Nicola Cooper

Professor of Health Care Evaluation Research

CONTACT DETAILS

Department of Health Sciences
University of Leicester
Adrian Building, University Road
Leicester, LE1 7RH

Tel: 00 44 116 229 7267
Email: njc21@le.ac.uk

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Research Interests

Research Projects

Professional Activities including (MRC HSRC Workshop)

Postgraduate Supervision and Teaching

Selected Publications

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Nicola’s primary research interest is in the interface and integration of medical statistics and health economics. This specifically includes methods for statistical modelling of cost data, integration of evidence synthesis within a decision-modelling context, handling of missing data in economic evaluations conducted alongside clinical trials, and the application of Bayesian statistical methods to all of the above.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

Funded Grants

N Graves (PI), J Wilson (PI), K Mengersen, S Whitehouse, R Crawford, AJ Sutton, NJ Cooper, D Paterson, A Berendt. Using evidence to reduce risk of healthcare acquired infection following primary total hip replacement. NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme (£305,000, Nov 2009 – Oct 2012)
AJ Sutton (PI), NJ Cooper, KR Abrams, D Spiegelhalter. Use of Bayesian methods to inform health technology assessment decision-making. MRC/NIHR Methodology Research Programme (£380,000, Oct 2008 to Sept 2010)
R Ara (PI), A Booth, J Brazier, AJ Sutton, NJ Cooper, KR Abrams, K Khunti Anti-obesity drugs in primary care. NIHR Health Technology Assessment (£220,000, Jan 2009 to Jan 2010)
D Kendrick (PI), E Towner, AJ Sutton, R Reading, E McColl, M Watson, C Coupland, NJ Cooper, R Illingworth, B Brady, F Coffey, M Hayes. Keeping children safe at home: a multicentre collaborative research programme to reduce childhood injuries. NIHR Programme grant (£2 million, Apr 2009 to Mar 2014)
R Akehurst, A Wailoo, KR Abrams, AJ Sutton, NJ Cooper, K Claxton, M Sculpher, S Palmer. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Decision Support Unit. NICE (£1.1 million, Mar 2007 - Mar 2012)
NJ Cooper (PI), AJ Sutton, AE Ades, C Longson, M Mugford, S Paisley, M Sculpher.Consensus working group on the use of evidence in economic decision models. MRC HSRC Workshop Award (£3,000, 2005) (Cooper et al. Health Economics 2004)
K Williams (PI), NJ Cooper, KR Abrams, P Assassa, C McGrother, C Shaw Long term outcomes of a RCT of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of services for urinary symptoms. MRC (£120,000, Aug 2004 – Oct 2005)
NJ Cooper (PI). The use of evidence synthesis and uncertainty modelling in economic evidence-based health related decision models. MRC Special Research Training Fellowship in Health Services Research and Health of the Public Research (£130,000, Nov 2003 – Oct 2008) (Cooper et al. Health Economics 2004, Cooper et al. J HSR & Policy 2005, Cooper et al. Arch Internal Medicine 2006, Ades et al. Pharmacoeconomics 2006, Cooper et al Health Economics 2007, Welton et al. Statistics in Medicine 2008, Drummond et al. International J Technology Assessment in Health 2008, Cooper et al. Statistics in Medicine 2009)
R Akehurst, A O’Hagan, C McCabe, J Brazier, A Brennan, J Chilcott, KR Abrams, AJ Sutton, NJ Cooper, K Claxton, M Sculpher, S Palmer National Institute for Clinical Excellence Decision Support Unit. NICE (£600,000, Mar 2003 – Mar 2007) (Burls et al. HTA 2006)
J Nicholl (PI), J Roberts, KR Abrams, NJ Cooper, J Chilcott, A O’Hagan, G Ebers, J Palace, M Boggild. Multiple Sclerosis Risk Sharing Scheme Department of Health (£1.3 million, 2003 - 2006). (Pickin et al. BMC Neurology 2009)

