Staff Profile
Nicole O'Connor
Research Assistant in Evidence Synthesis
- Email: nicole.oconnor@ncl.ac.uk
- Address: Evidence Synthesis Group and NIHR Innovation Observatory
The Catalyst
Room 3.12
3 Science Square
Newcastle Helix
Newcastle upon Tyne
United Kingdom
NE4 5TG
I am a health researcher in evidence synthesis at the NIHR Innovation Observatory. My work centres around the correct application and development of secondary research methods and health technology assessment (HTA) processes across all areas of healthcare.
I have worked in academic health research on varied projects for nearly ten years and have broad insight into many stages of the translational research pathway. Topic-wise, I have the most experience in rare diseases and public health nutrition.
Qualifications
- MSc in Public Health and Health Services Research, Newcastle University, 2022
- BSc (hons) in Food and Human Nutrition, Newcastle University, 2014
Current core activities include:
- Applying evidence synthesis methods to answer priority research questions. I have experience working in multi-disciplinary teams to produce systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and evidence gap maps as part of a priority-setting exercise. Other recent research methods I have less experience with include semi-structured interviews and the early stages of a core outcome set development.
- Working with a team of information specialists, clinical effectiveness reviewers and health economists as a junior clinical effectiveness reviewer with the Newcastle-Technology Assessment Review (TAR) group. The TAR group independently appraises the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies (medicines and MedTech) submitted to NICE for potential use within the NHS.
- Writing and reviewing technology briefings for medicines identified via horizon scanning as relevant to the UK healthcare system. The health technology briefings are an early step in the NICE topic selection process and aim to facilitate timely market access and delivery to patients.
Recent past experiences include:
- Assistant managing editor and training fellow for the Cochrane Incontinence Review Group.
- Working with the international rare neuromuscular disease community (patients, patient organisations, pharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals) to develop and deliver a programme of work to increase awareness of the standards of care recommendations for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Voluntary work
I have provided methodological peer review on articles using evidence synthesis methods for four journals and I am open to future requests.
Esteem indicators
- Invited speaker: Bladder and Bowel UK National Symposium, UK "Impact of Enuresis" (March 2023)
- Shortlisted for an award in the student oral presentation category at the HTAi 2022 annual meeting "A Multi-Step Multi-Stakeholder Priority Setting Exercise for Faecal Incontinence" (June 2022)
Funding
Elizabeth Casson Trust Research Award
Industry (unrestricted grants)
I contribute to teaching and marking on the ‘Introduction to Systematic Reviewing and Critical Appraisal’ compulsory module for the Public Health and Health Services Research MSc/MPH.
I have co-supervised undergraduate and postgraduate student dissertations. I would be open to supervising students undertaking systematic, scoping, or rapid reviews.
Teacher training/certificates:
- Newcastle University Introduction to Learning and Teaching Higher Education (ILTHE)
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Articles
- O'Connor N, Bushby L, Barnabez J, Wallace S, Garcia-Gonzalez-Moral S, Close H, Pearson F. What is known about anxiety, claustrophobia and its impact on decision-making about important occupations and equipment for people with motor neurone disease? a scoping review protocol. 2024. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/VXJY6.
- Johnson EE, O'Connor N, Hilton P, Pearson F, Goh J, Vale L. Interventions for treating obstetric fistula: An evidence gap map. PLOS Global Public Health 2023, 3(1), e0001481.
- Beyer F, Rice S, Orozco-Leal G, Still M, O'Keefe H, O'Connor N, Stoniute A, Craig D, Pereira S, Carr L, Leeds J. Clinical and cost effectiveness of endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction: a systematic review. Health Technology Assessment 2023, 27(7), 1-118.
- O'Connor N, Thomson KH, Gill S, Jackson S, Wallace SA, Pearson F. A rapid priority setting exercise combining existing, emergent evidence with stakeholder knowledge identified broad topic uncertainties. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 2023, 154, P178-187.
- Thomson KH, O'Connor N, Dangova KT, Gill S, Jackson S, Bliss DZ, Wallace SA, Pearson F. Rapid priority setting exercise on faecal incontinence for Cochrane Incontinence. BMJ Open Gastroenterology 2022, 9, e000847.
