Staff Profile

Tara joined Newcastle University as a member of the Health Economics and Evidence Synthesis Group in December 2012 after completing her MSc in University College of Cork.  She has led the completion of the economic analysis on 6 large complex studies, including 5 NIHR HTA trials. She is currently the economic lead on 5 large NIHR-HTA trials.

Tara’s main areas of interest within health economics are Economic Evaluation, Preference Elicitation, and Economic Modelling.

PhD, Newcastle University, (2017 - present) part-time under staff registration

MSc. Health Economics, University College of Cork – first class honours (2012)

BComm (Hons), University College Cork (2011)

Employment history

Senior Research Associate, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University (April 2020 - present)

Research Associate, Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University (December 2014 - March 2020)

Research Assistant, Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University (December 2012 - December 2014)

 Introduction

Tara is currently responsible for 5 NIHR HTA trials; ALTAR, ATNEC, NAIROS, NATTINA, and POSNOC. Tara has expertise in both applied and methodological aspects of health economics and substantial experience working as part of multidisciplinary teams on large national and international projects. Tara has been involved in all aspects of studies, from being a co-applicant on successful grant applications, protocol writing, the development and implementation of study specific data collection tools, analysis plans, costing of interventions, and undertaking the analysis of individual patient-level data and incorporating this data into the economic evaluation of complex randomised controlled trials and economic modelling. She also has experience in preference elicitation and benefit assessment, using methods such as Discrete Choice Experiments, Contingent Valuation, the Patient Generated Index, and methods to derive QALYs (EQ-5D, SF-12, SF-36, GUI).

Tara also provides health economic advice to support grant applications and is a specialist advisor for the North East Research and Design Service (RDS). 

Funding

Axillary management in T1-3N1M0 breast cancer patients with FNA or core biopsy proven nodal metastases at presentation after NEoadjuvant Chemotherapy (ATNEC) NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme. Co-applicant, lead health economist. Amount of award £2,998,853.43.

Is it possible to develop a complex intervention to improve the outcome of fall-related injuries in people with dementia? (DIFRID). NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme. Co applicant, lead health economist. Amount of award: £513,008.

Module lead of HSC8027 (2016-2019)

MSc in Public Health and Health Services Research (2013 - present)

Defined Portfolio Training Session - Newcastle University (2015)

Supervision

Training Fellow     - William King (2019 - present)

                            - Cristina Fernandez-Garcia (2017 - 2019)

MSc supervision  - Cristina Fernandez-Garcia (2019)

                            - Aileen Rooney (2015)

Summer internships (2013, 2014, 2016)

