Profile
I am a social scientist with interests in use of evidence in policymaking.
My interests relate especially to public health policy; the structure and function of networks in policy and practice; evaluation of social interventions and policies, particularly adverse effects; research impact and science policy. I am the lead for the Evidence Synthesis theme for the Centre for Evaluation at LSHTM and have an interest in how evidence synthesis methods have evolved over the last 30 years. I am co-founder, with Annette Boaz, of the Transforming Evidence collaboration.
Use of evidence in policymaking, especially public health policy
The Transforming Evidence collaboration is a group of colleagues with a shared interest in how to produce and use evidence more effectively to address societal challenges. There is a lot of expertise and research evidence about how evidence is made and used, but this often stays in disciplinary and sectoral silos. We want to help the community of scholars, funders and practitioners/policymakers share their knowledge and expertise more effectively. We want to improve debates about, and research into what evidence is, how it is used, and the different meanings attached to these processes and outcomes.
The structure and function of networks in policy and practice
In 2018, I co-authored ‘Networks and network analysis in evidence, policy and practice’ published in Evidence & Policy, Volume 14, Number 3, August 2018, pp. 369-379(11)
Research impact and science policy
An ARI Policy Engagement Fellowship in 2020/21 provided an opportunity to learn about, and test, the best mechanisms to support effective and ethical engagement between government and academia. The one year fellowship was a partnership between the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the Government Office for Science. The ARI’s aim to transform our understanding of how government can make better use of academic expertise and evidence.
I am Director of the Policy Research Programme, NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research), setting strategic direction to ensure that the Department of Health and Social Care has access to the evidence and expertise it needs. I enjoy working closely with the directors of the Policy Research Units and the rapid response and reviews facilities which we directly support through the programme, as well as our wider group of researchers.
I am also joint Editor in Chief of the journal Health Research Policy and Systems, which is published in collaboration with the World Health Organization. The journal has an international approach that specifically includes low- and middle-income countries. We explore the role of evidence-based health policy and health research systems in ensuring that knowledge from research is used effectively to improve health and health equity.