Professor Andrew Farmer appointed NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme Director

Congratulations to Professor Andrew Farmer, Exeter College Fellow and Lecturer in Clinical Medicine, who has been appointed the new director of the National Institute for Health and Research’s Health Technology Assessment Programme.

The Health Technology Assessment Programme funds research about the clinical and cost-effectiveness and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS and social care services.

Professor Farmer is an experienced GP, Professor of General Practice at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences and an NIHR Senior Investigator.

Dr Louise Wood, Director of Science, Research and Evidence at the Department of Health and Social Care, said: “I’m delighted Andrew has been chosen to lead the HTA Programme and I’m looking forward to him beginning work. I’m sure under his leadership the Programme will continue its crucial work in generating important evidence on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health and care interventions.”

Professor Farmer commented: “I’m excited to take up this new role. Providing high quality research about the effectiveness of treatments has never been more relevant as we face the challenges ahead from the COVID-19 pandemic. [Outgoing Programme director Professor Hywel Williams’s] leadership over the last five years has given us a fantastic platform to build on. I look forward to working with colleagues to ensure a strong future research pipeline and to support the research community, many of whom are currently in the front-line.”