Location: online
University: Manchester Metropolitan University

Peoples-uni is a volunteer-led, low cost, educational programme, designed to help build Public Health capacity in developing countries through modules delivered via the internet. The programme has now been validated by Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, from whom students can gain a Master of Public Health degree through study with Peoples-uni. Health Economics is one of the course modules offered, and is taught by an international volunteer faculty. More information is available on the web site http://peoples-uni.org.

Location: Glasgow, UK

Economics of forestry-based health interventions

There is growing interest in whether contact with ‘green spaces’, including forests and parks, carries health benefits. Both Scottish and UK public health policy documents now explicitly recognise green spaces as ‘good for health’. The evidence for these effects stems from both experimental studies in lab and field, and from population level observational studies. Several experimental studies demonstrate direct effects of perceiving these environments on a variety of physiological and psychological measures. Several observational studies show independent associations between greener environments and better population health. However, this is an emerging field of research with much work still to do to confirm, quantify and qualify any positive impacts on health. If it is true that contact with nature brings health benefits, the cost of providing and accessing such environments, the subsequent health benefits and the relative merits of such ‘environmental health care’ need to be weighed carefully.

The Forestry Commission and other forest agencies are engaged in many programmes of woodland improvement and creation, with the explicit aim of increasing the use of woodlands and prompting health benefits. These programmes provide useful natural experiments through which health impacts of environmental interventions might be assessed. However, the specifics of how any health economic analysis might be applied to these situations are not clear. The prevailing methodology employed in health economic evaluation, is to use ‘Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)’ to measure health benefits of interventions in favour of the more traditional monetary measures typically used for economic appraisal in areas such as environmental and transport economics. While the QALY framework may be appropriate for Health Related Quality of Life benefits of interventions relating to the woodland environment, the broader evaluative framework offered by cost-benefit analysis might be more appropriate for the broader wellbeing aspects of the environment.

The purpose of the PhD project will be to explore the potential use of economic appraisal techniques to value and evaluate woodland interventions. A broad perspective will be adopted to explore the potential to use and combine methods from environmental, health and transport economics.

Person specification:

Applicants should hold a first class or upper second class degree in economics and preferably have demonstrable interest in, and experience of health economics. A master’s qualification in a relevant discipline would be an advantage.

Award details:

This is a 3 year full time studentship and will provide an annual stipend and fees. The award is available to UK and other EU nationals only.

Further details: More details on the project, the supervisors and the departments involved is available from Prof Rich Mitchell Richard.Mitchell@glasgow.ac.uk, Professor Andy Briggs andy.briggs@glasgow.ac.uk

Location: Monash, Australia
Expression of interest deadline: 21st of October 2011
Application deadline: 31st of October 2011

The Centre for Health Economics at Monash University is pleased to invite applications from suitably qualified individuals to undertake a PhD in Health Economics.

Scholarships are available (for both Australian/New Zealand and international students, 2011 stipend $22,860 tax free), as is the possibility of Research Assistant work and Teaching to top up any funding, all subject to eligibility requirements.

PhDs are available in all areas of health economics, but we specifically welcome expressions of interest on the following topics:

• Economics of health, wellbeing and happiness
• Preference elicitation, discrete choice modelling and welfare analysis

To be considered for a scholarship the following are essential requirements:

• A first class (H1 equivalent) Bachelor’s degree in economics or closely related subject; and
• Strong quantitative, analytical and writing skills.

It is also desirable that a candidate has the following:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) in an area relevant to health economics;
• Demonstrated interest in health economics and/or public health; or
• Relevant academic publications.

The Centre for Health Economics has been at the forefront of health economics teaching and research in Australia for 20 years. As the largest health economics research centre in the Southern Hemisphere, it has a strong track record of health economics research, teaching and community service. The Centre has close research links to the Departments of Econometrics, Economics, and Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine and co-supervision is possible. The Centre also has excellent international links and a large PhD program with superb dedicated facilities.

Further details of how to apply can be found at: http://www.monash.edu/study/research/. Interested candidates are requested to send an expression of interest to buseco-che.hdr.enquiries@monash.edu, and attach to their email a full CV (including details of specific grades). The deadline for applications is the 31st of October 2011, but expressions of interest must be made to the Centre before the 21st of October.

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Dates:cNovember 7 to November 11, 2011
Registration: Online until October 21, 2011

Prof. Albert Ma (Boston University), Prof. Pierre-Yves Geoffard (Paris School of Economics)

Presentation:

The course offers an introduction to recent advances in the economic analysis of health care systems. The course combines a presentation of theoretical and empirical developments of the analysis of health care demand, health care supply and demand for health insurance. Consequences of recent findings on the optimal regulation of health care systems are presented in details, with a specific focus on competitive health insurance markets and Managed Care.

