ScHARR Mini Masterclass in Health Research - Estimating the comparative effectiveness of cancer treatments - Wednesday 16th February 2022

Fact or fiction? Estimating the comparative effectiveness of cancer treatments using UK registry data

Dr Nicholas Latimer

Wednesday 16th February 2022 (Online 13:00 - 14:00 GMT)

Join us online for a monthly online masterclass by one of our health research experts based in The School of Health and Related Research

About this event

In the UK we collect very large amounts of data on cancer patients, held by the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS). Given that we collect all this data, it makes sense to think about what we can do with it: can we use it to robustly compare the real world effectiveness of cancer treatments? The issue with analysing observational data is that there are lots of potential biases – for example, confounding by indication, where patients who receive one treatment may differ prognostically from patients who receive a different treatment. This makes comparisons of treatment effectiveness difficult. However, using methods from the causal inference literature in a “Target Trial” framework may overcome these problems, if the data used to conduct the analyses are comprehensive enough. In Sheffield a programme of work is being undertaken to investigate whether cancer registry data collected in the UK are sufficient for comparing the effectiveness of cancer treatments used in clinical practice, mirroring work also being done in the US and Canada. I will describe the research and comment on progress made so far.

Join the live session by clicking the link:

below.https://eu.bbcollab.com/guest/fbae374ad6ed4eeea1ed792b69c

Nicholas Latimer

Nick is a Reader in Health Economics. He joined ScHARR in 2008 having previously worked in consultancy and the pharmaceutical industry. He has a degree in Economics from the University of Nottingham (2003), an MSc in Health Economics from the University of York (2004) and a PhD in Health Economics from the University of Sheffield (2012). Since joining ScHARR Nick has worked on a variety of projects, including economic evaluations alongside clinical trials, NICE Technology Appraisals, and consultancy projects. His research has focused on the incorporation of survival analysis in economic evaluations and he has completed NIHR Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships on this topic. In 2019 Nick began a Senior Research Fellowship funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research in which he is investigating the application of causal inference techniques to estimate comparative effectiveness from cancer registry datasets. Nick has authored NICE Decision Support Unit technical support documents on survival analysis (TSD14, 2011), treatment switching (TSD16, 2014), and partitioned survival analysis (TSD19, 2017), and is a member of NICE Technology Appraisal Committee B.

Twitter

Nick's profile

Link to the webinar

https://eu.bbcollab.com/guest/fbae374ad6ed4eeea1ed792b69cc2b6c

The live session takes place in a Collaborate webinar - headphones are advisable and easy to set up. You can join with a computer, tablet or smartphone, Chrome and Firefox offer the best browser experience.You can also use a phone to handle audio while in the session by dialling +44 2033 189610 and entering the PIN: 398 583 2702.

We look forward to seeing you online.

PhD Studentship in causal inference for the analysis of cancer registry data

https://yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/

We are offering a fully-funded, full-time, 3.5 year PhD studentship in Epidemiology, Biostatistics or Health Economics. The position is jointly funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research (YCR) and BresMed Health Solutions Ltd. It is based in the section of Health Economics and Decision Science (HEDS), part of the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) at the University of Sheffield. We welcome applications to undertake methods research into the use of causal inference methods to analyse cancer registry datasets, with a particular focus on the use of real world evidence to estimate the comparative effectiveness of cancer treatments.

Proposed start date: 1st September 2020 (latest)

https://www.bresmed.com/

Apply here

Large United Kingdom cancer registry datasets (e.g. the Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) dataset) can be linked to hospital and primary care data. The student would access either English or Scottish data and would investigate the use of cutting-edge causal inference methods to estimate the comparative effectiveness of cancer treatments in practice. This research is of particular relevance given the planned use of SACT data to inform reimbursement decisions for treatments placed in the English Cancer Drugs Fund. You will be supervised by Dr Nicholas Latimer and Emeritus Professor Ron Akehurst. The supervisory team will be supplemented by experts from around the world, offering the opportunity to develop international collaborations.

