The cost- effectiveness of personalised medicine in cancer treatment

Outcomes research and cost effectiveness analysis provide key metrics of the performance of health care systems and can help shape health policies and allocation of resources, particularly when there are increasing economic and fiscal pressures on health care activity. Measuring the value of health care innovation, particularly in the introduction of new medicines, medical procedures, diagnostics or medical devices is key to ensuring the appropriate introduction of cost effective approaches that improve outcomes for patients and provide socio-economic benefit to societies.

A PhD Studentship in Health Economics at Queen’s University Management School (QUMS) in collaboration with the Queen’s University School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences (SMDB) is available to pursue a research project that will determine the value and cost-effectiveness of gene-based stratification approaches in cancer. This personalised medicine strategy has the potential to significantly improve cancer survival rates, but the challenge is to do so in a cost-effective manner.

This exciting joint initiative that straddles both economics and health will expose the student to a range of econometric methods. Simulation modelling will be performed to estimate the effect of personalised medicine on health outcomes, costs and value. Mixed-method health services research and economic analysis, particularly the economic analysis of health systems will be employed to allow the value of this innovation to be measured. The value of personalised medicine interventions will be determined in a number of relevant clinical settings.

The project involves a collaboration with the Institute of Cancer Policy, Kings College London (KCL) and it is envisaged that the student will spend a period of study at KCL to acquire a comprehensive skill set to determine the socio-economic benefits of personalised medicine. The successful candidate should have a social science or biological science degree with quantitative research methods training. Candidates with experience in health economics or health policy will be preferred. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Prof Mark Lawler, SMDB ([Email Address Removed]) or Dr Declan French, QUMS ([Email Address Removed]) to discuss the project in more detail.

The closing date for applications is Friday 14th August 2015.

To apply for this studentship (which covers student fees and a maintenance allowance of £13,863*) please complete the online postgraduate application portal, registering your application against the Management School. Further details can be accessed through the following link: http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/PostgraduateCentre/PostgraduateFunding/UKEUProspectiveResearchStudents/

*2014-15 figures. The studentship may cover maintenance and fees for a maximum of three years. UK residents: fees plus maintenance. Other EU residents