Objectives:

Models of asymmetric information will be studied in details, as well as their applicability to the study of health insurance and health care production.

Course homepage:

http://www.ssphplus.ch/phdcourses-hep

Location: Basel, Switzerland
Closing date: 18 November 2011

The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute is a public institution with the mandate to contribute to the improvement of the health of populations internationally and nationally through excellence in research, services, and teaching and training. We are seeking for two PhD students in the Health Systems Research and Dynamic Modelling Unit.

Description

The Health Systems Research and Dynamic Modelling Unit of the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, combines systems science for health systems strengthening with disease and systems modelling to create new research opportunities, capacities and evidence to better understand and influence contemporary health development. We focus on both health interventions in a systems context as well as on system-level interventions as part of the Institute’s Goal to create global leadership in integrated health systems research, strengthening and training. Our approach to health systems involves a deeper understanding of complex systems dynamics and requires empirical evidence and experience from practical real-world scenarios coupled with systems dynamic modelling. Our research groups combine expertise in health systems analysis, health policy analysis, health economics, disease and systems modelling, and public health computing sciences.

We are expanding our research on assessment of global investments for health on three aspects:

• Contributing to developing methods for elimination/eradication investment cases
• Further developing a system thinking approach to assess global health investments and strengthening health systems
• Developing frameworks for priority setting in health systems of countries with limited resources beyond cost-effectiveness analysis

The candidates should have a master degree in health economics, public health or health policy with strong quantitative skills. In addition excellence in English writing and speaking is expected as well as analytical and interpersonal skills.

We offer an exciting and dynamic research environment in a multi-disciplinary health research institution.

To apply candidates should send a CV, a motivation letter, and the names of three referees to: Sabrina Schmutz, Human Resources, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, CH-4002 Basel/Switzerland. E-mail applications are acceptable: please send them to sabrina.schmutz@unibas.ch

The deadline for applying to these positions is 18 November 2011.

Further information on the positions can be obtained from Dr. Fabrizio Tediosi fabrizio.tediosi@unibas.ch.

Location: Manchester, United Kingdom
Dept/School/Faculty: School of Dentistry
PhD Supervisor: Prof M Tickle
Co-Supervisor: Prof S Birch
Application Deadline: 21 November 2011
Funding Availability: Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Project

The objective of this 3-year PhD project is to identify optimal levels of NHS dental care based upon patient need. In an era of constrained public resources and falling dental need, the outcomes of the study promise to hold significant implications.

The studentship provides full support for tuition fees, associated research costs and an annual tax-free stipend of £13, 590. Due to commence April 2012, the project is open to UK/EU nationals only due to the nature of the funding.

The provision of dental services has developed historically and is influenced by remuneration structures within the NHS. It is largely demand-driven with significant potential for supplier induced demand. With financial pressures on public services and population dental needs falling there is a pressing requirement to carefully manage the type and volume of care being provided and determine what and how much dental care should be provided and to whom. The effects of introduction of a defined level of service on the health of the public and the resources of the NHS also need to be estimated to aid policy decision making.

The study will initially identify the views of stakeholder groups (public, patients, health care professionals, commissioners) on the appropriate volume and type of dental care that should be provided by the NHS by level of need of patient. Empirical data collection will be used to obtain views from each group. Economic modelling will then be employed to estimate the costs and effects of introducing a defined level of service to the NHS.

This research is expected to inform commissioning of dental services in the NHS and internationally the level of service provided by state and insurance company funded services. It will inform workforce planning by helping to draw a clear distinction between what is a need and what is a demand.

Research will be conducted primarily in the Oral Health Unit, an academically independent national group, set up to develop and deliver high quality applied dental research in primary care. There will also be opportunity to gain from expertise in the Health Sciences Research Group, incorporating health economics and primary care specialists.

The successful candidate will develop an understanding of policy development and implementation and master skills in policy analysis techniques. Upon completion, progression into a postdoctoral research career within public health, primary care or the health sciences would be anticipated.

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a minimum upper-second class honours degree (or equivalent) in health economics or a related discipline. A Masters qualification or relevant professional experience within health economics (minimum two years) is also required.

Please direct applications in the following format to Professor Martin Tickle martin.tickle@manchester.ac.uk:

• CV
• Academic transcripts
• Contact details for two academic or professional referees.
• Personal statement (750 words maximum) outlining your suitability for the study, what you hope to achieve from the PhD and your research experience to date.

Any enquiries relating to the project and/or suitability should be directed to Professor Tickle.

http://www.dentistry.manchester.ac.uk/OHU/
http://www.dentistry.manchester.ac.uk/staff/MartinTickle
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/staff/150875

OurRef: TickleOHU

Funding Notes:

The project is open to UK/EU nationals only due to the nature of the funding.

Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Dates: 28 November to 2 December 2011
Application deadline: July 31, 2011

Second Announcement

There is increasing recognition that the implementation of a ‘Health in All Policies’ (HiAP) approach requires new skills and competencies, both within the health sector and across other sectors. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of South Australia co-organised an international meeting on HiAP, where new skills and competencies in public health were discussed and documented in the Adelaide Statement on HiAP. As reflected in the Adelaide Statement on HiAP, action on the social determinants of health is complex and requires a joined-up cross sector approach. It recognises that a healthy population is a key requirement for achieving society’s goals and that addressing the growing inequity gap within low and middle-income countries will improve well-being for everyone.

This course is being convened as a follow-up to the Adelaide meeting by the Government of South Australia with technical support from WHO. It will bring together practitioners and academics from several highly esteemed international and regional universities. Professor Ilona Kickbusch is the summer school’s Course Director and is joined by Course Co-Director Ms Carmel Williams, Manager HiAP SA Health. The course directors will also be joined by distinguished international faculty members including Professor Fran Baum, member of the WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health, and regional experts from a broad range of sectors, including public health.

Applications

As there are a limited number of positions available for this course, please send a short covering letter, resume and completed application form to hiap@health.sa.gov.au

Applications will be open until 31 July 2011. Successful applicants will be notified by email by 9 September 2011. For further information on the application process, please contact Carmel Williams.

Application forms are available from:

Carmel Williams, Course Co-Director
Manager, Health in All Policies Unit
PO Box 6
Rundle Mall
Adelaide South Australia
Australia 5000

Tel +61 8 8226 7957
Fax +61 8 8226 7102
hiap@health.sa.gov.au

More information

Location: York, UK
Venue: University of York
Date: 6th December 2011

http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/yhec/web/training/training_events.php?RecordID=15

Literature searches are the foundation for high quality health technology assessment (HTA), systematic reviews, guideline development and other evidence syntheses. Developing search strategies to retrieve research evidence from databases requires knowledge of database features and skills in turning the concepts embodied in a research question into a search strategy. Search strategies have to take account of often competing requirements and the trade-offs which have informed their development may not always be easy to appreciate. Commissioning and reviewing searches (often as the foundation for later projects) can be enhanced by an appreciation of how to structure searches and an understanding of the basics of search strategy development.

This new training course provides an introduction to search strategy development for project managers, research commissioners and searchers new to evidence synthesis, who are seeking a better understanding of how searches are constructed and adapted to meet project needs.

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Dates: December 12 to December 16, 2011
Registration: Online until November 21, 2011

Prof Maarten Lindeboom, Prof Bas van der Klaauw (VU University, Amsterdam)

Presentation:

The aim of this course is to provide the students with state of the art econometric methods for evaluation of public policy. The course deals with theoretical literature on causal inference in lectures, but emphasis is given to empirical applications using micro data. The course therefore includes also practical computer assignments using Stata.

Objectives:

The key objective of the course is to make students familiar with empirical tools for public policy evaluation and to provide an introduction to working with micro data.

Course homepage:

http://www.ssphplus.ch/phdcourses-hep

Location: York, UK
Venue: University of York
Date: 14th December 2011

http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/yhec/web/training/training_events.php?RecordID=16

Extensive literature searches are the foundation of high quality systematic reviews, health technology assessment (HTA) and guideline development. Developing search strategies to retrieve research evidence from databases and other resources requires a range of knowledge and skills. There are constant challenges to keeping up-to-date with new database features and approaches to achieving efficient searches. Search approaches may need to be adapted depending on the end-product which the search is informing and the resources available. Search approaches increasingly need to be explained to sponsors in terms of the extent to which they are fit-for-purpose.

This new workshop will provide opportunities to learn new techniques, to discuss best approaches, to share insights and to assess variations in current best practice. The workshop will be facilitated by information specialists experienced in literature searching to inform systematic reviews and HTAs and in conducting research into the evidence base for information retrieval. Participants are encouraged to suggest topics / issues in advance for discussion during the workshop.

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

The Economics Department at IUPUI is now accepting applications for the entering class of Fall of 2012. Fellowship support will be offered on a competitive basis.

The program specializes in Health Economics. Students begin with PhD core training in economic theory and econometrics, emphasizing microeconomic theory and microeconometrics. We offer a two-course field sequence in health economics as well as a course focusing on the institutional context of health, health care, and health insurance. Importantly, students will also take elective courses such as biostatistics, epidemiology, bioethics, or health policy, giving them a background that will facilitate working in the interdisciplinary teams with whom health economists often interact. In addition to econometric theory, we will also offer a year-long empirical econometrics sequence, emphasizing statistical packages, working with large datasets, and problems in applied econometrics. We offer strong disciplinary training in micro theory, econometrics, and health economics enhanced with exposure to other related disciplines central to health and health care.

