Methodology Research Unit
Unit Lead: Richard Hooper
Deputy Lead: Dr Clare Robinson
Evaluations – of drugs, devices, behavioural interventions, organisational change, public health interventions, and policy – are the cornerstone of population health research. The example of the COVID epidemic has demonstrated the importance of innovation and efficiency in delivering these evaluations, and sound research methods must lie at the heart of evaluations if they are to have quality and integrity. The Methodology Research Unit (MRU) brings together people with interests and expertise in a number of different methodological areas, and acts as a focus for research activities that together aim for better research through better methods.
KEY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
-
NIHR Research Support Service Imperial College London and Partners Hub: funded by the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR), and part of the NIHR Infrastructure, RSS provides free and confidential advice to health and social care researchers across England who are seeking public or charitable funding for research in health and social care, including advice on research design and research methods. We are proud to be a partner in the RSS Hub delivered by Imperial College London & Partners. The RSS leads at QMUL are Richard Hooper, Jill Russell and Liz Steed.
- The MRC/NIHR Trials Methodology Research Partnership: a meta-network of institutions, partners and networks working in clinical trials and trial methods research, led from the University of Liverpool. The lead at QMUL is Richard Hooper. QMUL is also one of 12 University partners in TMRP participating in an MRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnership that offers PhD studentships in trial methodology, covering different disciplinary fields.
- Centre for Applied Respiratory Research Innovation & Implementation (CARRii) A development of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research (AUKCAR), this new collaboration aims to bring UK applied research communities together to transform respiratory health. The methodology leads at CARRii are Richard Hooper and Beth Stuart.
METHODOLOGICAL RESEARCH STRATEGIES
The Unit has an international reputation for its methods research, particularly on the topics of cluster randomised trials, stepped wedge trials, pilot and feasibility studies, and trials within cohorts. Some useful resources are highlighted below.
- Cluster randomised trials web resource
- Pilot and feasibility studies web resource
- Trials within cohorts web resource
- Stepped Wedgehog: a website devoted to stepped wedge trials
- Some innovations in stepped wedge methods are discussed in this NIH webinar by Richard Hooper
OUR TEAM
- Laetitia de Abreu Nunes, PhD student
- Saskia Eddy, PhD student
- Miran Epstein, Reader in Medical Ethics
- Carol Fawkes, RSS Methods Advisor
- Richard Hooper, Professor of Medical Statistics
- Sandra Jumbe, RSS Methods Advisor
- Zeenat Kauroo, RSS Administrator
- Emily F Lane, TMRP PhD student
- Nadine Marlin, NIHR Doctoral Fellow
- Beverley Nickolls, PhD student
- Michael Ooko, PCTU/RSS Statistician
- Clare Relton, Senior Lecturer in Clinical and Public Health Trials
- Clare Robinson, Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics
- Jill Russell, Senior Research Fellow
- Smith, Susan, RSS Methods Advisor
- Ratna Sohanpal, Health Services Research Officer
- Quintin Olivier, NIHR Doctoral Fellow
- Charis Xie, PhD student
- Yuanjin Zhang, TMRP PhD Student
CONTACT
Zeenat Kauroo, z.kauroo@qmul.ac.uk
Yvonne Carter Building
58 Turner Street
E1 2AB