Newcastle University

Introduction

I am a statistician by background and have been at Newcastle University since 1992. I have considerable experience of the design and analysis of clinical trials and epidemiological studies. 

Roles and Responsibilities

* Commissioning Board Member NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research Programme

* Faculty Medical Sciences Ethics Committee 

* Statistical advisor to Research Design Service (North East)

Qualifications

  BSc Mathematics & Statistics University of London 1976
  MSc Statistics University of London 1977
  Chartered Statistician 2000

Previous Positions

  Lecturer in Medical Statistics, Leeds University 1985-1992

  Research Associate, Newcastle University 1982-1985

  Temporary Lecturer, University of Wales 1980-1981

  Statistician , Unilever Research 1977-1979 

Research Interests

Medical Statistics
Epidemiology
Public Health

 Current Research Projects

Randomised controlled trial, economic and qualitative process evaluation of domiciliary welfare right advice (DO-WELL) 

INVESTIGATE-1: a pragmatic multicentre pilot study to assess the feasibility of a future randomised controlled trial 

Brief alcohol intervention to reduce risky drinking in pregnancy: a pilot randomised controlled trial (RADiANT).  

A feasibility trial of screening and brief alcohol intervention to prevent hazardous drinking in young people aged 14-15 in a high school setting (SIPS JR-HIGH) 

EXTRAS : a trial to evaluate an extended rehabilitation service for stroke patients

BRILiANT : a pilot trial of intensive rapid blood pressure lowering for persistent depression

RITPBC : trial of Rituzimab as a treatment for fatigue in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis 

MAPHAR : EU-funded study to develop an MSc in Public Health in Syrian Universities 

Esteem Indicators

Medical Research Council - College of Experts

Dept of Health - Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment 2000-2009

National Institute for Health Research- Service Delivery & Organisation - Commissioning Board Member 2009-2011

National Institute for Health Research- Health Service and Delivery Research - HDR Commissioning Board Member 2012-2015

NIHR Stroke Research Network Acute Clinical Studies Group - Member 2012-2015 

 Postgraduate Supervision

Co-supervisor of Shaikhah Alfajjam (Newcastle University) 

Co-supervisor of Ali Al-Mousawi (Newcastle University) 

Projects

• A feasibility trial of screening and brief alcohol intervention to prevent hazardous drinking in young people aged 14-15 in a high school setting (SIPS JR-HIGH)
  Project Leader(s): Dr D Newbury-Birch, Professor E Kaner, Coulton S, Deluca P, Drummond C, Gilvarry E, Professor P McArdle, Professor E McColl, Howel D, Deverill M, Tate L.
• INVasive Evaluation before Surgical Treatment of Incontinence Gives Added Therapeutic Effect?: a pragmatic multicentre pilot study to assess the feasibility of a future randomised controlled trial
  Project Leader(s): Chief Investigator: Mr Paul Hilton (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust)

