YHEC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Executive Director, Digital Health, Association of British HealthTech Industries ( ABHI )
Andria Joseph has a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences, an MSc in Neuroscience from King's College London and works as a Project Director (Outcomes Research) at YHEC. Andria is currently undertaking an Executive MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Andria has led training courses for HTA bodies and universities in topics such as patient reported outcomes, value based healthcare, utilities and experimental surveys
Prior to joining YHEC, Andria was a Senior Project Leader at the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measures (ICHOM), and has been involved in leading the development of standardised outcome sets in various disease areas such as Heart Valve Disease, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Overall Adult Health and Hand and Wrist Conditions. Andria has led the research and quantitative analysis of many outcome research and measurement projects, and she has led various and diverse Working Groups (which include clinicians, patient advisory groups, policy advisors and scientists) who have expertise in outcome measurement. Andria has extensive experience in outcome research, value-based healthcare and building communities for implementation in various countries and sectors.
In previous roles, Andria has experience in commissioning in the NHS, along with working in various sectors of healthcare and therefore, has an extensive knowledge of the NHS.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Health Economics, University of York
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Project Director
Dr Adam Smith is an Associate Project Director at York Health Economics Consortium. Adam has a PhD in psychometrics from the University of Leeds. He has extensive experience of PROs, including designing, developing and testing instruments. This has been acquired in a variety of settings, for instance, research institutions, academic departments, as well as, latterly in consultancy and the pharmaceutical industry. Adam's work in Outcomes Research has ranged from developing electronic patient reported outcome measures to producing item banks and adapting instruments for other linguistic and cultural groups. He has considerable experience in statistics, quantitative analysis and methodology, including discrete choice experiments, modern psychometrics, such as Rasch Models, latent growth models, reliability generalisation and meta-analysis. Adam is the Statistical Editor for the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal Statistician
Dr Joe Moss is the Principal Statistician at YHEC and as such provides technical and methodological oversight of all statistical projects. Joe has a PhD and a MRes in Biomedical Sciences from Cardiff University and has worked at YHEC since 2018. Since joining YHEC Joe has been involved in writing statistical action plans (SAPs) and performing statistical analysis to evaluate several novel interventions for both public and private sector clients.
Joe has experience in the creation of cost-effectiveness models (Markov and patient-level simulation) in the statistical software R, as well as developing Web-based interfaces using R shiny (https://shiny.rstudio.com/). He also leads the health economics training course "Introduction to R for HTA" at YHEC.
Joe has a variety of publications ranging from research articles to critical literature reviews. His main areas of expertise are in developing de novo regression statistical models and time-series analysis. He also has extensive experience in evidence synthesis and indirect treatment comparisons methods.
Job Titles:
- Project Director
- a Senior Research Consultant
Dr Lavinia Ferrante di Ruffano joined YHEC as a Senior Research Consultant in 2021, and is now a Project Director within the Reviews and Evidence Synthesis team. Lavinia has a PhD in trial design and analysis for diagnostic tests, from the University of Birmingham. Lavinia is an experienced end-end project manager, organising successful collaborations with international specialists and coordinating/undertaking a range of reviews (systematic, scoping, pragmatic and methodology) from topic briefings, scoping and protocol development through to synthesis and final publication in peer reviewed journals. Lavinia has over 20 years of experience in data analysis and reviews, including 15 years in the field of applied health research as a systematic reviewer and methodologist. Before arriving at YHEC, she spent 14 years at the University of Birmingham's Institute of Applied Health Research where she specialised in primary studies and reviews of diagnostics across a wide range of clinical topics. Since joining YHEC, Lavinia has successfully completed numerous review projects involving evidence synthesis of pharmaceuticals and devices for private and public sector clients.
Matthew Taylor is the Director of YHEC. Matthew has a PhD in health outcomes research and an M.Sc. in health economics from the University of York, and has worked for YHEC since 2003. Matthew has led over one hundred economic evaluations for NICE, SMC and AWMSG industry submissions as well as health technology submissions in various international settings.
