The YHEC team at WEPA

Senior members of the YHEC team recently travelled to Amsterdam to attend the World Evidence, Pricing and Access Congress (WEPA).

Over two busy days, they discussed the latest developments in HTA, market access strategy and the evolving role of real-world evidence.

Director of Pharmaceutical Consulting, Stuart Mealing, reflected on the experience: "The conference felt a lot bigger than last year but still retained the relaxed, collaborative feel, with plenty of time to catch up with people and have meaningful conversations. All of the talks I attended were insightful and of a really high standard.

Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of discussion around artificial intelligence, but there was more about most-favoured-nation than I had expected. I also attended some interesting perspectives on the inclusion of the patient voice into the HTA process. It’s clear that these are becoming essential considerations for the industry moving forward."

Continue the conversations and get in touch.

Looking beyond the randomised controlled trial: insights on real-world data

Can we evaluate digital health interventions more effectively by looking beyond the traditional randomised controlled trial?

YHEC Project Director, Robert Malcolm, was part of the panel discussing the issue at WEPA: "Leveraging the European Health Data Space to advance reimbursement for digital behaviour change interventions."

While randomised controlled trials remain the gold standard for minimising bias, they can struggle to capture the nuances of long-term adherence and everyday usage of digital tools. Leveraging centralised, real-world data across the EU has the potential to support more efficient reimbursement pathways. This approach enhances our understanding of how digital interventions perform in daily life and streamlines evaluation processes by pooling effectiveness data.

To find out more about Robert's presentation, contact us.

Are we meeting adequate standards for rare disease data?

YHEC marked Rare Disease Day by sharing our collaborative study with Professor Jordan Orange (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) and Columbia University, highlighting the vital need for minimum reporting standards in small patient populations.

In this project, YHEC investigated the consistency of race and ethnicity reporting in US trials of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDDs), a group of rare chronic conditions that severely impact quality of life. The findings revealed:

• Only 49% of eligible studies reported any information on race and ethnicity.

• 72% of the largest studies did not follow current FDA-recommended reporting standards.

Find out what this means for the future of research in rare diseases.

Celebrating 25 years of Investors in People accreditation

The YHEC team is proud to mark 25 years of continuous accreditation with Investors in People, the internationally recognised benchmark for excellence in people management.

Holding a Gold Investors in People award reflects our long-standing commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing work environment. This dedication is evidenced by:

• Comprehensive support for professional development.

• Flexible working arrangements.

• Dedicated volunteering days.

• Staff-led wellbeing groups focusing on physical, mental, and social health.

Visit our website to find out why its great to work at YHEC.

Right question, wrong method? ISPOR and YHEC collaborate on training

Systematic reviews are often seen as the gold standard, but they are not always the ideal fit for every stage of the product life cycle. From scoping to living reviews, selecting the correct synthesis method is vital for making informed decisions.

In this self-guided course, co-developed by ISPOR and YHEC, we examine:

• Distinguishing features of each review type.

• Strategies for keeping pace with evolving data.

• Common hurdles in evidence production.

Gain expert insights from Senior Research Consultant, Mary Edwards, and learn to navigate the complexities of modern evidence synthesis at your own pace.

Enrol with the ISPOR Education Center.

40 years of YHEC: our community impact

As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, YHEC is proud to reflect on a milestone beyond our academic output: raising over £61,000 for 13 charities since 2012.

From supporting Guide Dogs and Martin House Hospice in our early years to recent partnerships with OCD-UK, the Children’s Heart Unit Fund, and York Foodbank, our team has tackled everything from the Yorkshire Three Peaks to the Great North Run. To maximise our impact, the company matches all funds raised by staff.

Community engagement is central to our culture. This year, we are raising funds for Move Mates, a project helping people build confidence and reduce isolation through walking.

Read our blog and follow our journey.

Meet the team: Project Director, Heather Davies

In a recent blog, Heather Davies shared her career journey, her approach to delivering rigorous HTA-ready evidence, and why real-world data is becoming a strategic asset rather than a supplementary one.

