Karina is a Professor of Mental health, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work at the University of Manchester. Her main research field is in developing and evaluating complex psychological interventions for anxiety and depression in primary care mental health. Her programme of research has focussed on alternative, accessible and innovative low intensity interventions for common mental health problems, particularly guided self help and the use of the telephone in delivering psychological interventions. Karina is an applicant on a number of funded studies including NIHR programme grants, MRC, SDO, HTA and RfPB. She was a guideline member for the OCD/BDD NICE guidelines and a guideline member for the updated Generalised Anxiety Disorder NICE guidelines. She is also a NIHR Senior Investigator.

Clinically Karina is a mental health nurse by background and is a trained Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, and currently delivers both high and low intensity interventions in primary and secondary care and the voluntary sector. She is past president of the BABCP (British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy).