Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

In this section you can read more on the people involved in the assessment of applications for the NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, read the minutes of previous funding decisions and obtain more information on becoming a reviewer or a panel member. 

New developments in health research funding are transforming the way research in the NHS is organised and carried out. The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme invites and works with a range of individuals to meet the research needs of the NHS. Their support and input allows us to fund high-quality, evidence-based, value for money research.

The people who work in, work with or use NHS services provide vital input into all stages of the NIHR HTA Programme.

Our director

Professor Hywel Willliams, is an internationally respected and published Professor of Dermato-Epidemiology and Co-director of the Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology at Nottingham University. He was Deputy Director of the HTA Programme and chair of the HTA Commissioning Board 2010 to 2015.

Watch the latest director's message. 

Our boards

The HTA Boards meet three times a year to assess the scientific merit of proposals submitted to both the commissioned and researcher-led workstreams, including themed calls and evidence synthesis proposals, and to make funding recommendations to the HTA Prioritisation Group (PG).

HTA Commissioning Board

Chair	Organisation
Professor Deborah Ashby, OBE	Deputy Head of the School of Public Health, Co-Director of Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, Chair in Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials, Imperial College, London

Deputy Chair	Organisation
Professor Simon Gilbody	Professor in Health Services Research, University of York

Member	Organisation
Professor Ibrahim Abubakar	University College London
Ms Dawn Brown	Public board member
Mr Paul Charlton	Public board member
Professor Gary Collins	University of Oxford
Professor Richard Grieve	London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Professor Paul Griffiths	Professor of Radiology, University of Sheffield
Professor Angela Harden	Professor of Community and Family Health, University College London
Professor Catherine Hewitt	Deputy Director, York Trials Unit
Professor Pat Hoddinott	Chair in Primary Care, University of Stirling
Professor Robert Howard	Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, King's College London, and University College, London; Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Pip Logan	Professor of Rehabilitation Research, University of Nottingham
Professor William McGuire	Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, Hull York Medical School
Mr Daniel Perry	Senior Lecturer in Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Liverpool
Professor Chris Rogers	University of Bristol
Professor Jonathan Ross	University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Catrin Tudur-Smith	Reader in Medical Statistics, University of Liverpool
Mr David Symes	Public member
Professor Christopher Williams	Professor of Psychosocial Psychiatry, Academic Unit of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Institute of Health and Wellbeing

HTA Clinical Evaluation and Trials Board

Chair	Organisation
Professor Steven Goodacre	Professor and Consultant in Emergency Medicine, University of Sheffield

Deputy Chair	Organisation
Professor Julia Brown	Director, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research

Member	Organisation
Professor Lucy Chappell	NIHR Research Professor in Obstetrics, King's College London
Professor Tim Coleman	Professor of Primary Care, University of Nottingham
Professor Lorraine De Souza	Professor of Rehabilitation, Brunel University
Professor Sandra Eldridge	Professor of Biostatistics, Queen Mary, University of London
Professor Paul Ewings	Director, NIHR Research Design Service, Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Amanda Farrin	Professor of Clinical Trials, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of Leeds
Professor David Garway-Heath	IGA Professor of Ophthalmology for Glaucoma and Allied Studies, University College London
Professor William Hollingworth	Professor of Health Economics, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol
Dr Susan Jowett	Reader in Health Economics, Institute for Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham
Professor Peter Langhorne	Professor of Stroke Care and Geriatric Medicine, ICAMS, Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Associate Professor Daniel Lasserson	Senior Clinical Researcher, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford
Dr Jennifer Logu	Clinical Senior Lecturer in Metabolic Medicine, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow
Professor Hisham Mehanna	Chair of Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Head and Neck Studies and Education (InHANSE), University of Birmingham
Professor Alan Montgomery	Professor of Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials, University of Nottingham
Dr Sharon Simpson	Professor of Behavioural Sciences and Health, MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow
Professor Stephanie Taylor	Professor in Public Health and Primary Care, Barts and the Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry
Ms Gail Thornton	Public board member
Professor Douglas Tincello	Professor of Urogynaecology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester
Professor Luke Vale	Health Foundation Chair in Health Economics, Deputy Director, Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University
Professor Edwin Van Teijlingen	Professor of Reproductive Health Research, Bournemouth University
Professor Stephen Walters	Professor of Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials, University of Sheffield
Professor Scott Weich	Professor of Psychiatry, University of Warwick
Mrs Catherine White	Public board member