She also reflected on her eight years at YHEC, progressing from Research Assistant to Project Director, and what it takes to lead complex projects with clarity.

Read the full interview and learn more about Heather’s work and her perspective on the evolving HTA landscape. 

Staff news

We are delighted to announce that two members of the YHEC team have recently been promoted. Katie Reddish and Emma Bishop have moved into their new roles as Research Consultants.

Congratulations to them both!

YHEC's offices through the years

As part of YHEC's 40th birthday celebrations, we're taking a look back at our history. From those early days to where we are now, we’ve grown and evolved as a long-established, university-based organisation working at the forefront of health economics.

In this blog, colleagues share their memories of the offices that have shaped YHEC. From campus ducks and pigeonholes to calm working spaces and remote working, read more about how YHEC has changed.

npj digital medicine

Can digital symptom checkers reduce diagnostic delay and deliver economic value in endometriosis?

A new study, "Economic evaluation of a digital symptom checker for endometriosis using a Markov decision process model", explores whether digital tools can reduce diagnostic delay and deliver long-term value. Published in npj digital medicine, it is co-authored by YHEC's Laura Kelly.

This is the first economic evaluation of a digital symptom checker in endometriosis and identifies the conditions under which these tools can benefit both patients and health systems.

Read more.

JMIR Human Factors

A new open-access paper, co-authored by YHEC’s Director of NHS Consulting, Nick Hex, has been published in JMIR Human Factors. The research examines the implementation of an intravenous workflow software solution in a high-capacity NHS aseptic unit.

The study reports real-world evidence from a UK hospital and combines observational and economic analyses to evaluate whether digital workflow optimisation can support capacity in pharmacy services and generate measurable economic benefits for the NHS.

Read the full paper.

Environmental Research: Health

In a paper published in Environmental Research: Health, Melissa Pegg, Emily Gregg and Emma Bishop explore how environmental impacts can be assessed alongside clinical and economic outcomes. Drawing on qualitative insights from international stakeholders, the paper discusses the methods and frameworks currently being used, as well as the practical challenges involved in incorporating environmental considerations into health and economic evaluations.

This work provides some of the first multidisciplinary insights to inform the future development of HTA methods in this rapidly evolving area.

Read more.

Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes

How meaningful is “meaningful change” in the Oxford Hip and Knee Scores?

A large NHS analysis of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), co-authored by Stuart Mealing, Andria Joseph and Damian Lewis, shows that minimally important change (MIC) values for both instruments are strongly baseline-dependent, challenging the use of a single universal threshold to interpret outcomes after joint replacement.

A more multifaceted, patient-centred approach to assessing change is recommended.

Read the article.

Vacancy: Research Consultant: Outcomes Research

YHEC is looking for a Research Consultant: Outcomes Research to join our team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with experience or a strong interest in real-world evidence, health economics and the measurement of clinical, patient-reported and service outcomes. In this role, you will work across our pharmaceutical, NHS and Digital Health Technologies teams, contributing to projects that help evaluate the real-world impact of healthcare interventions, services and pathways.

We are looking for someone with strong research skills, excellent attention to detail, and a genuine enthusiasm for improving the evidence base for healthcare decision-making.

Find out more and apply.  

Closing date: Sunday 12 April, 5pm

Vacancy: Research Consultant: Medical Writing

There's still time to apply for our latest vacancy.

YHEC is looking for a Research Consultant: Medical Writer to undertake high-quality writing activities across a wide range of client projects. This will involve the planning, writing and editing of project reports, journal articles, slide decks, digital media, and submissions to NICE and other HTA bodies. 

The successful candidate should be educated to degree level (in a scientific discipline or English language / linguistics), with experience of working as a medical writer/editor or completion of a post-graduate research programme (applicants close to completion will also be considered).

Find out more and apply.

Closing date: Monday 30 March, 4pm