ScHARR has over 300 multidisciplinary staff, and 450 postgraduate students from more than 50 countries around the world. It provides an internationally recognised programme of health services and public health research, knowledge transfer and teaching.

For more information about ScHARR visit: http://www.shef.ac.uk/scharr/

YCR works in partnership with researchers, scientists and clinicians, the NHS, Public Health England and other health organisations and charities to make life-changing improvements in cancer care. This PhD should act as a catalyst for change to facilitate the delivery of better cancer services in Yorkshire and further afield. Dr Nicholas Latimer is a Senior YCR Fellow and is using YCR funding to support this PhD studentship.

For more information about YCR visit: https://yorkshirecancerresearch.org.uk/

BresMed Health Solutions Ltd is an independent health economic and outcomes research consultancy with more than 150 staff based on the UK, India, Ireland, the Netherlands and the USA. It offers services in evidence review, evidence development, communication and strategy and insight.

For more information about BresMed visit: https://www.bresmed.com/

Entry Requirements:
- Honours Bachelor degree (2.1 or above) in a relevant subject
- Merit (or equivalent) in MSc in epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics, medical statistics, applied statistics or related subject OR equivalent experience
- Strong computer skills including use of statistical software packages, e.g. Stata, R or SAS
- Strong interest in applying statistical thinking and methods to problems in health-related fields
- Good communication skills
- Strong organisational and administrative skills
- Ability to work on own initiative and in a multidisciplinary team

How to apply:
Please complete a University Postgraduate Research Application form available here: http://www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply

Please clearly state the title of the studentship, the prospective main supervisor (Dr Nicholas Latimer) and select ScHARR as the department.
Please also include:
• an outline of your proposed PhD study (approximately 3 pages of A4)
• a covering letter explaining why you wish to apply for this studentship
• a copy of your CV

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/scharr

Funding Notes

The studentship will include tuition fees at the home/EU/international student rate plus an annual maintenance grant (at the Research Council Doctoral Stipend rate which is currently £14,999 for the year 2019/20). In addition there is an annual Research Training Support Grant of £1,000 to cover other expenses such as conference attendance, training courses, equipment and books.

YCR CONNECTS – Cancer Research Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship opportunity

YCR CONNECTS – Cancer Research Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship

Health Economics, Mathematical Modelling, Medical Statistics, Medical Physics.University of Sheffield, School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)Supported by Yorkshire Cancer Research

Job Reference Number: UOS019299
Contract Type: Fixed-term for 5 years
Senior Non-Clinical Fellowship, Grade 8/9 £39,992 to £56,950 per annum

ScHARR - Regent Court

Closing Date: 02 July 2018

Summary: An exciting opportunity to become one of tomorrow's Cancer Research Leaders. We wish to attract up to 10 high quality candidates to take up senior non-clinical research fellowships (working in linked areas of applied clinical science e.g. health economics, mathematical modelling, medical statistics) to create a strong clinical research base that can deliver tangible improvements in cancer outcomes for patients in South Yorkshire and beyond.

Appointees should focus on clinical and translational aspects of cancer research within the following priority themes that align closely with the Yorkshire Cancer Research (YCR) research strategy:

• Early diagnosis and access to treatment

• Improving clinical outcomes in common malignancies

• Improved health and wellbeing with and beyond cancer

• Lung cancer

These new appointments will link with the University of Sheffield (UoS) Research Centres, thereby providing a connected research infrastructure with the dual aims of reducing cancer mortality and improving the experience of living with or after a cancer diagnosis.

Each appointee will receive a generous start-up package to enable rapid initiation of internationally competitive research. You can view details of how to apply at https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BKA859/ycr-connects-senior-non-clinical-fellowship/

For an informal discussion about the posts, please contact Professor Jim Chilcott (j.b.chilcott@sheffield.ac.uk) or Dr Paul Tappenden (p.tappenden@sheffield.ac.uk) at ScHARR.