HTA General Board

Chair	Organisation
Professor Andrew Farmer	Professor of General Practice, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford

Deputy Chair	Organisation
Professor John Norrie	Chair of Medical Statistics and Trial Methodology, Director of Edinburgh Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) University of Edinburgh

Member	Organisation
Mr Peter Barker	Public board member
Mrs Isobel Boyer	Public board member
Professor Julie Brittenden	Professor of Vascular Surgery, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow
Professor Mike Clarke	Professor/Director of MRC Methodology Hub, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast
Professor Matt Costa	Professor of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford
Dr Fay Crawford	Senior Research Advisor, Research and Development, NHS Fife
Professor Rumona Dickson	Professor of Health Services Research, Institute Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool
Dr Jon Dorling	Clinical Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, The University of Nottingham
Professor Kerry Hood	Director of the Centre for Trials Research, College of Biomedical & Life Sciences, Cardiff University
Professor Nick James	Director of the Cancer Research Centre, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick
Associate Professor Ed Juszczak	Director, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, University of Oxford
Professor Steff Lewis	Personal Chair in Medical Statistics,  University of Edinburgh
Professor Danny McAuley	Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, Centre for Infection and Immunity, Queen's University Belfast
Professor James N’Dow	Chair in Surgery, Academic Urology Unit, University of Aberdeen
Professor Rumana Omar	Professor of Medical Statistics, Department of Statistical Science, University College London
Professor Rupert Pearse	Professor and Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, Queen Marys University of London
Dr Matthew Ridd	Consultant Senior Lecturer in Primary Health Care, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol
Professor Christine Roffe	Consultant in Stroke Medicine, Keele University
Professor Tracey Sach	Professor of Health Economics, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia
Dr Marc Serfaty	Reader in Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London
Dr Sarah Stock	Senior Clinical Lecturer in Maternal and Fetal Health, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh
Dr Andrew Sutton	Associate Professor in Decision Analytic Modelling, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds
Professor Rod Taylor	Professor of Health Services Research, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter
Dr Sara Twaddle	Director of Evidence, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Professor Olivia Wu	Professor in Health Technology Assessments, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow

Our panels

The HTA Programme is supported by five advisory panels and one prioritisation group focused on prioritising potential research topics for the commissioned research workstream and applications received from researchers for the researcher-led (CET workstream) funding stream.

Elective and Emergency Specialist Care Panel (EESC)

Remit: this panel focuses on interventions delivered in hospital or managed in the community by hospital specialists. This includes all clinical therapies (including those delivered by paramedical staff), rehabilitation and relevant devices.

Chair	Organisation
Dr Yoon Loke	Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology, University of East Anglia