Undergraduate Teaching

SFY0002 Basic Statistics - module leader & lecturer

Postgraduate Teaching

MSc Public Health and Health Services Research

  HSC8036 Health Statistics - module leader & lecturer

  HSC8029 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods  - lecturer

• Robinson L, Dickinson C, Rousseau N, Beyer F, Clark A, Hughes J, Howel D, Exley C. A systematic review of the effectiveness of advance care planning interventions for people with cognitive impairment and dementia. Age and Ageing 2012, 41(2), 263-269.
• Hilton P, Bryant A, Howel D, McColl E, Buckley B, Lucas M, Tincello DG, Armstrong N. Assessing professional equipoise and views about a future clinical trial of invasive urodynamics prior to surgery for stress urinary incontinence in women: a survey within a mixed methods feasibility study. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2012, 31(8), 1223-1230.
• Howel D. Interpreting and evaluating the CASP-19 quality of life measure in older people. Age and Ageing 2012, 41(5), 612-617.
• Shaw L, Price C, McLure S, Howel D, McColl E, Ford GA. Paramedic Initiated Lisinopril For Acute Stroke Treatment (PIL-FAST): first results from the pilot randomised controlled trial. In: UK Stroke Forum 2012 Conference. 2012, Harrogate, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia.
• Haighton C, Moffatt S, Howel D, McColl E, Milne E, Deverill M, Rubin G, Aspray T, White M. The Do-Well study: protocol for a randomised controlled trial, economic and qualitative process evaluations of domiciliary welfare rights advice for socio-economically disadvantaged older people recruited via primary health care. BMC Public Health 2012, 12(1), 382.
• Howel D. Trends in the prevalence of abdominal obesity and overweight in English adults (1993-2008). Obesity 2012, 20(8), 1750-1752.
• Russell C, Howel D, Ward-Platt MP, Ball HL. Use of interactive telephone technology for longitudinal data collection in a large trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2012, 33(2), 364-368.
• Howel D. Waist circumference and abdominal obesity among older adults: patterns, prevalence and trends. PLoS One 2012, 7(10), e48528.
• Murdoch M, McColl EM, Howel D, Deverill M, Buckley B, Lucas M, Chapple CR, Tincello DG, Armstrong N, Brennand C, Shen J, Vale L, Hilton P. INVESTIGATE-I (INVasive Evaluation before Surgical Treatment of Incontinence Gives Added Therapeutic Effect?): study protocol for a mixed methods study to assess the feasibility of a future randomised controlled trial of the clinical utility of invasive urodynamic testing. Trials 2011, 12(1), 169.
• Shaw L, Price C, McLure S, Howel D, McColl E, Ford GA. Paramedic Initiated Lisinopril for Acute Stroke Treatment (PIL-FAST): study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial. Trials 2011, 12(1), 152.
• Ball HL, Ward Platt MP, Howel D, Russell C. Randomised trial of sidecar use on breastfeeding duration (NECOT). Archives of Disease in Childhood 2011, 96, 630-634.
• Howel D. Trends in the prevalence of obesity and overweight in English adults by age and birth cohort, 1991-2006. Public Health Nutrition 2011, 14(1), 27-33.
• Kelly T, Suddes J, Howel D, Hewison J, Robson SC. A randomised controlled trial comparing medical versus surgical termination of pregnancy at 13-20 weeks. BJOG 2010, 117(12), 1512-1520.
• Rankin JM, Chadwick TJ, Natarajan M, Howel DM, Pearce MS, Pless-Mulloli T. Maternal exposure to ambient air pollutants and risk of congenital anomalies. Environmental Research 2009, 109(2), 181-187.
• Robson SC, Kelly T, Howel D, Deverill M, Hewison J, Lie MLS, Stamp E, Armstrong N, May CR. Randomised preference trial of medical versus surgical termination of pregnancy less than 14 weeks' gestation (TOPS). Health Technology Assessment 2009, 13(53), 1-148.
• Howel D. Multivariate data analysis of pollutant profiles: PCB levels across Europe. Chemosphere 2007, 67(7), 1300-1307.
• Adams JM, White M, Moffatt S, Howel DM, MacKintosh JE. A systematic review of the health, social and financial impacts of welfare rights advice delivered in healthcare settings. BMC Public Health 2006, 6(1), 81.
• Edwards R, Pless-Mulloli T, Howel D, Chadwick T, Bhopal R, Harrison R, Gribbin H. Does living near heavy industry cause lung cancer in women? A case-control study using life grid interviews. Thorax 2006, 61(12), 1076-1082.
• Chinn DJ, White M, Howel D, Harland JOE, Drinkwater CK. Factors associated with non-participation in a physical activity promotion trial. Public Health 2006, 120(4), 309-319.