Matthew teaches on the University's Distance Learning course, and leads a number of health economics training courses at YHEC, including "Early Modelling: Using Models to Inform Drug and Device Development", "Understanding and Critiquing Economic Models" and "Economic Evaluation for Oncology".
Matthew is a former member of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Public Health Advisory Committee, is an Expert Advisor to NICE and the Scientific Lead and Director of NICE's Economic and Methodological Unit.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chief Executive Officer, the Francis Crick Institute
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Project Director
- Associate Project Director in the Review and Evidence Synthesis Team
Dr Sara Graziadio is an Associate Project Director in the Review and Evidence Synthesis team at YHEC. Sara has a PhD in Neuroscience and an MPhil in Statistics from Newcastle University.
She previously worked at the NIHR Newcastle In Vitro Diagnostics Co-operative, where she had the opportunity to develop and lead a team of evaluators of new In Vitro Diagnostics and medical devices.
Sara has experience of analysis and interpretation of complex qualitative and quantitative datasets. She has developed statistical and economic models in multiple clinical areas, analysed care pathways and performed literature reviews to inform subsequent clinical and economic studies.
Hayden Holmes is an Associate Director and leads the Digital Health Technology and Population Health evaluation team. Hayden works on a range of projects from AI tools, medical technologies and individual pharmaceuticals to wider public health initiatives including work for the NHS, the Department of Health and Social Care, and NICE.
Hayden has a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health and a BCom in Economics from the University of Otago in New Zealand. He is experienced in developing economic models, research and critical appraisal. Prior to joining YHEC, Hayden lived and worked in New Zealand, working in health economics and health policy.
Hayden regularly leads health economic training and has previously been involved in training for international HTAs including the Singapore Ministry of Health when its Agency for Care Effectiveness was established in 2015 and a knowledge transfer partnership with China in 2017. Hayden is a module leader for the University of York's Health Economics by Distance Learning Masters programme.
He previously worked for Pharmac, which is the government agency responsible for making decisions on which medicines, vaccines, hospital medical devices, cancer and haemophilia treatments are publicly funded in New Zealand. Hayden worked as a health economist at Pharmac and was involved in the prioritisation process for choosing which new medicines should be publicly funded.
Hayden has previous experience in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, where he was an NCO in logistics where his experiences included peace keeping in Bougainville Island and re-supply missions to Antarctica. He is also a keen trail runner and has completed a number of ultramarathons.
Job Titles:
- Project Director
- Project Director on the Health Economics
Heather Davies is a Project Director on the health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) team and has an MSc in Bioarchaeology. Heather has been working at YHEC since 2017 and has worked in a wide range of disease areas on projects for both private and public sector clients. Heather leads the development of a range of economic models, including models of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and has experience of preparing dossiers for NICE submissions and manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Heather also has experience of critiquing economic models and analysing individual patient level data for use in economic models.
Jo Hanlon is a Project Director in the NHS and Public Sector Team and has worked at YHEC since 2014. Jo has an MSc in Population Health from the University of York and a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences. She was registered as a UK Public Health Specialist (UKPHR 2008-2018). Jo worked for 23 years in the NHS and local government, holding senior roles in public health and commissioning. She has experience of healthcare commissioning in the area of long term conditions, screening and immunisation, reviewing and redesigning services in complex health and social care environments.
At YHEC, Jo is responsible for leading economic analysis of health services and innovations on a wide range of subjects, such as cancer diagnosis, palliative care services, return on investment of NHS/social care services, integration and frailty. Her projects include quantitative analysis and modelling, literature and evidence review, qualitative evaluations and analytical support.
Julie Glanville. Julie worked as an Associate Director at YHEC for 12 years before retiring in 2020, but continues to be actively involved in our research and training. Julie was previously Associate Director and Information Service Manager at the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) at the University of York for 14 years.
Job Titles:
- Head of Technical Research
Karin Butler has an MSc in Health Economics and Decision Modelling from the University of Sheffield and works as our Head of Technical Research at YHEC.
Karin has led submissions to multiple health technology assessment agencies internationally and is experienced in model conceptualisation, development, validation and reporting. She also has extensive experience in quantitative analysis to support economic case such as indirect treatment comparison, utility and survival analysis. Karin has experience in statistical analysis plan development and critique, feasibility assessment and systematic literature review and targeted literature review protocol development.