Member	Organisation
Dr Caroline Alexander	Clinical Specialist and Research Physiotherapist, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Miss Alison Allam	Public Contributor
Dr Kathy Bamford	Consultant Medical Microbiologist, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Dr Daniele Bryden	Consultant in Critical Care Medicine & Anaesthesia, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Pratima Chowdary	Consultant Haematologist, Royal Free Hospital
Dr Emma Clark	Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Rheumatology, University of Bristol
Dr Jane Cross	Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Physiotherapy, University of East Anglia
Dr Anthony De Soyza	Senior Lecturer / Honorary Consultant, Newcastle University
Dr Francis Fatoye	Reader in Physiotherapy, Manchester Metropolitan University
Professor Margot Gosney	Consultant in Elderly Care Medicine, Royal Berkshire Hospital
Dr Bernard Gudgin	Public Contributor
Dr Jurjees Hasan	Consultant in Medical Oncology, The Christie Hospital
Mrs Debbie Keatley	Public Contributor
Dr Harpreet Kohli	Director of Public Health and Health Policy, NHS Lanarkshire
Dr James Larcombe	General Practitioner (Principal/Partner), Skerne Medical Practice, County Durham
Professor Fiona Lecky	Professor and NHS Consultant, University of Sheffield
Dr Mark Loveland	General Practitioner (Locum)
Dr Adam Mackridge	Practising Locum Pharmacist and Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacy Practice, Liverpool John Moores University
Mr David Meads	Lecturer in Health Economics, University of Leeds
Dr Clare Louise Sandell	Orthopaedic Nurse Specialist, St Mary’s Hospital, Isle of Wight
Mrs Joan Sargent	Public Contributor
Mr Paul Skaife	Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon, University Hospital Aintree
Dr Peter Watkinson	Consultant intensive Care Physician, University of Oxford

Interventional Procedures Panel (IP)

Remit: this panel considers interventions involving surgery, interventional radiology, and radiotherapy. It also consider research questions where these interventional procedures are compared against others e.g. drugs.

Chair	Organisation
Professor Andrew Bradbury	Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust , Birmingham

Member	Organisation
Dr Mohamed Abdel-Fattah	Consultant Urogynaecologist, University of Aberdeen
Dr Owen Boyd	Consultant in Intensive Care Anaesthesia, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals
Professor Usha Chakravarthy	Professor of Opthalmology, The Queen's University of Belfast Trust
Dr Julie Cox	Consultant Radiologist, City Hospitals Sunderland
Professor Jeremy Fairbank	Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and University of Oxford
Professor Mark Gabbay	Professor of General Practice, Head of Department of Health Services Research, University of Liverpool
Mrs Moira Heath	Public Contributor
Dr Steve Holmes	General Practitioner, The Park Medical Centre, Shepton Mallet
Professor Peter Hutchinson	Professor of Neurosurgery and Honorary Consultant Neurosurgeon – University of Cambridge/Addenbrooke’s Hospital
Mr Stephen Large	Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Papworth Hospital, Cambridgeshire
Professor Peter McCulloch	Professor of Surgical Science and Practice, University of Oxford
Professor Vinidh Paleri	Consultant Head & Neck and Thyroid Surgeon, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Ms Mary Ray	Public Contributor
Dr Elved Roberts	Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester
Professor Rob Sayers	Professor of Vascular Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary
Mr Sami Shimi	Consultant Surgeon, University of Dundee
Mr Stephen Thomas	Public Contributor
Mr Andrew Thorpe	Consultant Urologist, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Phil White	Professor of Interventional and Diagnostic Neuroradiology, Newcastle University

Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health Panel (MNCH)

Remit: this panel focuses on interventions in the fields of obstetrics, paediatrics, neonatal and specific maternal mental health issues.

Chair	Organisation
Professor Peter Brocklehurst	Professor of Women's Health, Director of the Institue of Women's Health, University College London

Member	Organisation
Professor Allan Colver	Professor of Community Child Health, Newcastle University
Professor Sir Alan Craft	Professor and Consultant Paediatrician
Mrs Sarah Crane	Public Contributor
Dr Paul Crouchman	GP, Cheltenham
Dr Jon Dorling	Consultant Neonatologist & Honorary Clinical Associate Professor, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Rebecca Harmston	Public Contributor
Professor Richard Holt	Professor in Diabetes and Endocrinology, University of Southampton
Dr Sara Kenyon	Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham
Dr Niina Kolehmainen	Senior Research Fellow / Honorary Consultant Allied Health Professional
Prof Monica Lakhanpaul	Consultant Community Paediatrician, UCL Institute of Child Health
Dr Pam Loughna	Senior Lecturer/Consultant Obstetrician, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Ms Jennifer McAnuff	Occupational Therapist & NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow, Leeds Community Health NHS Trust
Dr Julie Mytton	Associate Professor in Child Health, University of the West of England, Bristol
Professor Jane Norman	Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health, Edinburgh University
Ms Sally Pastellas	Senior Commissioning Manager Children and Maternity Commissioning
Dr Maggie Redshaw	Senior Research Fellow, Social Scientist
Mrs Lucia Rocca-Ihenacho	Consultant Midwife for Public Health, St George's NHS Trust
Dr Lyvonne Tume	Nurse, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool
Dr Ann Van den Bruel	Senior Clinical Research Fellow, University of Oxford
Mr Nic Vine	Public Contributor
Dr Martin Ward-Platt	Consultant Paediatrician (neonatal medicine) / Honorary Clinical Reader in Neonatal and Paediatric Medicine / Clinical Director, Regional Maternity Survey office (Public Health England)