Other Research Projects

The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy for Type 1 Gauchers Disease. NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme and NICE. Collaboration between NICE Decision Support Unit and the West Midlands Health Technology Assessment Collaboration. (Burls et al. HTA 2006)
Conventional Ventilation or Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for Severe Adult Respiratory Failure (CESAR): A collaborative randomised controlled trial. NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme (£1 million). Collaboration with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of East Anglia and University Hospitals Leicester. (Thalanany et al. BMC HSR 2008, Peek et al. The Lancet 2009)
Randomised trial of the cost-effectiveness of existing primary and secondary care services compared with a new nurse-led service for urinary incontinence. MRC (£5 million). (Turner et al. British Journal of Urology International 2004, Williams et al. British Journal of General Practice 2005)
Treatment and Prophylaxis Use of Neuraminidase Inhibitors for Influenza A & B.
NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme. Collaboration with Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Leicester and School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield. (Cooper et al. BMJ 2003, Turner et al. HTA report 2003, Turner et al. Vaccine 2006, Wailoo et al. Value in Health 2008)
Cost-effectiveness of Alternative Strategies for the Initial Medical Management of Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: Systematic review and decision analytical modelling. NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme and NICE. Collaboration with the Centre for Health Economics at University of York. (Palmer et al. International J Cardiology 2005, Robinson et al. HTA/NICE 2005)
Cost-effectiveness of Beta-Interferon and Glatiramer-Acetate in the Management of Multiple Sclerosis. NICE (£128,000). Collaboration with the universities of Sheffield and York. (Chilcott et al. BMJ 2003)
Economic Evaluation of Remicade in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Schering-Plough commissioned as part of NICE submission. Collaboration with Abacus International and Arthritis Research Campaign (ARC) Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Manchester.
Neonatal Metabolic Screening: Cost, yield and outcome. NHS R&D Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme (£60,000). Collaboration with University of Sheffield and Birmingham Childrens Hospital. (Pollitt et al. HTA 1997).

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Selected Presentations:

Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Lai M, Peters J, Abrams KR, Juni P, Wandel S, Paulden M, Welton N, Conti S, Palmer S, Bujkiewicz S, Spiegelhalter DJ. How valuable are multiple treatment comparison methods in economic decision modelling? Health Economists’ Study Group, Sheffield, July 2009.

Novielli N, Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR. How is evidence on test performance synthesised in economic decision models of diagnostic tests? A systematic appraisal of Health Technology Assessments in the UK since 1997. Health Economists’ Study Group, Sheffield, July 2009.

Cooper NJ. Use of evidence in decision models: Practical and methodological issues. Advanced methods of cost-effectiveness analysis short course, St Catherine’s college, University of Oxford. March 2009.

Cooper NJ. Use of evidence in economic decision modeling. Evidence based economics: health and other policy domains workshop, LSE. Nov 2008.

Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Ades AE, Welton NJ. Addressing between-study heterogeneity and inconsistency in mixed treatment comparisons: Application to stroke prevention treatments for Atrial Fibrillation patients. Cochrane Colloquium, Freiburg, October 2008.

MTC with covariates Cochrane 2008

SRSM 2008

Cooper NJ, Ades AE, Paisley S, Sutton AJ, Longson C, Mugford M, Sculpher M. Use of evidence in economic decision models: Practical issues and methodological challenges. Heath Economists’ Study Group and Collège des Économists de la Santé, London January 2006.

Sutton AJ, Cooper NJ. Methods for synthesising evidence from studies evaluating diagnostic performance of a medical test for economic decision modeling. School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. November 2005.

Brisbane talk 2005

Cooper NJ, Coyle D, Abrams KR, Mugford M, Sutton AJ. Use of evidence in economic decision models: an appraisal of health technology assessments in the UK since 1997. Cochrane Colloquium. Melbourne, October 2005.

Use of evidence Cochrane 2005

Cooper NJ, Jones DR, Sutton AJ. Unknown knowns: use of Cochrane review results in designing new studies. Cochrane Colloquium. Melbourne, October 2005.

Unknown knowns Cochrane 2005

Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Ades AE, Lu G. Evidence synthesis of competing interventions when there is inconsistency in how effectiveness outcomes are measured across studies. Statistics in Healthcare, Joint conference of the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) and Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PSI), Cardiff, July 2005.

Multiple comparisons RSS 2005

Cooper NJ, Coyle D, Abrams KR, Mugford M, Sutton AJ. Use of evidence in economic decision models: an application of health technology assessments in the UK since 1997. International Health Economics Association 5^th World Congress. Barcelona, July 2005.

Use of Evidence iHEA 2005

Cooper NJ. Estimating the cost-effectiveness of an intervention in a clinical trial when partial cost information is available: A Bayesian approach. Part of the Econometric methods for correcting for missing cost and utilization data organized session, International Health Economics Association 5^th World Congress, July 2005.

Partial costs iHEA 2005

Cooper NJ. Use of evidence in decision models: An appraisal of health technology assessments in the UK. Health Economics Research Centre, University of Oxford, May 2005.

