Professor Stephen Walters BSc, PGCE, MSc, PhD, CStat.

Professor of Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials

ScHARR
The University of Sheffield
Regent Court
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA

Tel: (+44) (0)114 222 0730
Fax: (+44) (0)114 272 4095

email : s.j.walters@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography

I graduated with a degree in Mathematics and Economics. This was followed by a PGCE and an MSc in Medical Statistics and Information Technology. My PhD involved using computer intensive statistical methods for estimating sample sizes and analysing quality of life outcomes. I joined ScHARR in January 1995. I was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2003; Reader in 2008 and to a Personal Chair in 2009. I was appointed Director of the new Design, Trials and Statistics section in ScHARR in August 2012.

I have over 20 years´ experience of designing, analysing and reporting the results of a variety of studies including, randomised controlled trials, observational studies and surveys. I have written over 200 publications (including 118 in refereed journals and 3 books). I have been a co-applicant, statistical advisor and collaborator on over 50 health services research projects.

Research Interests

My research interests are

• Design, Analysis and Interpretation of studies with Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) outcome measures. See 'Quality of life outcomes in clinical trials and health care evaluation: a practical guide to analysis and interpretation'.
• Computer intensive methods – the bootstrap.
• Health Services Research and Technology Assessment.
• Cluster RCTs and clustering by health professional in individually randomised trials.
• Study design and sample size determination.

Teaching Interests

I have developed several courses on teaching medical statistics to medical and health science students, clinicians and allied health professionals. I have also co-authored two textbooks: 'Medical Statistics: A Textbook for the Health Sciences' and 'How to Display Data'.

I co-ordinate and teach on HAR6035 `An Introduction to Statistics and Critical Appraisal´ module on the Master of Public Health programme and the distance learning version (HAR6042). I also teach on several other courses including: HAR674 Randomised Controlled Trials; MAS6062 Bayesian Methods and Clinical Trials.

Professional activities

• Member of the Medical Research Council Strategic Skills Fellowship Panel.
• Member of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Clinical Evaluation and Trials Board.
• Independent statistician member on several data and safety monitoring committees. 
• Member of the International Advisory Board for the journal of Quality of Life Research.
• Member of the Editorial Board for the journal of Health and Quality of Life Outcomes.

Current projects

• NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Research Design Services (YHRDS). Co-applicant (PI: Professor R. Akehurst). 2008-2013 £5,000,000
• NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Research Design Services. Co-applicant (PI: Dr Wendy Baird). 2013-2018 £5,250,000
• MRC Lifestyle Matters for maintenance of health and wellbeing. Co-applicant (PI: Professor G. Mountain).
  2011-2015  £1,139,934
• NIHR PHR Putting Life in Years (PLINY): Evaluation of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of an intervention to promote mental wellbeing in community living older people. Co-applicant (PI: Professor G. Mountain). 2011-2015 £706,611
• NIHR PGFaR Bridging the age gap in breast cancer. Improving outcomes for older women. Co-applicant (PI: Dr L. Wyld, Prof. M. Read). 2012-2017 £1,705,273
• MRC Assessing the risk of spontaenous premature birth by electrical impedance spectroscopy of the cervix . Co-applicant (PI: Prof D. Anumba). 2012-2016 £622,047
• NIHR RfPB Replacing conventional spine radiographs with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in children with suspected reduction in bone density . Co-applicant (PI: Dr A Offiah). 2011-2013 £193,425
• NIHR DRF A mixed methods study to evaluate clinical and cost effectiveness of self-managed exercise programme versus usual physiotherapy for chronic rotator cuff disorders. Co-applicant (PI: C. Littlewood). 2012-2014 £265,064

View full list of Stephen Walters' publications

Section

Stephen Walters is based in the Design, Trials & Statistics Section.