- Vesentini G, O'Connor N, Elders A, Le Berre M, Nabhan AF, Wagg A, Cacciari L, Dumoulin C. Interventions for treating urinary incontinence in older women: a network meta‐analysis [protocol]. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2022, (8), CD015376.
- Thomson KH, Dangova K, Bliss DZ, Wallace S, O'Connor N, Richter HE, Pearson F. Future developments and new technologies in the field of faecal incontinence: scanning the horizon using late-stage clinical trial registrations. BMJ Innovations 2022, 8(4), 278-284.
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Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)
- O'Connor N. Use of technology to co-create student assessment for a postgraduate module in systematic reviewing and critical appraisal(presented on behalf of the Evidence Synthesis Group). In: Newcastle University Learning and Teaching Conference. 2023, Newcastle, UK.
- Johnson E, O'Connor N, Hilton P, Pearson F, Goh J, Vale L. Novel methods used when conducting an evidence gap map surrounding interventions for treating obstetric fistula. In: 27th Cochrane Colloquium. 2023, London: Cochrane.
- O'Connor N, Johnson EE, Wallace SA, Vale L, Pearson F. Nocturnal enuresis in children: Rapid scoping review and semi-structured interviews to inform development of a core outcome set. In: Cochrane Colloquium. 2023, London, UK: Cochrane.
- O'Connor N, Johnson EE, Wallace SA, Vale L, Pearson F. Impact of Enuresis. In: Bladder & Bowel UK National Symposium. 2023, Bolton.
- O'Connor N, Johnson EE, Wallace SA, Pearson F, Vale L. A scoping review and semi-structured interviews to generate a list of outcome measures used to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of interventions in children with nocturnal enuresis. In: 7th UK Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) Research Conference: 'PROMs Across the Lifespan'. 2023, Sheffield, UK: PROMs.
- Johnson E, O'Connor N, Hilton P, Goh J, Vale L, Pearson F. 130 - Interventions for treating obstetric fistula: Results of an evidence gap map. In: International Continence Society (ICS 2023). 2023, Toronto: Elsevier BV.
- O'Connor N, Thomson K, Dangova K, Gill S, Wallace S, Jackson S, Pearson F. OP32 A Multistep Multistakeholder Priority Setting Exercise For Fecal Incontinence. In: Health Technology Assessment international (HTAi) 2022. 2022, Utrecht, the Netherlands: Cambridge University Press.
- Beyer F, Rice S, Orozco-Leal G, Still M, O'Keefe H, O'Connor N, Stoniute A, Craig D, Pereira S, Carr L, Leeds J. PTU-35 Endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for treating malignant biliary obstruction: Systematic review and meta-analysis. In: British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) Annual Meeting. 2021, Online: BMJ Publishing Group.
- Beyer F, Rice S, Orozco-Leal G, Still M, O'Keefe H, O'Connor N, Stoniute A, Craig D, Pereira S, Carr L, Leeds J. P-P21 Endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation for treating biliary obstruction caused by unresectable cancer: systematic review of clinical and cost effectiveness. In: UGI Congress 2021. 2021, Belfast: Oxford University Press.
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Online Publication
- Ryburn L, Murphy A, Schroth M, Guyer J, Gonzales JL, Muni-Lofra R, Wittchen A, Ancil B, O'Connor N. The Guide to the 2017 International Standards of Care for SMA. 2018. Available at: https://www.treat-nmd.org/resources-and-support/care-guides/sma-care/#1695210803951-6e11031c-eecc.
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Report
- Thomson K, O'Connor N, Shabaninejad H, Sotire T, Still M, Moradi N, Fernandez-Garcia C, Wallace SA, Williams O, Vale L, Sagoo G. Highly Specialised Technology appraisal - Sebelipase alfa for treating Wolman disease (rapidly progressive LAL-D) [ID3995]. Manchester: Newcastle Technology Assessment Review (TAR) group, 2023.
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Review
- Rice S, Carr K, Sobiesuo P, Shabaninejad H, Orozco-Leal G, Kontogiannis V, Marshall C, Pearson F, Moradi N, O'Connor N, Stoniute A, Richmond C, Craig D, Allegranzi B, Cassini A. Economic evaluations of interventions to prevent and control health-care-associated infections: a systematic review. The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2023, 23(7), e228-e239.