Sonia's research aims to provide evidence to improve child health and wellbeing in the population, and thereby reduce the population burden from poor health. She lead a team of researchers in the Child Health Unit with funding support from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Programme Development Grants and fellowships and charities.

It has expanded to become one of the UKs leading research groups on primary care of children. Their methodological strengths include analysis of large routinely collected health and social care data sets and surveys, evidence synthesis, consensus methods for evaluation of practice and policy. Founding principles of her research are its relevance in addressing priorities for children and families, a multidisciplinary approach to the pursuit of knowledge and timely translation into practice and policy. She is also committed to building academic capacity in child health and primary care.