We also offer a field specialization in the Economics of Nonprofits/Philanthropy. The structure is similar to that in Health Economics, including the elective courses to complement the Economics training. These elective offerings will allow students to take, for example, courses in IUPUI’s unique Philanthropic Studies program and to interact with the renowned IU Center on Philanthropy.

More information on the department and the program as well as a link to the online application system is online at http://liberalarts.iupui.edu/economics/ and http://liberalarts.iupui.edu/economics/index.php/graduate/phd_in_economics. Questions can be emailed to econphd@iupui.edu

Location: Aberdeen, Scotland

The Health Economics Research Unit (HERU) together with the Department of Economics at the University of Aberdeen are now offering a new MSc in the Economics of Health starting in the 2012/13 academic year.

This MSc programme is aimed at students who wish to pursue a career as a professional health economist or who wish to undertake a PhD. Health economics is typically applied in multidisciplinary settings. This is reflected within the course providing students with health economics skills alongside generic economic and health service research skills. The course also reflects our recognised areas of expertise including preference elicitation and economics of the health workforce.

For further information contact Marjon van der Pol m.vanderpol@abdn.ac.uk and visit: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/clsm/graduate/prospective-students/masters/tmp/economics-health/introduction/

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
Dates: February 13 to 17, 2012
Registration: Online until January 27, 2012
Course homepage: http://www.ssphplus.ch/phdcourses-hep

Prof. Alberto Holly (University of Lausanne), Prof. Patrick Gagliardini (University of Lugano)

Presentation:

The aim of this course is to provide the students with the necessary analytical tools to

• formulate appropriate econometric models
• estimate them
• and draw proper inference, using micro level data related to health issues, for instance data from health surveys.

The key features of such data sets are their qualitative nature and/or panel type structure. Hence it is important to know and be able to apply the models and methods specially designed for incorporating the particular characteristics of these data sets.

Objectives:

At the end of the course the student would know how to:

(1) Specify a suitable econometric model for investigating the problem under study;
(2) Confront the theoretical model with empirical observations; and
(3) Draw proper conclusions based on the results.

Location: Newcastle, UK
Studentship code: HS009
Sponsor: Newcastle University
Duration of the award: 3 years
Closing date for applications: 13 February 2012

Name of the supervisor(s)

Professor L Vale, Institute of Health and Society (IHS), http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ihs/people/profile/luke.vale

Professor J Wildman, Business School(NUBS)/IHS http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ihs/people/profile/john.wildman

Project description

Modelling is an essential part of health economics and this PhD offers the opportunity to design and test innovative modelling techniques using econometric or decision-analytic techniques alone or in combination? The specific research project will fit within the existing research interests of the Health Economics Group and may be chosen from one of the following examples:

• To explore how choice experiments can be used in economic evaluation for evaluating or designing health and social care interventions. (Professors Vale, Lanscar and Wildman)

• Evaluation of variations in the valuations and weights of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) and consideration of the impact of such variations on cost-effectiveness analyses. (Professor Vale, Dr Lancsar and Professor Wildman)

• To investigate the role of social norms in determining weight and how social norms and weight interact to determine economic outcomes. Dr Brown, Professor Wildman and Professor Vale

• To assess the utility of different modelling approaches for health economic evaluation for a suite of clinical interventions with varying levels of complexity. Professor Vale, Professor Rushton, Professor Wildman

Applicants may also suggest questions in the same topic area.

Value of the Award and Eligibility

Support comes from an award from the Health Foundation. A full award covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate and annual stipend of #13,590 (2011/12). Non-EU citizen will be considered but the award only covers the covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate and an annual stipend of £13,590 (2011/12).

Person Specification

A good 2i degree and a Masters degree in economics, health economics or a related discipline. Some understanding of economic evaluation, modelling, econometrics and preference elicitation is desirable.

How to Apply

You must apply through the University’s online postgraduate application form inserting the reference number HS009 and selecting Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Sciences) - Health Sciences as the programme of study. Only mandatory fields need to be completed. A covering letter, CV and (if English is not your first language) a copy of your English language qualifications must be attached. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote the reference number and state which topic you are interested in as well as how your interests and experience relate to the project.

Further Information

For further details, please contact: Luke Vale, luke.vale@newcastle.ac.uk, +44(0)191 222 5590.

