Prof Andy Vail

Overview

Andy leads the Centre for Biostatistics in the School of Health Sciences and directs the Greater Manchester office of the NIHR Research Design Service North West.  His time is divided between offices in the Centre for Biostatistics and at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, where he also leads the statistics group and collaborates on clinical research.

Most of his clinical research collaboration is within the field of neurosciences.  Andy is a member of the Stroke Association's grant-funding panel and works across experimental medicine, acute stroke and rehabilitation research with a focus on intervention studies.

Methodological interests include issues arising in the meta-analysis of subfertility trials, identified through his longstanding role as lead Statistical Editor of the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Review Group (formerly Menstrual Disorders & Subfertility).

Biography

Andy completed his MSc under a Special Training Award at the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyons.  His first post, under the mentorship of Sheila Bird (MRC Biostatistics Unit), was a national cohort study of corneal transplant outcome based at the UK Transplant Service in Bristol.  This was followed by seven years at the University of Leeds Institute of Epidemiology & Health Services Research, where he developed a portfolio of collaborative research in gynaecology, obstetrics & midwifery.

In 1999 Andy crossed the Pennines to join Graham Dunn's Biostatistics Group. He developed and expanded a statistical team at Salford Royal using funding raised through successful research bids. His research collaborations have focused on clinical neuroscience, and stroke in particular.

Qualifications

BSc. Pure Mathematics & Mathematical Statistics, University of Exeter, 1988

MSc. Medical Statistics & Information Technology, University of Leicester, 1989

Memberships of committees and professional bodies

Royal Statistical Society

International Society for Clinical Biostatistics

Cochrane Collaboration: Review Group Editor

NIHR Research Design Service North West: Associate Director

Stroke Association: Project Grant Adjudication Panel

HTA Clinical Evaluation and Trials Board (2010-2014)