Using electronic patient records to investigate detection and management of chronic disease (funded PhD)

The aim of the PhD is to identify opportunities for the improved prevention, diagnosis or management of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (stroke or coronary heart disease), diabetes, cancers or falls. The method will be through the analysis of use of a large dataset of anonymised electronic primary care records. This could be through prognostic modelling of the predictors of specific chronic diseases; prognostic modelling to identify patients for more or less intensive intervention; investigation of existing variations in patient care and the characteristics associated with better or poorer prognosis; analysis of patient pathways to care; modelling of the costs associated with different management strategies.

Applicants may have a clinical background and a strong interest in quantitative analysis of large datasets or have a background in an analytic discipline (statistics, economic modelling, data analysis, computing science or similar) with a specific interest in health and health services. A familiarity with health records data would be an advantage. Applicants can read about the THIN database here:
http://csdmruk.cegedim.com/our-data/our-data.shtml

The chronic disease could be in any of a range of areas depending on the interests of the applicant. Examples include facilitating earlier diagnosis of cancers, prevention of cardiovascular diseases, identification of mental health problems, The successful applicant will join a multi-disciplinary team including specialists in data analysis, health economics, health services research and sociology.

The PhD Studentship is funded as part of CLAHRC-WM (Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care - West Midlands)

This PhD Studentship offers a unique opportunity, to influence the future NHS service developments. The studentship may involve requires partnership working with NHS organisations, Local Authorities and other health and social care organisations and the post holder will be encouraged to disseminate research findings at research meetings, conferences, and in established scientific journals.

To inquire about this studentship please contact the Professor Tom Marshall. Applicants will be required to write a protocol outlining their proposed doctoral research and in addition to submit a CV, the names and addresses (postal and email) of two referees and a covering letter (outlining why you are suitable for this studentship). By submitting these documents you are agreeing to the funding restrictions related to this studentship.

The closing date for applications is 26th June 2015

Interviews will take place in August 2015, dates to be confirmed

Start date will be the end of September 2015