Location: Lancaster, UK
Department: Economics
School: Lancaster University Management School
Closing date: February 29, 2012

The Department has a number of studentships available for study from September/October 2012 for three years. Applicants should have a Masters degree in Economics. ALL nationalities are eligible for these studentships.Studentships are currently £13,590 pa plus £3000 pa enhanced stipend for ESRC funded students. Full fee waivers will be granted.

Applications should be made as soon as possible - and no later than end February.

As a PhD student in the Department of Economics you will not only be working within an innovative department with a high quality research active environment, but at a Top 10 UK University with a world class reputation for excellence in teaching and research. Moreover, our PhD training is coordinated within the ESRC funded NW Doctoral Training Centre (NWDTC - see http://www.nwdtc.ac.uk ) to give students wider access to advanced training courses.

Economics PhD students at Lancaster are firmly embedded within the Department’s research culture and are expected to participate in research seminars and workshops. Students work closely with their supervisors and will be supported to attend relevant training activities outside Lancaster and to present papers at conferences. Students may be required to engage in limited teaching activities - under close supervision by experienced teaching staff.

We have open studentships where we encourage aspiring applicants to consult staff webpages http://bit.ly/xw9XFR and those of senior staff members in particular. Then contact the relevant staff to help develop a research proposal.

We also have a number of studentships that are linked to specific projects:

• Alcohol consumption. This project is supported by an ESRC CASE studentship as part of an EU Framework 7 project on addictive behaviour, ALICE-Rap (see http://www.alicerap.eu/ ) with the support of the RAND Corporation. The student will select and suggest research within a broad range and will be supervised by Ian Walker in Economics and Bruce Hollingsworth in the Division of Health Research and supported by Dr Priscillia Hunt at RAND. Contact ian.walker@lancaster.ac.uk or b.hollingsworth@lancaster.ac.uk
• Youth unemployment. This project is supported by an ESRC CASE studentship and forms part of a collaboration with The Work Foundation, a major London think tank (see http://www.theworkfoundation.com/ ). The student will select and suggest research within a broad range and will be supervised by Steve Bradley and Rob Crouchley in Economics and supported by Neil Lee at TWF. Contact s.bradley@lancaster.ac.uk.
• Absenteeism. This project is supported by an ESRC CASE studentship and forms part of a collaboration with The Work Foundation, a major London think tank (see http://www.theworkfoundation.com/ ). The student will select and suggest research within a broad range and will be supervised by Colin Green and Maria Navarro in Economics with support from Neil Lee at TWF. Contact c.p.green@lancaster.ac.uk.

For further information please contact: Professor David Peel or Dr Themis Pavlidis e.pavlidis@lancaster.ac.uk. Online applications for a place on the PhD programme can be made .

Location: York, UK
Venue: University of York
Ddates: Wednesday 21st - Friday 23rd March 2012

The Public Health and Health Policy Section at the University of Glasgow and the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York are jointly running three-day courses on Advanced Modelling Methods to be held at venues in Glasgow and York. The next course will be held in 2012, the course will be run at the University of York from Wednesday 21st - Friday 23rd March 2012. Booking forms are online now. The course will be also run in Glasgow later in 2012 (dates to be confirmed). Please contact The Public Health and Health Policy Section at the University of Glasgow directly if you would like more information about the 2012 course.

This is an advanced course focusing specifically on decision modelling and intended for people currently undertaking modelling for health economic evaluation within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, consultancy, academia or the health service. Participants would be expected to have attended an advanced course in economic evaluation such as the Expert Workshops in the Socio Economic Evaluation of Medicines run by the University of York.

Further details and booking information is available from http://www.york.ac.uk/che/courses/short/advanced-modelling/ for the York based course or from for the Glasgow based course.

Location: York, UK
Dates: 21st - 23rd March 2012

The Public Health and Health Policy Section at the University of Glasgow and the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York are jointly running three-day courses on Advanced Modelling Methods to be held at venues in Glasgow and York. The next course will be held in 2012, the course will be run at the University of York from Wednesday 21st - Friday 23rd March 2012. Booking forms are online now. The course will be also run in Glasgow later in 2012 (dates to be confirmed). Please contact The Public Health and Health Policy Section at the University of Glasgow directly if you would like more information about the 2012 course.

This is an advanced course focusing specifically on decision modelling and intended for people currently undertaking modelling for health economic evaluation within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, consultancy, academia or the health service. Participants would be expected to have attended an advanced course in economic evaluation such as the Expert Workshops in the Socio Economic Evaluation of Medicines run by the University of York.

Further details and booking information is available from http://www.york.ac.uk/che/courses/short/advanced-modelling/ for the York based course or from for the Glasgow based course.

