Spotlight on researchers – Professor Alex Todhunter-Brown – NESSIE – NIHR Evidence Synthesis Scotland InitiativE

So, the blog baton (if that is a thing) has been passed to me by Peter Matthews. In his blog, which was the first “spotlight on researcher” posts, Peter said it was the scariest blog he had ever written. In my case, this is the FIRST blog that I have ever written…..so I hope you find it ok!

My name is Alex Todhunter-Brown. I am based at Glasgow Caledonian University and I co-lead NESSIE with Jackie Price from the University of Edinburgh.

Given that Jackie and I are co-leading NESSIE, it might surprise you that we had never worked directly together before! You may well be asking how on earth this happened…..the answer to that lies in the work on Cochrane groups that we have both done.

Cochrane is an international network which conducts high-quality systematic reviews to bring together evidence about the effects of healthcare interventions.

I have been involved with Cochrane systematic reviews for over 25 years. After qualifying as a physiotherapist and then doing a PhD, my first research job involved carrying out Cochrane reviews to bring together evidence on stroke rehabilitation.

Several years later I ended up co-leading the Cochrane Stroke group, while Jackie was co-leading the Cochrane Vascular group. Both groups had “bases” at the University of Edinburgh. Which is how Jackie and I became aware of each other.

When the NIHR asked for proposals to form new “evidence synthesis groups”, Jackie and I decided we could make a stronger bid if we came together. This brought together researchers from the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh with researchers where I am based at Glasgow Caledonian University, as well as researchers from the University of Stirling and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

And I guess the proof is in the pudding….or the monster…..as that coming together ended up creating NESSIE.

As well as being rather fanatical about doing systematic reviews – particularly of ‘complex’ areas of healthcare – I am also really interested in patient and public involvement (PPI). I am part of the NIHR Evidence Synthesis PPI community of practice and also lead methodological work on how best to involve patients and the public in systematic reviews.