The Medical Research Council funded projects

The Medical Research Council (MRC) has funded these nine projects, following a user-led call in 2009.

Widening the spectrum of health outcomes used in health technology assessment: integrated synthesis and mapping to QALYs

Professor A E Ades, University of Bristol

Develop new ways of assessing treatments effects, which combine information on a wider range of trial outcomes than are currently used, and devise a method for converting them to QALYs.

Use of generic and condition-specific measures in NICE decision-making

Dr L Longworth, Brunel University

• Establish whether generic measures of health-related quality of life are appropriate in four key clinical areas (visual impairment, hearing impairment, skin conditions and cancer).
• Develop methods to link data from condition-specific to generic measures of health-related quality of life (mapping).
• Develop and value condition-specific extensions to an existing generic measure, the EQ-5D, in order to increase the sensitivity of the measures to changes in health.

Preparatory study for the re-evaluation of the EQ-5D tariff (PRET)

Dr A Tsuchiya, University of Sheffield

A methodological study to test out different methods of valuing and modelling EQ-5D states in preparation for the re-evaluation of the EQ-5D population value set used in NICE appraisals.

Economic modelling of diagnostic/ treatment pathways in NICE clinical guidelines

Dr J Lord, Brunel University

• Study whether it is possible to assess a system of services recommended in a guideline ‘pathway', rather than looking at single services in isolation.
• Model pathways of care that are recommended in NICE clinical guidelines; using the models to see if NICE should reconsider parts of the guidelines, and whether this adds to the current way that NICE reviews its guidelines.

Properties of statistical methods for indirect and mixed treatment comparison - a computer simulation evaluation

Dr F Song, University of East Anglia

Evaluate the statistical methods for indirect comparison of different medical treatments through computer simulations. Findings from the simulation study will help provide recommendations on appropriate use of indirect and mixed treatment comparison methods.

Methodological search filter performance: assessment to improve efficiency of evidence information retrieval

Ms C Lefebvre, UK Cochrane Centre, National Institute for Health Research

• Investigate how search filter performance can be measured and what measures are most useful to help researchers decide which filters to use.
• How can search filter performance characteristics best be presented to assist with the identification of research evidence to inform NICE appraisals, guidelines and other guidance?

Methods to estimate the NICE cost-effectiveness threshold

Professor M Sculpher, University of York

Develop methods of analysis that can be applied to data the NHS already collects to provide an estimate of the threshold which would be suitable for the type of decisions NICE makes.

Methods for the indirect estimation of health state utilities

Professor C McCabe, University of Leeds

Study how the methods for inferring information (mapping) onto health related quality of life data from alternative sources can be improved?

Methods for strengthening evaluation and implementation: specifying components of behaviour change interventions

Professor S Michie, University College London

Develop a reliable method of specifying intervention components (“techniques”) aimed at changing behaviour. This will strengthen the scientific basis for developing, evaluating and reporting complex interventions.

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