Location: York, UK
Dates: 27th - 29 March 2012 (with optional half-day introduction to Stata 26th March)

The Centre for Health Economics at the University of York is running a three-day course on Regression Methods for Health Economic Evaluation. The course is now in its fifth edition and it will be held from 27th - 29th March 2012 at the University of York.

The course is a mixture of taught modules and practical exercises. It is intended for people currently undertaking health economic evaluations within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, consultancy, academia or the health service who wish to learn how to use regression methods to analyse individual patient-level cost, health outcome and cost-effectiveness data.

Participants are expected to have a basic familiarity with the concepts of cost-effectiveness analysis, descriptive statistics and regression methods.

The course will cover the use of regression methods for health economic evaluation of both randomised and non-randomised data. In particular, the course will focus on the use of regression methods to analyse different types of individual patient-level data. Detailed information about the topics covered can be found on the course’s webpage below.

Throughout the course computer-based practical exercises will be used to show how the methods can be applied in the statistical package Stata. A half day introduction to Stata and the commands that will be used on the course is available on 26th March for those less familiar with the software.

Further details and booking information is available from http://www.york.ac.uk/che/courses/short/regression-methods/

Limited campus accommodation is available on request. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

We hope that you will be interested in applying for the course or that you may know of others within your organisation who might be interested in attending.

Location: Berkeley, California, USA
Venue: Claremont Resort Hotel
Dates: April 17-21, 2012
website: http://ghlf@berkeley.edu

The executive program on innovative solutions in health policy, technology and management: University of California, Berkeley, the King’s Fund, London and UPF’s CRES, Barcelona

GHLF energizes health care executives/leaders through cutting edge, globally-sourced solutions and debates with experts on health care policy, technology and management issues. The Global Health Leadership Forum is currently accepting applications and nominations for its 2012 cycle. Participants have lauded the wisdom in health economics which informs most of the topics. The network of past alumni includes 200 health care leaders from 53 countries over 8 years. Application is on-line through the website.

Note that we are offering a total of $2000 discount off of the Berkeley and London sessions if registration is received and paid for by February 15, 2012. Also, due to enthusiastic feedback, we are again offering an optional Kaiser Permanente field trip directly after the GHLF—April 22-25, 2012. Save time and travel costs; discount from GHLF and KP for attending both.

Although most participants have chosen to go to both sessions and receive an earned certificate, applicants may choose to go to one session only.

Part 1

Focus includes recent innovations in insurance design and payment methods, delivery, care integration, public-private investment partnerships, technology solutions for tele-health and consumer engagement, lessons in health systems strengthening from Asia and the Americas, and leadership styles and strategies. The session includes field trips to two innovative healthcare sites and an option to visit Kaiser Permanente.

See website for full agenda. Among the April 2012 GHLF Speakers:

Sir Richard Feachem, Founding Executive Director of Global Fund, and UCSF Global Health Sciences Neelam Sekhri Feachem, President, Healthcare Redesign and SVP, Napo Pharma Chris Ham CEO, UK King’s Fund Rahul Reddy, CEO innovations, Apollo hospitals, India Jason Cheah, CEO Agency for Integrated Care, Singapore Dov Chernichovsky, expert in comparative health systems, Israel Mark Smith CEO, California Healthcare Foundation
Steve Shortell, Dean, UC Berkeley School of Public Health Richard Scheffler, Distinguished Professor of Health Economics and Public Policy Jenny Chatman, Organizational effectiveness expert and PhD Director, Haas Business School Chuck Slaughter, CEO, Livinggoods Teh Wei Hu, Professors of Health Economics, China and Taiwan expert, UC Berkeley

Part 2

Location: The Kings Fund, London England
Dates: September 16-21, 2012

Focus includes successes in European health systems redesign, delivery system performance, how to prioritize benefits and services (including UK’s NICE experience and the US practice of comparative effectiveness), pharma: innovation, access and cost-containment, governance and regulation, chronic disease management, and field trips to innovative ambulatory and hospital organizations.

Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Dates: 18th-20th April 2012

The Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment (HEHTA) Team at the University of Glasgow are pleased to announce a three day course on conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Through a series of lectures and hands-on workshops (using Stata and WinBUGS), this course will cover the principles and practice of conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of a variety of measures of treatment effects. In addition, participants will learn the important aspects of network meta-analysis, going beyond traditional pairwise techniques when comparing multiple treatment options.

The course is suitable for clinicians, health service researchers and other healthcare professionals who are involved in systematic reviews and meta-analyses as a piece of independent work or an integral part of a health technology assessment.

Participants should have knowledge of basic medical statistics. A basic appreciation of research design would be helpful, as would basic knowledge of Stata and WinBUGS. A one day introduction to Stata is available on 17 April for those less familiar with the software.

