Kim has a MSci in Chemistry with Medicinal Chemistry (University of Glasgow) and has been a part of the Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering directorate at the Freeman Hospital in ÃÛÌÒAPP upon Tyne since 2010. Kim has expertise in analysis of routinely collected data (including Hospital Episode Statistics, mortality, national clinical and procedural registries), is actively involved in research projects including the evaluation of health technologies. Kim is also a Data Access Committee member for the North East and North Cumbria Secure Data Environment (NENC SDE).

Kim said: “It’s an absolute privilege to lead our fifth consecutive contract with NICE and direct the ÃÛÌÒAPP External Assessment Group.

“Through each evaluation we want to ensure that all patients receive the best evidence-based care, whilst also considering cost effectiveness and supporting NHS colleagues with challenges around capacity and resource. Our team has a vast wealth of skills and experience, alongside processes informed by learning from nearly 15 years of supporting the healthcare technologies programme. I’m incredibly excited for this next chapter of supporting health technology assessment and evidence-based medicine in the UK.”

Emma has a BSc (hons) in Management Science (Hull University), a PG Dip in Office Systems Management (Humberside University), a PG Cert in University Administration (ÃÛÌÒAPP University) and is currently working towards the Association of Project Managers (APM) qualification. Emma  has been a part of the Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering directorate at the Freeman Hospital in ÃÛÌÒAPP upon Tyne since 2015, and has expertise in project management and a particular interest in patient and public involvement.

Rachel has an MPhys in Physics with Medical Physics (University of Sheffield) and has been part of the Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Directorate of ÃÛÌÒAPP Hospitals since 2014. In 2019, Rachel completed the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) in what is now Clinical Scientific Computing, gaining an MSc in Clinical Science (University of Liverpool). Rachel has expertise in analysis of routinely collected data, primarily Hospital Episode Statistics, is involved in supervising STP trainees, and represents the Clinical Informatics and Clinical Scientific Computing specialisms on the Northern Training Consortium Partnership Board.

Ros holds an MSc in Rehabilitative Audiology (Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh) and a BSc in Audiology (University of Manchester) and has been part of the Northern Medical Physics in Clinical Engineering Directorate of ÃÛÌÒAPP Hospitals since 2021. Ros has expertise in health technology evaluation, research methods and delivery, critical appraisal, and teaching including acting as a Visiting Lecturer for Queen Margaret University. Ros is a Fellow of the British Society of Audiology.

Elliot brings a broad and versatile background, having worked across multiple industries businesses. He joined ÃÛÌÒAPP Hospitals in October 2023 as an administrator and has since transitioned into a role focused on quality and assurance. Elliot is passionate about driving continuous improvement and supporting project delivery across the team. He is currently leading the development and achievement of ISO 9001 certification through the implementation of a robust quality management system for the group.

Humayra has an MSc in Clinical Sciences (ÃÛÌÒAPP University) and a BSc in Medical Physiology (University of Nottingham). Humayra has been a part of the Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering directorate at the Freeman Hospital in ÃÛÌÒAPP upon Tyne since 2021, and has expertise in research facilitation and delivery, critical appraisal, preparation of ethics applications; SPSS Programming for statistical analysis of large data sets, and supporting students undergoing the NHS Scientist Training Programme within gastrointestinal physiology. She is also a registration assessor with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Initially worked within Haematology and transfusion sciences between research and NHS diagnostic laboratories in Cambridge, attaining licentiate membership with the IBMS in 2019 and Biomedical Scientist registration with the HCP (now HCPC). Then, in 2019 completed the scientist training programme (STP) in the Neurosensory Science (Audiology) and HCPC Clinical Scientist registration. Currently, working between the NMPCE Visual Electrodiagnostic and Health Technology Assessment services.

Paula joined the  EAG in 2022 as a pre-registrant clinical scientist. Her role involves literature searching, reviewing and appraisal; methodology development; research and development; data analysis; and manuscript preparation. Paula is an HCPC Registered Speech & Language Therapist and a  member of the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists and the American Speech-language-Hearing Association. She has developed pre- and post-clinical education programmes in the UK and USA. Paula’s areas of expertise include clinical and research ethics, complex decision making, eating & drinking disorders, and end of life care.

Katrin has a PhD in Clinical Neurosciences (University of Amsterdam) and an MSci in Cognitive Neurosciences (University of Nijmegen). Katrin has been a part of the Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering directorate since 2019, and is currently working between the Medical Device Development and Health

Technology Assessment services. Katrin has expertise in clinical study design and management, regulatory affairs and UKCA/CE marking, R&D, literature reviewing and appraisal, and manuscript preparation, also data analysis in Matlab and Python.

Eibhlin has a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience (University of Manchester) and an MSc in Computer Science (Northumbria University). She is currently working towards an MSc in Clinical Science (University of Manchester) as a part of the NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) in Clinical Informatics. Eibhlin has been a part of the Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Directorate of ÃÛÌÒAPP Hospitals since 2023 and has completed data analysis projects, primarily using Hospital Episode Statistics, and software development projects within the trust.

Sarah has a BSc (hons) in Mathematics and Psychology (ÃÛÌÒAPP University), a PGDip in Cloud Computing for Big Data (ÃÛÌÒAPP University) and is currently working towards a PhD employing data science methods to epilepsy data (ÃÛÌÒAPP University). Sarah has been a part of the Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering directorate at the Freeman Hospital in ÃÛÌÒAPP Upon Tyne since March 2025. Sarah has expertise in data science and statistics; she has achieved the status of Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Andrew is Head of the Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering Department (NMPCE), a Clinical Directorate of ÃÛÌÒAPP. Andrew is co director of the NIHR which specialises in Diagnostics and Technology Evaluation, and Deputy Director of the NIHR HRC national network of all 14 HRCs together. Andrew has experience in statistics, analysis of hospital data including medical images, CE marking embedded software for medical devices and health economics. Andrew is also a member of the NIHR Invention for Innovation Product Development Awards Committee A.