, 5, 27 p., e70060.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile9 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)108 Downloads (Pure) -
A systematic review of virtual nature as a psychological intervention for individuals with substance and behavioural addictions
Hubbard, G. (Lead / Corresponding author), Masterton, W., McGregor, S. & Toner, P. (Lead / Corresponding author), 17 Jul 2025, York : NIHR Prospero International prospective register of systematic reviews.Research output: Other contribution
Open Access
Datasets
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Use of the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory for individuals in recovery from addiction - data
Chambers, S. E. (Creator), Toner, P. (Creator) & Brignell, C. (Creator), Open Science Framework (OSF), 11 Oct 2021
https://osf.io/vz3qd and one more link, https://osf.io/vdzet (show fewer)
Dataset
Prizes
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Best Poster Award - Drugs Research Network Scotland Annual Conference 2025
Toner, P. (Recipient), 5 Jun 2025
Prize: National/international honour
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Rewarding Excellence, University of York
Toner, P. (Recipient), Dec 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Society for the Study of Addiction Griffith Edwards Academic Fellowship
Toner, P. (Recipient), Dec 2015
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Activities
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Robert Calder
Toner, P. (Host) & Mohan, A. (Host)
25 Mar 2026Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting a non-academic visitor
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Beatriz Goulão
Boehnke, J. (Host), Loret, H. (Contributor), Croudace, T. (Contributor), Cui, K. (Contributor), De Paoli, G. (Contributor), Gray, N. (Contributor), Makita, M. (Contributor), Thekkumkara, S. (Contributor), Toner, P. (Contributor) & Wylie, G. (Contributor)
30 Jan 2026Activity: Hosting a visitor types › Hosting an academic visitor
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Scottish Research Leaders Network: Building Effective Research Teams
Toner, P. (Participant)
16 Mar 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Alcohol Care Teams Network
Toner, P. (Participant)
19 Mar 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Research in Addiction Psychology Services (RAPS) (External organisation)
Toner, P. (Member)
2 Mar 2026 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership of group