Mental, Psychological & Occupational Health panel (MPOH)

Remit: this panel focuses on therapies relating to mental health and psychological disorders at all ages including diagnosis of mental illness or cognitive deficits and learning difficulty, as well as therapies used in any aspect of occupational health.

Chair	Organisation
Dr Howard Ring	Consultant & University Lecturer in Psychiatry, University of Cambridge

Member	Organisation
Professor Sube Banerjee	Professor of Dementia and Associate Dean, Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Dr Chris Burton	Senior Lecturer in Primary Care, University of Aberdeen
Dr David Christmas	Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry, Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Moira Connolly	Consultant in Psychiatry, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Dr Rob Cook	Clinical Programmes Director, Bazian Ltd
Professor Diane Cox	Professor of Occupational Therapy, University of Cumbria
Dr Bernadka Dubicika	Honorary Reader and Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, University of Manchester
Dr Trevor Friedman	Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, Leicestershire Partnership Trust
Mr Clive Hodgeon	Public and Patient Involvement
Dr Ira Madan	Consultant and Honorary Reader in Occupational Medicine, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London
Dr David Ndegwa	Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Ian Norman	Professor of Nursing and Interdisciplinary Care, Kings College London
Professor Stephen Priebe	Professor of Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary, University of London and Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Services Development
Dr Greta Rait	Reader in Primary Care, University College London, and General Practitioner
Dr Richard Reading	Consultant Community Paediatrician, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Professor John Rose	Director of Forensic Clinical Psychiatry, University of Birmingham
Mr Richard Tomlin	Public and Patient Involvement
Dr Tim Williams	Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Dr Nat Wright	Clinical Research Director, Transform Research Alliance, Spectrum Community Healthcare CIC and Visiting Associate Professor, University of Leeds
Dr Arnold Zermansky	Portfolio GP and Senior Research Fellow, University of Leeds

Primary Care, Community and Preventive Interventions Panel (PCCPI)

Remit: this panel (PCCPI) focuses on interventions delivered in primary care or the community, including community nursing, community rehabilitation, relevant devices and palliative care. The panel also focuses on disease prevention interventions including NHS public health, health promotion and vaccinations.

Chair	Organisation
Professor Clare Wilkinson	GP, Professor of General Practice and Director of Research, North Wales Clinical School, Bangor University

Member	Organisation
Dr Claire Ballinger	Deputy Director NIHR Research Design Service South Central Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton
Dr Elizabeth Cottrell	NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in GP Specialty Training, Keele University
Professor Peter Crome	Honorary Professor of UCL, University College London
Professor David Fitzmaurice	GP, Professor of Primary Care Research, University of Birmingham
Dr Tess Harris	Reader in Primary Care, GP, St George’s, University of London
Professor Rowan Harwood	Professor of Geriatric Medicine / Geriatrician, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Melvyn Jones	GP & Senior Lecturer, University College London
Miss Emily Lam	Public Contributor
Mr David Liggins	Public Contributor
Dr Kamal Mahtani	GP & NIHR Clinical Lecturer, University of Oxford
Dr Marlise Poolman	Clinical Senior Lecturer in Palliative Medicine, North Wales Clinical School, Bangor University
Professor Jonathan Ross	Professor of Sexual Health and HIV, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Mike Thomas	GP, Professor of Primary care Research, University of Southampton
Dr Victoria Tzortziou Brown	GP, Clinical Lecturer, Queen Mary, University of London
Ms Shazma Waqas	Public Contributor
Dr Geoff Wong	Senior Lecturer in Primary Care, Queen Mary, University of London

