Research summary
We need research to generate valuable knowledge and find new medical treatments. But how do we know whether research offers value for money? A value-of-information (VOI) method can help design research so it offers value for money and supports decision-making. The problem is that the current VOI method is more complex, time-consuming and costly than standard research design methods.
Dr. Anna Heath has already developed new statistical methods to reduce the time it takes to use VOI methods. Now, as Canada Research Chair in Equity in Statistical Trial Design, she is building on this work to further reduce the complexity of using VOI in the real world. She and her research team are also creating new statistical techniques to calculate VOI when the amount of evidence is small and when researchers are developing new precision medicine treatments.