More information can be found on the course webpage see http://www.gla.ac.uk/researchinstitues/healthwellbeing/hehta/

Further details and booking information are available from the HEHTA administrator: hehta@glasgow.ac.uk

Location: York, UK
Venue: University of York
Dates: 9th May 2012

http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/yhec/web/training/training_events.php?RecordID=15

Literature searches are the foundation for high quality health technology assessment (HTA), systematic reviews, guideline development and other evidence syntheses. Developing search strategies to retrieve research evidence from databases requires knowledge of database features and skills in turning the concepts embodied in a research question into a search strategy. Search strategies have to take account of often competing requirements and the trade-offs which have informed their development may not always be easy to appreciate. Commissioning and reviewing searches (often as the foundation for later projects) can be enhanced by an appreciation of how to structure searches and an understanding of the basics of search strategy development.

This new training course provides an introduction to search strategy development for project managers, research commissioners and searchers new to evidence synthesis, who are seeking a better understanding of how searches are constructed and adapted to meet project needs.

The trainers are experienced information specialists, trainers and researchers. Their extensive experience lies in conducting literature searches to inform evidence syntheses such a health technology assessments and systematic reviews.

Location: York, UK
Venue: University of York
Date: 10th May 2012

http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/yhec/web/training/training_events.php?RecordID=2

Increasing national and international interest in identifying, recording and promoting access to healthcare trials and their results has seen the development of large numbers of trials registers, and more recently, results registers. Trials registers provide information on current and recently completed research and results registers provide information on completed research. This type of information is useful for research commissioning, health technology assessments, systematic reviews and product development.

Trials registers, results registers and other research registers are developing quickly and provide challenges in terms of identification, efficient searching and record management. This one day training course will highlight the background to the development of trial registers and trials results registers, will discuss the types of registers and their relative coverage, and will offer practical advice on searching registers and managing register records.

Location: Odense, Denmark

It is our pleasure to inform you that we now have three PhD course planned out on health economic topics from The Health Economic Unit at University of Southern Denmark in Odense in 2012. The courses are:

• Insurance Economics (with Peter Zweifel)
• Economic Evaluation in Health
• Priority Settings in Health Care (with Gavin Mooney et al.)

Further information can be found at: http://www.sdu.dk/Om_SDU/Institutter_centre/c_ist_sundoek/Conferences

Location: York, UK
Venue: University of York
Date: 28-30 May 2012

Further information and registration is online at: http://www.york.ac.uk/che/courses/short/patient-data/

This intensive workshop introduces participants to HES (hospital episode statistics) data and how to handle and manipulate these very large data sets using computer software. Understanding and interpreting this data is key for evaluating health care policy and practice. Participants will engage in problem-solving exercises, analysing the information in highly interactive sessions. This is the only course offered in the UK which teaches and applies analysis of HES data using Stata.

This workshop is suitable for analysts working in NHS hospitals, commissioning organisations and the Department of Health, and for health care researchers and PhD students. Overseas applicants may also find the tuition can be applied to similar scenarios in their own country.

The workshop fee is 800GBP, which includes all tuition, course materials, lunches, the welcome and drinks reception, the workshop dinner and refreshments, but does not include accommodation. Subsidised places are available for full-time PhD students.

Interested? See http://www.york.ac.uk/che/courses/short/patient-data/ or contact: Gillian Robinson, Workshop Administrator, at: gillian.robinson@york.ac.uk; tel: +44 (0)1904 321436.

Location: York, UK
Venue: University of York
Date: 12th June 2012

http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/yhec/web/training/training_events.php?RecordID=3

Health economics information is a key element in much health services research and particularly in health technology assessments. Identifying economic evidence to inform such research can involve searches in a range of databases and using a variety of strategies. This study day will include a ‘jargon buster’ session on the basics of health economics and economic models. It will also feature presentations about key economics information resources including NHS EED, Health Economic Evaluations Database (HEED) and the CEA Registry, and explorations of options for searching to identify data for economic models. There will be opportunities for hands-on practice.

Application deadline: June 15th, 2012
Webinar: February 7, 2012 at 2:00 pm EST

The Fulbright Regional Network for Applied Research (NEXUS) Program will bring together a network of junior scholars, professionals and mid-career applied researchers from the United States and other Western Hemisphere nations for series of three seminar meetings and a Fulbright exchange experience. Scholars will spend up to one year engaged in collaborative thinking, analysis, problem-solving and multi-disciplinary research in one of three inter-related topics of regional significance: Science, Technology and Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable energy.

Projects focusing on climate change adaptation strategies, and/or public policy focused research ventures that examine strategies to cope with climate variability, including extreme events, are particularly welcome.

