Sally Hopewell

My key areas of research expertise are in the design, conduct and transparent reporting of randomized trials and systematic reviews. I have published (h-index 80) more than 300 research studies in these areas and have been instrumental in the development of key reporting guidelines including the CONSORT 2025 and SPIRIT 2025 Statements.

In my current role I am involved in leading the design and delivery of clinical trials within the OCTRU portfolio. I am co-chief investigator on several NIHR funded trials in the areas of paediatric and adult rehabilitation and musculoskeletal sciences and co-investigator on a number of other NIHR funded trials and evidence syntheses.

Previously, I worked at the Centre for Statistics in Medicine (2007 – 2015) on an MRC-funded programme of research related to CONSORT and the conduct and reporting of clinical trials. I also worked, and continue to collaborate with, the Centre d’Epidemiologie Clinique (2012 – present), University Paris Descartes, on research activities related to the methodology of systematic reviews and randomized trials. Prior to this I worked at the UK Cochrane Centre (2004 – 2012) and with the NHS National Blood Service (2010 – 2012) systematic review programme. In 2005, I was awarded a D.Phil at the University of Oxford on research into the effects of unpublished data in systematic reviews.

I have a particular interest in data sharing, development of core outcome sets, pilot and feasibility trials, paediatric trials and trials of complex interventions. I am a member of the NIHR Pre-Doctorial Fellowship funding panel, member of the advisory board for Current Controlled Trials, the NIHR Open Research Advisory Board, chair of the UKCRC CTU Network’s PPIE Group, and editor for the Cochrane Methodology Review Group editor. I was a member of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Clinical Evaluation and Trials Board (2018 – 2022) and regularly carry out peer review for high impact medical journals and various funding bodies (e.g. NIHR and Medical Research Council)

I have considerable experience in the teaching and supervision of MSc and DPhil students both at the University of Oxford and Université Paris Descartes and previously for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Stellenbosch University in South Africa.