Newcastle University

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. 

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.  

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) 

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-

 Postgraduate Supervision

Co-supervisor of Shaikhah Alfajjam (Newcastle University) 

Undergraduate Teaching

SFY0002 Basic Statistics

Postgraduate Teaching

HSC8036 Medical Statistics

• 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.
• Howel D. Interpreting and evaluating the CASP-19 quality of life measure in older people. Age and Ageing 2012, (epub ahead of print).
• Heighton 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 control 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. In Press.
• Howel D. Trends in the prevalence of abdominal obesity and overweight in English adults (1993-2008). Obesity 2012, (epub ahead of print).
• 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.
• 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.