Mental, Psychological & Occupational Health panel (MPOH)

Remit: this panel focuses on therapies relating to mental health and psychological disorders at all ages including diagnosis of mental illness or cognitive deficits and learning difficulty, as well as therapies used in any aspect of occupational health.

Chair	Organisation
Dr Howard Ring	Consultant & University Lecturer in Psychiatry, University of Cambridge

Member	Organisation
Professor Sube Banerjee	Professor of Dementia and Associate Dean, Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Dr Chris Burton	Senior Lecturer in Primary Care, University of Aberdeen
Dr David Christmas	Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry, Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Moira Connolly	Consultant in Psychiatry, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Dr Rob Cook	Clinical Programmes Director, Bazian Ltd
Professor Diane Cox	Professor of Occupational Therapy, University of Cumbria
Dr Bernadka Dubicika	Honorary Reader and Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, University of Manchester
Dr Trevor Friedman	Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, Leicestershire Partnership Trust
Mr Clive Hodgeon	Public and Patient Involvement
Dr Ira Madan	Consultant and Honorary Reader in Occupational Medicine, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London
Dr David Ndegwa	Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Professor Ian Norman	Professor of Nursing and Interdisciplinary Care, Kings College London
Professor Stephen Priebe	Professor of Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary, University of London and Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Services Development
Dr Greta Rait	Reader in Primary Care, University College London, and General Practitioner
Dr Richard Reading	Consultant Community Paediatrician, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Professor John Rose	Director of Forensic Clinical Psychiatry, University of Birmingham
Mr Richard Tomlin	Public and Patient Involvement
Dr Tim Williams	Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Dr Nat Wright	Clinical Research Director, Transform Research Alliance, Spectrum Community Healthcare CIC and Visiting Associate Professor, University of Leeds
Dr Arnold Zermansky	Portfolio GP and Senior Research Fellow, University of Leeds

Prioritisation Group

Research priorities decided by the Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) panels are ultimately agreed by the Prioritisation Group (PG); which ensures appropriate balance, value for money, and quality. The group is also responsible for ratifying and ranking proposals recommended by the programme’s funding boards for submission to the Department of Health for final decision and approval.

Chair	Organisation
Professor Hywel Williams	Director of HTA Programme, NIHR

Deputy Chairs	Organisation
Professor Deborah Ashby	Deputy Head of the School of Public Health, Co-Director of Imperial Clinical Trials Unit, Chair in Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials, Imperial College London

Member	Organisation
Professor Andrew Bradbury	Sampson Gamgee Professor of Vascular Surgery and Director of Quality Assurance and Enhancement, University of Birmingham
Professor Peter Brocklehurst	Professor of Women’s Health, Director, Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Birmingham
Professor Steve Goodacre	Professor and Consultant in Emergency Medicine, University of Sheffield
Dr Edmund Jessop	Specialised Commissioning Team, NHS England
Professor Yoon Loke	Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Health Policy & Practice, University of East Anglia
Dr Howard Ring	Consultant and University Lecturer in Psychiatry, University of Cambridge
Professor Clare Wilkinson	Professor of General Practice & Director of Research, Department of Primary care and Public Health, Bangor University

Reviewers

To assure the scientific quality of its research, the HTA Programme relies upon the help of external reviewers to review:

• the research and commissioning briefs it produces
• the research proposals it receives
• the final reports of research findings

External reviewers play a vital part in maintaining and improving the quality of HTA Programme research and are sought from a variety of fields, including clinical, methodological and those who use NHS services.

View a list of HTA 2016 reviewers.