Oxford seminar May 2005

Cooper NJ, Jones DR, Sutton AJ. How is Cochrane evidence used in planning new studies? Department of Health Sciences Christmas conference. Leicester, December 2004.

Unknown knowns Leicester 2004

Cooper NJ. The use of evidence synthesis and uncertainty modelling in economic evidence-based decision models. Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology, Sydney, April 2004.

Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR. Methodology for meta-analysis of mean time to event outcomes in the presence of censoring. Cochrane Colloquium. Barcelona, October 2003.

Time to event data Cochrane 2003

Cooper NJ, Lambert PC, Abrams KR, Sutton AJ. Analysis of repeated measures cost data with zero observations: An application to the costs associated with inflammatory polyarthritis. International Health Economics Association. San Francisco, June 2003.

repeated cost data iHEA 2003

Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR, Lambert P. The incorporation of meta-analysis results into evidence based decision modelling. Statistical Advances in Health Technology Assessment. PSI meeting: RSA Durham Street Auditorium, June 2003.

PSI HTA June 2003

Cooper NJ. The cost of care. British Health Professionals in Rheumatology (BHPR), Keele University, October 2002.

Costs of Care BHPR 2002

Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR Lambert P. The incorporation of meta-analysis results into evidence based decision modelling. International Society for Clinical Biostatistics. Dijon, September 2002.

Bayesian Markov models ISCB 2001

MRC HSRC Workshop

"The Use of Evidence in Economic Decision Models"

The recent methods guidelines for health technology assessments from NICE (2004) recommend ‘all relevant evidence must be identified’ and ‘evidence must be identified, quality assessed and, where appropriate, pooled using explicit criteria and justifiable and reproducible methods’. The guidelines also state that ‘explicit criteria by which studies are included and excluded’ should be presented.

Two workshops, funded by an MRC HSRC workshop grant, were organised with the aim of producing specific procedural guidance to complement the NICE guidance and to provide a clear definition of all relevant evidence in the context of decision-analytical modelling.

WORKSHOP 1: Establishing the current situation

Dr Zoe Philips, University of Nottingham & Laura Ginnelly, University of York

“Review of guidelines for good practice in decision-analytic modelling in health technology assessment”

Philips.pps Bojke.pps

Dr Nicola Cooper, University of Leicester

“Use of evidence in decision models: An appraisal of health technology assessments in the UK since 1997”

Cooper.pps

Dr Carole Longson, National Institute for Clinical Excellence

“View from NICE – current issues”

Longson.pps

Suzy Paisley, University of Sheffield

“Identifying evidence for decision analytic models”

Paisley.pps

Paul Tappenden, University of Sheffield

“Ideal versus practical issues of using all available evidence to inform decision model

parameters”

Tappenden.pps

Debbi Caldwell, University of Bristol

“The potential role of mixed treatment comparisons”

Caldwell.pps

Dr Alex Sutton

“Discussion”

Sutton.pps

WORKSHOP 2: Methodology for appropriate use of evidence in decision models

Louise Longworth, NICE

“Guidelines reporting of evidence identification for the and selection in decision models: the NICE perspective”

Longworth.pps

Jim Chilcott, Suzy Paisley, University of Sheffield

“Systematizing the process: the role of problem structuring methods (PSM) in informing model structure”

Chilcott Paisley Tappenden.pps

Boby Mihaylova, Senior Researcher, University of Oxford.

“Advantages of individual patient data”

Dr Rebecca Turner, MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge

“Addressing differences in rigour and relevance of evidence - a review of existing methods”

Turner.pps

Dr Karl Claxton, Dr Neil Hawkins, University of York

“Optimising Drug Development and Efficient Licensing and Reimbursement Rules: The Role of Value of Information Analysis”.

Hawkins.pps

Prof Tony Ades, University of Bristol

“What can we learn from data? A comparison of direct, indirect and observational evidence”Ades.pps

Dr Alex Sutton, University of Leicester

“Discussion”

Sutton2.pps

POSTGRADUATE SUPERVISION AND TEACHING

I am principal supervisor on the following PhD:

2007 - 'Incorporating evidence from studies evaluating diagnostic test performance into evidence-based decision models' (Student: Nicola Novielli).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Peek G, Mugford M, Tiruvoipati R, Wilson A, Allen E, Thalanany M, Hibbert CL, Truesdale A, Clemens F, Cooper NJ, Elbourne D. Randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation of conventional ventilatory support vs extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe adult respiratory failure (CESAR) The Lancet 2009; 374(9698): 1351-1363.
Burch J, Paulden M, Conti S, Stock C, Corbett M, Welton N, Ades AE, Sutton A, Cooper N, Elliot A, Nicholson K, Duffy S, McKenna C, Westwood M, Palmer S.Antiviral drugs for the treatment of influenza: A Systematic Review and Economic Evaluation. NICE Appraisal 2009; 168.
Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Morris D, Ades AE, Welton NJ. Addressing between-study heterogeneity and inconsistency in mixed treatment comparisons: Application to stroke prevention treatments in individuals with non-rheumatic Atrial Fibrillation. Statistics in Medicine 2009; 28(14): 1861–1881.
Moreno SG, Sutton AJ, Ades AE, Turner EH, Abrams KR, Cooper NJ, Palmer TM. Novel methods to deal with publication bias: 'global' application to antidepressant trials where a gold standard exists. BMJ 2009; 339(71): b2981.
Moreno SG, Sutton AJ, Ades AE, Stanley TD, Abrams KR, Peters JL, Cooper NJ. Assessment of methods to adjust for publication through a comprehensive simulation study. BMC Methodology 2009; 9(2).
Pickin M, Cooper C, Chater T, O’Hagan A, Abrams K, Cooper NJ, Boggild M, Palace J, Ebers G, Chilcott J, Tappenden P, Nicholl J. The Multiple Sclerosis Risk Sharing Scheme monitoring study – early results and lessons for the future. BMC Neurology 2009; 9(1).
Sutton AJ, Cooper NJ, Jones DR. Evidence synthesis as the key to more coherent and efficient research. BMC Medical Research Methodology 2009; 9(29).
Thalanany MM, Mugford M, Hibbert C, Cooper NJ, Truesdale A, Robertson S, Tiruvoipati R, Elbourne D, Peek GJ, Clemens F, Hardy P, Allen E, Wilson A on behalf of the CESAR Trial Group. Methods of data collection and analysis for the economic evaluation alongside a national, multi-centre trial in the UK: Conventional ventilation or ECMO for Severe Adult Respiratory Failure (CESAR). BMC Health Services Research 2008, 8: 94
Gillies CL, Lambert PC, Abrams KR, Sutton AJ, Cooper NJ, Hsu RT, Davies M, Khunti K. A cost-effectiveness analysis for different strategies for screening and prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. BMJ 2008; 336: 1180-1185.
Sutton AJ, Ades AE, Cooper NJ, Abrams KR. Use of indirect and mixed treatment comparisons for technology assessment. Pharmacoeconomics 2008; 26(9): 753-767.
Sutton AJ, Cooper NJ, Goodacre S, Stevenson M. Integration of meta-analysis and economic decision modeling for evaluating diagnostic tests. Medical Decision Making 2008; 28(5): 650-667
Welton NJ, Cooper NJ, Ades AE, Sutton AJ. Evidence synthesis of competing interventions when effectiveness outcomes measured inconsistently across trials: Evaluation of antivirals for treatment of influenza. Statistics in Medicine 2008; 27: 5620-5639.
Drummond M, Iglesias C, Cooper NJ. Systematic reviews and economic evaluations in technology appraisals conducted for NICE in the UK: A game of two halves? International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health 2008; 24(2).
Wailoo AJ, Sutton AJ, Cooper NJ, Turner D, Abrams KR, Brennan A, Nicholson KG. Cost-effectiveness and value of information analyses of neuraminidase inhibitors for the treatment of influenza. Value in Health 2008; 22(2): 161-171.
Lambert PC, Billingham LJ, Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR. Establishing the cost-effectiveness of an intervention in a clinical trial when partial cost information is available: A Bayesian approach. Health Economics 2008; 17(1): 67-81.
Cooper NJ, Lambert PC, Abrams KR, Sutton AJ. Predicting costs over time using Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo methods: An application to early inflammatory polyarthritis Health Economics 2007; 16(1): 37-56.
Gillies CL, Abrams KR, Lambert PC, Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Hsu RT, Khunti K. Pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2007; 334: 299-302.
Lu G, Ades AE, Sutton AJ, Cooper NJ, Briggs AH, Caldwell, DM. Meta-analysis of multiple treatment comparisons at multiple follow-up times. Statistics in Medicine 2007; 26(20): 3681-3699.
Middleton RK, Lloyd GM, Bown MJ, Cooper NJ, Jones JL, Sayers RD. Pro-inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines are up-regulated in the abdominal aortic aneurysm: A multiple protein array study. Journal of Vascular Surgery 2007; 45(3): 574-580.
Sutton AJ, Cooper NJ, Jones DR, Abrams KR, Lambert PL. Evidence-based sample size calculations for future trials based on meta-analysis. Statistics in Medicine 2007; 26: 2476-2500.
Ades A, Sculpher M, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR, Cooper NJ, Welton N, Guobing L. Bayesian methods for evidence synthesis in cost-effectiveness analysis. Pharmacoeconomics; 2006; 24:1-19.
Awad S, Karkos CD, Serrachino-Inglot F, Cooper NJ, Butterfield S, Ashleigh R, Nasim A,. The impact of diabetes on current revascularization practice and clinical outcome in patients with critical lower limb ischaemia. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 2006; 32(6): 718-724.
Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Lu G, Khunti K. Mixed comparison of stroke prevention treatments in individuals with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation. Archives of Internal Medicine 2006; 166: 1269-1275.
Burls A. Connock M, Frew E, Fry-Smith A, Juarez-Garcia A, Moore D, Sandercock J, McCabe C, O’Hagan A, Wailoo A, Abrams KR, Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ. The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapy for Gaucher's disease: a systematic review Health Technology Assessment 2006; 10(24). (Also final report for National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE))
Turner DA, Wailoo AJ, Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR, Nicholson KG. The cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination in adults aged 50-64. Vaccine 2006; 24(7): 1035-1043.
Cooper NJ, Jones DR, Sutton AJ. Systematic review results are underused in designing new studies. Clinical Trials 2005; 2(3): 260-264.
Cooper NJ, Coyle D, Abrams KR, Mugford M, Sutton AJ. Use of evidence in decision models: An appraisal of health technology assessments in the UK to date. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy 2005; 10(4):245-250.
Palmer S, Sculpher M, Philips Z, Robinson M, Ginnelly L, Bakhai A, Abrams K, Cooper NJ, Packman C, Alfikah K, Hall A, Gray D. Management of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome: How cost-effective are glycoprotein IIb/IIIA antagonists in the National Health Service? International Journal of Cardiology 2005; 100: 229-240.
Sutton AJ, Cooper NJ, Abrams KR, Lambert PC, Jones DR. Synthesising both benefit and harm: A Bayesian approach to evaluating clinical net benefit. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology (In press)
Turner DA, Nicholson KG, Wailoo AJ, Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR. The cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination in adults aged 50-64. Vaccine (In press)
Williams K, Assassa P, Cooper NJ, Turner D, Shaw C, McGrother C, Abrams KR, Mayne C, Clarke M. Randomised controlled trial of the cost-effectiveness of existing primary and secondary care services compared with a new nurse-led service for urinary incontinence. British Journal of General Practice 2005; 55(518):696-703.
Bown MJ, Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Nicholson ML, Bell PRF, Sayers RD. Factors associated with the late post-operative mortality of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: A review of 223 cases from a single centre. European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 2004; 27: 65-74.
Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR, Turner D, Wailoo A. Comprehensive decision analytical modelling in economic evaluation: A Bayesian approach. Health Economics 2004:13(3) 203-226.