Karin's work at YHEC involves identifying new research techniques and working with all workstreams to ensure that we are innovative in our application. Karin acts as technical lead on methodological research projects and works with all teams to ensure that our internal training and resources continue to be of a high standard.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job Titles:
- Business Manager
- Company Secretary
Louise Carr is YHEC's Business Manager and the Company Secretary. She is the key contact for all contracts and issues relating to human resources. She is a health economist with many years' experience of health services research.
Job Titles:
- Independent Management Consultant, Mike Farrar Consulting Ltd
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director for the NHS and Public Sector
Nick Hex has been Associate Director for the NHS and Public Sector at YHEC since 2010 and is a qualified accountant (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy). He leads YHEC's programme of work with the clients from organisations across the NHS and the public sector, providing services such as economic evaluation and modelling, literature and evidence review and analytical support.
Nick's evaluations examine efficiency and productivity as well as using techniques such as return on investment and cost benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis to provide decision-making information. Nick is a former advisor to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as part of the National Collaborating Centre for Indicator Development. He has carried out economic evaluations for NHS England, the Department of Health and Public Health England, including the recent evaluation of Babylon GP at Hand.
Nick previously worked at Audit Scotland and the Audit Commission. During his time in Scotland, Nick led reviews into health and social care issues including the free personal care policy and locum doctors, presenting findings in the Scottish Parliament. Starting his career at the Audit Commission gave Nick an insight into financial and economic issues affecting the NHS and local government bodies at a local level.
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Professor of Health Economics & Policy, University of York
Job Titles:
- Deputy Vice - Chancellor and Provost, University of York
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Associate Director in the Review and Evidence Synthesis Team
Rachael McCool is an Associate Director in the Review and Evidence Synthesis team at YHEC. Rachael has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of York. During her time at YHEC, Rachael has worked on many reviews requiring both quantitative and qualitative analyses for public and private sector clients. She has extensive experience in literature searching and reviewing, database management, data analysis and synthesis. Rachael has led a range of review projects from rapid reviews to more complex systematic reviews requiring indirect and mixed treatment comparison. She has also worked on reviews to support regulatory submissions.
In her previous role, Rachael worked on developing and validating patient reported outcome measures using qualitative methods as well as critiquing existing measures against regulatory agency standards. She has worked with clients to assist them in their choice of PRO endpoint and outcome assessment in trials.
Stuart Mealing is an Associate Director and leads the YHEC Health Economics and Outcomes Research team. He is a member of NICE's Highly Specialised Technologies Evaluation Committee and has a Master's degree in Operational Research from the University of Lancaster Business School and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business Management from Smurfit Business School, Dublin.
Stuart has worked in numerous therapy areas including oncology (solid tumour and haematological), cardiology, pulmonology, ophthalmology and neurology. He has extensive experience in the development and review of cost-effectiveness and budget impact models, and has particular experience in working with medical devices and the modelling of orphan/ultra-orphan conditions.
Before joining YHEC in August 2017, Stuart was the EU Head of Health Economics at ICON Clinical Research Ltd and, before that, worked as a researcher at PenTAG, one of the research groups that performs independent assessments for NICE.
Job Titles:
- Project Director
- Project Director in the Health Economics and Outcomes Research Team
Will Green is a Project Director in the Health Economics and Outcomes Research team at YHEC. He has a Master's degree (MSc) in health economics and an undergraduate degree (BSc) in biology, both from the University of York.
Will's main role at YHEC is leading economic evaluations of new health technologies. He has worked at YHEC for over 10 years and during this time has completed evaluations on a range of technologies, which has also meant working with a wide variety of clients from the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors. His projects have included leading multiple submissions to both NICE and the SMC and, through these projects, Will has gained extensive experience of the methods associated with health technology assessment: these include knowledge of model conceptualisation, survival analysis, indirect treatment comparisons, model validation and reporting. Will has also led many projects in which models developed by other agencies/vendors have been critically appraised, including prior to a submission to NICE.