• Mackintosh J, White M, Howel D, Chadwick T, Moffatt S, Deverill M, Sandell A. Randomised controlled trial of welfare rights advice accessed via primary health care: Pilot study [ISRCTN61522618]. BMC Public Health 2006, 6(162), 10.
• Moffatt S, Mackintosh J, White M, Howel D, Sandell A. The acceptability and impact of a randomised controlled trial of welfare rights advice accessed via primary health care: Qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2006, 6(163).
• Moffatt S, White M, Mackintosh J, Howel D. Using quantitative and qualitative data in health services research - What happens when mixed method findings conflict? [ISRCTN61522618]. BMC Health Services Research 2006, 6, 28.
• Barron MJ, Chinnery PF, Howel D, Blakely EL, Schaefer AM, Taylor RW, Turnbull DM. Cytochrome c oxidase deficient muscle fibres: Substantial variation in their proportions within skeletal muscles from patients with mitochondrial myopathy. Neuromuscular Disorders 2005, 15(11), 768-774.
• Pless-Mulloli T, Edwards R, Howel D, Wood R, Paepke O, Herrmann T. Does long term residency near industry have an impact on the body burden of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls in older women?. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2005, 62(12), 895-901.
• Pless-Mulloli T, Edwards R, Howel D, Paepke O, Hermann T. Dioxin body burden in women with long term residency near and away from major chemical industries in Teesside,UK. Organohalogen Compounds 2004, 66, 2649-2654.
• Glinianaia SV, Rankin J, Bell R, Pless-Mulloli T, Howel D. Does Particulate Air Pollution Contribute to Infant Death? A Systematic Review. Environmental Health Perspectives 2004, 112(14), 1365-1370.
• Glinianaia SV, Rankin J, Bell R, Pless-Mulloli T, Howel D. Particulate air pollution and fetal health: A systematic review of the epidemiologic evidence. Epidemiology 2004, 15(1), 36-45.
• Bush J, Pless-Mulloli T, Moffatt S, Phillimore P, Howel D. Perception of risks to quality of life and health in ex-mining communities in north-east England. In: EPIDEMIOLOGY. 2004, 530 WALNUT ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106-3621 USA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.
• Chinnery PF, Howel D, Turnbull DM, Johnson MA. Clinical progression of mitochondrial myopathy is associated with the random accumulation of cytochrome c oxidase negative skeletal muscle fibres. Journal of the Neurological Sciences 2003, 211(1-2), 63-66.
• Howel D, Moffatt S, Bush J, Dunn CE, Prince H. Public views on the links between air pollution and health in Northeast England. Environmental Research 2003, 91(3), 163-171.
• Snaith VJ, Sturgiss SN, Hewison J, Howel D, Robson SC. [abstract] Maternal-foetal attachment and maternal anxiety in women having early pregnancy screening for foetal abnormality. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 2003, 21(3), 249-250.
• Howel D, Webster S, Hayes J, Barton A, Donaldson L. The impact of recurrent throat infection on children and their families. Family Practice 2002, 19(3), 242-246.
• Howel D, Moffatt S, Prince H, Bush J, Dunn CE. Urban air quality in north-east England: Exploring the influences on local views and perceptions. Risk Analysis 2002, 22(1), 121-130.
• Howel D, Darnell R, Pless-Mulloli T. Children's respiratory health and daily particulate levels in 10 nonurban communities. Environmental Research 2001, 87(1), 1-9.
• Howel D, Pless-Mulloli T, Darnell R. Consultations of children living near open-cast coal mines. Environmental Health Perspectives 2001, 109(6), 567-571.
• Pless-Mulloli T, Howel D, Prince H. Prevalence of asthma and other respiratory symptoms in children living near and away from opencast coal mining sites. International Journal of Epidemiology 2001, 30(3), 556-563.
• Howel D, O'Brien S, Murphy E, Chinn DJ, McCrone C, French JM, Blain PG. Upper aerodigestive tract cancers in former employees at an iron and steel works. Occupational Medicine 2001, 51(5), 336-342.
• Howel D, Metcalf JV, Gray J, Newman WL, Jones DEJ, James OFW. Cancer risk in primary biliary cirrhosis: A study in northern England. Gut 1999, 45(5), 756-760.
• Pless-Mulloli T, Howel D, King A, Stone I, Merefield J, Bessell J, Darnell R, Young S, Prince H. Do particulates from opencast coal mining impair children's respiratory health?. Report from The Stationery Office 1999, 1-229.