Meet the researcher

WHAT IS INVOLVED

We will be running monthly events, initially online via Zoom, for health researchers to share their ideas, studies and results with patients and the wider public. We would love for you to join us. As well as hearing about our work, we would appreciate your input to these research studies. We might ask you to give your ideas on:

• Research design and patient commitment required 
• Identifying ways in which the study could be improved
• Encouraging diversity and inclusivity of access to research activities
• Helping researchers communicate the findings in a way everybody can understand

Talks are the fourth Monday of the month at 1pm.  There are no talks scheduled in August and December.

Next 3 talks: November 22 2021, Jan 24 2022, Feb 28 2022

Next event - Monday Jan 24  1pm

Booking link

Patricia Logullo

When scientists finish their research, they usually publish reports about it in specialised journals to inform clinicians about new health evidence and treatments and allow other researchers to evaluate their projects. Health research should, therefore, improve itself by constantly communicating what works and what doesn’t. However, these reports are not always perfect — far from it. Evidence shows that these reports are frequently incomplete and imprecise.

The UK EQUATOR Centre investigates this problem as well as alternatives to help eliminate the research waste created when science communication is suboptimal. We want to improve the way scientists communicate their studies both among themselves and to the general public.

I am a researcher in the EQUATOR team, but I am a different kind of researcher from those you usually meet at NDORMS.  I am not a doctor, a health professional, or even a statistician. I have experience in journalism, editing, and research. I believe we should have more members of the public participating in our discussions about health research reporting. I’m curious about how you feel when you read about health science. Do you understand it? Do you think it could be communicated more clearly? I invite you to join my colleagues and me in this conversation!

Paula Dhiman

I’m a senior researcher in medical statistics. I am working to improve the design, quality, and integrity of future medical research by advancing statistical methodology research and educating the next generation of researchers. My research interests lie in three areas, statistical methodology, applied statistics and meta-research, linked by a focus on prediction modelling for medical research.

I review the quality of reporting and methodology of published medical studies and highlight common problem areas in research. For example, I recently conducted a review of a cancer prediction model developed using machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI). Prediction models aim to predict things like someone’s chance of developing a particular disease or how well a particular treatment will work for a particular patient. The models are built using information from lots of people who have developed that disease or used that treatment. I found that many of the studies building these models poorly reported what they had done and did not use enough data when developing their models. This work has led me to develop a research study to investigate and develop guidance for researchers about how much data they should be using when developing a prediction model using machine learning.

Facilitator - Natalie Ford

Natalie is Outreach and Engagement Officer for NDORMS and will be introducing the speakers and asking your questions.  Please let her know on natalie.ford@ndorms.ox.ac.uk if you have any questions that you would like to submit in advance.  

Previous Events

Meet the Researcher November 2021

Meet the Researcher October 2021

Meet the Researcher September 2021

Meet the Researcher July 2021

Meet the Researcher June 2021

Meet the Researcher May 2021

Meet the Researcher April 2021

Support

You do not need any specialist research or medical knowledge to volunteer. Additional information to explain about our research process will be provided.  Training in research methods and the PPI role will be available if this would be helpful. 

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

If you are interested in hearing more about these sessions, please contact openarms@ndorms.ox.ac.uk.