Fulbright NEXUS Scholars will conduct individual and team-based research projects, integrating perspectives from multisectoral stakeholders, to generate knowledge-based, policy-oriented solutions and implementation models at the national and regional levels.

CIES will host a webinar to talk about the NEXUS Program on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 2:00 pm EST. CIES staff and current Fulbright NEXUS grantee, Ruth Browne, will provide an overview of the program and answers any questions you may have. To register, please click here.

The application deadline for applicants is June 15th, 2012. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or apply through a Fulbright office in the Western Hemisphere. For more information, visit our website at http://www.cies.org/NEXUS/ or email us at kdewindt@iie.org or jsilva@iie.org.

Location: York, UK
Venue: University of York
Date: 21st June 2012

http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/yhec/web/training/training_events.php?RecordID=10

As the volume of published research grows it is becoming more challenging to identify efficiently studies performed according to specific methods. Many search filters to find specific study designs such as randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or diagnostic test accuracy studies, or research issues such as adverse events, are being designed and published. Increasingly, these filters are being incorporated into database search interfaces, such as the PubMed Clinical Queries. As the number of filters grows, the challenge of choosing between them is becoming more apparent. Information professionals and others wishing to use search filters need to be aware of issues of filter design, quality and suitability to be able to make informed choices about which filters to select and apply.

This training event will explore how to identify, critically appraise and test out search filters, focusing on health and social care.

Location: Cambridge, England, UK
Date: June 25 to 29, 2012

The aim of this course is to provide pharma executives with a detailed understanding of and a practical introduction to the complex discipline of pricing and market access strategy. The course will demonstrate how an informed and strategic approach can help not only to capture a higher proportion of the value of a biopharmaceutical product but also to increase the overall intrinsic value of a novel drug.

What will be taught?

Participants in this programme will:

Understand the foundations of value based pricing Learn how pricing strategy integrates with the overall product strategy in creating and capturing the value of an innovation Appreciate how health economics and outcomes research can support and complement the deployment of a pricing strategy Build a toolkit to develop and sustain the value of a product Learn specific techniques to communicate the value of a new product Formulate best practice in the field of biopharmaceutical pricing

Further details can be found on the course website.

For more information please contact:

Dr Linda Allan: lma31@cam.ac.uk
Ms Bami Oshinowo: boshinowo@pricespective.com

Location: The Kings Fund, London England
Dates: September 16-21, 2012
website: http://ghlf@berkeley.edu

The executive program on innovative solutions in health policy, technology and management: University of California, Berkeley, the King’s Fund, London and UPF’s CRES, Barcelona

GHLF energizes health care executives/leaders through cutting edge, globally-sourced solutions and debates with experts on health care policy, technology and management issues. The Global Health Leadership Forum is currently accepting applications and nominations for its 2012 cycle. Participants have lauded the wisdom in health economics which informs most of the topics. The network of past alumni includes 200 health care leaders from 53 countries over 8 years. Application is on-line through the website.

Note that we are offering a total of $2000 discount off of the Berkeley and London sessions if registration is received and paid for by February 15, 2012. Also, due to enthusiastic feedback, we are again offering an optional Kaiser Permanente field trip directly after the GHLF—April 22-25, 2012. Save time and travel costs; discount from GHLF and KP for attending both.

Although most participants have chosen to go to both sessions and receive an earned certificate, applicants may choose to go to one session only.

Part 2

Focus includes successes in European health systems redesign, delivery system performance, how to prioritize benefits and services (including UK’s NICE experience and the US practice of comparative effectiveness), pharma: innovation, access and cost-containment, governance and regulation, chronic disease management, and field trips to innovative ambulatory and hospital organizations.

Location: York, UK
Venue: University of York
Date: One Day Course: 3 Individual Dates Confirmed for the 6th March, 20th June and 20th November 2012

http://php.york.ac.uk/inst/yhec/web/training/index.php

Extensive literature searches are the foundation of high quality systematic reviews, health technology assessment (HTA) and guideline development. Developing search strategies to retrieve research evidence from databases and other resources requires a range of knowledge and skills. There are constant challenges to keeping up-to-date with new database features and approaches to achieving efficient searches. Search approaches may need to be adapted depending on the end-product which the search is informing and the resources available. Search approaches increasingly need to be explained to sponsors in terms of the extent to which they are fit-for-purpose.

This new workshop will provide opportunities to learn new techniques, to discuss best approaches, to share insights and to assess variations in current best practice. The workshop will be facilitated by information specialists experienced in literature searching to inform systematic reviews and HTAs and in conducting research into the evidence base for information retrieval. Participants are encouraged to suggest topics / issues in advance for discussion during the workshop.