Ala Szczepura

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Ala Szczepura

Professor

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6244-9872
    Calculated based on number of publications stored in Pure and citations from Scopus
    1971 …2024

    Research activity per year

    Personal profile

    Biography

    Ala Szczepura is Professor of Health Technology Assessment in the Research Centre for Healthcare and Communities, and Visiting Professor at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust. Originally a scientist, she has over thirty years’ experien of interdisciplinary health services research with specific interests in: health and care technology assessment; re-design and assessment of services; and addressing population diversity for cost-effective care.  

    She has published over 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles including in the areas of healthcare innovation, self-management, cancer, renal care, diabetes, ageing care and unobtrusive smart environments for independent living and, most recently unconscious gender bias in medicine. Research grants won have totalled over £15m including projects funded by NIHR, Wellcome, MRC, ESRC, Innovate UK, the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, Skills for Care, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Industry.

    She has contributed significantly to the strategic development of healthcare research in the UK including membership of the HTA Research Commissioning Board and  funding panels for various national Research Bodies. She has a long-standing interest in the development of researchers, sitting on NIHR Award Panels at all levels (Post-Doctoral, Career Development & Senior Research Fellowships).

    She is a member of the Advisory Group for Warwick Evidence which undertakes Technology Assessment Reviews for NICE. Internationally, Professor Szczepura is also a founder member of the HTA International (HTAi) Special Interest Group (SIG) on Patient & Citizen Involvement in HTA and Rare Diseases SIG.

    Throughout her career she has been a strong supporter of the role of women. In 2018, she was winner of the 'Services to Medicine' category in the First English Women's Awards.  She holds Honorary Chairs at Warwick University and the University of the West of England Bristol. 

    Research Interests

    Health technology assessment, emerging technological innovations, policy research

    Vision Statement

    My research interests lie in the application of 'technology' to health and care.

    • Technology - defined broadly to innovations to 'promote health, prevent and treat disease, and improve rehabilitation and long term care'. This might cover service reorganisation and quality improvement as well as AI and digital 'tech'.
    • Assessment - evaluation of organisational impact and broader social and ethical implications of a new technology, as well as its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.
    • Success - a multidisciplinary approach (working closely with scientists, clinicians, end-users, policy makers and technology developers) to the evaluation of new and emerging health and social care technologies.

    Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

    In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

    • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    • SDG 4 - Quality Education

    Education/Academic qualification

    Physical Chemistry, Doctorate, University of Oxford

    1 Sept 1970 → 30 Sept 1972

    Natural Philosophy, Degree, University of Oxford

    1 Sept 1966 → 31 Jul 1970

    External positions

    Member Research Grants Committee, Dunhill Medical Trust

    1 Sept 2023 → …

    Board Member, International Somatic Practice and Chronic Pain Network (SPCPN)

    1 Mar 2022 → …

    Member Strategy Group, Higher Education Dementia Network

    1 Mar 2019 → …

    Member Research Foundation Advisory Group, Royal College of Occupational Therapists

    1 Mar 2019 → 1 Mar 2022

    Member Scientific Advisory Board , PinPoint Data Science Ltd.

    1 Sept 2017 → …

    Visiting Professor, University of the West of England

    9 Sept 2016 → 25 May 2025

    Visiting Professor, University of Warwick

    1 May 2016 → 31 Dec 2023

    Vice-Chair, Research Programme Funding Committee, Marie Curie Cancer Care Research

    28 Feb 2015 → 1 Mar 2019

    Member Career Development Fellowship Panel, National Institute for Health and Care Research

    1 Jun 2014 → 1 Jun 2017

    Visiting Fellow Oxford, University of Oxford

    1 Jun 2013 → 31 Dec 2014

    Trustee, Afiya Trust

    1 Mar 2013 → 30 Sept 2019

    Member National Assessment Panel, Athena SWAN

    1 Jan 2013 → 31 Dec 2013

    Member Stratified Medicines Panel, Technology Strategy Board

    1 Jan 2013 → 31 Dec 2013

    Member Advisory Group, West Midlands Health Informatics Network (WIN), West Midlands Academic Health Science Network

    1 Jan 2013 → 31 Dec 2016

    Member Research Review Committee, Marie Curie Cancer Care Research

    1 Mar 2012 → 1 Mar 2015

    Member Advisory Group, Warwick Evidence Technology Assessment Review

    1 Sept 2010 → …

    Member Post-Doctoral Fellowship Panel, National Institute for Health and Care Research

    1 Jun 2010 → 1 Jun 2014

    Member Project Group, NHS Evidence Specialist Collections Review , National Institute For Health And Care Excellence

    1 Mar 2008 → 30 Sept 2010

    Member Senior Fellowship Panel, National Institute for Health and Care Research

    1 Sept 2007 → 1 Sept 2010

    Member Board of Sciences Award Grants Panel, British Medical Association (BMA)

    1 Mar 2007 → 30 Sept 2013

    Co-Lead Specialist Library for Ethnicity & Health, National Institute For Health And Care Excellence

    1 Mar 2005 → 30 Sept 2011

    Member Steering Group European SAFE Network of Excellence, EC Sixth Framework Programme

    1 Mar 2004 → 31 Dec 2009

    Member National Prioritisation Strategy Group, Health Technology Assessment Programme

    1 Mar 2004 → 30 Sept 2013

    Member Advisory Group National Nursing Research Unit, Department of Health and Social Care

    1 Mar 2001 → 31 Dec 2005

    Member UK Network Management Group, ESRC EvidenceNetwork

    1 Jan 2000 → 31 Dec 2013

    Member West Midlands Regional Evaluation (DEC) Panel, National Institute For Health And Care Excellence

    1 Mar 1998 → 31 Dec 2005

    Member Commissioned Research Advisory Committee, NHS Executive, West Midlands

    1 Jan 1998 → 31 Dec 2002

    Member National Commissioning Board for the NHS Health Technology Assessment Programme, Department of Health and Social Care

    1 Mar 1997 → 31 Dec 2002

    Trustee & Chair Academic Panel, Education for Health

    1 Mar 1997 → 30 Sept 2016

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    • 1 Hosting an academic visitor

    • Harue Masaki

      Kim Bul (Host), Ala Szczepura (Host), Toshio Nomura (Host) & Martin Bollard (Host)

      4 Nov 2017 → …

      Activity: Hosting a visitor › Hosting an academic visitor