Erratum HE 2004

WinBUGS 13 code for HE 2004

WinBUGS 14 code for HE 2004

Minelli C, Abrams KR, Sutton AJ, Cooper NJ. Appropriate use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT): A clinical decision analysis. British Medical Journal 2004; 328: 371-5.
Turner DA, Shaw C, McGrother CW, Dallosso HM, Cooper NJ and MRC incontinence team. The cost of urinary storage disorders to the UK. British Journal of Urology International 2004; 93: 1246-1252.
Chilcott J, McCabe C, Tappenden P, O’Hagan A, Cooper NJ, Abrams KR. Modelling the cost-effectiveness of beta-interferon and glatiramer-acetate in the management of multiple sclerosis. British Medical Journal 2003:326:522.
Cooper NJ, Mugford M, Symmons DPM, Barrett EM, Scott DGI. Development of resource-use and expenditure questionnaires for use in rheumatology research. Journal of Rheumatology 2003;30(11): 2485-2491.

Resource use and expenditure questionnaire

Cooper NJ, Sutton AJ, Abrams KR, Wailoo A, Turner D, Nicholson KG. Effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitors in the treatment and prevention of influenza A and B: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. British Medical Journal 2003; 326: 1235-1239.
Cooper NJ, Abrams KR, Sutton AJ, Turner D, Lambert P. Use of Bayesian methods for Markov modelling in cost-effectiveness analysis: An application to taxane use in advanced breast cancer. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A 2003; 166(3): 389-405.

Additional tables and figs JRSS 2003