• Harding C, Mossop H, Homer T, Chadwick T, King W, Carnell S, Lecouturier J, Abouhajar A, Vale L, Watson G, Forbes R, Currer S, Pickard R, Eardley I, Pearce I, Thiruchelvam N, Guerrero K, Walton K, Hussain Z, Lazarowicz H, Ali A. Alternative to prophylactic antibiotics for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections in women: multicentre, open label, randomised, non-inferiority trial. BMJ 2022, 376, e068229.
• Harding C, Chadwick T, Homer T, Lecouturier J, Mossop H, Carnell S, King W, Abouhajar A, Vale L, Watson G, Forbes R, Currer S, Pickard R, Eardley I, Pearce I, Thiruchelvam N, Guerrero K, Walton K, Hussain Z, Lazarowicz H, Ali A. Methenamine hippurate compared with antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections in women: the ALTAR non-inferiority RCT. Health Technology Assessment 2022, 26(23), 1-172.
• Fernandez-Garcia C, Ternent L, Homer T, Rodgers H, Bosomworth H, Shaw L, Aird L, Andole S, Cohen D, Dawson J, Finch T, Ford G, Francis R, Hogg S, Hughes N, Krebs IH, Price C, Turner D, Van Wijck F, Wilkes S, Wilson N, Vale L. Economic evaluation of robot-assisted training versus an enhanced upper limb therapy programme or usual care for patients with moderate or severe upper limb functional limitation due to stroke: results from the RATULS randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2021, 11(5), e042081.
• Goyal A, Mann GB, Fallowfield L, Duley L, Reed M, Dodwell D, Coleman RE, Fakis A, Newcombe R, Jenkins V, Whitham D, Childs M, Whynes D, Keeley V, Ellis I, Fairbrother P, Sadiq S, Monson K, Montgomery A, Tan W, Vale L, Homer T, Badger H, Haines RH, Lewis M, Megias D, Nabi Z, Singh P, Caraman A, Miles E. POSNOC-POsitive Sentinel NOde: Adjuvant therapy alone versus adjuvant therapy plus Clearance or axillary radiotherapy: A randomised controlled trial of axillary treatment in women with early-stage breast cancer who have metastases in one or two sentinel nodes. BMJ Open 2021, 11(12), 054365.
• Maguire A, Clarkson JE, Douglas GVA, Ryan V, Homer T, Marshman Z, McColl E, Wilson N, Vale L, Robertson M, Abouhajar A, Holmes RD, Freeman R, Chadwick B, Deery C, Wong F, Innes NPT. Best-practice prevention alone or with conventional or biological caries management for 3- to 7-year-olds: the FiCTION three-arm RCT. Health Technology Assessment 2020, 24(1), 1-174.
• Innes NP, Clarkson JE, Douglas GVA, Ryan V, Wilson N, Homer T, Marshman Z, McColl E, Vale L, Robertson M, Abouhajar A, Holmes RD, Freeman R, Chadwick B, Deery C, Wong F, Maguire A. Child caries management: a randomized controlled trial in dental practice. Journal of Dental Research 2020, 99(1), 36-43.
• Homer T, Maguire A, Douglas G, Innes N, Clarkson J, Wilson N, Ryan V, McColl E, Robertson M, Vale L. Cost-effectiveness of child caries management: a randomised controlled trial (FiCTION trial). BMC Oral Health 2020, 20, 45.
• Allan LM, Wheatley A, Smith A, Flynn E, Homer T, Robalino S, Beyer FR, Fox C, Howel D, Barber R, Connolly JA, Robinson L, Parry SW, Rochester L, Corner L, Bamford C. An intervention to improve outcomes of falls in dementia: the DIFRID mixed-methods feasibility study. Health Technology Assessment 2019, 23(59), 1-208.
• Wheatley A, Bamford C, Shaw C, Flynn E, Smith A, Beyer F, Fox C, Barber R, Parry SW, Howel D, Homer TM, Robinson AL, Allan L. Developing an Intervention for Fall-Related Injuries in Dementia (DIFRID): an integrated, mixed-methods approach. BMC Geriatrics 2019, 19, 57.
• Homer T, Shen J, Vale L, McColl E, Tincello DG, Hilton P. Invasive urodynamic testing prior to surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence in women: cost-effectiveness and value of information analyses in the context of a mixed methods feasibility study. Pilot & Feasibility Studies 2018, 4, 67.
• Allan LM, Wheatley A, Flynn E, Smith A, Fox GC, Howel D, Barber R, Homer TM, Robinson AL, Parry SW, Corner L, Connolly J, Rochester L, Bamford C. Is it feasible to deliver a complex intervention to improve the outcome of falls in people with dementia? A protocol for the DIFRID feasibility study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 2018, 4, 170.
• Hilton P, Bryant A, Howel D, McColl E, Shen J, Homer T, Vale L, Buckley BS, Lucas MG, Tincello DG, Armstrong N. Letter to the editor re: 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. Neurourol Urodyn. 2012;31(8):1223-30. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2016, 35(6), 750-751.
• Hilton P, Armstrong N, Brennand C, Howel D, Shen J, Bryant A, Tincello DG, Lucas MG, Buckley BS, Chapple CR, Homer T, Vale L, McColl E. A mixed methods study to assess the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial of invasive urodynamic testing versus clinical assessment and non-invasive tests prior to surgery for stress urinary incontinence in women: the INVESTIGATE-I study. Trials 2015, 16, 400.
• Hilton P, Armstrong N, Brennand C, Howel D, Shen J, Bryant A, Tincello DG, Lucas MG, Buckley BS, Chapple CR, Homer T, Vale L, McColl E. INVESTIGATE-I (INVasive Evaluation before Surgical Treatment of Incontinence Gives Added Therapeutic Effect?): a mixed methods study to assess the feasibility of a future randomised controlled trial of invasive urodynamic testing prior to surgery for stress urinary incontinence in women. Health Technology Assessment 2015, 19(15).
• Stewart M, Keightley A, Maguire A, Chadwick B, Vale L, Homer T, Douglas G, Deery C, Marshman Z, Ryan V, Innes N. Investigating the management of carious primary teeth in general dental practice: an overview of the development and conduct of the Fiction Trial. Primary Dental Journal 2015, 4(4), 67-73.
• Thursz M, Forrest E, Roderick P, Day C, Austin A, O'Grady J, Ryder A, Allison M, Gleeson D, McCune A, Patch D, Wright M, Masson S, Richardson P, Hood S, MacGilchrist A, Grant A, Vale L, Mellor J, Stanton L, Bowers M, Ratcliffe I, Downs N, Kirkman S, Homer T, Ternent L, Deverill M. The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of STeroids or Pentoxifylline for Alcoholic Hepatitis (STOPAH): a 2x2 factorial, randomised controlled trial. Health Technology Assessment 2015, 19(102).
• Hilton P, Armstrong N, Brennand C, Howel D, Shen J, Bryant A, Tincello DG, Lucas MG, Buckley BS, Chapple CR, Homer T, McColl E. A mixed methods study to assess the feasibility of a future randomised controlled trial of invasive urodynamic testing prior to surgery for stress urinary incontinence in women. Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery 2014, 20(4(supp.1)), S106-S107.
• Hilton P, Armstrong N, Brennand C, Howel D, Shen J, Bryant A, Tincello DG, Lucas MG, Buckley BS, Chapple CR, Homer T, McColl E. A mixed methods study to assess the feasibility of a future randomised controlled trial of invasive urodynamic testing prior to surgery for urinary incontinence in women. International Urogynecology Journal & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction 2014, 25(1), S182-S183.
• Homer T, Vale L, Shen J, Hilton P. Cost-Utility And Value Of Information (Voi) Analyses On The Feasibility Of A Future Randomised Controlled Trial (Rct) Of Invasive Urodynamic Testing Prior To Surgery For Stress Urinary Incontinence In Women. In: ISPOR 17th Annual European Congress. 2014, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier.
• Orr JG, Homer T, Ternent L, Newton J, McNeil CJ, Hudson M, Jones DEJ. Health related quality of life in people with advanced chronic liver disease. Journal of Hepatology 2014, 61(5), 1158-1165.
• Orr J G., Homer T, Ternent L, Newton J, McNeil C J., Hudson M, Jones D E.J. 'Health Related Quality of Life in People with Advanced Chronic Liver Disease'. Journal of Hepatology 2014, 61(5), 1158–1165.
• Orr J, Homer T, Ternent L, Vale L, Hudson M, Jones D. PTU-112 Associations Between Healthcare Resource Utilisation And Health-related Quality Of Life In Cirrhosis. Gut 2014, 63(Suppl. 1), A88-A88.